The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-23

TO make internal Improvements that in Territory you
may make roads and canals upon the ground OF mpov-
ng our property and under that principle they admit
you may make canal other water communication
from the Mississippi the Red river OF Hudsons bay
through the Territory OF Minnesota. Now where is the
dHeIence IN the constitution between making improve
men that the government wants for its uses connected
with the powers vested in it in State and in Terri
tory Is there any' Not one particle. The argument
applies Just as strongly to State il does TO Terri
tory dednee the power TO make internal Improvements
from lhe war power, from the navy power, from the
mecia power, and from the post office power, which
are vcslei Ia this government and in it exclusively The
States can exercise none OF these powers What does
he constitution say That all means necessary and
proper for the execution OF any power vested. Congress
may legilmaely exercise and employ Here. SIR is the
rock upon which, il to nae. all my political oppo-
nens spit IN establishing their creed upon this subject
ney consider the means to accomplish the end
"n@ I'M s objects and pasysw q tns ,s
y gives the great ends tor which the government
formed the great objects Of its formation. and the great
powers TO accomplish those ends and objects and then
y leaves Congress perfectly discretion to exercise its
own Judgment In the selection of the The fault
IN the democratic creed is that when they look into the
constitution, they cannot find corporation, for
pie, expressly provided for which the whig only
means, to accomplish come constitutional object, they
say il Is unconstitutional to corporation because il
is not expressly provided for in the constitution Can
you find any means provided for in the constitution
None at all They lett 10 the discretion OF Congress
Whether corporation association with private in
dlyiduals or internal improvements, shall be the
SILENT and gives no directions TO us. We are left TO
exercise our Judgment and discretion in the selection
OF the means What have you been doing every day. and
what are you now doing ! showed you the other day
how you were forming associations, indirectly y giving
your lands to States, and letting them make partnership
rangements with companies; and my friend from Georgia
mr. DAwsoN] demonstrated the nature of that arrange
men in the of the grant to Illinois, and showed how
the State and company were TO profit at the expense of
the people Of this country We have right 10 select the
means, and the point to which wish to call attention is
n rance
ment with foreign countries, and even with the different
ports OF our own country, by entering into partnership
with private individuals in ship building Where are
your Colnses who made the great exhibition and gave
the great feast the other day--your Aspinwas, and
Whetmores, and other individuals who come here TO
unite with you partners under the pretence that they
build chips which you are 10 use for war purposes
and to profit BY this association for the construction OF
those ships do not deny the constitutional power 10
you have had majority here for years-and bring up
these things to show that whenever suits your purpose
you enter into combinations with individuals; you ex-
ercise that power which say you can exercise over
means 10 accomplish constitutional ends and objects but
when want you 10 do the thing, in principle, by
constructing railroads in Kentucky or granting her por
ton Of the public ands Oh becomes unconstitutional
and you cannot that in reference the old States
your powers broad and extensive the means
as they in the S,aes-and especially in the par
ticular which have pointed out, and which you
have sanctioned and practsed. | am tired and utterly
sick of such Inconsistencies. No who will look al
the practice OF parties, and endeavor ascertain the
but must be heart sick, soulsc and mind sick and
every way nauseated with this system Of hngs-this
just partial and one sided system II is enough 10 weak
en- II not break up, popular governments Tor, in my
Judgment republics cannot stand when they TO be
governed By honest principles Equal justice, far
possible, TO all parts and portions OF the country is the
best and most efficient TO make the people love
and support their government.
But, sir let present other considerations to H.
nsirate the proper selection OF means TO accomplish
stulional ends II the constitution defined and limited
you to the use OF specified Means then, under the idea
that all powers not expressly granted prohibited 10
thus government to the correctness of which heartily
subscribe. you never could go beyond the which
existed at the time The constitution formed II you
are tied down by the constitution to those which then
lsted you would be excluded from the OF any i'm
provemens in the arts which might be afterwards in
vented When the constitution was adopted and went
into operation, we had no steamboats,, railroads,
teegraphlc wires in the world consequently, IL you
tied down TO the use OF such means known 10
the members OF the convention, and which may have
entered into their contemplation in framing the consiiiu
tion you never can consutionally build steamship,
transport army or muaitions OF railroad,
transmit order by lightning Our great fathers were
pgmy blockheads II they intended TO circumscbe and
limit Congress IN the selection oil the best means 10
compsh constitutional ends. They did do IT. bat, on
the contrary, expressly conferred full discretion in select.
ing by that provision OF the constitution which de-
claes that Congress shall have power TO make all laws
which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into
ecuon the foregoing powers and all other powers vested
by this constitution in the government OF the United
Saies or in any department or officer thereof" believe,
III
practieaby and utility OF navigating the atmosphere
would have much right 10 use his balloons in
cutting governmental purposes TO bank corpora
ton, 10 associate with private individuals, or 10 build a
steamship, or 10 use railroad Morse's Telegraph ln
executing the war power, will deny right tc
buy wagons and use them-to buy h orses and mules
and them That has been the practice and suppose
nobody will deny the right How can you use wagons
unless you have road ! May you not open road to
drive your wagons along construct bridge TO pas.
stream And yet these internal improvements
huf will af l,p Itfaf,
road BRIDGE and il the road bridge did not exist ii
time OF war, you must construct them act OF
sty otherwise the army and ts baggage train might bt
unable TO march Where do you fnd in the constitution
that you rigbtuly do IN time OF what IL Is lille
that OF the wise principles upon which all civilized
nations acted was that in time Of peace they shoull
prepare for war. road-and especially a railroad
leading to one OF your great commercial points, one o
your naval stations, depos or navyyards, s one OF h
most essential means, considering the present condition
OF the world, in the military defence OF any country
And why s il II is because you thereby concen
the military force OF the interior at that point to
pei invading army thence 10 take ships Tor dsan
operations IL IL because BY the velocity OF movemen
and concentration half the force bali the expense vii
defend country, which would be required without sucl
capacity for speedy concentration. railroad at lh,
place where the government needs II for s therefore
rs constitutional under the power your forti
cations spread along the seacoasta little more con
slitutona II there be any difference, because invading
army get OF danger by marching at dstanc,
atound be fortcatons, when it might be easy
escape with the forces conveyed by the rail
road 10 meet them. But By the means OF communication
through canals and railroads you obtain military supplies
munons OF war; food and clothing for soldiers quicker
and cheaper Without these the country cannot success
fully carry lis military operations That mind i lam
entably denented which that canals and rail
roads in proper places will constitute the best and sures