The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-05
The Democratic Party and Internal Improve
. ar a. ments. H9al r.. sa# 81.

Upon the assumption that the views OF Colonel Davis
the Pacific railroad approved by Pesiden, Pierce
(about which we do not undertake to speak beyond
single pont) OF whg contemporaries deludng
themselves with The hope that The policy OF the admin
s,raon in regard 10 internal improvements 10 be char
scerized by wing rather than democratic principles We
have observed too, that OF democratic friends
especially in Virginia, have hastily INDUCED in suliIsr
appTehensioBs IL will be object in this article
these decisions and apprehensions from the minds
OF wings and democratic, and further TO show that the
support OF the Pacific road enterprise by aid
is in strict consistency with sound democratic principles
II is remark able historical fact that the promi.
nent leaders in both parties. laying down their rcspec
tive posons appeal to the rules of constituting the
stuiion adopted by Mr.. Madisons celebrated comments
on the Kentucky resolutions. Ia the able speech Of Mr.
Clay delivered in 1885, the general subject OF inter
nal improvements, he announced his aeguiescence in
hose rules OF construction unresetved terms Ia
swer 10 the charge OF Mr.. Nelson, OF Virginia that in
his principles OF construction he not adherins 10 The
republican doctrines OF 7sS, Mr.. Clay said II find that
have used, without having been of it, almos, the
same identical language employed by Mr.. Madison in
that paper i, will be ecollecied that claimed no rig
to exercise any power under The constitution unless such
POWER expressly granted Necessary and proper to
carry into effect granted power. have not sought
to derive power from the clause which authorizes Con-
gress 10 appropriate money have been conlented to
show thai according TO the doctrines of l7es and accord.
ing 10 the rigid Interpretation which any one will
pu, upon the instrument, it !, expressly given in one
case, and fairly deducibe in o,her-"
II seems that although Mr. Nelson and Mr.. Clay
started together each relying upon The authority OF The
Virginia resolutions, that applied Mr. Madson's
principles OF construction 10 deny entirely the power
TO construct works of internal Improvement, whilst the
other found not only express grant OF power.
the power 10 establish poet roads. bat than
piled power, viz The power regulate commerce. and
the power II !, should be asked how such contra
dicory conclusions could be reached from common
principle OF construction, may venture to that
il the legitimate result of the different interpretations
which they gave TO the language in which the rule OF
construction expressed they attached wholly diff
ferent ideas the words necessary and propa"-tbe
defining them TO designate power absolutely neces
sary and proper in other words, having I" direct
and necessary relation specified power" the other
claiming Tor the agent who is to apply The implied power
certain degree Of discretion in enagine limiting he
meaning OF the words necessary and proper which would
render them synonymous with convenient ecacious
The real difference between Mr.. Nelson and Mr. Clay
in the amount of discretion which they respectively
allowed to Congress in their Interpretation OF the con-
s,uional words necessary and proper" The one al
lowed le or NO discretion and hence he was called
strict eorrueioniN the other allowed liberal discre-
ton, and hence he called aiaifxianrinn The one
the republican mode Of construction the other the
federal, or national republican wbg mode OF con-
.truction The same distinction, with more or less va
ration, has marked The political history OF the two
parties and exist. at the present time.
When devolved upon General Jackson to determine
whether he coud cons,itutonay 10 the passage
Of III. bill subscribing for stock in the Maysville road
he Investigated the history Of this question with great
care and we may with profit to the result OF
his labor,, announced in his veto message The in.
ve.,gaiion commenced by General Jackson with this
proposiioa 1a #aH
The constitutional power OF The federal government 10
promote works OF internal lin pre-
itself In points Of view the first bearing upon
he sovereignty Of the States within whose tns the In exc
cuon IL oonlsmplse ted fudcton Of tho territory which
they may occupy be claimed heir pts.er
vsuon and use"
General Jackson dsposes OF this view Of the question
in few bu, emphatic words He says Although ire.
qpeniy and s,enuously attempted the power this
teal has never been exerci~d by the government in