Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1846-03-26
THE HARBOR AND RIVER BIJJ

There are many thousands Of excelIen, Democrats
throughout the length and breadth of the land and par
tcnarly IN Virginia aud the Southern S aies who
taught IRON childhood 10 regard Internal Improvement
by the Genrral Government, as violation of the con
sniion, have never ceased 10 gorliy Gen. JACKSON.
for having crushed, by the Maysville Veto the whole
system They believe doubtless, that since The dale Of
mat memorable state paper not single dnlla Of The
public money has eeen appropriated 10 lmprovement-ex
crp', perhaps, 10 work. which, having been aIres.
dy CO nmenced. policy required 10 be finished It would
he h"Iless ask 10 convince them, that less than one.
YAH as hinrh money was appropriated 10 Internal I'm,
P'sa"en's nnrng the administrations of Mr.. MONROE
q Mr. ADAMS" hich claimed The right aud arkaow.
ed.r" the obligation OF constructing Roads and Canals
ee''a" 'aeSas during The same number Of years uder
the admit 'trations Of Gen JACKSON and Mr. VAN BIZ.
Rss' o"n I" VINO II drh'ei The cohsiutionaliy of the
power and dlscamed lis exercise with pa;rioc borror
Aai yet this fact is easily established by the public doe
unens. The disparity Of The sums Appropriated in the
respective periods, is rendered more remarkable fro col
lateral circumstances Before the accession Of Gen ,ck,
san, at least anterior the Maysvie Veto several o,
the most powerful States Of the contderacy deeply ine
rested n the cause improvements & despany of aid
from Congress, had wisely taken the matter into their
own hands. and by their energy and enterpze accom-
plIshed works, which would have been deemed beyond
The capacity Of the General Government 10 achieve
Having Thus unaidtd, made their own Roads and Ca.
nails, 1t was not surprzing that New York. Pennsyva,
MA aud Ohio-though clamorous for the exercise
oil the rghtshoud have new views of the constitution
and souy deny alike the policy and the pow er of Con-
eess to make Internal improvements. 1t vasat least a
pardonable selfshness in them They had been refused
all aid by the General Government towards their pro
Jected works-they had manully accomplished them
win their own resonrces-and cannot blame them
Tor being reluctant 10 destroy the advantages which
their priority in Improvement gave by helping other
States with The national funds construct rival works
These three pres States, therefore, during the admin
isratnn OF Gen Jackson and his Immediate successor
were virtually hostile to Improvement BY the National
Government-if not from strict views of constitutional
po~er-irom considerations less to be depended npon
VIZ, those Of a natural and moi cersurabIe selfish
ness.
The doctrines Of the Maysvle Veto were in a orest
degree illusory. and better calculated TO streno,ber
the power of The executive than To arrest the work nj In
ternal lnprovem mt by the Federal G,vernment-T
exceptions and limitations made were broader than III,
rule This is proved by the fart, sa:ed before. ,ha
congress has appropriated annually mure mcney To In
provemen'. since the Than befure--I 1t was uncon
suiional for The Governn enl Ia Subscribe few th,
sands to The stock Of Turnpike iunninp sou,hva,ly
through kentucy 5ui constitutional for il t cns,rur
al lis exclusive and very great COST Turnphe runtipo
"es'wardy 'hrorgh the States Of Ohil Indiana and mi
10 bills FOR This latter purpose Gen Jackson and
MI VAN pUREN bnth gave their sarctiun Then,
uonality OF the work makes it constitutional Iva, h.
rfes'oeni Is to Judge Of this nationality This
"on oy The veto 10 the President in our onin,, bos
nm with more tremendous power and PATRONAGE ,,,,n
would the fullest exercise of the RICH, of Imnoveno,
~ congress In some well dgesled system
Inc veto, whilst it bore hard upon improvements b,
e"' really opened the treasury all who wanted mo,
"ey 'ol deepening habors building break waters. and
removing ubslruc,ns in rivers nice distinction u,s
u'd"n between the lawiulness Of improvements be,v
' doo'e Forts of EniryThus it would. according +,
""'AsoNs views, he constitutional TO appropriate
ey 10 remove obsruclious in the navios,o, of tbs
's"'eS River below Rchmo,d-bul entirely wrooo IN
Tn a cent i" Improving The stream above tina, civ
yves OF seamen and the safety Of ships-foreigu
lug" they may be--en,erlng New Orleans from be.
are recognized as constituting legitimate objects o
s'e u g"vernmen-but hoatmen and steamers de-
!" me city. may be drowned or snacged ane
we''e'n"ent is not bound to apply reaiedy. On
'S'ofh arehren however, have taken the hint and an