Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-03-02

spirit of The Constitution TO save us from the
dangers Of accplrralion, and the consequences
of lransar sion.
And now, so far from my suffering the Con-
sliluiion of the United States to restrain this
great law of progress, say that il ought to
have been consulted, and It's eXpansibiliiy ought
TO have been developed, in order to embrace
everything that would accommodate it 10 this
law of pr"gress. Sir, the Constitution within
itself contains The very element of selt.cXst-
cncc-lllc provision Of amendment Have You
not practically disrrgardcd the provision which
allowed the Constitution to expand with the
progress of events? Let this be answered i;
there stands The Constitution dead letter, III
many respects, will not say in all. You have
mol expanded it by the wise inicrposlion OF tlIc
Legislature, allowed by the instrument itself TO
aInend it according 10 the exigences OF The
change Of human affairs. But what have y9u
donc! | intend 10 speak boldly, and freely,
and frartcsSly, before the Senate upon that
subj"rI.--lf had the euquencc Of Cicero, /
might paw decent tribute TO the memory OF
tho Constitution: but could not restore II, no
more than lie could restore the life and virtue
uf the Roman Senate, over which he wcpt III
such strains Of cloqnencc rs have survived
Rome itself, and given immortality 10 the menl-
Dry ut the violated institutions of the Common
wealth, III ii existed in The days of its primitive
purity and simplicity, and before they were tar
nialcd by Auyuslan casuiIry, or imperial polu-
liun.-The Constitution has not been amended
and expanded 10 accommodate itself to the pro-
grcss of events. But what has been resorted
! to TO supply that wise provision !-Construc-
tion-u construction like lndia-rubbcr, that nc
commodities iSrlf to the interests of those who
choose 10 avail themselves of the Constitution,
whenever an I'D Vantage is 10 be gained by any
measure. Ard Compromises where there is nv
provision of The Constitution say, deceptive
and dangerous compromises, 10 Uc Violated
whenever there Is temptation 10 do so; anu
platforms, deceptive, iallacious platforms, 10
whip parties into harness, aud to keep them
there, and scarcely for any other purpose
These are the miserable expcdiculs that have
b.en resorled to, 10 supply the place of amend
mcnts t" The Constitution. If | am TO be re-
proachrd because appeal to the spirit OF thai
sacred Instrument allow me to say that have
been doing more TO preserve this Union, and
the integrity of the institutions of this Con
fvGeracy, than those who blindly obey the ag
grcssive spirit of progress.
HrOSrcSS, I"lL enllrciy 10 legislative dlScrc
tion, is II law without limit or certain direction
and must vary according to the fluctuations o
the times and the temptations of men. 1t il
rs easy to obey it, ms to float with the current
bui would be as unwse as to follow that eur
rent without knowing over what cataracts i
may fill. 1t would be like committing the YES
sci to the winl, withoutruddcr or compass. II
make it safe in political point of view,
' must have a right direction, and be Kept with
in constitutional limits"
$50 much uron that general subject; and sa
now, without going inlo constitutional discus
sion, that this bill, in principle, if it bc correct
allows you to appropriate money to any extcn
for system of internal improvements any
where and everywhere. Gentlemcnt cannot GO
over that proposition. repeat it, that the
may understand it. 1t is to appropriate none
from the Fe1eral Treasury fora system of inter
nal improvements. TIC be sure, this is an inter
nal improvement through Texas. or Iowa, o
Arkansas and CaiGurni--But if you can r.
through one State yol can go through ten
and if you can appropriate S2n,O0O,0OO, yo
can appropriate S5OO0N0,O0O Ii the principle
of this bill be admitted, there is no limit at a
to the system of measures, that can be accom-
p'ishcd by the appropriation Of money by thi
, Cow rhment. In dortine, it is but 4 prelude t
other measures Of the same kind, such rs tn
establishment Of IN Agricultural Bureau and
: Naliona! University, both Of which have bee