Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-04-01


ments are to be organized over a people,
the one carved out of the other, there
might be, in the absence of history, the
gravest doubts as TO the powers conceded
or retained. The Constitution Of the Uni
led States, it is true, is but bundle of
special grants. When a power, therefore,
is not specially and plainly granted, the
presumption must be against 1t. But this
presumption must be an overriding fact.
where it has been expressly proposed, in
the convention which formed the Consti-
tuition, TO be given, and ii has been denied. |
There is no room for argument. Power /
may assert and dogmatize, but it can con
vince no one, but him whose interests or
prejudices control his reason. To main
tain, after the history of the Convention
have laid before you, that Congress I" can
provide for cutting canals" or "to open
roads and nayIgatlons,o in the absence of
any such power IN the Constitution, and
the express refusal TO grant it in the con
vention which made il, is a proof how
vain is right in struggles for power Co
verneur Morris's whole batch of federal
ism, was put down and rejected in the
convention. 1t grasped both the taxing
and expanding power, and was designed
TO render both limitless, excepting at the
discretion of Congress- AS money is the
great instrument of all government, he
knew that unlimited power over money,
was all that was necessary 10 secure con-
solidation in government. How he would
| triumph if he were now upon this floor,
and saw his whole policy complete, not BY
by the instrumentalty of his ancient
friends, but by that of his ancient foes?
A tariff $50 promote manufactures" finds
advocates amongst the Democracy Of the
North. Appropriations to open roads
and navigation" is upheld BY the Demo
cracy of the West. Doubtless, sir, he
would consider them capital good Fede-
ralSts.
Internal improvements is no untried ex-
pertinent in The Union. We have accom-.
plished much by its instrumentaIity but
look at its history in the States, especially
in the Western States who are now so de.
sirons that we should leap into its devour-
ing vortex. What discretion have they
exhibited in controlling its abuses and ex-
cess? If, for works Immediately
under their eyes, with a direct responsible
ity of representation, and direct taxes to
meet the system. it has run into The most
hideous and profiigafe excess in the States
what will it be when introduced into
the action of this Government, with indi-
rect. unseen taxes to defray It's costs, and
more distant responsibility by represen-
tation, and greater ignorance of the sub
jects for appropriations, from their vast
extent2
But if experience had not taught Us
the fate Of this government under such a
system of appropriation, il could not be
mistaken, in the nature of things. Once
fairly established as the DUTY OF this Co
vernment, and instead of Iegislating for
the limited purposes for which the Consti-
tuition was made, (protection from foreign
nations, and protection from each other,
we will meet here, to play the grand game
OF plundering each other. Each interest
must combine with others, (and the least
meritorlous the more unscrupulous) to ex-
tort 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 f"r-these appropriations.
!, All constitutional scruples, all party prin.
: cipes, sink before every appropriation
2 no matter what-which goes TO the West
9 And then what will we see? Mo- projects
: or objects of internal Improvements mere
! y struggling for appropriations, but the
I different sections of the Union, entering
into and ruling the fatal strife. Talk o
: distribution among the States of the mo
!, nev resulting from the sales OF the public
e lands! Why, sir, distribution of the mo
E ney in the treasury, not only from the pub
I lie lands, but from every other source
will be an inestimable blessing, if a re
' fuge from such system of corruption
0 and spoliation. And where viii be YOU
tariff? Where will be your democratic
5 professions of economy and purity in go
j vernment? The taxes must be put up t
. the very last dollar Of extortion, which al
: experimenting and saieless lust for appro
! priations must engender. Your appropri
: atoms viii only be limited BY your inabill
!. ty to wiring more taxes from the people
) The protective policy will moi then res
3 on ingenious sophistries or party Iealty 70
: It's support, but it will riot in kindre
4 corruption, and be as eternal as the pre-
J. dominance Of selfishness and ayarice, in
! system Of government from which all goo
y has fed. The Democratic party-thf
! proud party, which once aimed at the big
destiny OF preserving the Constitutes