The Yazoo Democrat., 1853-08-31

eOnce1e lHlS mucu 70 Tue splHl OF our ln6iilu-
ions would impair their stability, and defeat
the objects Of the constitution itself"
The principle laid down ia 79S n regard 10
appropriations uf nioncy to aid works ol inter
nal improvement carried on by State enterprise
was, that whenever money has been raised by
the general authority, and is 70 be applied to "a
particular measure, question arises whether tire
particular measure be within the enumeratcd
authorities vested in Congress lf I'd be the
money requisite for it may be applied q d.; Do
not, 10 such application can Be made" THIS
principle stues Us as 50 PalpablJ the true one,
hat We are surprised that such paiupis anil
statesmen as Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe
vague and indefinite distinction between ua-
ti0nN and l0cal WORKS which General Jackson
characterized s.unsa9s, aglatIary iu its nature,
lnd liable TO great abuse But We aIe for stand
ing by the truth OF history. although 10 Teques
the hurniliatug admission ttat the Virginia resi-
olutloD5 IN this respect have not been faithfully
adhered TO in practice The result of this de-
parture-frsr by Jefferson, then by Madison,
hen by Monr0e--Was To enlarge the discretion
allowed 10 Congress in determining what objects
|ere national and what We're local and 20 adopt
rule Of construction which Jackson regarded
az arbitrary in It's nature, but yet too long and
90 thoroughly ucqail sad in 10 De ab ndOned.
II Il weie tree, as d matter ol fact, that Col.
Davis, IA bis late speech, had proposed tooppro-
yfidie money IRON tde treasury % ald Texas or
Missouri or California III building the road. it
ouid hardly be commended that the proposition
vas not sanctioned by tbe practice ana Die doc
rine oi Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and jack
on. We piesums that all Will at once concc3a
hat the Pacific road is an object natoaul oul
not t9c0i in IT'S cil8ractcr We should suppose
that when treadug iu tie footsteps 0i NipIula's
most Ilusirous statesmen. and welding tO tHe
weight oil their examples like Jackson Col D1-
ls might reasonably expect The anaiuemas ct
frrr-A .fr E..
with something of moderation and mercy. But
Col Davis has not set placed hunsetl Iu a con-
lstion to ask anything but STERN justice and we
IRE not sure but that The rigidlty of his strict
eonstCUcti0aism VIII resist even the weight of
be potent precetenis to which the IRON viii OF
Old Hickory was constrained TO bend 10 may
turn out, and we think il probably will tiEt
the determination Of ia goyeumcnl 10 furnish
eilectual aid IN the construction Of the road
through IFS own territory, Wherein lie the great
physical obstacles win give TO tie enterprise So
much certainty Of success, that individual and
municipal capital will be enable to constoct
not only one but many diycrging tracts through
he States through whose territory IL may pass.
In that event the original strict doctrine Of con
struction stands intact. Ifit becomes necessary,
howeyer, for the government 10 give aid TO pri-
vate capital to promote the enterprise in the
States, then it does not follow that an appro-
priation from the treasury will be essental-tEe
aid may be derived from the public lands in those
States and, in that event. the old strict-cou-
structicn principle may not be disturbed. But
even ifit becomes essential in order 10 insure
the success Of the enterprise, that money should
be appropriated by The government to be expeu-
led in aid Of the work in the States, it may be
found, upon careful investigation, that the pow
er to protect our Pacific possessions in obe,li-
ence to an express trust assumed by the govern
ment, may SO Car be regarded as a specified or ex-
press grant in The constitution as to authorize
the appropriation. AS il is not probable than
this question will arise, Col. Davis has intima-
ted no opinion on the point, but stands distinct
y upon the power clearly deducible from the
obligation of the government to provide for rs
common defence, and to protect its territory
of the United States. Il is there chat the all ot
the government is needed-withouti it our Pacif-
ic possessions cannot be made secure: no ques-
ton Of State sovereignty or jurisdiction is pres
ented-and the strictest of the strict rules of
construction may remain undisturbed by any
proposition which Col. Davis has advanced.
1t will be observed, however, that the strict
consructionists Of the Richmond Enquirer
school put their trust in private enterprise and
individual capitol Tor the construction Of the
Pacific road. We have adverted to The fact that
the great physical obstacle to the enterprise ex-
lists in the United States territory and not in the
States. We have some curiosity TO know If our
contemporaries seriously rely upon the oyercom-
ing OF the physical difficulties in the territories
by individual enterprise and capitall But Col.
Davis is unable TO see under what other outhori-
ty than that Of the United States individual en-
ergy aud capital, even If it werein the territories
could be made available to Overcome the physic-
al obstacles. We suppose, however, that our
friends Of the Richmond Enquirer have embraced
the doctrine that the inhabitants Of territory
possess sovereign rights and jurisdiction within
the territories This is point il latitudinaria1l-
ism to which Col. Davis has not yet arrived
Such position may accord with their views of
strict construction-rit does not with his.
Our whig cotempoIaries, therefore, have con-
graduated themselves inconsidemtely upon
change in the democratic policy, whilst our
strict construction democratic friends ia Virgin
ia may discard their apprehensions. The wings
may still find in the discretion Of Congress tlrs
vagrant pouerto enter the territory Of q State
upon the pretext OF establishing post roads, and
in that way usurp jurisdiction; or they may, I'm
the latitude Of their discretion, find the bower In
the grant as to commerce Or they may resort 10
misapplication Of the war powef-the democ-
racy and the present democratic administra tion
raiecf and renudiate all srfch nsrversinrs of ffe