Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-05-05

were justified, to bring into the Confederacy TO
reign empire, as though il had been a new State,
partitioned off from our own vast domains. To
twt others with latitudinarian construction in the
iace Of &c, like this, is indeed, 'the devil re-
proving SIN" But intending only to advert to
this question, now n settled one, incidentally and
by way Of ILLUSTRATION, we turn TO scene that has
Just transpired in the Senate Of the u. States.
Two bills have recently received the sanction Of
that body, by overwhelming msjorties, in which
the right Of the General Government 10 make ap.
preparations for works OF local Improvement with
in the States has been clearly and emphatically
recognized. And we could not but be amused to
perceive that Mr.. Calhoun, who warmly sustain
ed the principle on which these bills rest for sup.
port. was gravely lectured for thus violating the
Constitution and encroaching on Estate Rights
by Mr.. Niles Of Connecticut-a section Of the
Union in which it had been supposed "abstrac-
tons" like these found but little favor The bills
referred to authorize the donation Of alternate sec
tons of the public land, to aid in the construction
Of Canal in Michigan, and Of Rail Road in
Mississippi. Mr. Calhoun said, "he had not the
slightest doubt that the Government not only had
the right as the proprietors of the public domain,
to grant portions of that domain, for such a pur
pose, but that j, was the duty OF the Government
to do so." And Gen. Cass took similar ground.
contending that under the plenary power given
by the Constitution to Congress, to dispose of
the public lands, there is no limit whatever to
its discretion in the administration of the trust.
Ii these positions be tenable, however, we beg
leave to ask, what becomes Of the constitutional
objection so often urged to the distribution among
all the States of the proceeds of the sales of the
Public Lands Why may not Congress distri-
butte the fund arising from their sale equally to
all with as much proPriety as to donate to the
few in which they lie portions Of the land itself,
whatever be the uses to which it is to be applied!
If IT may give immense bodies of the public do.
main 10 a State in which the lands lie, 10 open
Canals and TO construct Rail Roads, (even where
there are no finland seas" nor tributaries there.
with connected) why may it not, with equal pro-
Priety, make specific appropriation OF money
derived from the sales of these lands to the same
works or TO similar Improvements in other States!
Where, we ask, is the constitutional impeachment
in the case, that does not apply in the otherl
With all respect for the astuteness of Mr. Cal
noun anu oil lnOse VINO concur Win nun III tue
business of the distinction he has attempted to
draw, confess that are wholly unable TO
perceive the slightest difference, far the
constitutional argument Is involved, between d.
rect appropriation of money from the Treasury
10 work of local improvement in Virginia, and
an indirect appropriations by the donation of lands,
which are to be sold for money TO Michigan and
Mississippi, to aid in the construction of similar
works in those States. Mr.. Niles was therefore
right when he characterized the doctrine as
..broad and ilimitable"-as broad at least, as the
whole policy OF internal Improvement, and limited
only by the caprice of Congress. Yet, only
twelve members of the Senate voted against these
bills, asserting, in our estimation, doctrine,
wholly at war not only with one of the "ancient
and well established principles of the Republican
party, but also of the 'mOdern democracy, who,
although they in their political meetings never
fail 10 denounce internal Improvements by the
General Government as departure from the de-
sign of its founders, have yet uniformly expended
more money for this object, when in power, than
the party which they reproach with being more
especially favorable to that policy.
May we not then again ask, after this hurried
exposition of the practices of the democracy,
lohdt are SHE true principles of the ancient and
well established democratic creed p 1t would
puzzle the congregatsd Sanhedrim Of that party
to give satisfactory reply to the interrogatory.