The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-08-22

sanctioned and become law, whsI
practical constitutional restraint car
hereafter be imposed upon The most ex'
tended system Of internal Improvements
by the fedeasI government in all parts
! of the Union. The constitution has
not, in my judgment, conferred upon
the federal government within theSstes
or TO appropriate money from the treas.
Iury for that purpose. That this bill as
sumes for the federal goVernmsat th,
righ, TO exercise this power, cannot, !
lhlrk be doubted. The approved course Of
the government, and the deliberately ex.
pressed judgment of the people, have
denied the existence of such a power
under The constitution. Several Of my
predecessors have denied its existence
IN the most solemn iorms.
The general proposition that the fed
eraI government does no, possess Ibis
power IS so well settled, and has for 2
considerable period been so generally
scquiesced 10, that it is not deemed
necessary TO reiterate The arguments by
which it is suslained.-Nor do | deem
II necessary, after the full and elaborate
discuss ons which have taken place be-
fore the country on this subject, 10 do
more than state the general considers-
ION which have satisfied me at the un-
consliIutonali'y aud inexpediency OI
he exercise Of such power.
Ii is mol questioned that the federal
government is one OF limited powers.
It's powers as such, end such only as
are expressly granted in the consilu,
lion, or are properly incident 10 the ex,
pressly granted powers, and necessary
TO their execution. 10 determining wheth
er a given power has been granted, a
Down by M. Madison.-Thst rule 49,
hat whenever question arises con-
ceruing particular power, The ms
question is whe,he. the power be eX
dressed 10 the constitution. II II be ih'
question is decided. II be, not ex
nressed, the next inquiry must br
whether it is properly an incident tt at
expressed power, aud necessary to ii
,xeculion.' i is not pretended tha
here is any express grant 10 The constr
ution confer ing on Congress the pow
ar iu question. Is il then an incldenls
power, necessary and proper for The ex
4 -cu,on of any of the granted powers.
. is ccnh1enlly fImed, may be ettecluali
4xecuted without lhe aid Of such an in
clden,. "A power 10 be Incidents
mus, nol be exercised for ends whic
make il principal, OF substantive po"
r, independen; of The principal powe
- % which il is an Incident !; is {
nough that il may be regarded by Cor
gres. as ronvenienf, or that its exc
else would advance The public veal.
; must be necessary and Proper to 1t
execution Of The principal eXPresse
q power TO which it is an Incident, an
=, without which such principal pow'
, cannot be carried into effect. The who
hsme Of the federal constitution prov
that the government which iI Great
was intended 10 be one Of limited al
: specified powers. A construction
the constitution so broad as that
which the power in question is defe
ln ded, tends impercepubly TO conso
~. dation Of power 10 government lnle
RS ded by its trainers to be thus limited
le Its authority. The obvious Ienden
h. and inevitable result NJ consoIldsil
q. of the States into one sovereignty wo'
its be TO iranslorm The republican system
10 the United States into monarchy
ed guard against the assumption Of all pc
On. ers which enroach upon the reser'
to sovereignty Of the SbIes, and VIII
ate consequently tend to consolidation.
mi the duty Of all The true friends Of
Of political syslem.-That The power
bra, question is not properly an incident
70. ans, oG tho urantad mowers | am Il