The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-05


gressionSi District.
FELLOW CITIZENS; cannot part with you. your rep
ssenlatye. without telling you oil my gratitude aud pride
Al being long honored win your confidence. cannot
boast OF any valuable services rendered in return.
conscious fidelity my trust aud zeal in their service is
ali that say 10 my constituents they have received
for generosity and reliance OF which representative
had ever reason 10 boast made speech or
gave voe in Congress in fear OF rebuke felt there
existed intelligence between my constituents and my
self which always assured me OF pardon for my
and hence enjoyed freedom OF speech and OF action
which chad il been seconded by commensurate ability
would have enabled me TO leave your service with be
consciousness OF deserving the highest reward which
retired public servant ever thinks OF asking.
II has been my lo to you in one OF the most Try
ing crises through which our country has passed IN
that severe struggle between sections which our late &C
qui.ion OF territory induced was one OF nose VINO no.
in demanding less than your rights. incurred 'he
charge of extreme sectionalism Without stopping 10
discuss its justice. be permitted TO say that my
course manifested at least determination that no per-
.ons views individual peculaons should ever control
H. and that il any benefit resulted from the final action OF
Congress ii should inure 10 my people III my conslu'
epts believe they have lost anything by the hnal adj
iusmept of our sectional difficulties. they know that
share that loss with them, and without the consolation OF
believing that have added anything TO my reputation Tor
an enlarged and national patriotism.
Whatever may be The nature OF our recolectons OF the
past the prospect before us affords ample for
graduation
among The nations Of HE earth has OF late, under demo-
cratic auspices made such rapid progress that may
now begin TO indulge The hope will at no distant day be
recognised by every civilized nation the globe The
United States and England have both abandoned the prn
cipe of protection The consequences to their commerce,
power, and prosperity must ultimately produce their e
iecs upon other powers and will be the glory OF
giving commercial code TO the world The truth nvolv
Ell in this principle for long time perceived by some
of our ables statesmen but the example OF the mother
country has fixed the minds OF people, they
fell the necessity OF temporzing with the evil and pro-
crossing gradually towards the desired end On the sub
Jet Of free trade the democratic party may De said now
10 be in fall and not few OF their political
adversaries have become converts 10 It's doctrines:
On the subject of federal currency and financial
agent there is now but one opinion.
The danger which was once apPrehended by many wise
and good men from extension of territory, experience
has demonstrated be groundless, and the most deter
mined opponents OF the policy eager
ssss OF The
been firmly established, in spite OF able opposition,
and their truths vindcaed by years Of experience All
great objects achieved and ends accomplished by grad
ual approaches and untfng exetons The efforts OF the
wsest statesmen OF party have thus after years OF
Dor, been crowned with
There is other great principle which for years has
occupied the thoughts and engaged the energies OF many
Of wsest politicians. They have made some pro-
gress but have been able yet unite the democratic
party to the extent Of the powers OF the federal gov
eminent the policy il should pursue in regard to it.
aude 10 the subject Of internal improvement by the fed
eral government The line between the two great par
the country has only been drawn IN reference 10
one branch OF the question.
The democratic party agree in Withholding from Con-
gress while their opponents concede or have heretofore
conceded, the power to engage in general system OF
internal improvements a system as the States
may adopt embracing The construction OF roads and
nails well the Improvement OF rivers and harbos.
On this latter branch OF the subject the party
are not united, large portion OF il claiming The power
Congress, under the clause to regulate commerce and
maintain navy TO improve the hafbors and avigabe
OF the country While it may be fairly contend
ed that any Improvement really intended Tor the accom-
mediation OF the navy may be legitimate subject for
legislation, the Improvement OF rivers for the promotion
the vegua OF commerce. must he referred TO that
liberal construction of the constitution entirely at
with those principles of strict construction which have
ever characterized the democratic party OF the country
II ssch q power had been unquesonably granted. su
Its exercise for obvious should be resisted The
States Of the Union have hesaled to expend millions
for internal improvement The debts incurred by them
for this purpose exceed already two hundred millions
The comparatively small sums necessary TO improve their
rivers should be appropriated by the States By the bill
OF the first session OF The last Congress, three millions
were appropriated. of which IS 900 given Yr.
GINA, and about $3.50 900 to New York. Virginia has
already expended OF her treasury nearly twenty
millions, and New York twice much. How inss-
nihcan the sums appropriated by the last Congress
compared 10 the sums above named The same may be
said OF the appropriations to the other States. The
amount that each has expended out of It's own treasury
for internal improvements, compared 10 the pay sums
may expect IRON the federal government, should raise
il above pitfu temptation 10 beiray sacred an
instrument federal compact II is estimated that
$500 900 would clear out the James and Appomattox
rivers; this IS not sxlieh part OF the sum already
States look 10 their resources TO improve then
rivers. Let New York, Pennsy lvauia and Virginia sci
the example, and henceorth 20 IN solid column against
this exercise OF doubtful power The inducement io
swerve from their fidelity 10 The constitution is toe
small for three such powerful and wealthy States. Let
them, then, assume The task OF preserving the n'eg
ry OF Congress, and the Legislation Of the coun
Try from the frauds and unholy combinations which
the prospect oil lat contracts with the government mus
need give rise to- II cannot build wing TO our Cap
o without being defrauded out OF hundreds OF thousands
what may expect If We undertake. ihroogh contracts
construct in all the States public works invov wing
millions anoually The federal government will not be
wa,chu the States their funds their public
agents. do not despair OF seeing, ultimately, the dem
ocratic party and OF the county, settle down upon
orthodox this question: the others already
alluded TO- and by the process our sound satenen
work and labor necessarily TO that end We have
President whose sound constitutional opinions
give US assurance OF his aid On this question. the
remaining OF the many that formerly distracted us
we can concentrate efforts with much stronger hope
OF success than that which felt when were com
batting the that had consecrated The null
,ude OF large in the West that common 10 the
commerce OF many Staes and the difficulty OF improving
them solely by State means, the chief strength OF the
advocates OF internal Improvement Had few OF them,
in virtue Of hcr magnitude and importance, been selected
By the constitution special objects OF favor, II would
have saved il from many violent assaults To escape
from the difficulty which the peculiar condition OF these
nven has superinduced, we shall appehend, be forced
adopt the suggestion OF Senator Douglas, and by con-
senng the imposition oil light tonnage duty by the
States directly inteese in those rvers, afford them the
OF improving them. Should this fail TO accomplish
the object only alternative will be TO amend the con
slution and invest Congress with the powerio improve
the Mississippi and few OF its Tributaries. and thus de
taoh from the advocates OF the system an interest which
in few years will control the legislation OF The country
While many reasons could be urged IN opposition 10
this, yet II must choose between II and a system