Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-07-22
From the Charleston Mercury.
MR.. CALHOUN'S REPORT.

MIR. CALHOUN'S REPORT.
! We have purposely deferred commenting
on this remarkable document. both because
we desire TO express no hasty opinion, au.'
because in so great matter ii was bus
fair 10 our reader to allow them TO judy
unprejudiced by any opinion of ours. A..
who stud y politics, knowing the vast I'M
porlance of this topic of Internal Improve
ment, whether regarded as a question Of
constitutional construction, or Of fsc:
economy, or Of party interest. have oi
course carefully read MIR. Calhoun's evpn
siiion. And we doubr not that The strict
State Rishrs men have fell themselves
especially called on 20 weigh ma,urcly Ibis
Report, not only because it treats of "a
| question always associated with State
Rights. but because it comes from the
statesman who has long been their honor
ed leader, and sill more. because Nv lis
constant appeals 10 The Constitution as The
only law on this suhjeci. it muniIestly ap
peaIS especially TO them.
Well, we have ever claimed to be Of The
sricIest among Stale Rights men. and
trust we have unr been .Ehnly inefficient
soldiers in The defence of the Constitution
against those who maintain that The will
Of The majority is the supreme law Of the
land. Against the system Of Internal i'm
! provement bv the General Government,
we have ever warred. and cxper 10 do SO
to the end. Upon all The issues made
between the friends and opposers Of that
system, we have stood with lar latter feel
ing that they were right in lhs constr, c.
liou of The Constitution, and right pnIicy.
With these feelings and convictions, we
have studied Mr.. Caihoun's Report, and
we can see no answer To his argumenl-
we believe i. unanswerable. Not how.
ever, as vindicalon Of loose construct NJ
of The Constitution. or Of Internal improve
menl 10y the Federal Government. Il
goes no step towards these ends. Norhing
ever cmanuled from The author more dis.
tinguisied for manifest aud pervading
venrraliOn for the Constitution. Every
principle is drawn directly from thar in
sruncn, aud every Limitation oilha State
Rights doctrine, is sleruly enforced. There
! is nothing vague either in argument or in
cuncluSions-nr advance is made under
cover Of mist, aud when we reach The
deduciinus, we know exactly. what they
cover a singular clearness and precisnn
of helinilion charactcri2rs the whale dncu.
nient. Vel win all this, Mr.. Calhoun
reaches Il conclusion hitherto deemed in
admissible by lie Republican party, that
The Federal Government has l.,e pOwc OF
improving an,! rendering SAFE the naviga'
;i"n of the Mississippi and lis principle
I brauchcs-a power which has always been
i iden,ificd with thatfo huit,l and Improve
! harbt,rs of commerce, 10 construct roads
| and to improve The navigation uf every
little stream in the Union. II is hy care
fully separating il from all these. by refer
in9 il la q dislincr crauI Of the CGnslilu'
lion. and establishing lis identity in char
ac'er aud object with the power 10 make
safe the navigation of the Atlantic coast.
thai Mr.. Calhoun arrives al conclusions IN
which every State Rights man can heart
lily assent.
He denies The consiiuiona!i;y Of any
Improvements which t,ro States can effect.
because The constitution allows of com
pacts, under The SANCTION of Congress, Of
TWO States for such purpose. But it alb
solu,ely !orbds all alliances or cOmpacIs
Of three or more States. of consequence
all improvements depending upon such
general union are impossible, unless within
the power of the Federal Government.
He repudiass all expenditures for har.
bor's of commerce-the States having the
right, with The sanction Of Congress. to
levy tonnage duties adequate to their i'm
pr0vemeut. He holds the construction OF
roads and canals beyond the power ofCon
gress.-such works being always strictly
within the States and under their exclu
sive jurisdiction, aud moreover the States
and individuals being always equal to all
such undertakings If they are worth
making, they will always repay heir cost.
The power TO "resulale commerce" has
from the commencement of the govern
meni, by the consent of all, been interpre-
ted to contain the. power to render the nav
igatiOI OF the Atlantic coast safe, by such
measures as were of common benefit to
al. usiDg it. il this case the dangers
were of a kind that could not be removed,
and the power has been exercised by Poin
ling them out, tIia, they may be avoided
as by the CONSTRUCTION Of Light no uses, the
placing of buoys. &c. Like dangers on
the Mississippi and its branches impede q
commerce as great, and shared by as many
States ! but they are of a kind that cannot
lie pointed out to he avoided, and can be
REMOVED. THE conclusion is irresistible,
tina, the power should be exercised in. the
way that will make It's exercise beneficial, i,
and that will attain The blec,, OF render
Ing the transit of commerce safe. Ic this
purpose. Mr.. Calhoun limits the power 10
T appropriate money to these rivers, and he
shows that very moderate expenditure,