The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-07

Maysyllls road and the Louisville ana Portland
canal. Nor can acts Of Congress, However numer-
ous be any precedents for the policy, far as TIE
democratic party is concerned. They were all car.
ried, az The bill before you now will probably be
carried by an interested potion Of the democratic
party uniting with the wings.
Mr. Chairman, the first great difference between
the two great parties in the Union after the constl-
tqton went into operation, arose as to the manner
Of eonsruing H. The federal party, dissatisfied with
the limitations in the constitution, eatly fesorted TO
construction to do them away. Thus, from the
power given TO Congress "to regulate commerce
with foreign nations and among the several States, "
they deduced the power to make a bank, enact
tariff laws for protecting manufactures, and TO carry
on ihtefnal IMPROVEMENTS by the general govern
ment The same things, and everything else, they
claimed under the clause "to provide for the COM
mon defence and general welfare" Thus wpng
out ~ the limitations in the constitution, and ma
king Congress and the general government omnipo-
tent over every interest In The Union. But il has
been reserved for day, to find deraoctsts taking
up the arguments Of the federal party with their
policy. The Secretary OF War; and the chairman
Of the Committee on Commerce would not disgrace
the most palmy day Of federalism, by their argu-
Insnts in favor Of the measure before you. They
are necessary 'for deiefees or they are "nstiosal
in their character -as If the method Of defending
tho country by armies, and naves and Notifications,
not specified in the constitutions and as if the
specified !! Sir, when gentlemen resort TO such ar
guments, there is but one way to reason with them:
If they do not deliberately design 10 destroy the
sttution, show that their policy will destroy it. |
take ii for granted that there is at least portion Of
this House, the democratic portion, who do not in
tend or desire 10 overthrow our system OF govern
ment with its careful distribution Of powers between
the federal and State governments. To them ad.
dress myself.
Take il for granted, that the measures before you
justihsbls, under the constitution, as measures
for defence. They include all the harborS In the
Union-Atlantic, lake, and river harbors. The
Missouri river threatens to run of from 81. Louis,
and thsrs is appropriation to keep it straight.
Then the rivers, all ms rivers in the Union, as
think have shown, taken unde! our iurisdic-
ton; and lastly, canals, and the power of owning
State corporations Of every kind. These are the spe-
cal measures Of the bill; but the principles will 60
much further. Sir, will gentlemen oblige us by giving
US reason why railroads will not properly be sub
jects for our appropriations under the principles OF
this bill VIII any one pretend that they will not
contribute as much 10 the defence OF the country
harboTs or rversS Does not every one know that
they far efficient for this purpose than all
other instruments Of internal improvement comb-
nedI Leave the constitution in it's specifications,
and resort TO any method OF construction to justify
internal improvements, and you mus, include rail-
roads, as The first in priHcipIe and importance for
your appropriations. Nor win the matter stop
here. II the constitution now gives you rower over
this limitless system OF internal improvements, you
possessed the power all along and no one will deny
that if in the partition of powers between the States
and the general government, this power was given
10 the general government, 1t the design Of the
constitution that il should be exercised The States
ought not to have attempted 10 exetcise IT. and, in
exercising it they have performed duty rightly
belonging to the general government. As legiti-
mate consequence therefore, the debts of the States
"A far innn ouoht he
assumed by the general government. This is no
extravagant speculation Of mine IL is direct logi
cal conclusion, already urged this floor by the
distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts,, Mr..
ADAMS And then, sir, on the other ground of ma
tionaty- national works only are to be carried on
by this government Whatever States are not COM
petent to do, we must assume lsHot this the very
petition taken by those who have bsen In favor Of a
United States bank A paper currency for the whole
Union, no State can furnish; therefore the General
government, as matter strictly national; shall fur
nish it, Is the Ohio, the Mississippi or Hudson rv-
ers more national than many schemes for connect
ing the western with the waters' than the
railroads, which, leaving the hill on which this Cap
itol stands, reaches into Mainei Sir, in a very
few years all distinction as to nationality from the
immensely Of their extension and communication
will be oblterated in the progress of railroads in in
ternal Improvements. The whole Union will be
joined together by its iron bahds; and along the
very rivers for which appropriations are contaified
in this bill, the mighty tide of our population will
pass on the railroad We must take under our
control and care all the works Of internal improve
ment In the Union, and assume all the debts of the
States.
Mr.. Chairman, know gentlemen will object to
this reasoning, because it assumes so much. They
will saw because have the power to do all these
things, it does not follow that we will exercise It.
Our discretion is a sufficient protection. Sir, | am
not reasoning on mere speculation. | am reason
100 C.o, waU frop he of
things. Internal improvements is no untricd exper-
iment in the Union. We have accomplished much
by its fundamentally; but look at its history in the
States, especially the western States, who are now
so DESTROYS that we should leap into its devourng
vortex What discretion have they exhibited in
controlling its abuses and excess' Millions Of debt
which they cannot will not pay with the dishon-
or of reputation throughout Europe resting over
the whole Union. If for works Immediately under
their eyes, with direct responsibility of represen-
tation and direct taxes to meet the system, it has
run into the most hideous and profigate excess in
the States what will it be when introduced into the
action of this government, with indirect, unseen
taxes to defray its costs, and more distant respoh-
sibility by representation, and greater ignorance
Of the subjects for appropriations from their vast
extent
But if experience had not taught us the fate of
this government under such system of appropria-
uon, 1t could not be mistaken, in the nature Of
things. Once fairly established the duty of this
government and instead of legisating for the limit
ed purposes for which the constitution was
made, (protection from foreign nations and pro-
lection from each other,) we will meet here
to play the grand game of plundering each other
Each interest must combine with others land the
least mertorious the more unscrupulous) to extort
from the rest Already we have the foretaste Of
the scenes which must occur, and the protection
which discretion will afford to abuses, in the fury
and union of the whole West for these appropra-
tons. All constitutional scruples, all party prnci
Piles, sink before every appropriation, no matter
what which goes to the West. Will not the same
unscrupulousness soon, under this system, from
necessity, reach the other sections Of the Unioni
And then what will we see' Not projects or objects
of internal Improvements merely struggling for ap-
preparations but the different sections Of the Union
entering into and ruling the fatal strife Talk Of dis
trbution amongst the States Of the money resulting
from the sales Of the public lands Why, sir, dis
tribution Of the money in the treasury, not only
from the public lands, but from every other source,
will be an nestimable blessing, if a refuge from
such a system of corruption and spoliation. And
where will be your tariff Where will be your dem
ocratic professions Of economy and purity in gov
ernmenp The taxes must be put up TO the very
last dollar of extortion, which an EXPERIMENTING