The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-10-29
From the JoarnAl Of Comlsesce.
The Works OF Calhoun.


volume OF John c. Cahouns works the whole OF which
occupied with speeches delivered in The Senate of the
United States from 1887 to ls4I inclusive great deal
OF Information OF the most direct bearing upon topics OF
present interest may be gathered by the dgent student
OF these volumes which constitute, indeed, repository
OF political wisdom. Casually opening the before
al The speech delivered the Cumberland road bill in
lS4o, struck with the almost literal ful6iment
OF The sistesmans prophecy in respect to that great
honnl roac ~ Was then termed and generally consid
cred He felt that he haxarded nothing in asserting
thai this very road WILL in years. be superseded by
raroad and Will prove worthless" or be no more
than neighborhood road being used drive stock on,
aud not good Tor that" The result in this Illus
aes the general accuracy OF his foresight and has
Cured within period very little longer than that which
be predicted for it. From Cumberland line OF railway
will soon be built to the Mississippi river. following the
route proposed for the National road and already
completed and In operation with the exception OF short
distance between the Ohio river and Zanesylle, nearly
10 the western boundary Of Indiana and fI beyond The
point to which the National road was finished And
that road has become Nr. Calhoun said il would,
mere ne,ghborhocd road, Of national importance,
whether for military or other Nevertheless. it
bad served s purpose, certainly very useful one 10
time; for IT for quarter OF century the portage OF
the Aieghanes-the great highway of travel and traffic
between the Atlantic coast and the Mississippi valley
We remember 10 have covered At short intervals
in its whole extent with huge wagons or merchandise
higher than the cabins that here and there skired Its
margin, drawn BY long lines Of heavy draugh horses n
harness gayly decorated with bright scarlet trimmings
and large bells perpeualy vibrating whose music every
where awoke the echoes Of the surrounding solitude
Nor lsts numerous and picturesque in those days,
the motley vehicles OF the enerprising and adventurous
emgrants who carried with them all their earthly
nreswie, children, and household goods-in search of
new home on the generous soil OF The great West-the
OF ibe frs conner ill he had derived from It's cultivation
means TO secure an ample portion OF il for inheritance
for his poeterify.
Mr. Calhoun did not oppose the construction of the
National road that we still, the certainty oi
its being superseded by railroad rendered the further
prosecution Of i no public utility. The speech. how
from which have quoted indicates other grounds
of opposition 10 the measure among which il sets forth
prominently the unflness OF government TO carry
works OF this kind proved BY the extravagsnt expen
dture avshed or this very road, which asserted
have cost up 10 1Ss0 SIS 600 per mile, when in fact
should have been made isr third of the sum, and aso
by the partial and unequal manner in which dsburse
mehts for like purposes had been made by the govern
ment, their benefits being confined chiefly TO few IA
vored Slaes- II s obvious that these, combined with
other considerations OF perhaps sill Importance
had induced changs OF sentiment in MIR Calhoun's
mind regard to the power and expedency OF
ing internal improvements by The general government
both OF which he had maintained in the earlier period oil
his political career. Before quarter OF century's
peience had developed the evils which he fer
veny deprecated, Mr. Calhoun himself had argued siren
uously for bread system OF internal improvement
TO be prosecuted with The money Of the government In
speech delivered in the United States House OF Repre-
senlaves 1917, bill TO set aside the United States
Bank dividends and bonus a permanent fund for the
construction OF roads and canals Mr Calhoun advoca-
ceeded carrying through thai body although sirenu
ously opposed BY Mr. King and Others by OF Sc 10
81 He drew his arguments from the favorable circum
stances OF the country, well IRON tue importance 10
il Of q good fyslem OF roads and canals
"At peace with all the world; aboundng in pecun-
sry and, what il OF the importance, and
which rejoice, most favorable TO the country, party
and sectional feelings merged IN liberal and ghiened
regard 10 the general of the country: such
the favorable circumstances under which
aelbersnK Thus situated, TO what We direct our
and attention more important than internal m
provemenis' What add more 10 the wealth, the
strength, and the politics. prosperity OF our country
:: Let il not be said that internal
improvements may be wholly left 10 The enterprise OF
States and OF individuals. know that much may Justly
be expected to be done by them, but country
and extensive ours, there room enough for all the
general and State and ndividpaa which
exe their resources But many OF the improvements
contemplated too great scale for the
OF The States OF indvduai and many OF such nature
the rival eaousy OF the States. II left loae would
prevent They require the resources and general SUI
pen,endence Of the government TO effect and complete
them"
He copiended for il the ground Of lis tendency
promote the strength and political prosperity OF the
public, and 10 cement the Union OF the States. He CON-
ba,ed the constitutional objections II had bsen urged
oulion OF the power the constitution of The
United States He did not regard that instrument
thesis for the ingenuity OF the loS'can and constituting
II with plain, good sense what could be more
press than The constitution this very pon, He then
proceeded 10 show what be considered be the ran
good sense" construction Of the clause empowering Con
tmpO8tA.
cisee psy the debts and provide for the de-
fence and general welfare OF the United States and de-
6ned II 10 be a delegation o power 10 lay Tor the
specified objects o paying the debtr, and providing for
The defence and promoting the general welfare Of the
United States But, admitting the "iorced and strained
construction" which supposss the intermediate words "o
pay the debts and provide Tor the defence and
general welfare 10 be taken ndepe sdent and die
tinci powers and qualified by more distinct eEs
meraion OF powers in the subsequent part OF the constr
tsuon he areoed that government Inernai.,mprove
ent sysem authorized by the power 10 establish post
roads The word establish comprehended IN his opin-
Ion aomehing thsn the power of Designating only
the pos,oada He went furths, and denied that Con-
xress was confined in the Application oi moneys TO
the enumerated powers and sdduced the "habOsl and
uniform practice OF the government" and 'tbe UNIFORM
sense OF Congress and the county, in support oil this po-
sf,on The extent 10 which MIR Calhoun prorosed The
of The prov system with gov
eminent indicated by the following outline
OF his views presented on this occas'on
The first great object 10 10 perfect the communication
from Name 10 Lossana This may be fairly considered
- The principal artery Of The whole syaem The
the connexion OF the lakes With the Hudson uver In
political. commerc'a and military point Of vew lev oo
,ects can be important The next object OF ch'e
importance s. to connect oil The great con nsre.l points
Richmond. Charleston. and Savannah--with the western
SaAes and finally perfect the aercourne between the
West and New Orleas~. Thess seem 10 ne 10 be the
great ohlecis There others. doubt OF great nm
poriance which would receive the aid OF government
Mr. Calhoun thus early. and unifosmy IN his carver.
was emineny national in his views, aed his policy vas
directed promote what he conceived to Be the best
ieress Of the whole country The conn.x,cns Which at
sre taken delivered IN lsi7-were oonsdered by him
great moment have been either made or un
deraksn and nearly the order which be suggested a.
h~eed upon their relative importance 1roe thsy owe
their existence State individual eniespssee and
those are most remunerave which tbe opring ss-
elusively OF the latter Governments in Eeseral have