Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-27
REMINIS seen CES.

INTERNAL IMPRovEMENT-PowERs OF CONGRESS
The Union newspaper has found some cause of
trouble in the dissent expressed by the Richmond
Enquirer and its correspondents, and one or two
other Democratic prints, from its views upon the
subject of the power of Congress to aid the Pacific
Railroad 1t might be curious matter of research
10 90 back twenty or thirty years to see what
certain Of the Virginia Democrats thought of the
question when this power was under discussion in
Congress.
In 1924 the Hon. john S. BARBOUR, then a
Representative from the Culpcper district, when a
bill was before the House of Representatives to au
thorize Survey for Roads and Canals, took deci-
ded ground in favor of the power. We refer espe-
cially to his opinions because he is still on thcsage
CT life is still leading Democrat of the Old Domi
ZION, and was one of the first and most efficient
supporters of the nomination of Gen. PIERCE in
the Baltimore Convention, and Of course conspi-
cucusly instrumental in placing him in the Presi-
dency. The Hon. Henry ST.. GEORGE TUCKER,
Representative from the Winchester district, also
contended for the power in its amplest form. A
brief extract from the speech of Mr.. Barbour may
not be out of place. 1t may be found in the Ma
,ional Intelligencer Of April 18th, 1924, on the
bin for obtaining the necessary surveys on the
subject Of roads and canals" In the course of the
argument, Mr. BARBOUR partly in reply to the
Hon, p. p BARBOUR and the Hon ANDREW STE
yENsoN, his colleagues) thus expressed himself:
:. If can satisfy the committee that this is
sary incident the military and naval power of the Uni
ted States fatter myself shall have accomplished all
that duty requires If the end be lawful and within the
legitimate purpose Of the Constitution it draws after it
al The necessary and proper 10 attain that end
If this be not true then the language in which the Con-
sttution is written has lost its meaning and the Govern
ment il creates is mockery upon the intentions Of its
trainers
in another place, Mr.. BARBOUR says:
The Constitution intended to deny Congress
choice of Is the end legitimate? Is it plainly
and distinctly within the scope of the Constitution Then
al the incidents necessary and proper become the subject
Of legislative discretion
On the subject of the alarm expressed in regard
TO Estate rights" Mr. BARBOUR made some striking
remarks
In the ardor of patriotic devotion, and in the zeal
which glorious inspired, it is of
prise that sphere of action should be allotted to the
States which might be incompatible with the full
lien Of al the functions of the confederaed Government
The events of the late war supply US with monory
lessons this subject These be forgotten some
Of them traced in blood, and others will long remain
Of human error and of the aacy Of those
where is left free combat them Does
the honorable member from Vermont recoect that under
The pretext Of State rights the Governor and Captain
General Of his State invoked his militia, by proca
nation to abandon the service Of the United States at
tie very a-powerful foe endeavoring to de-
yastate Northern frontier and whem it in the hor-
rors Of war? Whose patriot yeoranry the honor
Of repeng with and Indignation this unworthy in
ystaton What but those rules Of rigid construction
supplied Of the Northern members Of this Confede
racy with the hollow pretence Of State rights to strip the
national arm Of some Of the most salutary powers:
Nor this all Measures we're concerted to arrest
and divert the revenues of the nation; convention Of
delegates assembled whose agents deputed beard
the Government in the moment of its greatest extremity
10 paralyze the measures Of resistance and to pro-
claim its impotence to arrogant and insulting foe
who openly threatened to lay every assalable
point; the camp itself became the forum Of consttu
iional exposition. No who cherishes exulting
pride in the glory Of his country, that has heart
feel for its caamtes forget the before Queens
town Heights. gallant chief conducted undisci-
pinned troops into the enemys country victory had al
ready perched upon standard when the cooperating
aid Of expected renorcemens suddenly checked by
constitutional difficulties. Disasters speedily clustered
over our hopes, and nations honor wept and blushed
the wasted blood Of people and the sued luste
Of cur construction widely different given
by the people of the West and different was the re-
suit They sought the foe they fought and conquered
him. triumph sat upon their brOws, and the Joy Of VIC
tory gaddened nations heart. practical illustration
ia here presented Of these systems Of constitutional
construction"