Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-03-02

noisancr, before any fon>r shall be selected.
think it compaent for Congress to seek this in
formation, and as it seems TO be assumed that
sooner or later n road must be constructed |
think it, therefore, wise and proper that we should
have all The information on the subject. Be
sides in another point of view, it may be ncces-
sary one Of the means OF fulfilling our obliga-
lions under the treaty with Mexico; Hat WI:
should have a military road through the terrific.
rylyng between Texas and California. Whether
that will be necessary or not will depend very
much upon the information TO be gathered by
the survey contemplated in the amendment of
the Senator from Pennsylvania. And what may
lie the kind of such a road must depend upon
tie same information. Ifin good faith, II road
for military purposes, looking to an actual state
6fwar for its employment, could vel! justify
myself III that view of the subject, to vote for
any road to subserve the ends contemplated ;
aud whether railroad or any other kind of road,
would depend mr. re upon the purposes in view
than upon any thing else. now speak of II road
running through the Territories of the United
States; and if such an one should be a highway
for passengers or y channel for commerce, there
would be no objection to it, because it may be
used for more purposes than one. According
nos. noolniliary road, such as the one proposed
in this bill, will ever be necessary in times of
peace: and whether can regard it rs Il military
road, for war, must depend upon information
and 4 conjuncture of affairs which has not yet
Been presented TO my mind.
But the fact cannot be disguised, and ought
not to be, that this road is intended to open i
commercial communication between California
and the Mississippi river. 1t is 4 road for the
benefit of some Of the States of this Confede-
racy, and by money to be contributed, and by Il
charter to be conferred. under the Federal Gov
ernment 1t may be that if we have full infor-
nation, such us might be procured under the
amendment of the Senator from Pennsylvania.
no such road rs the one proposed here would
ever be built, or one of very different charac-
ter. and liable 10 fewer objections This survey
might be regarded rs no more than an eyplorl-
tion, which is fully warranted by preecdents.
Dir. President, | have thus in cursory man.
ner thrown out my views, both upon the mca.
sure itself and many Of the topics that have
been brought under the discussion in connection
with it. have appealed to the spirit of the
Constitution of our forcfathcrs. have referred
to.the authority of great names. Ihare inlima-
ted the dangers Of disregarding The provisions
Of the written Constitution. have iniimatcd
the necessity OF some amendment of it, with Il
view to accommodate it to the herrogrcss of events
and the developments of tile age. The worst of
despotsns would be an irresponsible Democrat
cy, left without restraint to consult the tcmpta-
tons Of interest, orto be influenced by the en-
element of passion. Some one has quainty
said "that constitutions and laws are dcliber
ately made by the few when sober, to restrain
the madness of the many when intoxicated"
unrestraincd ma jority. as anv otler form of gov
crnment can be. Of all despois,ns, there is
nothing so dangerous rs the dominion of an in.
terested majority. 1t is said of the Roman peo-
pie, that they felt themselves more disposed to
indulge their freedom, because they knew hev
would be restrained by The veto of their tribuneS
Now. sir, what do behold This Govern
mcnt, once simple in its administration, and
comparatively confined in its operation throw
ing away all the restraints and dsrecarling all
the limitations which gave it proper direction
and confined it within its proper sphere 1t is
abont becoming, in my opinion, a Government
OF legislative discretion; to become an agency
to collect the peoples money to be distributed
for any purpose that may be effected by the
mere appropriation of money; and fear, in ad-
dition,, nary say that the Presidents veto can
afford no security, and that his election is to be
looked TO rs mere prize combat for office
With these convictions on my mind, want
some greater security for the regulation of COM
merc", under system ofinternal improvements,
thnn the i:t of q majorty---I fear q tempted ma
jority. @'sl 2'..,'i
II were new question, / would say as
much The great and paramount inducemcnt
for the formation of the Federal Constitution
was to regulate commerce, by reconciling the
hostile and conlli, ting legislation of the States
upon the same subject. The great object was
to have uniform rules and regulations applicable
to all the States. And even this power thus to
be conferred was jcalou>ly regarded in the Con-
vcnlion by The representatives of The rural and
agricultural interest of the country, and until
very nearly the close of The Convention there
was clause in the Constitution requiring vote
OF two-hlrds to pass any measure regulating
commerce, and that, too, by dcclaratory laws
merely, and not looking, as the history of the
counryan the debates of the Convention show.
to an appropriation of money for that purpose.
The proposition to regulate commerce by din-
ging canals or building roads was made and ey.
rrrs>ly rejected in The Convention. If the vote
of two-thrds, looking to the kind of regulation
nave referred 10. YVES required at that time.
with fewer adversary interests involved how
much more necessary Is 1t now, when prcpOn-
dcraing interests have actually taken possession
of The Government? They may be suhscrvcd.
but it will be at Il dreadful cost, if the Consttu-
tion has 10 be broken.
tell gentlemen, with deep sincerity, that
am, in reality, a better friend to the Consltu-
tion of this country, by opposing engagements
Of power, than those who resort TO them for
temporary purposes There is no danger so
great rs that which blinds us to the consequences
of the future, and n" right has any security un-
less it has the guarantee of protection
The last resort which an intelligent people
should make is to revolution for the vindiraton
of their rights, and the greatest danger of such
resort will be a disregard of the organic law
of existence. When it shall be asccrlained that
this Confederacy, in the name of its Union, shall
have survived the Constitution of its existence,
1t deserves to perish.
The Charleston Neps of the 26;h ult. SAYS,
AT the Annual Convocaiion of the Most En-
celicnt Grand Royal Arch Chapter of South
Carolina. held on Thursday Evening oath Feb,
the following Officers were installed, and Stand
ing Committees appointed for the ensuing Ma