The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-12-26
Memphis Convention.

We have read over with a crea, deal of care
the long article in Yesterday sConsttulionalist in
reference to the Memphis conveHtion, bu, for the
life Of us. have not been able to iathnan whist the
editor Is trying 10 make out. The ground ASSUME
ed Ia the article three weeks ago, on which We
commen,c., was that the principles adopted by
, the Memphis convention had until lately been
opposed hy the democratic party. aud that now,
in approaching them, that party had changed its
position. Iftbe article Of yesterday is intended
to back W this position, (and We are unable to
see wha, other object it can have in view then
we say it has esrgiousy failed, and even more
II has shown the converse of the position to he
r0e. Every candid man, Who viii carefully ex-
anime the extracts from the messages of Gen
jackson, quoted in the Article in question, will
cnncrde the doctrine he maintains To be this
That congress has no power to construc, roads
and canals within the territory Of the states and
tn assume rs much jurisdiction over the territory
they NAV occupy as is necessary to their prescr-
Walton and use, except, of course they be purely
for purposes Of national defence. This is the
gis, OF al the extracts. Ii the author of the ar
clr in the ConstitulionaIist had ielt disposed 10
do Gen. jackson and the democtalc party full
justice, he might have given an extract Or Two
more from the Maysvi,le road veto, showing what
ion, congress tad right To make appropriations
FOR. lie would thus have shown these to I've works
purely Of national character, and not within the
power or legitimate province If any particular
state or states TO construct, such as the improve
ment Of the great lakes and navigable rivers oi
the United States, and the erection Of lighthouses,
bcacons, public piers, harbours, &c, for the fact
lily and security OF our foreign commerce. This
is the whole ground assumed hy Gen. Jackson
and maintained by the democratic party, aud it
was taken in opposition 10 the wild, neinrious
doctrine Of Clay and the iederasis that congress
had power and should exercise it, to construct
roads and canals and improve rivers within the
territory Of The states, on the ground that all in
iernal Improvements, communicating from one
state TO another, were Of national importance
This doctrine would make the Eric canal tie
Erie Railroad, ard almost every other canal, rail
road, and turnpike in the L. 5. works that could
be legtimatey prosecuted by the national govern.
mcnt The death blow 10 this abomiJie hercsy
was given by the MaysviIle road veto, and lhe
democratic doctrine advanced by Jackson adopted
by the nation aud SIC now ask the reader to ey-
anime that doctrine, and then cast bis eyes over
the - resolutions Of the Memphis convention,
and see if there is single recommendation
made that cot ilcls with that doctrine. Is there
a single measure recommended that one, tive, or
three Individual states cou ID he reasonably asked to
carry on; J Any work OF local character! Or
not purely for purposes Of national defence We
needpursue the subject no furthof. We will not
tax our nsighhor again with gross ignorance or
wi,iu perversion,' hut If he is guilty Of neither.
he has certainly attempted to mysiiy a very
plain matter that he should have understood.