The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-28


and measure" Of assault are to be reported by the
chair to an adjourned meeting Of the caucus to be
held this morning. 1t is understood that Gen
enl CAss has declined to serve upon this com
mittee. 1t is alss rumored that the General
made speech in the caucus, in which he COM
mended the views of General JACKSON and Mr..
CALHOUN on this subject. Which set of Mr..
we did not understand. We believe his com
mendation was general. This was perfectly
safe. 1t would enable the Senator to suit his
opinions on the subject to any meridian. If there
| should not be too much "noise and confusion" in
the caucus this morning, we wish the Senator
would inform that body whether he agrees to
his sentiments as they were expressed in a
speech which Mr.. CALHOUN delivered in the
House of Representatives of the United States,
on the 4th of February, 1917, on "bill to set
apart and pledge, as permanent fund for in
ternal improvement, the bonus of the National
Bank, and the United States' share of its divi-
dends.''
After abiding to the peaceful condition and
the augmenting resources of the country, Mr..
CALHOUN continues:
'Thus situated, to what can we direct our
resources and attention more important than
INTERNAL IMPRovEMENrs2 What can add
more to the wealth, the strength and the po-
litical prosperity of the country The man
ner in which facility and cheapness Of inter
course adds to the wealth Of nation has
been SO often and ably discussed by writers
on political economy, that presume the
House to be perfectly acquainted with the
subject. 1t is sufficient to observe that erery
branch Of national industry, agricultural,
manufacturing, and commercial, Is greatly
stimulated, and rendered BIZ It more prodtlc-
tive. The result is that it tends to diffuse
6 UNIVERSAL oPULENcE. 1t gives to the interior
the advantages possessed by the parts most
eligibly situated for trade. 1t makes the
country prices, whether in the sale Of
raw products, or in the purchase Of articles
for consumption, approximate to that of the
commercial towns. In fact, if we look into the
nature Of wealth, we will find that nothing can
8 be more favorable to its growth than good
roads and canals. An article to command
price must not only be useful, but must be
the subject Of demand; and the better the
means of commercial intercourse the larger is
the sphere of demand. The truth Of the POI
sition is obvious, and has been tested by all
countries where the experiment has been
made. 1t has particularly been strikingly
exemplified in England; and if the result
there, in country so limited and so
similar in its products, has been to pro-
duee most uncommon degree Of opulcnce,
what may we not expect from the same
cause in our country, Astounding as it does in
the greatest variety of products and present
ing the greatest facility for improvement
/ 8 Let II not be said that internal Improvement
may be scholIy left to the enterprise Of the
States and Of indiUiduals. know that much
may be justly expected to be done by them;
but, in country SO new and SO extensive as
ours, there is room enough for all the General
and State governments and individuals in
which to exert their resources. But much
of the improvements contemplated are on too
great scale for the resources of the States,
or of individuals, and many of such nature
that the rival jealousy of the States, if left
alone, might prevent. They require the re-
sources and the general superintendent Of
this Government to effect and complete them.
~ Uninfuenced by any other consid-
erations than love of country and duty, let US
! 8 add this to the many useful measures already
adopted. The money cannot be appropriated
to more eralted use. Every portion Of the
communicable farmer, the mechanic, and
merchant-will feel its good effects, and,
what is OF the greatest importance, the
strength of the community will be augmented,
and its political prosperity rendered more
secure"
The object contemplated, as we understand, is
to amend the Harbor and River bill in the Senate,
return it to the House, and trust to the 'enoise
and confusion" of the closing scenes ofthe ses-
sion to shelve it, or make some side-wind dis
position Of it, by which it will fail to become a
| law.
We trust that this catastrophe may be avert
ed. If the Democracy are to be sold to the Alb
stractionists of the Old Dominion and South
Carolina-if the interests of the West and
North are to be sacrificed to appease Mr.. RHErr
and his allies-let the sacrifice be made by day
light, that the country may know whom they
are to hold responsible for it.