Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-18
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.


vocalist.
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.
The Intelligencer discusses the Sandwich
Island annexation question, basing its
remarks upon paragraph in the letter
of correspondent in recent number of
q Philadelphia paper, saying that treaty
Of annexation has probably already been
negotiated by Mr.. Severance. our Com
missioner there, and on the Unions
recent article on the subject, which we
republished entire. The editor says that
his readers
-" woula ,irdly conceive that scheme il Oh
loot to Gxiapi the bound, Cf this American
Union 'nree thousand miles beyond the shore
Ut the continent into the vast expanse of the
Pacific Ocean, TO acquire and annex to the
United States the SaGdy ich Islands, composed
OF OWyhee and the contiguous ones forming
the group. Plain readers, who have looked
only at the honorable career and happy desti-
ny contemplated by the trainers of the Gov
eminent and their wise successors, would not
credit that 4 scheme of expansion so vast and
lean, or that it could or has come from any
but the teeming brain Of some visionary of
the " Universal Democratic Committee" alien
and unframed alike to all true notions Of
American principles and aspirations But
lest any retired readers should remain incred-
ulous, We will present them with one or two
notices Of the project from he public press
The first Is the following extract from Wash
lngton letter to the Philadelphia american
OF the 18th instant"
Continuing, the editor says:
What an absurdity to talk of annpr4tion>
To what shall it be annexed? To California
as part Of that State? We presume that il
cannot be contemplated to make State of
their five islands in the middle Of the Pacific.
nor yet ISTrIfOry. Is it then as a CoIonU
they are to be held Is it proposed to adopt
the anomalous plan of colonies, unrepresented
and disfranchised-a political condition 20 ut
ferly at war with the vital principles of our
system of Government And if as colonies
into what a sea of hazardous responsibilities
and perllous consequences will this Union be
embarked one that we shall ultimately find
not pacitc, however it may be named on the
map.
But the reader may say this ia only a ran
dom surmlse of a newsletter See then
what the official paper. the Union, says in its
number OF Tuesday last"
The Union to-day is an important pa
per; as it contains and elaborate article
upon the internal improvement question.
evidently BY arrangement, expressing the
views and foreshadowing the Presidents
intentions On the sui ject. We draw from
1t the conclusion that Franklin Pierce
viii DC found To be as strict a cOnstruc
uonlst of the powers of the General Gov
eminent in this connection, as was his last
Democratic predecessor, James X. Polk.
In view of the national Importance of this
by authority" article, we quote from
it, as follows:
1t Is universally admitted that the federal
government derives all its powers from the
Constitution, and lew deny the cardinal prin-
elpies that all grant. of power contained i'm it
should be strictly construed, and that doubt
al constitutional power should never be exer
cised Does the Constitution clearly confer
ms power No one pretends that il is CON
ferred IN express terms. 1t is claimed to ex
lst US necessary incident to the power over
commerce 10 exist as all Incident. il INNS,
be absolutely necessary to the execution of
power expressly granted. 1t cannot exist
where tno object can be accomplished il; q
reasonable and practicable manner. by an
other authorized agency These improve
inents are clearly within the constitutional
competency % the States, under their conceded
general powers, and also under their reserved
Iigh' To levy tonnage duty with the assent of
congress The refusal by Congress to give
us assent t. such duties cannot confer consti.
'utional power to do what would otherwise be ,
unlawful Such power cannot rest upon so
uncertain ana unworthy basis as the wrong !
lul act OF an agent Hence. this power does
not exist as en- incident to the power over oom. |
ton"
Appropriations for internal improvements |
would increase the public burdens Inv incrensa
ing our taxes or the national debt TO tho ex.
tent OF the money expended on interest The |
records Of the Treasury show that since M
uonroes administration this class of improve.
ments, including surveys, has cost an Immense
sum. Past large expenditures have not di. |
mi nished the number of applications, nor the |
zeal and perseverance with which they are |
pressed. The cost of all such works usually |
vastly exceeds the estimates and the promises |
~ small expenditures generally end in dissa- |
pointment. The expense of work once COM
meEced seems never 10 end Usually they re
main perpetual charge to the Treasury. A |
bill embracing many of this class of works,
which received President Folks veto, appro-
pristed the sum Of 81 ,37S 450. which, if it had |
become Law, would have added that amount
TO the public debt in time Of national war.
IL is not unworthy of consideration that pub
lie confidence is shaken in relation TO the
motives which sometimes prompt applications
for expenditures Of this kind, The conve-
aiency Of commerce" is always the assigned,
while local interests and private speculations
are often supposed to be real, motives. The
appearance of petitions in Congress for i'm
provsments, followed by plats of cities and
villages with lets for sale is well calculated to
AWAKEN such suspicious. 1t is far safer to de-
'lne all action Oh subjects SO liable to suspi
,ion ana possible injustice, and condne our
;ais 70 hight houses, beacons, buoys, and pub