Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1840-09-12

! HiuA y GuHlHuSu pIuGhSU VI contributing
to the emancipation 81 slaves by the ap-
preparation Of money, might moi in the
course OF time, lead to attempts by the
! Federal Government TO accomplish the
same object, without either the consent Of
the STAKEHOLDER or indemnity for his loss.
As to the second question, Mr.. Van
Eeh's uncompromising hostility" TO
UnAd States Bank IS TOO well 10 require
lany further exposition Of his views.
He replies 10 the third question thus:
III was seriously friendly to the pass
age Of the Compromise Bill, and have
always been aud still am disposed to carry
il into full and fair effect.
| To the fourth question, the President
replies us follows:
" Internal Improvements are so diversi. |
fed in their nature, and the possible agency
Of The Federal Government 10 their con.
struction so variable in its character and /
degree, as 10 render il not little difficult
TO lay down any precise rule that will EN-.
brace the whole subject. The broadcast
and best defined division is that which dis
tmguishes between the direct construction
Of works Of Internal improvements by thu.
f General Government, end pecnniary assist.
ance given by it to such as are under aiken
by others In the former ore inc. aided The
: right to make and establish roads and
canals within the States, and the assumo
ton of as much jurisdicliors over the terri
!. tory they may occupy, os is necessary to
their preservation and use. The latter
: IS restricted TO simple grants Of money, in
u aid OF such works, when made under State
authority.
"Ihe Federal Government does not,
IN my opinion, possess the power first spe.
cIhed nos can it derive II from the assent
OF the State in which such works are 10
! be cons ructed. The money power, as il IS
& calle',, is not so free from difficulty. Fari
of.s rules have from time 10 time been sng.
gested by those who properly appreciate
!; 1 he importance ofprecison and certainty in
= he operations Of the Federal power; but
u they have been so frequently inrlnged upon
= the apparently unavoidable action Of the
- Government, that final and satstac
T" tory settlement Of The question has beer
prevented. - The wide difference between
i0 definition of the power in question upon
y paper, and its pratlcal application to iht
~ operations of Government, has been sensi'
~ bly, felt by all who have been entrusted
with the management of public AFFAIR."
u The whole subject was reviewed in the
Presidents Maysville message. Sincere
- believing that the best interess OF The
y whole country, and the quiet, not to say the
~ stability, ofthe Union, g. the preservation
!. VI that moral force which perhaps, as mucI
=. asany other, holds il together, imperif usly
~ required that the destructive course OF le
% gislaion upon that subject then prevalent
should, in some proper and constitutions
rs way be arrested, l throughout gave otht
id measure, Of which thai document was al
~ exposition, my active, Jealous, and anaiou
support.
- I" The opinions declared by the Presi
re- dent in the Maysyile, and his succedin;
to- annual message, as understand them, ar
as follows Isl. That Congress does no
possess the power TO make and establish
Y road or canal within State, with q righ
ne Of Jurisdiction to the extent ! have stated
for ana that if it is the wish Of the people tina
The the construction Of such works should b
undertaken by the Federal Government
previous amendment Of the Consiitutio
7 comforting that power and defining and 4
are strictinc its exercise, with reference |
the sovereignty of the States, ls indispensi
oy- bic. Cd. Aninllmation his belefthi
ere the right TO make appropriations ID aid ,
es; such Internal improvements as are Of
;or- national character, has been SO general
RI. acted upon, and SO long acquesced in y
10 the Federal and State Governments, an
'sly the constituents Of each. az 10 justify !
10 exercise, but that il ID nevertheless high
nee Iexpedient that even such appropriation
sed should, with The exception Of such as !
.ble late 10 lighthouses, beacons, buoys, publ
rom piers, and other improvements in the ha
Tres bors and navigahle rivers Of The Unit
var States, FOR the security and facility Of b
Ave foreign commerce, DO deferred at les
.pds until our national debts paid. Sd. Th
,cnt il II is the wish Of the people that /
+ az agency ofthe Federal Government shot
n Of DO restricted 20 The appropriation ofmons
ton and extended ID that form IN aid Of 81
lie undertakings. when carried on BY NJ
eral authority, men Me occasion, Me mann
4 10 and he ertent Of the dpprop riation, sho'
ton be made tie subject of Constitutional NJ!
y Il ldtiOH.
nv "sa these views | concurred !; and
con- likewise participated in the difficult
n of which were encountered, and express
find BY the President, ~ adopting ihe Pr'cl