The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-10-09

The Pioayune Of yesterday morning replies to
the Crescent with unusual animation. We are as
much delighted at this display of temper, as is
Lady Gay Spanker in the play, at the fretfulness
Of her hen-pecked husband, Mr.. Dolly Spanker,
when he dares to rebel:
Now, Pm happy my own little darling, ines
Unable Dolly, has iallenn to a spirit somehow"
We shall pat our Dolly under the chin with fan
a la Lady Gay, and encourage his newborn spirit
To be serious, we have not joined issue with the
Picayune on the Constitutional question, that the
Government has no right to give away money.
We would as soon contest the announcement II
the Picayune should make it, equally as novel and
safe, that A is the first letter OF the alphabet Inc
point in dispute between us is whether lending
the credit of the Government and paying for mai
service on sea steamers, liable to be called into the
armed service of the country, is throwing away
money. We repeat that Congress is bound to keep
up a navy under the Constitution. The words of
the grant are "The Congress shall have power
to provide and maintain navy" The possess
sion of power often carries with 1t the obligation
to perform duty. The States not only conferred
this power on the Federal Government, Bat de-
priced themseiVeS of "No State shall,
without the consent of Congress-, keep troops or
ships Of war in time of peace" One of the duties
which nation to ITSELF is that of self.preser-
vaton. Another duty is the protection of its terri
tory and its inhabitants. When the thirteen
sovereignties ceded to the Federal Government, the
eTctaS5Ce power to raise and support armies, and
to provide and maintain navy" it is very evident
that they entrusted to that Government the proec-
ton Of the confederacy its territory and citizens
from foreign war. Garry out the construction OF
the Picayne on the mere literal reading, and the
States at the mercy of Congress. That body
may refuse all appropriations for the support of the
army and navy. In fact, laws may be passed dis.
banding the army and dismantling the navy. The
States are prohibited from organizing either, and
thus the country would be left without any national
defence, incapable of organizing State troops and
fleets. 1t can repeal all laws for the maintenance
the Post-office the Judiciary, the Mint. The eighth
section Of the first article, in words, clothes the Con
gress with all those powers necessary for the exist
ence of the confederacy, and deprives the States
those powers. Yet Congress- without any breach
of duty, may by act sweep out of existence
every law carrying these powers into effect
"Its new discovery that must do every thing tina
he may do IL IS one OF those moral obligations which few
| persons will ASSENT
There are some acts which man must do if he
can. If an agent accepts a trust from principal
he is bound to execute the duties he has assumed
| he can, and he cannot throw up that trust in
manner to iniure his principal. The Federal Gov
eminent has accepted the trust conided to it by thu
| Sovereign States. 1t is invested with the powe
10 declare war and make peace" to raise anC
support armies, and provide and maintain a navy.
Congress would fail in its constitutional duties, i
it refused TO provide for the national defence, BY
destroying the army and navy.
If the Picayune is right in its construction of the
constitution, that Congress is not bound 10 maintain
the army and navy, but that it has the constitu
tional power 10 leave the country without either
then we must frankly confess that we are far be.
hind our neighbor in political information Should
his controversial spirit still possess our neighbor,
we hope he will be more careful in ascertaining the
issue between u.s. and not represent the Crescent as
contendng that Congress has right to give away
the public money:
" Had the Crescent only expressed its favorable opniop f
the Ebony Line contented itself with answering our
has chosen to volunteer Us valuable assistance teaching us
to understand the constitution do less than return
most thanks for their kind attention. Our opinion
Of the African steamship line however, remains unchanged
We still think magnificent humbug got up by specula
tors who have decided affection for the money of he
Africa they pretend to be so DESTROYS"
Doctors, We only ventured to dissent from the
inIerences drawn by them, from the indisputabe
principle, that the Government has no right to give
away the public money AS is usually the case
with disputants, each is confirmed in his opinion
The Picayune still thinks the African steamship lin,
magnificent humbug. The Crescent still think
il scheme which will increase the naval steam
power of The country, at the cheapest price, aid il
Kidding the country of worthless population
while its advantages TO Mem Orleans are obvious tt
every mind, Large numbers of emigrants will be
taken off at each departure from this port, who, to
gether with the crews, must be supplied here witt
the provisions and outfits for long passage. w
want to see the naval steam force of New Orleans
increased. The Picayune and Bulletin may throw
cold W ter on the plan, but there are hundreds o
our citizens who will feel the benefit of the regu
lar arrivals and departures of these large steamers
from our port.
Letter from Mr.. Webster.
| large number of Mr. Webster's old friends
| who knew him at the home of his Youth and wer