Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-11-16

This is the great scheme which The Wise men
of Memphis have concocied Tor the construction
of Public Works; and, though il is put ioiWaIu
with much gravity, il is no new idea, but u IS an
old system Of Internal Improvements, which me!
with the repealed condemnation and Vetoes u
Madison Monroe and Jackson.
Upon examining this scheme, II VIII DC seeh
10 consist OF TWO parts:
Isl That The General Government snail mahe
Internal Improvements.
ID Tha, The Public Lands shall be used tor
that purpose.
Bolh OF these propositions VIC consider uncon'
slitutonal-lhey have been repeatedly SO pronouh'
ced by our National Executives, and they were,
indeed, so regarded by mary OF the members
OF the Memphis Convention themselves: Coi
Campbell, one OF the Delegates ifom mus cily'
evnced his opinion 10 that effect by oHsiihs lc-
solutions TO provide tor amendments oi me oon.
slitulon, so as 10 nves! The Generai uo9ell u
with the powers here sought 10 be exercised.
As the right 10 make thermal Improvements,
the Constitution nowhere invests The General Co.
vernmenl with ,ba, specific power. The advo-
Gates for lis exercise, base The authority upon ceI-
tain provisions which they think cannot be as
we'll carried inlo effect in any other way Even
they have always conceded that il could only I've
ust for strictly national ufPo,es ard not "i'hia
The limits OF one Stale. Mr.. Calhoun, IN ms &C.
ebraled report on The former Memphis pfociay,
could only justify The power, when appieo 10
1.-Two or more Sales." FMS, itseii. was Ia'huo'>
marian construction not warranted by sIrirl
leuer OF The Constitution; but The present
Memphis proposition goes tar beyond mat. IL
proposes to make Tie Federal Government whe-
iher by direct or indirect means it does not mat
Ter The great Fabricalor OF WoIKs oil Internal
improvement and that not Tor lis own ma
tonal purposes, but for the convenisnces
of trade, travel, and internal communication;
and this too by erecting, or providing Tor Inc
erection Of these works in The limits oil separate
States. The donation of The lands or their pro-
cesJs to the Slater, fer the performance oil that
purpose themselves, does not ameliorate the
matter, for the Government cannot DO indirectly
what i, has no power to do directly II II mas
NO warrant for action in the premises i!seit, II
can transfer none to the States ; and II Il hos
the power, il is its duty 10 exercise ii, and not
delegate it away. The Memphis scheme thus
superadds new difficulty to the old system
for certainly there is no authority 10 The Consti>
tuition for thus making the States the benehcla
ries of its bounty, and establishing relation
certainly inconsistent with The whole form and
spirit OF our Federal institutions.
But we cannot lnger upon This question, and
must pass TO the ether, which we must treat as
briefly. II the General Government has the
power 10 make lnlernal Improvements, il assil-
redly has not the tight 10 make them BY an ap.
plication either Of The Public Lands or their pro-
cecds. All The public domain east OF the MIS-
sisspp with the exception Of Florida, which
came by purchase from the national treasury,
was coded by The cd Sales 10 the Federal Gov
eminent Tor certain specified purposes. All me
STATES making the cessions distinctly stipulated
in substance, as Virginia did in words, thai "aii
.,ol hall hu
considered as a common fund Tor The use and
benef! OF all The States, according 10 their usual
respective proportions in The general charge and
exper dilure, and shall be faithfully ana bona fde
disposed OF Tor that purpose, and for no other
purpose whatsoever" Georgia and South Car
olina made precisely The same slipulations, and
their grams conveyed we'll nigh all the public
lands now in Alabama. The Federal Consiiu-
lion recognized these terms OF cession, and the
Union was formed upon them as basis. All
the new States, as they have been admitted ;nlo
The Conlederacy, have been compelled TO recog-
nizs and adopt III Sc siipuaions; and Alabama
has distinctly obligated herself in the adoption
Vi her Constitution 10 be bound by them.
Il will thus be apparent how pTeposterous 10
The proposition 10 divert the Public Lands or their
proceeds from the Federal exchequer, 10 be APP
piled 10 internal Improvements oi any character,
and particularly is State The Constitutions
OF the States themselves, respectively, As we'll as
The obligations OF The Federal instrument forbid
The application.
The unconsii!uiionaIily Of this scheme being
so apparent, il will BE- asked why has il been
adopted by The Memphis Convention. The an
swer, we Think is easy. The minds OF men have
been warped from their "propriety" by The vast
| advantages OF The scheme. II addresses iis.lt 10
the cupidily OF The new States, and promises
them ready means 10 accomplish the great enter
prises they have al heart. These lands all lie in
the new Slales; forgetting their conf, derated du-
ties, they imagine they have The right 10 have
''their territory" appropriated Tor their bene.
H.. They have therefore become willing TO de-
priye The older members o: he Contederacy OF
heir equal share in this common properly. How
unjust, how Liberal how iniQuitous, We may
say, is such system
This is precisely The great objection We have
10 The Memphis Convention. II has specuated
| upon The growing power Of the Western States,
upon the certainty that they must ere long have
heavy preponderance in Congress; and il has
devised scheme, addressing itself 10 the pas
sions and propensilies OF men, that will lead
| them asray even while engaged in comInendable
and beneficial enterprises.
Ii is moi our purpose, in lhis view, 10 attribute
improper motives 10 any OF The members Of the
OF opinions entertained upon constitutional sub.
jecls-as TO The rights and powers OF The federal
government, and the relations OF The States;
knowing The binding influence OF political predi>
eclions and The fatal sorcery exercised upon The
mind by The prospect o. opuenl advantages we
can we'll see how The able and inteli-
gent gentlemen composing this conYen,
ton might honestly regard its recommends
tons a. just, patriotic and constitutional. =
| The delegates from This city undoubtedly
so regarded them; but We are very sure that
the great body of the people, particularly in
Alabama, cannot be brought TO The same cons
cusion. The proposed plan does not hold out
any great advantages TO our State, add. chief Of
| all, TO the Mobile AMI Ohio Railroad. Our
word Tor il, il The measure recommended by Mr..
Stewart should be adopted, and the public lands
| in his State & wen 10 her for works oil internal
improvement the paramount power Of North
Alabama will apply the proceeds TO the compile
ton OF The contemplated enterprises in the Ten
nessec Valley and in middle Alabama, and not
10 the great rival Work, whose completion we
| all have OF heart