Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-24
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
REMqNIscENcEs.
TIC Po3ers Of Congress in regard TO Internal
Inproreneats.

The subject Of Internal Improvement was not
even referred to by President MONROE in his Mes
sages to Congress in 1918, 1919, 1920 and 1921.
AT the session Of 1S19-'20, Mr.. TABOR, of New
YORK, moved reference of the subject OF roads
and canals to select committee, and, this beng
agreed to, the following gentlemen were appointed
Messrs Storrs, of New York, Crafts of Vermont, Pin
DALI Of Virginia Marchand Of Pennsylvania, Hendricks
of Indiana, Davidson Of North Carolina and Street. OF
New York.
AT the session of ls2o2l Mr. Foor, of Connecticut
moved like reference and the following gentlemen were
appointed Messrs Storrs Crafts, Marchand, Edwards
Of North Carolina, Street. Montgomery and Hendricks
At the session Of lS2l-'22 Mr.. HEarHiLL, OF Pennsy
TGns, moved the appointment OF select COMMITTEE anu
she following members were designated: Mr. hemp
ill of Pennsylvania, Mr.. Reid of Georgia, Mr. hawkes.
4uf New York. Mr. Matsou, OF New Hampshire, Mr. Ball,
OF Virginia, Mr.. Burton, Of North Carolina, aud MI
Vance, of Ohio.
A committee also appointed at this session IN the
Senate roads and canals consisting Of Messrs John
son. OF Kentucky, King, of New York. Lowre, OF Penn
sylvana, Macon, of North Carolina, and Mills, OF Mas
sachusetts.
And thus said the Inellgencer of the day. the power
over that subject has been recognised in both Houses
At the session Mr. HENpHILL, in the House,
january ., 1927 from the Committee on Roads and
Canals made detailed report accompanied by bill to
procure the necessary surveys plans and estimates on
the subject Of roads and canals.
On the 10Th of March, 1922, the House passed bill
authorizing the erection Of toll gates the Cumberland
road, and making appropriation of $4,000 for the re-
pair of said road The 81 to 6S. The Senate
concurred in the bill May 3, 1922 by vote of - to Z
President MONROE returned the bill next day to the
House of Representatives with his objections No at
tempt made pass the bill by the constitutional
majority of two-thrGs-the vote Of the House having
shown only majority Of 10 in favor of the measure
Mr. MONROE sent in the same day. an elaborate argu-
ment the constitutional question envH--e ~ uu
octave panes ossay as 1T may be Called Mr. MON
details with much minuteness the origin and powers
of the Federal Government both under the Confederation
and the Constitution and exhibits the difficulties atten
dant upon exercise of the power claimed for Congress
the subject of internal improvement without spe
cifc grant He contends that power cannot be claimed
under the authority tto establish post roads" not
under the right to declare war J" under the right
to regulate commerce. under the right /" to pay
the debts and provide for the common defence and
general wefare' under that :" to make all laws
which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into
execution all the power vested by the Constitution in the
Government the United States in any department
or officer thereof" nor lastly, from the power to dis
poseof and make all needful rules and regulations
speeding the territory other property of the United
States" He did not however, any welfounded con-
stitutona objection the appropriation Of the public
money improvements (roads and canas) which would
facilitate the operations Of war; the movements of troops
the transportation Of cannon, of provisions and every
warke store which would facilitate the transportation
of the mall and thereby promote the purposes of COM
merce and political intelligence among the people
Mr. Monroe went into many details in regard to the
works aided by Congress- and stated that the Cumber
land road the only regular work undertaken by the
4.
question between the Governments Estate and Pede
raj respecting its powers.
few extracts will the better illustrate the posi-
ton Of President MONROE this great question:
Having now examined oil the powers OF Congress
under which the right adopt and execute system of
internal improvement is claimed and the reasons IN sup
port of it. each instance think that il may fairly be
concluded that such right has not been granted 1t
appears and admitted that much may be done in aid
or such system by the right which is derived from
several Of the existing grants and more especially from
that appropriate the public money But still it is
manifest that system for the United States II
be carried into effect under that grant, under
al Of them united the great and essential power being
deficient consisting of right take up the subject
principe Union to be examined by men Of
science with view TO such improvements to authorize
commissioners to lay of the roads and canals in all pro-
per directions take the land a valuation if
sary and the works to pass laws with sui
table penalties for their protection and to raise
from them; TO keep them in repair and make fur
tolls with gates TO be placed at the proper distances
ain the preceding inquiry little has been said Of the
advantages which would attend the exercise OF such
power by the General Government have made the in
quiry under deep conviction that they almost in
calculable and that there general concurrence Of
opinion among fellowcitizens 10 that effect Still il
may be improper for to state the grounds upon
which NY impression is founded. IL il sheds adj
donal light this interesting part Of the subject it.
will least show that have had more than pow
erfu motive for making the inquiry general idea is
all that shall attempt.
The advantages of such system must depend upon
the interests be affected by it and the extent TO which
they may be affected and those must depend the
pacy OF country for improvement and the means at
Its command applicable TO that object.
al think that may venture affirm that there is
part Of globe comprehending many degrees Of
latitude the main ocean, and many degrees of lon
gude into the interior that admits Of such great i'm
provement, and at little expense. The Atlantic
the side, and the lakes forming almost inland seas
on the other separated by high mountains which rise in
the valley OF the St. Lawrence and terminate in that Of
the Mississippi, rayersng from north to south almost
the whole interior with innumerabe rivers on every
side Of those mountains, Of vast extent many of
which take their each other give the
great outlines the details be seen on the valuable
maps OK our country
1T appears, BY the light already before the public
that it is practicable and easy connect by canals the
whole coast from its southern to its northern extremity
in continued inland navigation; and 70 connect In
like manner in many parts the Western lakes and rivers
with each other. 1t Is equally practicable and easy to
facilitate the intercourse between the Atlantic the
Western country by improving the navigation Of many
Of the rivers which have their each other
the mountains each side and by good roads across
the mountains between the highest naygable points Of
those rivers In addition the example Of the Cumber
land road already noticed, another of this kind is
in from the head Of the river James those
NIT hp yn1