The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-01

States in their original purity, and for the per-
petuation Of our great and glorious Confederscy"
Mir. Buchanan, during the territorial contro-
versv was present in the Capitol urging the pas
sage of an act by Congress to prohibit slavery
north Of $50 3O, with an implied liberation OF lie
existence South of that parallel What canon OF
Strict Construction sanctioned that policy
Congress had power to prohibit it north, it had
power to prohibit it south Of 800 80, and II 1t
was right to exercise the power north, 1t was
right to exercise the power south Of It,
live understand the doctrine District Construo-
ton. it does not allow the assumption OF any
power not expressly granted by the Constitution
or not necessary to the exercise Of power which
is expressly granted. Mr.. Buchanan Is an sdVo-
cate of the Fugitive Law Of the last Congress-
will he point out what clause Of the Constitution
empowered Congress to pass that law, or autnor-
ICES it to pass any law at all on the SUBJECT 10
which it relates2 He will refer to the Fugitlve
clause but he knows that it contains no grant OF
power whatsoever-that it simply enjoins GER
tain obligation upon the States, leaving with them
the mower to provide for its fulflment and that
no legislation of Congress is necessary on the
subject, that of the States being all sufficient
What is the worth of his doctrine of Strict Con-
struction2 It is mere caoutohouc, stretching to
cover all the enormous demands OF Slavery, con-
tracing 80 as to exclude from its embrace single
claim of Freedom, deemed obnoxious by the Slave
| Power.
The views of Mr. Buchanan, in relation to In
ternal improvements, are too indefinite to satisfy
ANYBODY There is not judcious supporter OF
the policy of River and Hsbor improvements
who is not opposed to squandering the public
money upon grand system of internal improve
ments, general in name, but partial in its very
nature" That is not the question. But suppose
that the navigation of certain rivers, Of national
Importance in the safety Of which the interests
of all, or nearly all the States are to great ex
tent involved require to be cleared of certain OBJ
structons, and that the work is no more the bust
ness Of one State than of sill, would Mr.. Buchan-
ans Strict Construction, and his pet resolutions
of '9S, forbid sufficient appropriation for the
purpose by the Federal Government Politicians
are very apt to resort to generalities, when they
desire to conceal their views or reserve to them
selves wide margin for trimming The tactics
of Mr.. Buchanan and Csss, and their disciples at
the North, are quite transparent. 1ae siavehdfd-
ers, to whose alliance they look for support, are
opposed to the appropriation of single cent from
the National Treasury for River and Harbor I'm
provements; the masses Of the Democracy in the
Free States, out of the bounds of New England,
are in favor Of moderate appropriations for i'm
provements of a general character. Should Bu-
chanan q Co. place themselves on saveholding
grounds, they would ALLEVIATE the Democracy ly-
ing along the lakes and Western rivers the oppo-
site ground would cut them off from slaveholding
support Hence their equivocation and ambigu-
business They first assume that plan is on foot to
involve the Federal Government in wasteful ex-
pendtures for improvements, general in name,
but partial in their very nature, and then avow
the most vehement hostility to this policy!
Out upon such hypocrisy. Let the old party
leaders state plainly, whether they are in favor
of any appropriations at all by the Federal Gov
eminent for River and IIarbor improvements,
and if they are, give US some idea Of them. If
they are not, let them spare their circumlocutons,
and say boldly, "not a cent from the National
Treasury for any Improvement on Lake or Riv-
err Politicians who hide their views from the
Public and seek its favor under false pretences,
are the worst kind of swnders.