Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-04-05

SHOW 10 reply what the Whig principles
were, and their effects, was oil out OF or.
der. Be 1t so. And aS il was out Of
order 10 say any thing against Mr.. Van
Buren he would have to subni. and
pass 10 something else
Look 10 The Tariff and ReErenchment for
means
1t had been asked by Sevsral GENTLE
men, whore was the money 10 come
from TO make the Improvement lin
order, he would answer the inquiry.
He would, 10 the first place, adhere 10
The present protective tariff, which
would soon yield an ample surplus, by
making the people prosperous, and fur.
nlshIng them the means 10 purchase aud
consume foreign imports: The revenue
would sIways be in exact proportion 10
the ability Of the people. TO purchase and
consume foreign goods. And 10 The
next place, he would ger the money FOR
their Western improvements, by re-
trsnching the expenditures on the sea.
board, on the army, and navy, and forts
and Notifications The increased ex
PendlIures for the war and naval depart.
menls, had been enormous. and ought
10 be greatly reduced. The average
expenditures for the war and navy de-
ParImentS during Mr.. Adams admins
IfaIion. amounted TO only S7,75O 600
per year; during Mr.. Van Buren's ad-
ministratlon, they had increased 10 SIG,
$4,000 peryesr. and this year there is
required upwards Of II milions!! In
lb'Se branches. there ought 10 be a re
duclion OF FIVE or six millions at least.
He would never vote for duties on tea or
coffee, or otherwise tax his constituents
20 keep up these enormous and useless
eslabIlshmenis--useless, 90, and worse than
use less. ln peace and in war. a good
system Of roads and canals, with tho
cillZene, soldiers and volunteers, rapidly
concentrated and moved without fatigue
10 any point whore their presence might
be required, was moro efficient and
available system OF defence for such a
country as this, than ell line forts, and
(orti6calions, and stending armies, that
could be raised. For this he had au-
Ihority Of the most distinguished men
that ever graced the War Department OF
this Governmont-and among them,
Calhoun, Cass end Spencer, whose re-
ports Oo this subject we're most able and
conclusive. With the rail roads since
constructed from this city, North and
South, what hostile foot could have ever
Prolaned this cspitoIi Before the enc
my could have got out TO sea from Bal.
limore, the forces from Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore could
have been concentrated, with oil their
munitions OF war, at lhH point for lis dc
fence. OF what use were your forts
tho enemy went round them, and cap
lured and burnt your city almost with
out resistance; and with The present i'm
proVemenIs in the West, Upper Cana
da would have been taken without a
struggle. He would, therefore, take
from the army and navy, and from forls
and Notifications, enough TO make all
these Western improvements without
increasing The expenditures OF the Gov
eminent, or tho burdens oflhs people.
The claims Of these Western rivers
10 The fostering care oithe Government
were peculiar and imperative. These
rivers were the internal concerns Of no
State in The Union, they we're external
10 all the Slales-they were boundaries,
like The Atlantic, they washed the
shores Of many States, but passed thro'
the territory of none. No State, there.
fore, ever had, or ever would appro-
pirate a dollar for their improvement; !;
hence they must be improved by the
Government, or remain forever as they
now are. The subject would, he hoped, i,
be referred TO a select committee, or The
Committee on Roads and Canals, and
mol TO The Ways and Means, who have,
we are informed, refused to appropriate
Slto internal improvements OF any
kind, no doubt on constitutional grounds,
as two thirds OF that committee were
friends 10 Mr. Van Buren,, who denied
the power, as had been shown.
The Constitutional pOuer considered.
How any constitutional lawyer could
deny TO this Government the power to
improve rivers and make roads and ca.
mails, he had always been alta lose 10
comprehend. This power was just as
clear. and sustained on precisely the
same grounds, as the power to erect a
fort, improve q harbor, or 10 purchase q
mail bag. The Constitution gave Con-
Rress no express authority 10 do any o!
those 'hingS; ,hey we're incidental 10 the
power OF defence cS-of regulating com.
merce' and establishing post Offices,
which power necessarily carried with
them the means olthsir own execution
but the cypress authority was given TO
Ill l.. \