Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-11-01
From The Washington Sentine! ]

both approve the removal OF Bonson and endorse the posi-
lion Of lhu Enquirer.
From The Washington Sentne!
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT PowER-CoTEMpo-
RANEOUS HISTORY.
II is matter Of congraluation that so many of The gst
Ing statesmen we'll journals Of the Democratic pauy
have taken decided ground against The consliuony
system OF internal Improvements. We believe that the
tmenls Of The iGsrous line OF Democratic Presidents
from Jeeso 10 Pierce will be found 10 have been and
he against the existence OF such power and accord In
this respect with those OF the Democra tic party now
Al present not inclined argue the question upon
principle but 10 examine ~ The light Of cOtemporaneous
opposition.
fashionable for Wing journals parade The authority
ol great names who have al former periods in history
while members Of the Democratic party maintained the ex
stence Of such power In reference such authori
are content that our opponents shall find all the comfort
which they afford them: believing, do that when
examined In tho light Of the circumstances in which the in
diVduals quoted were placed al the lime their sentiments
are unmpoant in determining the existence Of The power
claimed by Congress Thcir sentiments are clearly not
authorized expeditions Of constitutional power; they
any further worthy OF regard than Tho assigned
in their support the general soundness OF the opinions Of
those expressing Them, presumption ia favor OF
their But II is found that there facts Of
great value connected with The history OF the Constitution
ITSELF OF which these eminent members c party
not aware but Of which we now Grpzed Then have
data Than they for forming correct opinion; and IL
with equal capncy to Judge The statesman OF the
has 10 this respect great advantage over one OF tho past
age.
In this article propose 10 ulude 10 portion of
constitutional history connected with portion OF our Con-
gresslona annals which have been exhumcd Gy dsIn
guished contemporary the aniiquay OF the pess-lhc Ma
ional IdhhEgtncsr
Thai journal slaes that the report Of tho committee on
roads in the session Of isl5 upon motion oil Mr. LDwndes.
modified to read thus
"Resovcd That Congress has power under The COnstilu.
ion appropriate money for the construction of post roads,
military and other roads, and OF canals an for The improve
ment OF waller courses"
We do not doubt had rail roads been in vogue that
erod The to s construct mem would have been
his great power, would cover all .rhir
boon INFLATED by lie federal government well
Ire great Pacific scheme now proposed.
II is unfortunately for The theory Tho resolution
we'll for the oIitndinous construction which it involves
ha The very powers expressly asserted were denied TO
Congress by the convention which formed The Cons
The power 40 establish poil snd mRtar Toads was early
proposed but hot reported upon lavufaby 10 either by
The gomi:tcc to whom all propositions referred for
ea!on. In the first reported form 0l The Cunsllu
Ion power Ia asIahish post Offices stood alone with
The addition Of The proposal for roads, either post or
military
When the cluse 40 establish pos, Offices" thus reporle
under consideration II moved 10 add 10 il the
words and past roads" IT is singular takeE Ia connection
with the broadly asserted pawcr for "crstrting all kinds
oI roads even this pfon@slian was adopted by the close
vote Of sin Ia hfc.
Ma proppss vas made q add 'miary and other roads,
aud OF canSs according q The assertion Of power conuln
ID 10 the resolution.
The Constitution having b. amended In many respects
upon consideration Of each article by itself was again 70.
the plan reported and only three days before The final
adjournment Of The Convention Dr. franklin proposed TO
add The end of the article 40 establish post otfces and
roads il then stood the power 10 provmt or cut
ting canals rhere dccmrd nece;sGry'
Mr. Sherman objected that The expense would fall the
United States and lie benefits would 10 the place
where the cana: was cut
Mr. Wilson said, instead oi an expense "they may De
made source Ul revenue.
