Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-03-13

Wings advocated the prosecution Of general system,
embracing railroads and canals.
We have the authority of MIR. McDufiie, OF South
Carolina for the that the policy OF internal
improvements is OF Republican or Democratic origin
The first step in support Of the policy which contem
plated anything other than rendering easy and sale
the navigation of bays nlets and harbors," pro-
vided for by the to which have already alluded
approved by General Washington, the passage Of
a bill approved by Mr. Jefferson, for the Cumberland
road then supposed to be national work. Mr.. j. O.
Adams claims to be the first who attempted TO reduce
this policy to system, for - the purpose Of opening
roads and making canals" by the Introduction in the
Senate in 1907, of n resolution drawn by himself bnt
introduced BY another Senaor) contemplating such sys
And he tells that the great effort OF his " Adj
ministration 10 mature into permanent and regn
lar system the application oil all the surplus revenue oil
the Union to internal improvement" Finding the poll
cy-originally Democratic-was popular, the Federal
lists (Whgs) sought 10 avail themselves oil ITS popular
y perpetuate their power Hence they reduced TO
a system the expenditures under which Of such
character that the Democratic (Jackson) Administra
ton which succeeded Mr.. Adams checked them, and
strove conne them to legitimate objects and pur
poses. viz: the Improvement in such manner as to
render them saie of existing channels Of national CON-
merce.
The dstinc ton to which have alluded became now,
therefore, party question: the Democrats desiring TO
limit the objects and purposes Of the expenditures the
Wings continue them for all objects which enter into
general system oil internal improvements-ylZ: roads
and canals-as well important rivers and harbors.
Hence the Democratic party in the National Conven-
ton. TAT Baltimore,) which nominated MIR. Van Buren,
General Jacksons successor, for the first time adop
ted the resolution declaring that the Constitution does
not confer upon the General Government the power TO
commence and carry on general system oil internal
improvements" Upon this issue-ths declaration of
principle among others, MIR. Van Buren, elected.
He called about him able Cabinet, and was supported
by the best talent of the connryamong others by Slas
Wright; Their understanding of the resolution is clear
y conveyed by their Ii the plain common sense
Observation-Disclosures only which can be arrived at
without perversion OF its letter and spr-viz: that
aonfh has
and carry all the works which in the aggregate con-
stitute general system Of internal improvements m
Guiding of railroads. canals and turnpkes For
system not embracing all these, far from being
general would be partial sysi.m. said the of
Sas Wright and other supporters Of Mr.. Van Buren's
administration showed conclnsivey their understanding
of the resolution Those among others, the
introduction by Mr. Wright into the Senate and the pas
sage and approval by the President OF river and har
Dor BILL identical in its objects and purposes with the
bill now before us And who questions the democracy
of Sas Wright, the then democracy oil Martin Van
Burenl
NJ Tyler vetoed the Eastern Harbor" bill, and APP
proved for improvement OF certain western rivers
and the lake harbors In his Of the former find
first advanced the singular doctrine that the power to
remove instructions from navgabe rivers necessarily
implies the power DIG canals and pave roads, and
consequently unconstitutional. Such reasoning is not
entitled to the merit OF respectable sophstry 1t was
resOrted to merely TO justify ioregone determination TO
veto. Such reasoning moreover involves absurdy.
The power to accidental distractions from a
river naturally navigable and channel OF national
commerce, render safe harbor already in exist
ence is power protect, to regulate commerce.
power given by the letter of the Constitution. But TO
excavate canals, make slack-water navigation or
roads, is TO create where there none and
that Congress has power TO do express or implied
let, according Mr. Tyers reasoning the latter pow
er is inseparabe from the former neither of them
constitutional The National Convention, 10y which Mr.
Polk nominated, adopted the same resolution al
ready mentioned in opposition general system of in
ternal Improvements. In his first veto OF river and
arbor bill he recognized the distinction which uni
vcrsaly conened Tor by the Democratic party between
national and local works and natural and artificial chan
nels OF commerce. In that veto he said he was mot
disposed TO question disturb the authority TO make
preparations for protection and safety of existing chan
nels of navigation" He leaves to infer that his opPo
sition appropriations he expended ior the adj
vantage of small sections, instead Of being applied
the great national purposes in which all have common
interest" The difficulty with him was, to ascertain
what national purposes" He admitted that
of the objects the river and harbor bill
exceptonable and of CONSTITUTIONAL thereby
equyocaly recognizing the correctness oil the principle
invoved-yz: the constitutonaity of snch appropra-
tions Ho vetoed that bill because first he considered
it unconstitutional second was unconstitutional in
part third if constitutional had not in the Treasury
the money It proposed to appropriate iourth we had
the money needed it prosecute the then existing
Mexican war; If he had rested his veto upon the last
ground alone the friends Of rivers and harbors would
have cheeruly acquiesced; for very few iancy-and
any, certainly of the number-desre the
try to contract national debt be crippled the pros
ecuon OF war; for the purpose of improving rivers and
harbors. But II was, his medley of reasoning by
no satisfactory, the subsequent the bill
manests. In his veto of December 10Th, 1917, lie
adopts hr. Tyers reasoning-tat If Congress has pow
er to improve natural harbor, the power to
harbOr where there necessarily follows II we
have the power clear navigable of accidental
obstructions it follows tina; have equal power TO
make such navigable are naturally, and to
Improve them TO their fountain head and make them
navgabe to their sources" by slack water side
or adjunct canals The conclusion here, as in the SINH
lar reasoning by Mr.. Tyler, is seguitur from the
premises. 1t may be very excellent logic. but
knowledge my inability to appreciate it. admired Mr..
Polk, to the extent of my ability one Of his warmest
supporters but this did make blind his errors
and among his most prominent this forced concu-
sion 1t was an error in that it did injustice TO HIMSELF
In making him inconsistent with HIMSELF with his opinion
as expressed IN his rst message. The power To
remove Instructions from naturally navgabe river,
TO render safe natural harbor is power TO appropri.
ate for ''existing channels of navgation'-a power
which Mr. Polk IN his first message, 'not dis
posed to question disturb but which, in his veto Of
December, 1917, he broadly denies 1t is power 10 ap-
propriate for 'great national purposes which all have
common interest" 1t an error becarse il does
injustice to the eminent whose opinions he cites TO
sustain his own--Madison Monroe and jackson. They
did practically recognize distinction between national
and local works. and between existing channels of
gatlon" and the creation of channels Presidential
opinions have weight with Congress and the
try. Ii Is highly proper they should be received with
that respect due the opinions of the rulers of great
people; but they should be permitted become our
sole guide of action. Nor would they if separated from
the power of the Chief Magistrate. They would then
be weighed canddly and Impartially-would have that
influence To which their merit entitled Them not that
brought by position and power They would appeal to
the reason to the hope of reward fear of adverse
influence Our Presidents from and of US liable
to the preiudices and errors of Judgment and the
same pride Of opinion which makes them unwilling to
acknowledge such errors. Wishing a thing so TO be
they VIII SO act and reason to accomplish their wish