Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-09
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS BY THE
GENERAL GOVERNMENT.


mentum in corpore ril, leading to useful result
in Philosophy. But let no one imagine, who will
think for moment, what enormous wealth is got
by the vending of quack medicines-how limit
less the gullibility of large part of mankind-of
the thousand ways in which human credulity is
made subservient to fraud and imposture-that no
good will come of the constant and reiterated ex-
posure of this baldest of all possible humbugs.-
The manufacturers ofthe patent mixture ing ues
tion prescribe as a chief ingredient holy horror
of any d" General scheme of Internal Improve
ment by the Government-nnd of any General
Distribution of the Public Lands" Now, mark
the cunning equivoque, by which, under this word
" General they "palter in double sense.'
Does the lover of economy and strict construction
look into the platform for encouragement to
his peculiar views /! "See here,'' says the plat
form maker" here's economy and State rights
for you-I assure you these are among the cher
ished principles of our party-we go against any
General system Improvements, for that would
be wastcful and extravagant-or of distribution
among the States, for that would be unconstitu-
tional-that is what the Wings aim at-a splen-
did National Government, overshadowing and
corrupting the States''-and straightway the con-
tented convert plants himself on that interpreta-
ton. But, says the Freesol Democrat, .swe
want railroads-we must have thenl-and the
public lands to make them with-and here
you are denouncing the whole system broad
cast. Generally that will never do for u.s."
'Oh! but that was for our straight-laced Virginia
friend here.'' Cant you see that we only
|
partial system Take the lands, and welcome.
1t would debauch the old States-indeed they are
too proud to take them-go ahead the platform
is the very yarn for you''-and thus under the
equivocation Of single word, applicable in one
sense, to the extent, in the other, the character
of the object designated, all objections conve-
niently covered, and pretended harmony avowed,
where direct antagonism preyails-ajugglery pal
pabe to all who will not sacrifice sense and con-
sistency to mere party success. Thus in the
late debate in the Senate the g bill granting
the right of way, and making grant OF land to
the State of Iowa. in aid of the construction of
certain railroads in said State'-Senator Hunter
loquitur.
Sir, I said,-addressing myself to my Demo-
cratic friends-that we had taken ground against
general system of Internal improvements; and
put it to them to say, if there was danger in
thus adopting what would seem to be partial
| system of Improvements that we had taken
! ground against general system Of the distribu-
ton of the public lands, and that we were passing
bills of this character, which would lead to par
tial distribution of these lands among portion of
| the States.
|
dence-of the double fraud for which we arragn
these patriots. We have it confessed and
| proved, by the best of those concerned in the
| guilt-we are glad to believe, unwilingy con-
cerned-a man naturally ingenuous-of cultivated
mind and refined tastes-whose instincts are
Whig-but whose very instincts seem suppressed
or abandoned in his present party associations
which make them the reluctant instrument of
thousand public ills. But the defence of this out
rage upon constitutional grounds and reasons of
right by Senator Douglas is evidently character
istic of Young America g 1t was no objec-
ton to appropriations that it was partial in its
character; because all appropriations must bene-
fit some localities more than Others the Gov
eminent has peculiar interest, because its prop
erty landholder, is improved in value by the
construction of these Improvements quoth this
exemplar of progressive politics and morals.
But how long shall the reign of Humbug-the
empire of political imposture, endure !! Let no
true Wing despair of its end That the people
are capable to govern, is truth to which we sub
scribe with all our heart and sou-and we
shall never be found yielding to that ennobling
sentiment cold and feeble assent. We have
,ad III rs
designed to be the sport of the relentless despo-
tisms and bloated missionaries that have scourged
and debased the human race The great body of
the people know their true interests, and the |
means to preserve them, better than they ever |
did, in any former age, and will, we dare believe
never forfeit by supneness, what under God |
their own virtue and intelligence have combined
to achieve-this solid fabric of social happiness |
and political grandeur. But how essential to its
preservation, that they may always recognise their
true friends, however homely their guise and plain
their speech, and know their enemies with what
ever titles and whatever Establishments they may
adorn themselves. Cant, trick, imposture, the
sophistries OF pretended zeal, the art of deluding
with names, which are substituted for things, these
and not the of tyrants are the foes which the
people must learn to perceive to combat, and sub
DUE And not in vain will that Wing have delved
and labored, (however humble his sphere) who
shall address himself with earnest and hearty en-
ergy to their assistance in that holy warfare
Level with the ambition of the lowest it is a task
which will exalt the highest whom patriotism
enros in her sacred ranks. To convince. to
enlighten, to persuade, to return with patient and
enthusiastic courage to the work,-though foiled
thousand times, of teaching and impressng
truth, of stripping off from falsehood her subtle
DISCUSSES; to repress on one hand the spirit Of tu-