Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-18

overwhelmed in debt and n some cases were brought to ep
diatlon Let me- IN passing here remark, | do most
proudly that that charge attach my own State
Aou8n ONO mas Deen among the foremost IN great works
Of internal Improvement and has contracted debt for that pur
poe se mas pal the interest always her bonds with en-
IRE puncuay and untarnshed honor, and provides also
sinking iund 10 discharge, il shall be due the principal
and her people ready to submit to any burden Of taxation
which may be necessary keep up her fair fame But the
gentleman from Virginia says that because the in
yoVed themselves the General Government must have done
the same ana py ihat proposition he would susanhe Pres
dents assertion That is If the United States had borrowed
money and gone IN debt why then they would have been in
debt
But the gentleman from Soufr-e,arolina (Mr RHETr) is
alarmed at the suggestion that committee of this Houseo
home department. if should be established-might
gage IN the collection OF statistics with view to these inter-
nal Improvements And what if that should be done II is
but collecting information upon which legsae understand
ngy There cause to fear that inqustion which he
apprehends There needs domciary visits to learn the
OF country its productions its wants. the elements
Of It's trade ana prosperity If the power to regulate com
merce among the States in Congesand cannot be de-
nied for there stands recorded and gned in terms in the
constutonthen all the power to collect the necessary
formation Tor acting wisely the exercise ofsuch follows
as necessary incident. Ii in other things At this
n'o ~a o' teo past the President has under
appointment and in the employ Of Government, least
partes-one under the direction, remember OF DR.. Dale
owen-makng typographical survey OF the lands in the
far Wes-n that proposed territory of Minnesota and the
great wilderness south OF Lake Superior Why they
there and how engaged They asceanng the heights
qualles seeking Tor beds oil
studying the geological formation, well the external fea
lures OF that wild and distant part the public domain We
have had through the Executive and still to have reports
OF their proceedings make objection ot But whence
came such power in the Executive in any department of
this Government would authorize expeditions of this knd'
We have power to legsate and the President has power
act IN reference to the proper management and disposition of
the public lands In order legae wisely and udcous,
and to manage these lands properly required to have in
formation in regard to thetheir situation character and
quality The procuring by such this information
incident to action on the main subject But these
sics OF which the gentleman from South Carolina has such
dread. Why, sir it would if4ha gentleman could
each of these innocent surveyors and scientific gen.
temen he rudges through the wamps there or climbs
the hill sides with his barometer swung at his back an
armed enemy OF our country and when of them, in
his geological researches goes pecking with his little hammer
among the rocks and stones whether he finds gnes
sandstone, lime, he fnghens construcons as if
he baerng away the foundations Of our constu-
tiona liberty
understand, Mr. Speaker, too that this President, so
squeamh about constitutional power has sent apay of naval
officers to survey, explore, and bring home report of the
character and peculaes the shores and the Dead
Sea- Wel it may be all right but where gets he power
for that He find warrant it seems for surveying
one OF our own magnificent lakes If be not altogether
Quxoc, would that he must have other object
than the purposes OF commerce navigation such
expeditions perhaps he has heard of and hunts for those
Dead Sea fruits, which told look fair the eye but
turn to ashes the lip like many of the fruits of the modern
Democracy which he processes.
All the powers needed for works OF improvement saws the
Pesiden are with the States and by them only should be
ercised if at ALL however national the object And,
dersand the argument he seeks TO prove the efficiency well
as the popey OF this State SYSTEM opposed the
else OF power by Congress- by pointing the examples of
Virginia and South Carolina and States whose legsa
on for such purposes he cites Sir wish say nothing
dsparagng OF any State, old to make invdous
comparisons. But will surprise, know the people of the
West If 10 understand that the President en-
force his view of the better plan and system of improvement
by the example OF Virginia. for instance God bless the Old
"a 4 A..
of country and wish her all prosperity but
we can hardly be persuaded to take her. with her distractions
upon these great questions and her practical working under
them as our guide There is not State in the Union
blessed by Heaven with abundance of natural for
prosperity but regard her instance of the
best development OF those her institutions and
public works. Perhaps it may be that uliarian
part Of the country Born in the West and educated
with the habits Of thought which prevail there may be that
regard too highly spirit of progressive energy stimulating
to the development and improvement Of all capacities OF
our country and people, and eanng 10 the liberal
srucon Of the powers of the General Government The Vir
gnan may be wiser who prefers sit down and indulge rather
IN speculation upon and opposition the of what he
conceiyes 10 be doubtful powers His political emblem per-
haps should be Memory, looking back upon the past and
thus with eye avered from her path running hazard of
laundering she advances | confess that prefer for nv
State that cheerful goddess Hope who gazes eagerly
into the future, and cares little for the past except may
afford firm ground from which to leap again and ygo-
rousy forward
Tie debate being resumed on Thursday
Nj. PETIT said that he wished 10 detan the House
only for short time. To was the province of man.
To reason rightly indicates in the first place, we'll formed
intellect and, in the second place. highlycuivatcd and
improved But to adhere pefnaciousy to those opin
ions which were formed early in life closing the mind to the
light of experience characteristic of the dogmas and
was unworthy of intelligent being The position which
he occupied the question involved in this message was 10
him unpleasant for, of all things, was most plea
sant for him 10 agree with those with whom he desired to
ageewh those of whose be had an intense and ar
dent desire to approve Nothing but the stenes dictates of
dutysetted he thought well ounded considerations
bad brought him TO differ from the conclusions and reasonngs
OF the message under consideration II one man more
than another had adeny wished and aboousy exered him
sell TO bring into power the present incumbent the Exec-
tive chair he might claim that for himself though probably
he had not abored eectualy others. Nor was
there member Of this House that more cordially agreed
with the Administration in all lis prominent measures than
he did That distinction he might also claim for himself
and he cordially concued with the Administration in s mea
in regard TO commercial relations our mpost duties
the tariff law of 1916, and the annexation of Texas There
there that would give hearter and cordial
support 10 the which and have been wagng and
which thus for had resulted the glory Of and the
honor of country In these things he was an ardent and
consistent supporter Of the Administrations Others might
claim for themselves devotion particular measure or
to distinctive policy Of the country but he claimed for
himself to be supporter Of the Administration in a its pro
peDacOuy adhered them their be-
ing right and twas from these considerations and this course
Of reasoning that he had the conclusion 10 differ from
the argument contained in this message Here was sub
ect which, of all Others, deeply interesting bis cons
him the frank