The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-07-23
The Constitution E1poanded.

the constitution which relates to the commerce among
the States" Ii is seized upon in the resolutions OF the
Chicago Convention, by Messrs Webster and Spencer,
well by the National Integencer, to justify an al
most llimitabe appropriation OF the public moneys to
works of internal improvement OF all these politicians,
perhaps Mr. Webster goes far he who goes arthest
tesy and with respect His abilities are of the first
der but they will never possess the real influence or the
moral force to which they would have been entitled if
Mr. Webster had but done justice to himself. Some cX-
raneous influence is constantly operating upon him
His motions throughout the heavens always eccen-
trio, instead of being regular He blazes like comet
instead of shining like the sun.
His two letters to the Chicago convention are ultra
He limits TO the powers of the federal govern
ment over the soil and waters of the States. Whether
the lands lie the Atlantic coast, in the valley of the
Mssissppwhether the water OF the rivers be fresh or
sa-wheher the water be connected with foreign com
merce, commerce among the Staes-is OF no conse
quence in his eyes Mr. Webster sezes upon clause
of the constitution, which never intended for that
purpose and whose expressions not according to the
fathers OF the church susceptible of that constructions
and claims boundless jurisdiction over the whole
sphere OF internal improvement.
We must protest, with all due respect, against the
thority of the Massachusetts senator in regard to the
construction of the instrument Daniel of old could in
erpre the handwriting the wall, but we see no reason
why the modern Daniel should have written on his
tombstone "The interpreter and defender of the constr
tuition" Diael OF old not. variable in his views
nor inconsistent in his interpretations. But Mr. Web
ste once argued, with great force, Tin his Boston speech
of 1920 against the protective policy and expressed Sc
rous doubts about the constitutional power OF Congress-
Mr.. Webster then said
He certainly thought might be doubted whether Con-
gress would be acting what against the spirit and
intention of the constitutions in exercising power con
essentially the pursuits and occupations OF
in their private power force great and sud
den changes both of occupation and properly, upon nd
vduas incidental 10 the exercise OF any other pow
but substantive and direct power II such changes
wrought Incidentally only, aud were the necessary
consequence Of such mposs Congress- for the leading
purpose OF revenue should then they could not be
Complained Of But he doubted whether Congress fairly
possessed the power OF turning the accident into the prict-
pa and instead OF leaving manufacturers to the protection
of such laws should be passed, with primary regard
OF enactny laws with the avowed object oil CIV
ing preference particular manufactures and with
tire disregard all the considerations Of and,
instead of laying such mposs as would best answer the
purpose of raising revenue with tue least burden the
public carrying the impost certain articles to burden
some with fun knowledge that tue increase OF dn
will diminish the OF raised Ii would
hardly be commended that Congress hat sort OF
T h oss na ha' oSs,
should II such power belong to any government in
s be oaesos was and he
very serious question: whether in la ying duties under the
o@eU " % se
ofhose purposes entirely and levy duties Tor other objects
And now, how stands the defender of the constu.
ton pa thorough and ultra convert to the docrn,
of protection, well ultra advocate of the unlim
tied power internal improvements. For our owl
part think Mr. Webster better entitled to the
sThe Destroyer of the Constitution" than its "De
fender"
We are happy to the republican press rallying Il
the rescue of the constitution, against this dangerous but
seductive assumption of power. One of the most pow
erul articles we have the question, is in thu
Shawneetown Democrat of the 10th ut, before the
meeting of the Chicago convention and since the ap
pearance Of Mr.. Webstcrs letter. hail the following
comment from the Hartford "Daily Times Of the els
inst
conversant with public affairs have forgotten those after
dinner mondn congressional disPays closely borerns
played the part of defender and expounder OF the consitu
ton He has assumed, beyond any in the country tc
be the especial guardian and uphoder OF that instrument
He has abocd under the haucnaton that by some sort o
hocus-pocus it had been consigned to his sole custody
times this deison has risen to perfect monomanla with
him lie has always, in the discharge OF his imag mary
function and in his capacity of selfconsttued champion
subject lug swelling words respecting his indie
scbabe veneraton for the constitution la those mellow
and fearful mood5--not unfrequent with him, when the
feelings stimulated than the understanding, tho
flow oil enthusiasm ieer than the flow OF and the
play of the fancy perhaps unduy envened at the expense
OF the aculticsWebste has often overlooked with
n mnudn love for the constitution his attachment ha
known bounds; he would sink swim with that sacred
insrument-that he would if hair of it touched, il
it upset. he also would go he would survive
so dire a calamity one minutc--no he He would take
bis stand, he exclaimed, enthusiastically enough) on The
constitution, and those firm pillars should from their base
v. n uu n-StOl n r
all panes, would pretend to hear gum and lug in his
anecdote by asking them il they heard that gun. He would
then go and say it put him in mind Of the old story
which he eenally repeating. The constitutional pan
egycs of the 'geat FOUNDER have been fetched
threadbarc and logged in with the contemp
of relevances suabeness to the occasion, the
| ecdote OF the story-teler.
We fully aware that there were few simple ant
creduous enough to be imposed upon by Mr.. Webster
knew that, proceeding from such source, they could
generally be regarded in any other III an an emeny udi
and iarcical light That the principles of the
tuon should have any Intimate anites with or be espe
caiy intrusted to the keeping OF old fcderaist ant
that icderalist Daniel Webster, claim which cout
require to be refucd simply because would
be believed We have alluded to only for the pur
pose OF pointing clearly the astounding dscrepan
cy between the professions of the godke and his
The who, OF all others, has gone arhest in his pre-
tended regard for the nvolabity OF the fundamental Law
Others overthrow it. To the Of his political inu
ence, he has dealt heavy blow upon the constitution
IL in his power infct. He expect to liv,
long, if to take him his word, provided he ha
which he has often threatened survive
In that letter he declares that of the power of government
to make appropriations tor erecting harbors do
tain particle of doubt" SO seems though some of hi
friends might be troubled with some slight scpes or con
scentious msgvings, he the expouner par crcencc
selappomted constitutional champion, does not bogge