Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-11


clearly granted by the constitution
Yes, sir, carefully absiainng from the exercise of all
powers not clearly granted by the constitution That all
sounds very well, II the Presidents practice only in
accordance with his faith he would be exemplary states
man. indeed But woad like PROFOUND his excellency
two or three questions ON this subject would like to know
IN what clause OF the constitution he finds to annex
foreign Government to this Union would like 10 know in
what part OF the constitution he finds power extend
laws over China And yet he recommended in his annual
message that our laws should be extended portion Of
China The President would confer obligation on me and
on this House If under his rule Of strict consrncon he would
point out the section and paragraph of the constitution whence
he derives that power would like know, too whence he
derives his power to authorize survey Of the Dead Sea
would like TO know whence he derives his power after he has
conquered by the of this Union neghborng republic,
or even portions OF its territory establish system Of civil
government there Yet, sir, by single dash of the
that wrote the passage which have just read
laws extended over the republic Of Mexico should
like exceedingly well TO hear from the President, from
friend OF his this floor whence the President derives
his power TO establish system Of civil government in New
Mexico, or california, or Tamaupas Coahuia, or Santa
Fe or to authorize survey Of the hmus OF Tehuanepec
What is the object of the survey Of that shmus Why,
says gentleman near is for the purpose Of making
canal OF railroad suppose it will be a canal.
80 then the President derives power from the constitution
to go into The territory OF sister republic and and
then go work to make canals there while told
have not power TO Improve the great highways that nature
has made IN this country, and which laid down
maps Why, il would from this hasty review of the
subject that the constitution made for the benefit ooegn
naon and not of this country Every thing that tends
benefit the people Of this country UNCONSTITUTIONAL while all
that calculated to bene foreign trade and foreign nations
perfectly constitutional When ioreathes framed this
sacred instrument they egregousy in this
slructon is true They thought they adopting form
constitution which would be beneficial TO the people of this
country. That opinion Swallowed forth in the preamble:
We, the people Of the United States in order to form
perfect union, establish justice ensure domestic tranquil
lily, provide for the Defence promote the general
welfare and the blessings Of liberty ourselves and
posey, do ordan and establish this constitution for the
United States Of America" But that all mistake and
deuson. Our forelathers making and establishing
constitution for the benefit of foreign nations and for the well
fare OF countries.
He inquire if it possible that such in
srument could have been framed by the makers OF the
stuton and by fair Interpretation be susceptible of being
so perverted.
Gentlemen may talk about the constitution much they
will but not appropriately said in jest by the gem
tleman from North Carolina, mr. - you have no
constitution Has the constitution stood in the way of
the party in power Has it prevented any thing which
the President and his parasites have thought proper carry
out All power is vested in the dominant party and
so long that party shall continue to reign, whatever does
not square with the views and purposes of the party
stituona while, the other hand whatever they wish to
accomplish be what may, all perfectly constitutional
All the powers Of this Government rapidly concentrating
in the person of the President Gentlemen talk about the
Baltimore resolutions and about parayzng the will Of the
people but what is that the President ask that he has
always got long he had majority in this House
What great measure whether Of financial of other
kind has not been first originated by the President by
OF the heads Of Department who have been selected 10 do his
pleasure detest, abomnae and abhor this pow
er. | utterly opposed to consolidated government.
What honeyed language do not hear this subject from
gentlemen the other side How eloquently they de-
claim against the threatening dangers of consolidated gov
ernment yet what else is Government at this hour All
power, the whole Government virtually in the Pres-
dent and he Yields and exercises just he pease Let
have the boness to differ from his views and let him
have the temery that difference this floor and he
denounced the Union before the twenty four hours
Forthwith he walk the plank. He had but alterna
tive, either stand the platform with the Executive
be pushed into the And that not consolidation Ger
tainy not consolidation not at ALL Measures wed
by the President and the President elected by the people
ergo, whatever he wishes the Of the
people, and his will is the viii of the people That's the
gument But go for truly popular Government by which
mean Government in which all great of public
policy originate with the people themselves
But time will allow dwell longer this question
of the constuonay Of the bill Suffer this point 10
read short extract from letter addressed by very dsn-
guished gentleman, whom presume gentlemen will not OBJ
iec high constitutional authority. refer to the letter Of
Col Benton What does be say | will read it for the
benefit Of our friends the way:
sThe lake and river navigation the Great West pro-
which the Convention is called very early had share of
my attention, and had doubt OF tho constituonaly
expedienc bringing that navigation within the circle OF
internal improvement BY the Federal Government when the
object be improved should be Of general and national
importance"
Voice "That will not be admitted as good authority
now"
MIR. H. Possibly it may not be for they change
their principles often that scarcely tell what they
il good authority.
propose now call the House TO the importance
sy and proprety Of appropatng money, and that with
sned hand but 10 with the mag
nude Of the great involved the improvement Of
western rivers
shall be forced confne my attention of the
great points in the Mississippi valley, and unwilngy omit
reference the trade Of the great lakes and the propey
Of improving the lake harbors. Other gentlemen who will
follow me will do ample justice that subject Ii say
nothing that part OF the subject is not because do
ardeniy desire TO those great interests regarded
and provided for they deserve he but my time is limit
ed, and fear shall not have opportunity to say half de-
sired and intended refer gentlemen that subject the
report Of the Chicago Convention and to the official survey
Of the lakes by typographical engineers submitted during
tbs present session.
What is the extent Of the great Mississippi valley
Il is fertile valley extending from the OF the
Mississippi in the north to the Cult Of Mexico in the south,
and from the Aeghahy Mountains the TO The Rocky
Mountains in the west
But yesterday this region unbroken wilder
ness il embraces eleven entire States with parts Of
others and Territories II contains 200, 900
square miles, 76s, 600 900 Of than times
large the kingdom Of Great MISUNDERSTANDING popu
laon Of nearly 100000 equal to that Of all the Attain
tic States and nearly equal half the population OF the
kingdom Of Great Bntain--thai being 81, $50, los.
Cast your eyes into the future for period Of only sixty
years. and suppose the population increase in the
ratio Of the past sixty years, doubling every years. at
the end Of that period you would spread this fer
tile valley If capable Of sustaining hem more han six hun