Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-10-28

he divinity of man being now fully deveI
oPeu'-7ismay now be confidently and exulting
asserted that the r6ace Of the people is til
'0seS9 God; and proclamation be made, tn,
"i'iielilal morning has dawned, that the tim,
naS come, when the Lion and Lamb shall liz
uo"h together; when the "voice of the turtle
snaii oe heard in our land" when "the suckino
cn'i9 snail play upon the hole of the asp and
'he Seaned child put its hand, upon the cock.
atFl'ts der" and the glad tidings shall be pro.
led throughout the land of mans political
,higious redemption, and that there is "on
es teace, good viii toward men,"
i'll be readily perceived by all di.cern-
ans~ MS. seang mef the Democracy ia ladder,
in proportion to their merit, may ascend
While it extends te the humblest of all crsa-
ted beings here on earth below, it reaches to
God on high; and it would seem that the class of
young men to which have alluded might find
o position somewhere between the lower and
upper extremes ofthis ladder, commensurate, at
least, with their virtue and merit, if not equal
to their inflated ambition, which they could oc-
cupy with homer to themselves and advantage
to their country.
Internal lmprovemnts by the General Govern
ment, is asubject that is attracting much pub
lie attention, and no doubt will continue to do
so for some time to come. How far the Gene
raj Government can 90 in constructing works of
Internal Improvement, without an infrAction
of the Constitution of the United States, and
all enroachment upon the reserved rights of the
States, is question that has long been discuss
ed by the ablest and visest statesmen of the
age, without coming to any satisfactory conclu-
sion. The precise line at which the nstional
character Of work of internal IMPROVEMENTS
ceases, and the local one begins, approximate
closely, that it is difficult to determine. even
by those who are disposed to construe the Con-
stitution fairly, where TO FIX the limit.
A public work, which is considered national in
its character by one class of politicians, is con-
sidered local by another, hence, much perplex-
ity and great difficulty is felt in the exercise Of
this power on the part of the General Govern
ment, over any work of Internal Improvement.
Having now, however, in view, the many impor-
tant works, about which there is so much sohci-
tude on the part of large portion of the people
of the U. States, and which is now occupying
the attention of General Government; my own
deliberate opinion is, that before the General
Government advances another step in works Of
Internal Improvements, at least those Of q
donhtfnl oharacter there should be an appeal
made to the several States composing the COM
pact, to definitely fix and accurately describe
the utmost boundary of power intended to be
exercised by the General Government in the
construction of works of Internal Improvement.
The Governm ment, on subject so grave and
deeply important as the one now agitating the
public mind, should move within limits veil
ascertained both as to power and the amount
of money to be raised by taxes, and to be ex-
pended in the various projects Of Internal I'm
provements which may hereafter be projected.
If the States intend that the General Govern
ment shall embark in gigantic scheme of In
ternal Improvments, let the power be conferred
AZ provided in the Constitution of TIE United
States. If not, let the General Government at
once be arrested, and confined within the writ
ten command Of the States that spoke it into
existence.
The subject of Internsl Improvements by our
own local authority, has also excited deep
and lively interest among our people in many
nortions of the State well regulated and
iudicious system of Internal Improvements, in
tended and calculated to give all reasonable IA
cilities to the Mechanical Agricultural, and Com
mercial pursuits of the country, ought to receive
such aid and encouragement from the State as
will come clearly within the financial ability OF
the people If such aid has to be given by the
creation of State Indebtedness, the Legislature
that creates the Indebtedness should never fail
TO provide the means to meet the annually sc-
cruing interest and the principal as they fall
due.
In connexion with the Internal Improvements
of this as we'll as other States, there is ques-
ton of mach Importance, which has not, hither-
to very generally attracted the attention OF the
people of this State. 1t is one that involves the
first principle of free government itself, and will
no doubt ultimately come before the judicial
tribunals of the country, or before the sovereign
people. for action and final adjustment. How
far the Legislature can go in granting the right
Of way to all companies, which, may be author
zed to construct works of Internal Improve
ments, through the real property of individuals
without their consent, is the question referred to;
and it is not well defined in the public mind,n
distinctly understood by the people.
The right Of Eminent Don,air does not in
his State authorize the Legislature to 60 be-
yond, in appropriating the property of the citi-
zen, what is absolutely necessary for the public
good, and not then without just compensation
being made therefor. To set apart so much of
he real property owned by the citizens, as may
be desired by every company which assumes
hat it is constructing work or works of Inter
for the public good. would be de-
'troying one of the great guarantees in the Bill
If Rights, which secures the people in the en-
oyment of their real and personal property
At as early day as may be practible, there
should be some boundary .J5nsd, by the Judicial !