The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-05

79s $780, The republican construction had been rigid
y adhered 10 in regard 10 the power 10 construct works
of internal improv ement within the States, Tha, pIn
cple OF construction has been adhered 10 by the demo
cratic party nor has Col Davis proposed disturb it
in bis laie speech in favor OF government aid to the Pa
efc railroad lie has not proposed that The government
shall construct the road within either OF the States
through which may be built but, the contrary, be
has been explicit In earnestly diec aiming any power 10
interfere with the sovereign rights jurisdiction OF the
States As what kind Of aid, If any, he may be will
ling that the government should afford 10 individual or
State enterprise within The territorial limits OF the States
through which the road may pass. viii speak here
after What seek 10 do is 10 place him and the
admin sration (for on this pon, he spoke we'll for
the President as hmseD the old. time .honorei, rrev
ocabe republican principle emphatically announced
by Gen. Jackson.
Blu, Gen Jackson Investigated the question al power in
second yiew"ss asserting the simple right 10 appro
pirate money from the national treasury in aid OF such
works. when undertaken by State authority surrender
ing the claim Of jurisdiction"
In regard to the question Of power involved in this
proposition General Jackson shows most clearly by his
orical references, that the principle OF construction org-
naly laid down by Mr.. Madison had been abandoned
and violated in many nsaneer, and BY SO many re-
publican Presidents including Jefferson, Madison, and
Monroe and the violations SO long and uniformly aoqul-
ssced by every department, Of The government and by
The people, that be was constrained to admit the mprac
tcability ef bringing the government back 10 the con-
s,ruc,ion set up in 1893, assuming that be the true
obstruction and hence to declare, that "iae public
good and the nature OF our political institutions require
that individual differences should yield 10 wellsetted
Of The people and confsdea,cd authorities
~ tntiop d1uk
ful points No, 10 concede this much TO the spirit OF
institutions wonld impair Their stability, and defeat
The objects cf The constitution Itself"
The principle laid dowa in l79s in regard 10 appropI
atoms Of money to aid works If internal improvement
carried on by State enterprise was, that whenever
money has been raised by the general authority and
TO be applied particular measure question arises
whether the particular measure be within the enumera
ted authorizes vested in Congress. II it be, the money
requisite for may be applied III If not. such APP
pca,ion can be made" This principle strikes SO
pslpaby the true one that surprised that such
patriots and state Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe
should have far yielded 10 counenance that vague
and indefinite distinction between national and iocsi works
which General jackson characterized "unssfe, arbi
tIary in it's nature. and liable great abuse Blu, we
are for standing by the truth of history. although il re-
CURES tie humlaiing admission tina. The Virginia
uons in this respect have been faithfully adhered 10
in practice. The result OF this depaure-hrst by JEFF
fsrson, then By Madison, then by Monroe--was to
large the discretion allowed Congress in determining
what objects national and hat local, and 10
adopt rule OF construction which Jackson regarded
arbitrary in it's nature. but yet too long and loo thor
ougby acquesced in TO be abandoned.
II it true, a matter Of fact that Col Davis, in
his late speech bad proposed TO appropriate money from
the treasury to aid Texas, Missouri, California in
building The road could hardly be commended that the
proposition was not sanctioned by the practice and the
doctrine OF Jefferson, Madison Monroe. and Jackson.
We presume that all will at coDcede that the Pa
cihc road ohec, national and not ioea in its charac
ter We should suppose that when treadng the FOOT
steps of Vrghas most illusrious statesmen and yield
ing TO the weight of their examples, like Jackson, Col
Davis might reasonably expect The snalhemas OF Var
gnia strict consiruconis,s to be tempered with some
thing OF Moderation and mercy But Col. Davis has no,
yet placed himself in a condition ask anything but
stern justice and no, but that the rgidy OF
his strict eo~druttorim win resist the weight of
the potent precedenis TO which the iron will OF Old
Hickory constrained 10 bend. Ii may turn out,
and we think it probably will. that the deermna-
ton OF the government, TO furnish efeclual aid in
the construction OF the road through its own ter
rory, wherein Ii. the great physical obstacles, wall
give the enterprise much certainty OF success that
individual and municipal capital will be enabled to con.
sruct only but many dverging tracts through
the States through whose territory may pass In
tha, event, The original strict doctrine of construc
ton stands intact II il becomes necessary, how.
ever, for The government 10 give aid TO private
capital to promote the enterprise IN the States. then it
does not follow that appropriation from the treasury
will be essenalihe aid may be derived from the public
lands in those States and in that event. The old strict
construction principle may be disturbed. But even
it becomes essential. in order TO insure tbs OF
the enterprise tina, money should be appropriated by the
government TO be expended in aid of the work in The
States, il may be found upon careful nvesg atou that
The power protect Pacific possessions obedie
express trust assumed by the government may so
far be regarded specified express grant in the
siiiuton 10 authorize the appropriation As is not
probable that this question will arise Col Davis has
tima,ed opinion the point. but stands distinctly
upon the power clearly deducbe from the obligation OF
the government to provide Tor its defence, and
10 protect its territory from inv asonto construct, or aid
in constructing, the Pacific road through the territory OF
The United States II is there that the aid of the govern
ment is necded-wthout il Pacific possessions can
not be made secure question OF State sovereignty
Jurisdiction is presentedand the src,es OF the strict
ut -