Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-22

innate approaching accuracy to what is required. IL the
Department send estimate il be mere conjecture.
well suppose they. know not whether there are
not any here requiring estimate in which
estimate has not been made. 49,
could but observe that the objection taken by the SEN
aor from Georgia (Mr DAwsos) 70 of these sppropra
tons remarkable He says You may improve
without estimate Well, there Is appropriation in the
bill for survey and estimate Of the cost Of improving the
Upper Msssspp and be relies upon that the strongest
possible Of abuse and declares it is utterly variance
with the constitution. You may not make appropriation
make survey (wih0ut attempting any Improvement Of
the Mississippi above the falls of ST. Anthony, though its
whole is through territory of the United States and
through the public lands.
think there nothing in the bill which should forbid US
TO PASS just is nearly it. II there be any thing
not well judged il, should be glad to remove it. but il is
probably the better policy, suggested by the honorable Sena
tor from Kentucky, take the BILL with the great good and
little evil the in it pass il and give the country the
benefit of wha. has been SO long withheld
Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi We are indebted TO the Sc
paor from Ohio (Mr EwIso) for having at last located
vagant power Of the Federal Government to make inter-
nal improvements within the States Formerly we had fire.
quent controversies to what clause OF the constitution
should be drawn from The Senator from Ohio at last shows
the opposition to it is the only matter to be traced and
that inherit that insular prejudice from England
With single bound he passes to the conclusion that the
power inherent, and only waited 10 be exercised until the
prejudice should be removed He has not thought
sary nor did those who preceded him the side Of the
question: TO show any power granted in the constitution Of
the United States make these works Of internal improve
He does not neither did they, refer It to any specific
grant, We have reference made to presidents and the opn-
"ns IS La have in times past administered the Gov
eminent But If there any .hiDy inaiePatable in
Government than all else, is that it rests for all its
powers upon written constitutions charter Of grants lmi
Mr.. EWING. Mr.. President word, if the Senator
will allow wish to suggest that did not trace the
power to the constitution was not denouncing the objec
tions of those who believe that the constitution gives
power at all. had word say them but to
gentlemen who with in the opinion that the Gov
possesses the power but that It extends only thus
and thus in certain particular cases.
Mr.. DAVIS of Mississippi. The Senator says he was
only addressing those who conceded the power It not
necessary for the Senator to argue with Them They
sented nothing for him to combat They had no prejudice
which he called upon to overurn. If they agreed with
him, and controversy to who should have
the appropriation whose feet the spos Of the oray should
be laid, could have understood different argument, but
in this light the application that which he made
He attempted by argument to show why we possess the
power and says he addressed that argument 10 those who did
not deny it, He will hope excuse me for not supposing
he had devoted himself to labor wholly superauous
But the Senator says derive opinions from the in
suar condition Of Great Britain. The opinions which we
should entertain question Of constitutional power or
even Of public policy, are, rather should be drawn from
the letter of authority and the genius Of the institutions
which preexsed and which designed to secure and
pepetuate by the Union When the colonies achieved their
independence and became States united they formed
eminent for purposes to them ALL and gave to as
the agent of the States certain specific enumerated powers
and reserved all else the States and the people, has
right then to exercise any other than such as they
granted expressly by the constitution We have right to
claim Of those gentlemen who entertain the opinion declared
by the Senator from Ohio that they shall locate it upon
particular grant, that they shall show whence they derive the
powell They not here to remoud alter the consu-
on but should be engaged guarding and executing
its written provisions They bound in fairness not TO
conclusion but to up to it, and let those who
differ from them know upon what basis their opinion rests
A., 10,
this the people Of the United States have been divided into
two political sects-one contending for atudnous, and
the other rigid construction Of the instrument belong
those who party claim to have adhered to the creed OF
strict construction If there been occasional departures
from it. if it be avoided now, yet, convinced Of its truth,
will not despair Of its final success, but hopefully look out
from the gloom of the hour. The distinguished Senator
from Kentucky Mr CLAY) congratulated the Democracy
upon the liberal spirit they had eynced upon this occasion
that say he congratulated the Democracy upon that
render of their welknown opinions which brings them
into coincidence with his If it may be permitted TO
obscure he who addresses you in like to conga
late those upon the other side then have express the
great pleasure derived from the remarks of the Senator from
Georgia, (Mr. DAWSON. If Democrats have adopted the
creed of the influential Senator from Kentucky who
lated them this morning upon the happy conjunction, trust
shall receive an equivalent in Wings who to the
rescue in this unproptious moment, and rally under
the banner of strict construction OF the constitution
heard his remark the habnger of brighter hopes than
entertained when the bill taken up this morning. It
welcome the fountain the desert TO The Responding
traveller the smoke which directs the wanderer In The will
deness the shelter Of cottage and assures him he not
wholly Alone trust that he is, though the first not the
last who will aid that many others OF bis pol
cal creed will Join this great principle, in
stead of attempting uphold the trembling platforms design
ed by political uggers, and constructed by party conven
tons to serve a stage for puppetof the day.
But have been told that the large appropriations con-
tanned in this bill required because of the neglect of this
duty for the past three four years. In other words is
because we have had Democratic President who would not
approve of bills charge the United States Treasury with
supplying for the improvement OF rivers and the con-
structon of harbors If that admitted to have been
elect Of duty, then must be conceded that the first element
of our creed is wrong but who shall judge How often
during the existence of this Conederacy have those entertain
ing an opposite opinion held the Executive power and in
what portion of the time has been assigned by the people to
those who contend for the strict construction Of the const
ton The very distinguished representative Of that creed,
last Democratic President is charged with neglect Of duty
for having checked appropriations for internal improvements
In Democratic Administrations is that Improvements
in and hsrbors have been made but it to be
beed that they have always been those who have sought to
curta such expenditures Il has been stated that large a
preparations made during the administration of Gen.
jackson but il will be recolected that was in that Admins
traon that the celebrated Msysve road bill fehe t great
blow struck the SYSTEM then increasing rapidly that it
threatened this whole land deadly contagon.
thus arrested then, and the people approved the act Are
they dependant or less true to principle now
have fear of any of that popular uprising in the great
dread that the people Of the extreme West will hampe
down The obstruction their wish which consuonay the
Congress may throw 10 their way. have such fears
have been expressed either by the Senators from Kentucky
| (Mr CLAr) Arkansas (Mr BoRLArD) This, sir, is
the cry of disappointment not the voice Of prophecy Nor