Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-03-17
MORE ABSTRACTlONS.

Our readers will have seen by the Compression.
al proceedings, that Mr.. S-ddon. the Representa-.
tive from this District, has moved an amendment
To the River and Harbor Bill, appropriating
$40, 90 10 remove distractions from James r..
yer. We regret however, 10 that the mover
Of the amendment. at the same time. assumed an
attitude of opposition TO the measure, in which he
was joined by his colleague and brother of the
strict construction school, Gen. Bayly.
We dOn'i prc.ume Tor single moment, to i'm.
pugn the motives o. these gentlemen. They must
he sincere, for what better proof can be- given OF
sincerity, than the sacrifice they are willing to
make of the interests of Virginia But. we con.
fess we have not much reverence for this subj
mlted patriotism. II is very fine. and chiyalrous,
no doubt; it looks like a lofty and magnaninous
Disregard Of sei,--for the old State Of Virginia, in
che midst of her poverty. to reject, with naughty
pride, the filthy lucre; and TO stalk among the
crowd of less iastidous States who are snalching
at the silver which Uncle sam is throwing 10
them from his we-ined pouch, with the glo,rny
hauteur Of decayed Spanish grandee among
crowd of beggars scrambng for coppers. All
rhis looks very magnificent abroad, but when we
get home, and gaze around at the bare and I'M
furnished apartments, and the scanty meal which
is spread upon the board we canLo, but indulge
secret envy Of the mendicant philosophers who
prefer confJr to display. and must acknowledge
to ourselves that poverty and pride ought not to
dwell beneath the same roof
We lose all patience, when we think Of thu
present condition Of the State. and the course o.
he's representative. Virginia lies PROSTATE upon
The earth, and they who should help her up. tie
new cords about her lIUibs. II she struggles for
deliverance, they keep her quiet with a straight
jacket Of strict construction. \ broad aud beau.
tiiul river rolls 10y her metropolis requiring but a
pitlance from the General Government to remove
the distractions to its navig alton. but the Consti
tuition stands in the way Yet, other Democrat
nc States receive millions upon millions from ia
General Government loT the imp ovement Of thei
rivers. Democratic members of Congress urg
fhese appropriations and defend their policy b,
che authority Of the most illusrious expounder
1f the Con siitution Mr.. Calhoun, the head O
she strict construction school, has yet found room
within the narrow limits Of his creed to ernbrac
the Western streams and the whole West W
venture 90 predict without distinction Of party
will support the new theory 81 VIZ. Calhoun, an
% soon as the scepire Of power fully passes int
as grasp, will thrust It's hands to the elbows int
Uncic Sans pockets, to obtain means for III
improvement Of it. navigation. Virginia alon
stands aloof Even the money from the publ
lands she can't receyr,--Bot fartbing,-thougl
ruth to say, she CID once accept her share Of
certain surplus, some thee millions Of dollars,
the shape Of a loan, which, by the way, she ba
never exhibited any intention Of returning. Poo
nd State One Of these days. she will give u
toe ghost, AMI her only cpitaph will be, that whic
Was once applied to different subject, "died q
excessive dignity"