Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-03-31
Rivers and HarbOr>.

Yesterdays Enquirer endoavors ''hcad" Mr. Bolts
10y quoting paragraph from address of that gentleman
written IN 1881. in which he expressed the opinion tina
Internal Improvements by the General Government are not
authorized by the Federal Constitution. 1t would be suf
reply say, that Mir. Bolts may have changed h
opinion since 1881. file then got his opinions from In,
Enquirer which the Virginia political textbook from
which all young and aspiring politicians took their cue
lie had NOT then been IN public life, and perhaps he had
not studied as closely as lac has since DONE the Cors
tuuon or suite so much he had done Of commo
aiors But there Is more conclusive repyai least one
which ought to be much conclusive with the ENQUIRER
and that H. that many Of the LEADING STATESMEN OF ITS
OWN Patty, who deny general terms the authority Of
the Federal Government 'o carry on internal improve.
within the limits Of the several States have never
telcss, not hesated give their sanction to bills Tor the
Improvement Of rrers and haTbors. And Why Be-
cause in their opnion-and backed by such weight of
Authority, we do not hesitate TO say outs-ihe Con-t.
tuuon expressly conier this authority upon Congress
hcannpt bat by forced construction of that instrument
be clssscd even among the ineicnuaI powers How is
foreign commerce, the regulation Of which is imposed
% duty upon Congress, 10 be accommodated without
suitable harbors the Atlantic COAST How is commerce
'betwecn the sevefa States" duty 10 regulate which
no less imperative, 10 be carried on without the removal
6 distinctions from the channels Of the rivers upon which
r BE- transported to mSrko and the preparation OF harbor
~ suitable points up their borders and upon the lakes By
what authority are these harbjs be made accessible
these finland seas rendered vpab.e-f not hv tina, nj
Congress General Jackson n his celebrated Navsyl,
veto, which the Enquirer oxuungy proclaimed had given
the dea'hblow to the system Of internal improvements bv
tie General Government nevertheless emphaucay reeg.
rizcd the night and the duty OF the General Goyernmen,
~ improve harbofs well u remove distractions
from nve's "beio1 pous Of entry" and in accordance
with this Interpretation Of the Constitution he did not hes.
tate approve bills making appropriations for that OBJ
Jet Like Mr. Bots, be denied the power Of the General
vernm' nj TO "oary ON internal Improvements within the
limits C., the Stats" but he Likewise so!emny affirmed no
power, n the breath improve rivers and harbor
NJ Van Buren, recognized and acted upon the same
brDat and "a pab.c distinction. How 10 il tho, the
Eoqurs ds1 overs Oh rapabo inconsistency between
&c wees etpfs'sr1 by ME E9tis in 1891 and those
~i.,a hs s-sfans now. when b. was ,o drU Of
r.fp1.- l-f.g t-s Adam sra5ns Of the father and the
hf pgr1 ri Noon D.myc.4ry1 River and H1fbgr b,s
Rave ben tnfct1 Nt BE- evf 81 every session Of Congfc.z
80 mary ysaft pei tId s1l one 0 lsn Wa yetosd b,
Jotn Tyler. Do no ssyvedy, MT ss certainly in our ogi
uon, btclltt, n Do bitter as y te The cry Of errroo5
be shsd 90 dc.ca ao appropriation fg The removal OF tho
oofgenou' 60 navigation Boo the over James River which
dit bii' contained, and smother uues by James PHI
the Uoriy successor and eonglti5n" ~ NJ I,.et Oh,
constitutional objection never seriously relied mon On
ropt by few haifsphuing politician n ls f5.-u.e r
whose subimatod aneiss Mf Wise crprossed the gsr, la
tura fear thst Virginia would Some day. under their j,f
'nce aIl into syncopo end die Of ON abstraction! Tint
fact at river and harbor b received Tho sancton of f
last Congfcst, branch Of which tle Snief Co1s,ys
hoH'sis had ma ifiV Of SEVENTY, and in iho other
SlNwiih the additional fact that 10 The Senate only o,
monitors Of that body voted against thought it seems
us. inducr the Enquirer question the nfiLi,
uf iis own Judgment Certainly, ne can never permit
constitutional opinion Of such John Tyler end Ja
*. fok ,pr sotii, frahumy TO outweigh bo decision.
Che acute and masculine mnd', BY whom tbs question h
hcon repeatedly and solomny sdIudgcd.
That There obvious difference 10 the principle !,
VOWED In She Improvement OF rvers and hafbos which
cults necessarily from tho power to regulate commerce o.
The Construction Of artificial lines Of oommunicat wit
On the limits u iho several Staos, 10 be
voaa 70 render any attempt ~ he calculation suporcr
Ealory. The distinction u emphadcaly asserted In u
Maysvi's Veto, snd has awsys been recognized by o
leading Statesmen Of ell paries wh the single exccpo
p'haps Of thoso who BY The resolutions Of g- g
a'cpfdng % fhb Interpretation Of those resoiuuons,-
~hch not always, by tho way, IN direct conformity
che eS urou which shey rely. commentary upon q cou
saoniay BE- rravcy put forward to aside she plain
gsuemrut ~ The constitution, whch BE- always deemed