Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-08-13

the Government; tnougl admit 1t TO be DOW
which should be exercised with very great ca
ana discretion. Congress has power to regul,
commerce, both internal and external.and wba
ever might have been thought to be the liter
Interpretation of these terms, we know II
} construction to have becn from the very fir
assembling Of Congress, and BY the very mr
who framed the Constitution that the rcprlatir
of commerce comprchcnded such measures ,
were necessary for its support its ilnprov,
ments, its advancement and justified such G,
penditures rs Piers, Beacons and Lighthouse
and the clearing out of harbors required. In.
tances OF this sort, in the application of the gel
eral revenue, have been frequent, from the cor
inencement OF the Government. As the sam
power precisely exists in relation to internal a
to external trade, it was not easy to see VIII
made on Internal ohio at not be justified, whe
the WesL are penetrated ny rveIs, or w1nc
those of Europe are but as rills and brooks
But the navigation of these noble streams, wash
inr, as they do, the margin OF one-thirl of tn
States of the Union, was INSTRUCTED BY obstacle.
capable of being removed and yet not likely t.
he removed but by the power of the Genera
Government Was this a iustitiabc object 0
expenditure from the national treasury? With
out hesitation, have thought it was. A vas
chain of lakes, if it be not more proper to cal
them succession of inland seas, stretches int,
the deep interior Of this Northern part of tn
continent, as if kindly placed there by Proyi
dence to break the continuity Of the land an,
afford the easier and reader intercourse of waite
conveyance But these vast lakes required also
harbors, and lights, and break-waers. Ant
were these lawful objects of National Legisla
ton To me, certainly, they have appeared
to be such. as clearly as if they were on the At
lantic border In most of the new States OF the
West, the United States are yet propretors o
vast bodies of land. Through some of thest
States. and sometimes through these same
public lands, the local authorities have prepared
TO carry expensive canals, for the general benc
fiji OF the country. Some of these undertakings
have been attended with great expense, anc
have subjected the States, whose entcrprsing
spirit has begun and carried them on, to large
debts and heavy taxation. The lands OF the
United States, being exempted from all taxation
of course bear no part of this burden. Looking
to the United States. therefore, as landed pro
prietor, essentially benefited by these improve.
ments, have felt no difficulty in voting for the
appropriation of parts of these lands as reason.
able contribution by the United States to these
general objects. Most of the subjects to which
have referred, are much less local in their in
fueuce and Importance than they might seem
The break-water in the Delaware, useful to Phi.
ladelphia, is useful also to all the ship.owner>
in the United States and indeed to all interest.
ed in commerce, especially that great branch
the coast-wise commerce. II the mouths Of the
Southern rivers be deepcned and improved, the
neighboring cities are benefited. but so also are
the ships which visit them: and if the Missis.
sippi and Ohio be rendered more safe for nayi ga
ton, the great markets for consumption along
their shores are the more readily and cheapy
approached BY the products of tie Factories and
the Fisheries of New England. 1t is my opinion
Mr.. President, that the present Government,
cannot be maintained but by administering it or
principles as wide and broad as the country
over which it extends. mean, of course. nc
extension of the powers which it confers but
speak of the spirit with which those powers
should be exercised. II there be any doubts
whether so many republics, covering so great a
portion of the globe, can be long held together
under this Constitution, there is no doubt. in
my judgment of the imposs bility Of so hcl ling
them together by any narrow, contracted local
or selfish system of Legislation. To render the
Constitution perpetual, (Which God grant it may
be- il is necessary that lis benefits should be
practically felt, by all parts of the country, ant
all interests in the country. The Fast and the
West, the North and the South must all see
their own welfare protected and advanced by it
While the Eastern frontier is protected by lurti
iications. its harbors improved, and its com
mnrce defended by naval force. it is right an,
Just that the region beyond the Allegheny shoul
receive fair consideration and equal attention
in any objects of public improvement, interest
ing to itself, and within the proper power o
the Government. These sir. are, in brief, thu
general views by which | have been governed
on questions of this kind and trust they ar,
such rs this meeting does not dsapprove,'
Gentlemen, five years after the expression o
these opinions, that is to say, in Juy, 1888,
had occasion to repeat them in substance, in al
address to the citizens Of Pittsburg. Extracts
rom that address, taken from printed volume
take the liberty to insert.
"Gentlemen, your worthy Mayor has alluded
to the subject Of internal Improvements. llav
ing no doubt of the power OF the General Gov
eminent over various objects. comprised in thai
denomination, ! confess that have felt grca
pleasure in forwarding them, to the extent o
my ability, by means OF reasonable government
aid. 1t has seemed strange to me, that, in the
progress of human knowledge and human virtue
{ for have no doubt that both are making pro-
gress,) the objects of government should so long
have been principally confined to external al
fairs, and to the enactment of the general laws
without considering how much may be done by
the government, which cannot be done without
it, for the improvement OF the condition of the
people. There are many objects, OF great value
to man, which cannot be attained by unconnect
ed individuals, but must he attained, if attained
at all, by association For many of them, gov
eminent seems the most natural and most ETH
cicnt association Voluntary association ha.
done much, but it cannot do it all To the great
honor and advantage of your own State, she has
been forward in applying the agency of govern
ment to great objects of internal utility, But
even States cannot do every thing. | There are
some things which belong to all the States: and
if done at all, must be done by all the States
At the conclusion of the late war, it appeared
to me the time had come for the government to
turn its attention inward ; to survey the condi
ton of the country, and particularly the vas
Western country TO take a comprehensive view
of the whole; and to adopt liberal system o
internal improvements. There are objects moi
naturally within the sphere of any one State
which vet seemed OF great importance, as cal
culated to unite the different parts of the country
to open better and shorter way between The
producer and the consumer, TO be also of tn,
highest advantage to government itself, in an,
eXigency. 1t is true, gentlemen, that the loca
theatre for such improvement is not mainly il
the East. The Eas, is old, pretty fully peopled
and small. The West is new, vast, and thinl,
peopled, Our rivers can be measured-your
cannot. We are bounded-you are boundless
The West was, therefore, most deeply interest
ed in this system, though, certainly, not alon,