Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-05-06
CONSTRUCTION OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Riuors and Harbors--Ship Canal across The 18th
-. - T.l...I.,,~
,ls of TShuaniepec.

mus OF fchudHepcc.
Iii. ,e observation that in the hands OF the present
An. Federal Constitution has become Ito
nee formerly f.voro simtudc Of leader
of Tho s,,et ON school "a no-e of waxto b,
moulded into any form which may be necessary TO sui, its
purposes-conraeiod ut one iimo into small a compass
that one would think the Government mpotcnt and
feeble 10 the last degree while at another made
pand over wide surface that nigh, well be supposed
there was neither check Inns; to its powers.
has been well said If the power to remove tho obsuue-
tan. n navigation la those great finland which wesh
the shotes many States and supply, by works OF
art secure harbots upon magnificent lakes OF which
they are naturally entirely destitute, be not IN the General
Government docs not exist ALL Consequently. the i'm
Inense upon both the and the o,her-a COM
erce tho estimated annual amount al which exceeds in
value the entire exports To all foreign counrcs-must for
be subjected the mPedmenr aud TO the dangers 10
which exposed But, while no one Is more hos
tile than ourselves TO the construction by the General Go
vornnon OF works OF internal improvement ol local char
scier. within the ssics We cannot doubt that even 10y
and literal Interpretation OF the constitution, 1t not only
has the right but that is its duty 10 make such opPro-
prsons for Improvements ol strictly national character
Congress- (Says the constitutional shall have power to re-
eulate commerce with foreign nations and among the
several States" Acting under the authority conferred
by these words appropriations have been made from the
origin Of the Government tor me erection g" lighthouses
and the improvement OF harbors on the Atlantic coast
and, until recently they have also boen nade
pie and sanctioned even by %cn Jackson ana Nh bu
for the improvement OF river navigation be''o ports OF
entry, land sometimes above 'hemJ ana io' me 'osuuc
OF suitable harbors upon the lakes But Mr. has
recently though, proper to give more stringent consuuc-
this clause o the Constitution and mas vetoed a.
conflicting with the true Intent qua meaning at mat nsuu
mont, BILL nearly every item OF which had been emeodi
ed laws upon the sta'ue-book with the s'gnman-
uas OF his pohhca' god-IaheiS 'aeAsOh anu IAN Du'e"'
attached 10 uhem'
We have hesitation in admitting that Mr.. Polk, If he
satisfied of the uneons'i'uOna OF the appropriations
referred TO. aud nothing Is to be regarded as settled IN
this country by time and by the uniform aeuon OF the
Government with the concurrence oil all us depafnens-
Other words each President bound TO eonsue the
constitution as ne understands H. although ms OPINIONS may
be in conflict win the Foey oil All MS predecessors from
the begnning-we say al 's DC So we nave no heslta
ton IN admitting uA' MI to'N ""s oou"u oy MS oa OF
Office to veto the River and lfabor Dill Butt IS not our
purpose now ioenqe Whe'nc' some uc'''e'e DC "o' Que
TO the opinions OF MS d wise "u d
honest as hmsel'-eia ""''"' " o' "O proper "'' q"'S
mons IKE hese sho"'' Oe' " s'" "'' " ''"',
as nc longer egu'iar 'op''' arc CON
strained however, ""o"O "' ""o ""' VI"
power OF making ~a'-~no mas III 'is COM
mHnding Officers On 'o'''S" "' 81 pow"
ets when neither he ho '"'' 1N '"' u'ue' ' 'o'
st'uhon, TO exercise sueH - " ~ s 'o''s" ''I-
Htofy 10 'hs Union" o's a"]''s u'
absoVlng MEXICAN suuJeeS 'o'n "s' ~ '"e'' Wv"
Government ana swearing mem u" 'y ""0'Sie o. Ano
mean cuzehS anu suoIee""s ''''i 10 punishment as "a
'''' 'h'y snou'u prove ""' - '''' primary OO's1","
ana 'ase 10 ''u '"PVe" "Po" "''i' - ''' poI' % '
oayone'-"o say VIC arc ~ u0"O'
President VINO mas u'ie sue" e' 1'I 'l0'
IN h's suoai'etns can DC 'o'Y S.'ouSS uOuo'u
pies IN the interpretations VI ui0 We 'ea''
ihdeed' mat nc
Compounds Tor SINS that mes lncin'd TO-
by damnns 'hose nc mas no mhd 70
That he violates the constitution, without hesitation.
when II Is necessary TO the accompaniment oil ms pupo
ses, aud Is only strict consuucuons when he wishes
defeat not pnaabc to him, or by which he
May still longer deceive the umefecing mass OF his fol-
lowers-o whom The Resolutions OF 9e-s9 are what the
Koran is 10 the Turk model and guide in oil things
which do not happen TO restrain OF hwar his passions and
propensiucs-a text book the more convenient from he
wonderful capacity OF contraction or expansion, 10 suit
emergencies as they arise.
But another question has recently arisen which, from its
peculiar character calculated directly TO test the sin
cet,y OF the professions Of the strict consuctonist H.
regard 20 the powers of the General Government The
war with Mexico unconstitutional in its origin and in man,
OF the measures adopted by our Military Dclaors and Pro-
Consus IN its progress suggested some OF our scs
men the agnicen idea building Ship Canal across IN,
stmus OF Tehusnepec when the territory shall have been
conquered purchased from Mexico Vice President Dallas
favored the people with elaborate exposition of th,
advantages which will result opening this 'grcat high
way OF commerce." by winch the Of the Pacific and
the Atlantic are TO be brought into Iuxla- position And our
neghbor OF the Enquirer dazzled by the sp,endor of .
magnificent and Measure " which II saws must b
abandoned al the Wing game" TO leave Mexico intact
"be played out" virtually gives 10 II the sanction NJ n
APPRECIATION Mr. Dallas anticipating the constitutional
OBJECTION promptly pfonouDces IT, or CATHEDRAL TO Lc un
ensbe aud we presume the Enquirer concurs i'm this opn
ION lie airms that there not the slightest impedipent
the Of this siupcndous presene
by the etter OF the fp OF that instrument, Indeed =
What them becomes Of the rule o! conjunction insisted
upon 10y the party of which be OF the honorcd leaders
From what clause OF the does he derive this vas
power either by cypress giant by Inference Nay
Whist clause o that be tortured by sophistry
forced by the violent abuse Of language into h,
Of the advocates Of this gigantic scheme who de-
Byng the right Of Congress improve osn habors and