Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1852-10-13

1oies ~ = ~. 80. f
the trae nsnnocssiic psilcy and III tsus
construction 81 the Constitution. tn proper
for the Democratic Press to expose this attempt
Of the federal leaders to deceive the people in
regard to the true position Of the party upon
this great question. We take it the day has
no: yet arrived when public man can be put
down, before the people Of this country, for
having stood manfully by and ably sustained
the policy Of ASpRrw jackson, either when lie
grappled with the monster corruptions Of the
Bank, or when he put his Veto upon the gene
raj system Ct squandering the public money
in promoting schemes Of private interest under
the name Of National improvements, which
was in a!armingly successful operation when
he came into power. When that time does
come, if it ever does, it will be soon enough for
Democrats to consider the propriety Of aban-
doning their well considered constitutional OBJ
jectons to tho wholesale squanderug of the
peoples money upon such schemes as the fed
eral lat,tudenaran constructonists of the Con-
stitution have ever favored.
The principle laid down by General JACKSON
on this subject, which has ever since formed
prominent article of the Democratic creed, is
contained in resolution adopted by the Balti.
more Convention.
The difference between the two parties upon
this question Is just this, as we understand IT,:
The Democrats are in favor Of appropriations
for the improvement of Rivers aud Harbors
which are Of general and National character
those connected with, and designed to facil-
tate the general commerce Of the country;while
they oppose ,as unauthorized by the Consti,u,
ton all grants fthe Public Money forthose Of Il
mere local nature ,unconnected with ,nnd unnes.
" essary TO- the promotion Of that commerce which
it is the province ofthe Gen Government to reg
ulate and promote. The general principle is
that the improvements. to meet the sanction o
the Democratic party must be "of general mot
local-National, not State" character. Th'
- fetlc.al party, om the other hand, Judging iron
~ their acts, are Ia favor Of appropriations 10
improvements of all local as well as those of {
~ general character--for making Harbors where
none exist and where the necessities of gene
raj commerce do not require them; and for i'm
proving Rivers for mere local convenience, and
which are not required for National or genera
purposes.
To show the character ard tendency Of this
system of Internal improvements by the Gene
raj Government always favored by the fedora
W party, it is only necessary to refer to Tho
- schemes which were in progress at the close o
~ the administration of John Quincy Aadams -
~ The works which had been surveyed and esti
mated by direction Of the Government, inciud
ing those which had been commenced. N
Is29-3O were estimated to cost over one hmm
dred millions of dollars! Among them was
=. road from Washington City TO New Orleans
- estimated to cost abou. sir millions OF dollars
canal from Lake Michigan to the Wabasl
river, fire millions of dollars; canal from tn
Tennessee to the Savannah river, about four an
q half millions; a canal and railroad from tn
Tennessee to the Altamaha river about four an
a half millions; a canal from the James to th
m Kenhawa river three millions "a road from Wasl
inpton City to Buffalo, about fmo millions; ca
Is nal from Merrimack at Concord, by Snnop
- Lake, to the Connecticut about million and
hsif The works then in prSgress or in COZ
temptation embraced every variety OF Intern'
improvements, including Rivers and Harbo'
35 as we'll as Roads. Canals. Railroads, &c; an
SO those named above are but samples Of then
- which serve to illustrate the character Of u
4] system which was then and has since bee
favored by the federal party As before ST.
AR ted the estimafsi cost of-works then co'n'nel
~ ced and those surveyed, was over hundv'
an millions Of dollass; but rs all experiences show
~ that the cost Of such works always great
ior cxcceds The sstimstss. It il sals 70 state th,
these works would have cost q least Hu1
Gu pRrp AND yurr MILLIONS Of dollars To ha'
%, carried on these extensive works would hn'
involved tho nation in debt to an enormo'
The amount, and would have entaiIed upon u
nd. people Of this and succeeding generations to
ow es most grievous to be borne.
ver. Sach was the scheme, and such the poli'
md which it became the noble and imperative du
80 of Gen. jackson to resist and defeat Al
ner nobly and successfully did he accomplish it.
the Such was the nature Of the policy AMI Il
aid character of the measures Which Gen. Pier
ger afterwards opposed and voted against. !
'ta' stood by Gen jackson on this question. as
Dor stood by him on the Bank and other great al
Fed vital questions Of those days-inanfally. Pers
ar verine.y, and to the end. But in SO doing
ve- gave no indication Of hostility to River a,
try Harbor improvements Of proper, rcasoni-t
ted and National character. Gen. JacksoG's &C
struction of the Constitution is susceptible
ord no such Interpretation. Under that constr,
'me tion, all the subsequent improvements of t
ose great Lakes and Rivers O. tho West. as W
un- as Of the Atlantic coast, have been made, a
siv such improvements will continue to be ma
q, they are needed for the protection and p
rs. motion OF Commerce. That the Democra
ade doctrine on this subject has not proved hos,
ion to such improvements. appears from the {
inst that during Gen. Jackson's administrative
the the a,noun, appropriated for such improve"e
,ve- was greater than the amonnt which had b.
and granted under all previous administrations
hese The object Of Gen. Jackson and bis suPpt
vely ers at the period in question, was, not to
ein. feat appropriations for the Improvement
It at such Rivers and Harbors as the facility Of @,
ere. ruerce and the great interests of the country