Daily American telegraph., 1852-07-20
Political Deception.

Political Deception.
The manifest intention Of our opponents to
dupe the American people by letters declarations,
and platforms of chameleon hue, should surely ex-
cite their indignation and scorn more perfect
specimen of this species of fraud than the Kane
letter" was probably never put forth until the
recent Democratic Convention smuggled into ex-
istence its conflicting and crafty platform. Let
any fair and candid man peruse the following:
" Resolped, That the constitution does not con-
fer upon the general government the power to
commence and carry on general system OF in
ternal improvements"
What does this mean? Does it deny that Con-
gress has the power to commence general system
of internal improvements By no means.
Does it deny that Congress has the power to
carry on general system of internal improve
ments? By no means. 1t simply declares that
Congress has not the power to commence and
carry on" such system. There is wide latitude
for evasion here
And then, again, it does not forbid the COM
mencement and carrying on, both or either, OF
any special works of internal improvements de-
sired by any particular portions of the Union
All that it forbids is works coming under the
head Of "a general system" and what descrip-
ton Of works shall be SO classed is yet, we be-
leve an undetermined question.
The resolution, therefore, is without practical
application or significance, and was merely writ
ten under the presumption that votes could be
caught by this seeming strict construction Of the
construction.
II the men who thus resolved had but kno,cr
the principles of their nominee, they might have
been spared the necessity of this disreputablt
electioneering trick; for it happens that upon
this subject he stands fully committed upon the
record as the deadly foe of every measure of i'm
provement by the general government. The
channels and harbors of our rivers, lakes, and
bays, are alike to him objects concerning which
the general government has nothing to do. He
indeed is committed in fact where the Convention
only desired to have seeming commitment. The
Democratic party must therefore make virtue
of necessity, and give full anti-improvement in
terpretration to their own resolution This will
answer well enough among the ignorant, the
careless and the disinterested; but there many
Democrats whom it will never suit, and who will
never submit to SO narrow-m -mindedand unpatriotic
m 1nterpretauOn Oh the Conslltutlou VI tueh
country.
The WHO'S have spoken with reference to this
subject, and their language admits Of but one in
terpretation. 1t is in the following words:
Resolued, THAT THE CONSTITUTION VESTS IN
CoSGRgss THE POWER TO OPEN AND REPAIR HAR-
BoRs AND REMOVE DISTRACTIONS FROM NAvIGABLE
RIVERS. AND 1T is EXPEDIENT THAT CON-
GRESS SHOULD EXERCISE SUCH POWER,
SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING, IN EVERY INSTANCE,
NATIONAL AND GENERAL IN THEIR CHARACTER"
There is no possibility here of equivocation or
evasion. Citizens Of one locality cannot be told,
in view of this, that the public treasure is not
to be expended even in the improvement of our
national marine highways, while those who dwell
contiguous to such thoroughfares shall be as
sured that the necessary improvements they need
do not come under the ban levelled at ga general
system of internal Improvement" !" There is no
underground work here Our views and purposes
are national, as our party is natonal our prin-
ciples are set forth in good faith, and shall
abide by them. 1t is for the American people to
decide whether they will be again duped by an
artful and designing horde of political managers
who seek nothing but their votes, and these only
ms means of gaining access to place, power, ant
the dispensation of patronage.