The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-10-19

which occasioned it, and the prices OF iron already have
upward tendency. The great prosperity OF The pro-
duetse interests OF The country and the number OF new
railroads which is increasing with the general prosperity,
are enlargng much the demand for that this up
ward tendency OF price will probably be sustained And
thus !. is that trade; hy The silent and beoefeent
operation OF the laws OF Nature, will invariably right it.
self, il man. with his artificial regulations will step aside
and give those laws fair play.
But you will take the manufacture of iron in its
tirey-n You will take not only those who make the
raw MATERIAL but those who manufacture articles out Of
that malerall doubt whether the iron interest has
been more prosperous Mr.. Robert J. Walker made this
iS40. and he told himself that il had not been
tradiced far he knew that great OF
the coal and iron interest Here, them srs, is another
glorious result achieved by the democratic party, and
achieved by following the principles OF that great school
OF which | have been speaking.
come next to the internal mpro vemeni issue; and
claim here as great triumph for tho principles OF
the Virginia school upon either OF the questions which
have just touched do not mean 10 say that the dem
ocrac party as party have ever adopted our doctrines
upon this subject in their fullest extent, that there
not eminent men Of the party who still hold different creed
that regard Nor do mean TO say that the federal gov
enment has desgnedy acted upon those principles IN re-
laon 10 internal improvements But do say that either
by accident design the subject has been substantially
left where system would have left Tito the
States. and to individual or social enterprise, un-
der their direction. The system OF internal commu-
ncation, such as we now have il, is substantially
the creation OF the State governments. What sys-
tenn it is! The world cannot exhibit to be compared
when you consider the and the sparseness OF
the population that made it. Before it's development it
was supposed that the States were incapable OF conduct,
ing by agreement anything so complicated as system of
roads and canals embracing many States. Alexander
Hamilton supposed that il could be best managed by the
general government wherever two or more States were
concerned Aud yet entire line OF railroad in
rapid process OF completion from Maine to Louisiana
Stale after State supplies its particular link, the laws
OF trade require IT, until soon no, gap will be lett to
disturb the continuity Of the series. From East TO West
across the entire inhabited belt OF the States upon this
side OF the Rocky mountains line after line Of railroad
is either completed or in process OF completion Their
arches span broadcast streams their snuous lines
cend our mountain steps, burying themselves in the
EARTH they rend their way, and pursue their direct course
to whatever centre OF trade they may be tending, and
from which il would that physical obstacle
divert or intercept them. When, may l ask, should
we have seen such system OF internal communication If
the general government had taken charge of the subject
To such system there caanot be two heads the
the other government must retire from the field other
wise the one would neutraize what the other did
Suppose the general government had taken The matter in
hand should We have had any system at all or II one
would not have represented rather the political inu
OF those who voted for the bill than the wants of
trade : But should we have had any system at all
Why, sirs the States found il difficult to reconcile
the differences between rival towns within their own
borders. How would il have been with the general gov
ernmeni, encumbered with so many other duties il il
had undertaken system which required them to
cile not only the rival interests OF towns, but OF States
and of sections composed OF States Look 10 the few
attempts OF this character which they have already made
They contributed money to the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal would have been amos, well TO have thrown
into the Potomac river. Take, too The history OF the
and harbors OF the West. given by distinguished
northwestern senator (Mr Douglas, OF illnois) Wha,
is IT but an account OF plans badly conceived and lily
executed Consider the Cum berand road--that great
national work OF its day, upon which il supposed
at one time that the continuance OF the Union almost de-
pended. Who hears OF il now' In wha, class of i'm
provements does il stand Is OF hfthraie i'm
porlance I, is indeed finished road, finished not by
completion, but by abortion.
When come to compare these feeble and Intellectual
efforts with the grand system which is the creation of
State authority and OF individual enterprise, moi rgh,
in claiming triumph upon this subject for the doctrines
OF the Virginia SCHOOL, matters not whether. by acci
dent design, the system has been left precisely where
those principles would have left il, and has been
executed by the federal government whose agency
supposed to be indispensable by those who favored The
opposite political school
But, sirs said not only that the democratic party had
prospeed most when ii adhered most nearly TO the prn
cpes OF which have been speaking, but also that had
experienced most reveses, and suffered most from di.
visions, when the government in its policy departed
most widely from them The latter branch OF the prop
oslon is as susceptible OF demonstration as the former
The federal government at time assumed the man
agement OF the systems of credit and exchange of the
country by the establishment OF national bank. IL
proved 10 be a disturbing influence, not only upon
the politics. but the trade OF the country. Serious
oscillations in the currency OF the country were,
not without cause, attributed 10 IT, and the excitement
"a rel on 70 II became al last 50 intense as 10 dis
lurb almost the good fellowship OF neighofools The
democratic party force in the end to rally 10 its
overthrow, and with ii passed away the disturbing in
fuences OF which | have been speaking What, too,
the result OF the attempt the part of the general
foster great productive interest BY taxing
the Others for its support Year after year, as the pro-
tecive stem developed It's fruits, the opposition to IL
became bitter and intense, until a, last Of The
States threatened TO secede from the unon and the crisis
became serious and imminent that the whole country
drew the long breath OF expectation in anxiety for the
suit PalIatves mitgaed the evil for while, but the
democratic party at last with resolution worthy OF itself
and OF the great ends which pursues, planted itself
here too, upon the great principles o Tree competition
and OF individual right The result has been prosperity,
peace, and fraerna feeling so lar at least as that great
and once disturbing question is concerned But sirs, how
turbance and bitter feeling in the Union, except by de-
parture from these principles II not until the era
OF the Missouri question, and II then when the
eal government undertook TO discriminate between the
systems OF civilization and the social organizations OF the
States and when too II attempted to deny to them equal
rights in relation 10 the settlement and colonization OF the
vacant territory OF the Union. II not until the de-
bates and action OF Congress sought TO be per.
verted to the creation OF moral machinery for the de-
structon oil the institutions OF OF the States, with
regard their feelings OF sefrespec TO their
peace and safety.
Mr. President, think have shown that, next TO Prov
ideoce this country its prosperity most TO the great
principles OF the Virginia school, ! have shown their
application 10 the great questions which disturbed the
country most and have paused TO show the thousand
minor points 10 which their proprety acknowledged
and their influence felt in the great spur which fair and
equal competition give TO human enterprises. III, them
they have heen saluary in the past, they not
equally necessary in the iuture admnisra
lion oil the affairs OF the country
II there ever could have been doubt upon this point,
ber three m mill nd