New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-11-25
Remarks OF MIR. Webster on the subject OF
Internal improvements.

The power OF Congress under the Constitution
T. promote ntercourse--commercial and other-be
tween the different States Of the Union by the re-
moval Of DISTRACTIONS most particularly such
distractions as arise or exist in the internal waters
Of the country,-is a power which has been often
doubted, often denied, but never reluted Public
opinion now seems TO demand its exercise.
Mr.WEBsrER, who has done somuch to form such
correct public opinion hitherto by constant aud zeal
Gus and irresistible argument in the Halls Of the Ma
tona Congress as well as elsewhere, still perseveres
u give ths opinion proper direction and active force
He loses no opportunity inoulcate his ideas of the
policy and the necessity Of the interference Of the
Government in aid Of National works, whether they
contemplate the improvement Of those inland
seas" which flow Immediately 70 the ocean, or Of
waters which having no such direct outlet yet are
pathways of Commerce. and the abundant sources
of wealth.
In his late speech at Lebanon, n. II. he thus al.
udes in his own cogent style to the national char
acter Of local improvements
His friend had touched upon another opicth- great
subject Of ilternal Improvement Why, what In the
world g0verncneu instituted for except informal
Improvement Certainly not wholly chiefly, 20 reg.
ulaie the external relations of nation add nation Such
relations frequently those Of war, Of hostility But
government was not AIDE for war A,prescnt y was
true there we're extended commercial relations be-
tween different countries. but they were only one
branch and tha, bot the most important branch of n
fairs 20 which the attention and care Of Government
should be- devoted lie took IL iha al really good gov
eminent established 10 co that for the people which
needed 20 BE- DONE and which the people could DOT do
for themselves.
Government, should De merely the united the couceu
rated force of the People. And therefore, pri0ri u
wss the duty Of Government % consider whether inst
ILL., anF. ER A4nl
without governmental aid. II not ths presumption
clearly ives that Government ought grant tna aid and
do that thing. Much applause. such had always ap
uesrsd ~ MIN but fair Interpretation OF the duty Of
overnnont And the proprieiy of this View lie thought
clearly appeared from smother confederation. Now
Hampshire could not collect dollar from any Custom
House within her limits Massachusetts,, one Of the
CREST commercial states could colecrs dollar from
sny OF her CusfomHOuses
k the financial benefits of the entire Com OF the
country accrued % the General Government Most car
suv then 10 Tor he General Government % provide
Tor tue uscessi,ies Ol Commerce. DID q require the
protection Of forte Of lighthouses Of piers, OF break.
za.srs-wh0 but government was bound 10 grant that
prOtseu0nf
Tase the case Of .be breskwstsr Ia The Dslawsrs-s
work opposed Tor twenty years upon con.uiuuons
grounds though, hspplly without efsct-~ho was 70
expend million of money thsi The listio state OF
DelaTsret she had no Interest 10 the material east
no exclusive inferest-pot one qusrer 40 much 20 tha
CITY ~ Philadelphia Should 70 BE- Prnnsysania, ~
Ns,vJsrseyg Neither was alone Interested 10 The work.
Maine, keE f4fnp4ni Mtlsscnusttt-AA NrNL"t'
land much concerned In thar improvement ss soy
part Of tbs country, and In fact more tor New Eng
and was more Interested Ia the navigation Of the Is
ware than any other region and Nov Eog-nt ves-
scis were more likely - be wrecked trcrs.
Take smother instance. Toe wprx projected IN the
hsrb0r Of Mobile some years since. To wss opposef ~
Representatives Of that very region but 10 hsd voted
Tor Il throughout Returning from Naehnrton a. thr
ciosa Of session when the measure sss unnecessarily
urged. one Of hs constituents, little vexet - tie
course Of proceeding had asked h' hos he oou1 .up
ports measure which was % strrnuuus'y opfcsef ~
he very leopa u was most designed 10 benefit ia
answer Was rrsty-1scauss. durirg the two or thsee
years before there had been several Msstschuses a.
ost there So true IL was that the wton c2ariry e.'
concerned 10 the improvement II sry 81 10 psits -
lrlsudln)
Bat hs supposed ths, silusou uiog- directly 10
tended D. thsi branch ~ tho system orterns improve
mcni which regarded canals and fsu~sys
Happily u bal hspponcd lhai thus Co. rriys,e ef,sr
pr.sl sni wealth had been abe to scconoifh FL tfs
respect shout all thst wss necessary Ard there c-Hlr
58 NJ 6ouDi that whsf coad b. seeeo shes hf p1Vss
enterprise done move economically s7d t' oss'sf
advantage thar n any other way e. isr therefore, 20
private cnt1frisr could carry Cr' r'oft ~ improve
insnt ina MUGS viser coufse wst m rs.y upoo n
Bot with regard a. he imprveorsot oi he Western
waters. this vas n'i 'oe case IRE slt D. eo'e@a.
nirni vas necessary hero Every ons knew thst AT
sr. Improvement. a.i ,ivsvs been res,,sd. and he
hsI hoard grave crasi'fuiiare arsament advanced
slsnst Them that Nature never MADE cry hAfocfs on
che sss' sri therefore u Tss clear she mover nonie
have rprli.a that ~ far he sne~, people were
tusr, irt, the world without being elsa and therefore
he srsurnens god thai they never should wear
ef-ihi-a t'irast lausAter sut aPp'ause)
The great Western lakes were NOT straight hn' o'
water They pursued zgztg course We orno'd ha.'
rra ,iratchns down into New YORK a. V - aceo'ni1
date aspe.isly. acomparsuye southern resinn Nes>"
another OF the chain reaching far into M vs -
ser,rnuo ate that region Whoever ~oea ir's /" 80
map must ses AZ tina, nature iouoie 80 L-,e'
An. bench, Of vast dreront ani disssai Yei 1s - =.
country Bat IL fcinsfa s'is tset '-As 1919 W."
bal verv f,x nAiur. haFnofs ga "a lste. -.
Vhst thea s1oaid % dose ~ i7orf'', - --sc,
"a - ~ tns.s isng4asEse saaeks VI ~--ff ~ = -
,f t,s 40 tsi1 20 - sDs1..o.i 4 - II, s.9..a
..faos hsr5oIs-s.s So Acre - = - 80. al bsso
80 - =. a. a..a.o4sy - s1i9S y''- 49, .-,s.,,
-. -, ,.Jiss a. - PSI s~e15 -,-s's ~
alass ia tssre3 q. sss,.l"a 4, 10 ssys u sas
- cssSsasa1 al gAI.lea..F5 - -
~.iAteo..., 81 thsT coa1 ~. 1.s sooes ipE =
,s. o- ssli ro-k or ~ p.ssas, 81 Fsissa soaa
~, irrT scat h2lrs loz s.e s2Ae ~ ss.eeh.sas
.,ars tsss.y spsa a l@sEe .sssss-e9s SVhssss sad