Mr. Madison suggested enlargement OF The motion nlo
power grant of incorporation where The nte-
rest of United States might require, and the legislative
provisions Of indi. lna States may be incompetent His
primary object ca9 hooeper 10 easy
tion been The Stdke l5hich The free Intercourse noo to De
openea seemed 10 call for The political obabes being
naoped remop1l of The natural ones, as far as possible
ought 10 foio,o
Il obvious that the argument Of Mr.. Madison In favor
OF granting this magnificent power TO Congress, was Just
The which was urged in 1915 and now 10 dVor OF lis
exisisncc and 10 demonstrate the expectancy OF It's e8e
csc IL is just the argument io latliudnarian IN con-
sucon now in favor OF government rail road 10 Inc "a
cihc
The enlarged rnnon Of Mr. Madison 90 "modifrd as
10 admit distinct question spccyng and limited 10 The
Of canals"
NATIVE and eight in the negative Mr.. Madison adds:
1.-THE other part fell Of as ncadinR me power re-
jeced" That s That the larger power proposed bY MN, ,oi
charters Of Incorporation &c, "as inVcVeu 10 's ueeeo
rejection Of The lesser power.
This was distinct proposition made 10 The convention
and urged upon high motives Of p9sp oy ne
which ccctuay according 10 the coemporaneous esimo-
ny Of Mr. Madison put at rest The whole power over ne'
improvements.
Now when il is remembered that the Constitution thus
framed and proposed by The federal convenn was snose
queny amended from sensitive jealousy ci federal power
on The rar OF the SIues-by dccarave clause that all
mowers not delegated the United States by the Consttu
pn are reserved The States how inevitable becomes Inc
conclusion that power TO m bs Of The
mower arising from its positive rejection, Is confmeo oy
The declaration of sict limitation OF all powers 70 tnose
delegated and The jealous resefVauon VI oil o'ei' " '
/, will scarcely be denied that the grounds upon which
The cana proposal defeated are equally appicaoie 10
proposal for rail roads. olhOr internal improvements
he Of the one Is conclusive against 1ts existence
and against the proposition oi MI Maas"n whcn icIu
oN then the concmpoanrnns history we "u'e houreS, |
drrisjye of Tho 0uCson the constitutional power VI Co
press over the su,iect uf all internal improvements
Such is The evidence afforded by Air. AladIsons Noles OF
Debates in The Federal Convention which were never pun
ebed until lelO 1t is proper also 10 add that no Journe
nor any debates OF that convention were ever pnoshea unn
after 1873 and that sessions were with closed doors
II Is surprising that under 'ne IecolIecto VI
facts Mr. Madison should have sent 10 Congress veto mes
dknynr lhr existence Of This great power On Inc as
dsv Of his administration. Nor is mnah to be wondered
that The Young ardent ana paouS .ush m we nave
prcseued should have been tempted 6y Inc pressure a
apparent and supposed necessity, from The condon Oh ns
country that period 10 leave The narrow ana sals' pa d
nf riod and strict construction Of the Constitution 10 hno
remedial policy suited 10 II 10 the loose and 6foaa ys'e
of Interpretation adopted by the federass Snc we pe
eye 10 have been lie with the democratic leaders our
np the late war with Great Britain and shortly alter lie
close We yenerats their patriotism. respect lel motives
and pay to their opinions all the regard whleh 10 que so
of an sndor emenI Of them, authority 10 make una. con
sutiona which The etler Of The Constitution does ho
warrant end which history positively dsathrms Inc M au
thoy of all names. and The precedenls OF all times mus
yield The plain meaning Of the charter OF our
construed by The lehls, clear and uncoudeo OIL e '''
| poraneous history of s formation. -, ,,.s.o,
We have before US unpublished letter OF Mr. aaso a
addressed 10 The chairman Of The Committee ON noaIo
Compress which passed the laudnous resolu'ion aooV
ouoed It s oIear and emphatic upon the point uaaet os
cusslou-while in It's texture there 30 mucn S ,t
decacy and lille of ostentaIion' 80 mSc" III, J W.
rinened exoerence of the statesman, ana lne nis'oi
Information of one of the trainers of the Constitution an
So ,e of the ipr Of unendly criticism and pedantl
doamas thai we are tempted 10 close our article 0y 10