The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-16


the breast OF every American patriot Abolition had not
then raised its ianatca head had secession put on
its armor as the last preparation OF brave and gallant
people to yndicats their admitted right OF property and
preserve their equality members OF the republic. OF
all the periods that have occurred in national history.
this certainly the most unpropdous to put into
lion such system of internal Improvements; and | am
confident that the great OF the people will think SO.
when they consider the many causes that are operating 10
weaken the bonds OF national affection.
The time will never come, in my judgment when II
will be safe to resort to legislation which tolerates
appropriations that have relation to any regular system
of improvements legislation that carries in its train
boundess expenditure OF money and series OF abuses
that may sap the foundation OF public virtue. and
round the administration OF government with infu-
ence far more demoralzing than that of the United
States Bank The people have yet preferred their
local interests to the principles OF the constitution and
they will continue to withhold their approval OF gen
era system of internal improvements until there be
plan matured which will give general satisfaction, and
which be put into operation when there is no danger
that the plain constitutional compacs OF the Union can be
observed and enforced Important as is the Improvement
of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and their great rbu
taues, believe that the people OF the West will bear
with the postponement OF appropriations for this object
long az they are coupled with others which have not the
slightest claim to nationality. and which can never be
justified unless expedency be made the rule OF construc-
ton in interpreting the powers OF Congress Those people
know that with this plea the general government be-
comes omnipoten; they know that j, is with this plea
the tyrants of the Old World Cypress all localities and
make the many work for the few; they know lha, with
this plea no free constitution or ever will be
maintained
Since the date of the Maysvle veto, how great the
developments which have been given by the separate
States TO their internal resources Instead OF seeing
the money Of the federal government given to make
road like that from Lexington to Maysvile, how CRATE
full the contrast with the noble enterprises which have
been since completed in rapid state OF PROCESS,
not only of innumerabe turnpkes, paying proflaby the
capital necessary their construction. but magnificent
railroads, cutting through the mountains and evelling
the valleys OF all the sections of glorious Union,
which, aided by immense series of teegraphic lines,
place the United States far in ad vance of any other
ton OF the earth the frequency, cheapness, and extent
OF interior communication And yet this has taken
place without the aid OF the federal government, and
ustifes the wisdom of that cardinal maxim OF the old
republican party that all improvements OF local char
acte are saestn the hands OF the States and the peo
pie With such facts before which prove that there
is an irresistible energy in the progress OF republican
system that stands in need of questionable contri
buttons from the federal treasury, why should we no,
abstain from all resorts power that engender the
spir, OF sectional jealousy, and convert the inevita
bic dvesites which enter into confederacy into
the means of its overthrow It not that General
Jackson and Mr.. Polk were unirendly to the in
era bills protesting to have this oblec, in view was
that those bills brought forward parts Of sys-
TEN that was calculated to impair the useful agency OF
the separate States, and laid foundation which,
if built upon, would crush by its great weight the
less imposing but useful fabrics OF local authority
and enterprise In some OF these bills the general gov
ernmen instituted partnership with private companies
in others, the blending Of national and local objects
undisgused-ths result Of scramble in which local
had the appearance OF bargaining with another for ben
e6ts be paid by people who had interest whatever
in the expenditure of the money appropriated In all
these vetoes il is believed that The potential voice Of the
American peope-even Of the portions directly interested
in the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES patriotic forecast, and
policy far effective for promoting the real improve
ment of the country than that which was arrested The
works surveyed al the time Of the Maysville veto
CURED one hundred millions TO complete them, and they
were but the beginning entering wedge OF the system
To have progressed with them would have brought upon
us all the evils OF uedeemable national debt and the
final abandonment OF the improvements insufficient and
unsatisfactory But this not the greatest OF the ca.
amities which would have followed The taxes neces.
sary to support this debt could not have been borne,
because it was impossible that the improvements could
have been extended TO all sections alike, and is unde
niable that unequal taxation is inconsistent with the
preservation Of the Union. II not checked then az il
was By the democratic party, the system would have pro-
duced results fatal those which produced by the
misguided men who undertake TO make the federal gov
eminent the instrument for the abolition OF slavery. All
such effects spring alike from false views Of the true
character aud design OF our federal system Of govern
ment.
This hasty sketch OF the leading points that neres, The
old democratic and republican party at this moment leads
me to another which is not less important refer TO the
necessity Of the reunion OF this parya necessity which
is so apparent that trust may be pardoned for treating
il national rather than party consideration II
are indebted Washington and 10 Jeersonhe great
minds that founded and reformed systemfor the
principles which teach the love OF unon and absnt
from all resorts TO powers calculated to mber
ton OF the country with anotherf we are under the
obligations Jackson for later expositions OF the
same principles, which equally successful in de-.
stroyng the dangerous monopoly Of the United States