The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1852-09-17

10 the lmprovementotf OF rivers anu harboiS by
the general government; and 4aey are now
! expressing great surprise on account Of Con-
Igress having passed an act, at iis late session,
for ihat purpose. One would suppose, from
reading their expressions Of MondsSment,
that nodemocratic congress had ever done
the like before, and that the deihocmlie par
ty was hostile 10 all such enactments Of what
ever character. Now this is all liypocrilical
afactatien. Those who write these articles
know better, But lest there should be some
who may be deceived by them, we will en-.
,deavor TO slate, in IS clear and Simple terms
as possible, the democratic doctrine on the
subject; and we desire The cnfefuil attention
Of. every candid reader whiie%e doso.
The Democratic party is, ihSlhs language
Of the second resolution adopted BY the late
Baltimore Convention. opposedto The pros
ecution, by the national government, Of ga
general system ofinternal inproSements."-
That is 10 say--aad we aver Tilt this is the
construction which lie, party has always Civ
en- to this and slmilarenuncialionso ofits doc
trines on the subject system Of improve
ments embracing not only The construction
Of harbors on tllesea coast and great lakes,
and the clearing out Of distinctions from
navigable rivers, bit tie construction Of ca.
nails, railroads, tunpikes and other similar
works; and including enterprises Of a mere
| ly local, as well as ;hosesof aaafioaal, char
acter. 1t is opposed TO such system Of i'm
provements,
/ Because works prosecuted by the general
government cost at least fuc times as much
as those carried on by private enterprise;
Because the, ,selfshness of persons in par
ticular localities will prompt them 10 ask for
appropriations from the national treasury, in
which they would never think Of ofinvesting
their own money, but which system of log
rolling between members will often carry
thro congress; and the money of the people is
therefore liable to be squanderrd upon un-
worthy objects; ~
Because the mixing up of such schemes
with the general legislation of the country,
has tendency to retard and corrupt that leg
islafion; and thus, at the SADIE time, render
it less salutary and more expensive;
Because the expenditure Of such vast sums
of money affords SO great facilities for pee
ulation and corruption Of all descriptions,
and particularly, may be converted TO the
worst political purposes by whatever party
lis for The time being In power, and conse-
quently, has the direction OF that expendi-
ture
| Because the constant habit of looking to
lgouernmsnt for the execution of projects
which might be effected by private en-
terprise, has a tendency to destroy at the
same time, the energy of the people and their
sense Of individual independence. which are
the very lile-blood of free people, and TO re-
duce them 10 the condition of mere depend
ents and pensioners upon governmental
bounty;
Because such habit of looking 10 the na-
tiOnal government for the prosecution Of
works which might be carried on by State
authorities, tends 10 Capitalization, and is
hostile to State influence and sovereignty;
and, finally
| Because the Constitution of the United
States, having ere eated general government
for national purposes only, Congress, which
is part of that government, has no consti-
tutional righ to appropriate money for any
f purposes other than national.
Blu: while such general system of i'm
provements, is opposed on the above conclu.
sive grounds, it is, and always has been, ad.
mitted by the party, as party, that there
may be, and are, enterprises OF so expensive
character as 10 be scarcely within the means
: OF private wealth, individual or associated
E of SO great crtent or attended with such 9th
' er circumstances as moi 10 be within the escopt
E Of State jurisdiction; and of SO national I
character as to be within the legitimate ant
I proper jurisdiction Of the general govern
y ment. We do not deny that there have
been, and still are, individuals who deny tht
constitutional power Of congress to make ap
propriations for any improvement of what
I ever character, but the party does not nov
occupy, and never has occupied, any sucl
( position. Hholds that the tendency shoul'
' bel TO restrain, rather than ertend the exer
else Of this power, but il admits, and has al
. ways admitted, that the power exists, ant
4 ought to be exercised,
Among the objects for which II is admit
ted that such appropriations should be mad
: are, the survey Of the coast the constitution
Z Of breakwaters, &C., and the providing Q
! safe harbors along the sea-board. and tn
! great lakes, and the clearing out Of The chan
nels of large navigable rivers. For all thes
purposes, Democrats haveyoted appropria
tions, ever since such appropriations bega
d to be made. John G. Calhoun, who wa
d supposed to be about as rigid strict cor
a struc zionist as we had among thelmore dis
/, tinguished men of our party, expressly rt