Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-29
MR.. CALUOuN-INTERNA IMPROVE.
MENT...-THE PRESIDENCY.

Mr.. Cahouns great Report, upon which II -
known he has been for some time employed, and
in which he will doubtless put forth all the
strength Of his gigantic intellect, in response to
the Memorial OF the Memphis Convention, asking
from Congress appropriations towards the I'M
provemcnt Of our magnificent finland seas and
their numerous tributaries, and looking also to
their future connection, by long lines of railroad
with several important CONNIE rcal points in the
interior, and with others lying upon the Southern
sea board. Mr.. Calhoun, il will be remembered,
presided over that distinguished body, and contr.
buted in no small degree to shape its final dec-
sions, by the able speech delivered on taking the
Chair In that speech Mr.. Calhoun claimed for
the General Government right, and asserted its
duty under certain restrictions, To aid in the i'm.
provement Of our great public highways TO which
the resources of the individual States are UNEQUAL
even if their jurisdiction over them were unques.
tionabe. Ii startled of course, the selfconstitu-
ted and peculiar guardians and champions of the
s.principlcs of $780," who have uniformly de-
MED the power of the general government TO
make appropriations for purposes of internal i'm
provement, but who have just uniformly las the
history Of Gen. Jackson's and Mr.. Van Burens
Administrations proves) made them whenever
they deemed it erpedient so to do. But the time
was not then, and perhaps is not now, quite ripe
for the accommodation of Mr.. Calhoun, and
consequently, they received his speech, as they
did Cen JacksOn's proclamation with one of
those gentle ''proeStdndOS," which were at one
time as common, and generally more harmless,
than Mexican pron,mcidmeafo. Whether the
appearance of the Report will induce them to I'M
thn,r haft ho
are told, by the accurate Washington correspon
dent Of the Philadelphia North American, that it
was read on the 23d inst, in the Select Commit
tee to which the Memphis Memorial had been re.
ferred, and will therefore be reported TO the Sc
nate at an early day. We learn, from the same
source, that the Report deduces the power of the
general government TO make appropriations for
objects of internal Improvement (such, we pre-.
sumo as Gen. Jackson in his Maysville Veto
Message, described of "a national character
from the clause of the Constitution authorizing
Congress to regulate commerce among the seve-
raj States. Under this provision we understand
Mr.. Calhoun contends not only for the right and
the duty of the federal government TO improve the
navigation of our finland seas" and their tributa
RES but also that it may construct a railroad
from Memphis to Charleston, and thence to the
Columbia river, on the Pacific, If necessary.
We await the appearance Of Mr. Calhouns
Report with no little curiosity. We are anxious
not only to read the argument, ingenious and pow
erful as il will doubtless be, by which he will at
tempt the demonstration of his position but TO see
the manner in which it will be received, and its
author treated, by the school of ''stric construc
tionists,' who are always stickers for the
very letter Of the Constitution, except when hev
have some important object to accomplish by
overlapping its restrictions, or by detecting a
latent and overshadowing grant Of power in
some one of its obscursr clauses sufficiently broad
to cover their designs.
The correspondent OF the american" only
gives voice to the general Though suppressedl
opinion of the friends of Mr.. Calhoun's rival as.
pirants for the Presidency, when he intimates
that Mr.. &. will be charged with holding out
his lure to the West, for the purpose of strength
enng himself in that growing section of the Con.
federacy, which is destined, if united, to
make Presidents for the Union, and to control
the policy Of the Government In this opinion
however he does not concur, because, as he pro. |
perry remarks, "eyery statesman is entitled TO
have his measures regarded as being influenced
by the purest and most patriotic motives and
doubtless those Of Mr.. Calhoun are as free
from the contagion Of selfinerest as those of
most public men," He then throws out the fol-
lowing interesting facts and speculatons:
1, will lo Ihon be considered improper in this con-
necton speak Of his aspirations the chief maRslra
cy Mr. Calhoun will go into nation |
al u his party again. He has denounced their
machinery In pg6ic and his private are known 10
all vino have the leading political circles. He in
tends independent candidate. and hopes
with the support Of Florida South Carolina Alabama
ssissippi, aud Texas the Soub, and Virginia, II she
be drawn from her submission party dcaton. Thu
Is his imagined capathen he relies his general Con-
servatve course TO enlist support elsewhere. IL y antci
pated, matter Of that the Wings aud the other
wing properly the main body Of the Democratic
party. will make their regular nominations. BY this
means IL Is hoped, II Mr.. Calhoun csnno, secure a ma
IoriV Of the States, the election will be earned 10 the
House Of Representatives, and his submitted a. one
The three highest candidates In such an event there
expectation of coalition being formed TO elects Wing
President, and as the Wings will hold the balance Of pow
or. 10 hoped with more confidence than discover
ssuiy they will unite upon Mr. Calhoun In pre-
Terence 20 more ulifn partisan.
This - the general idea Of the plan Of the Presidential
campaign, laid out by Mr. Calhojas friends do not
design to connect him personally with the movement; but
De hardly be ignorant II the purpOscs Of those in
whom he most conhdes."
Upon these speculations we have now no re-.
mark to make farther than ths-thai, IN our opi.
Mon, to Mr.. Calhoun's intrepid course at the com.
mencement Of the session Of Congress, more than
20 that Of any other single individual Is tho peace
able adjustment Of the Oregon question attribute.
Bile; and, in our estimation. that act particularly
when the circumstances by which he was sur.
rounded, are considered entities him to the endu.
ring admiration and gratitude Of his country We
are not disposed to detracl, ia this remark, from
the credit justly duo to Mr.. Webster, to Mr.. Crit
tondcn, to MI Archer, to Mr.. Mangum, and to
other leading Wings or TO Messrs Haywood and
Benton, Of the other party, who, at later stages Of
tho discussion, threw themselves into the breach,
10 disabuse the public mind Of the erroneous i'm.
Prcss'ons IN relation to the extent Of our rights in
Oregon created by the Inaugural Of Mr.. Polk,
the diplomatic letter Of Mr.. Buchanan, the edito.
riala Of the Washinpton uninn- md The .nnnoho.