Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-09-08
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
BY RITCHIES e. PRYOR.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER Z. 1854.
RIVERS AND UARBORS.

! mulated by his manly and unselfsh course on the
subject of rivers aud harbors In reviewing the his
tory of the confederacy, he saw that the trainers OF
the Constitution had expressly refused the power to
Congress to construct internal improvements. Inns
fact of ITSELF should conclude the controversy But
independent of constitutional objections, the whole
system is based on inequality, justice and oppres
sion. While tho contomporaneous exposition OF tho
Constitution against the power authority 10 lay
tonnage du;ie. was expressly given for the very pur
pose of improving harbors and rivers, 30 as 10 make
those, who derive immediate benefit from them con-
tribute TO their construction. For bringing forward
this sound and simple and just plan, Senator Douglas
is received with yells Of mob i'll Chicago. lie Will
vet live to see public sentiment sustain him in his pa
triotc devotion to principle. We believe with Sena'
tor Toombs, in his admirable speech in the Senate
against the River and Harbor BILL that there is mall
lhood in the people of the Mississippi valley. Let
thom use the old time-honored plan. Let them levy
tonnage duties for their rivers and ports and put
I'D their own licht-houses and charge the people win"
use them for the benefits conferred In that way they
can remove all hose obstacles 70 transportatlon les
sen Insurance. and decrease the chances OF the loss OF
human life. They all able TO do it. They are
rich God has favored them we have favored them.
We have bought magnificent empire for them; we
have given il TO them almost without money and
without price. Nature has given them the most mag
nifcent thoroughiare the sun ever shone upon. Let
them take it. Let them remove the little obstacles
which ure in the way. Let the honest farmer, who
make, his hav who gathers his cheese, who raises
little wool and carries i, TO market and pays tor s
,rausnortation on the Vermont Central railroad for
e1ompe not be taxed on his wool, his cheese, and his
milk To increase your already magnificent improve
meut of nature and your already gigantic wealth.
Senators, it is unjust
In that same speech Senator Toombs predicted that
il would be 81 poin, of glory in the administration OF
this son Of New Hampshire, if he las the nerve TO
arrest this system 1t will be action worth all his
past administration together
The issue came and Franklin Pierce had tho
"uerye" to meet it like man, and well-tried and
consistent Republican of the old school. His veto
gave confidence to the South in the wisdom and the
6rmness of President who, in this as on the vital
question of the day, showed himself by his works to
he n truc man for the times. II ia gratifying to OBJ
serve that the bold and conservative course OF Prcsi-
dent Pierce, in prostrating system OF gross nequa-
~ and injustice, is warmly sustained by the Leading
| Democratic organs of the West whose people were
directly interested in the appropriation BY his veto
of the River and Harbor bill, tho President lsays,
with croat force, the Vicksburg Sennei,) has again
made manifest the Democratic principles which gov
ern his administration and his wachtul regard tor the
true interests and progress Of the country The great
| works of internal improvcment-the rail ROADS anu
cnnal. that lie like work over the Union, surpass
ing in extent those Of all Europe combncd-ihe enter
prise and energy that characterize every department
of American lfe would not now exist had the system
proposed by Mr.. Clay been adopted. Looking
| RI the general government to build roads and
| canals, private companies and lndlVidu"i stare
excron would have been paralyzed, and the Federal
| Government by the power of patronage and money
| would have become complete despoiism-it' WORKS
of internal Improvement would have been delayed
from one Congress TO another, while. by the appro'
priations made for carrying them on, the treasury
would have been made bankrupt-jobbcrs and spec
ustors waxing fat and lusty from the spols General
jackson and Mr.. Polk based their objections on the
ground Of unconsttutonaty. And where is the
clause in the Constitution that authorizes Congress
10 clean out every little creek and supernend every
turupke! 1t is not there; and even the brilliant and
perseptve mind of Henry Clay could not point 1t ou''
or his strong powers Of inference and skill IN la'"a
nnriansm educe it from any part or sentence OF the
immortal charter of our freedom. The Constitutional
Congressional power to take charge of oil works OF
internal improvement, like that to charter United
States bank lies in that prolific region where "hlg
distractions and principles all como rom-the ncceS'
sity Of opposing the democratic party III everything.
President Pierce by his veto, has checked cenraza'
tion encouraged individual energy and State enter
prize: secured the speedy completod OF all the roads
and canals now projected, by cntrustng them TO those
to be benefited the most by their cstablishment-and
above ALL he has proven true to the faith of Jefferson
Jackson and Polk-hc has vindcatod onco more the
sincerity of his political declarations.
Aside from the abstract question Of constutonnll-
ty sound policy and sound political philosophy ~
ouire that Congress should forbear attending to such
objects "a usually make up the list in these bills The
vast growth and development OF the country ioroio
such appropriations. Our Northern lake coast Ido-
clnrcs the Louisville Democrat with us much truth as
boldness is the most favored region OF the continent
IL has great and unparalleled advantages from nature
Wealth and population is accommodating there win
e,rest rapdity. Shall the federal government tax
whole continent to enhance the wealth OF these local'
,ie,7 Is it not trng business for the federal gov
errmcnt to be dribbng out bits of the treasure to
few favored localities at the expense of the whole con-
tinent, Even if such appropriations were not par
tial and unjust, what are two millions to internal
improvements, if all spent i'll the West? Such
sum would hardly be worth the time of calling aycS
and navs. But the business of Congress- its lcgt-
mnte business. has accumulated until it is left piled
ND mountain high on the tables of both houses; and
davs and weeks are consumed in wasting money upon
objects of no general advantage. The larger our
area the greater the necessity Of connlng the federal
government to few objects. If the construction OF
the federal constitution wore doubtful tho vast growth
and development Of the country require that con-
s,ruc,ion to be adopted in practice which leaves the
least power in the hands of men at Washington. II
is absurd to suppose that body Of men at the fed
eral city can determine with any proprlety whata aP-
preparations ought to be made for the multitude of To-
caltes upon awhole continent The old democratic
doctrine of strict construction is fortified and strength
encd by time and experience and becomes annually
more important Opposition to these appropriations
is not now mere constitutional abstraction il is a
dictate Of common sense and sound practical wisdom.
Let Congress conns itself to the stric: letter of the
constitution, and orbear to do what it authori-
ses, if the operation promises TO bo either local. or
sectional; much forbear to do what is OF doubt
full warrant, or without warrant al all.
A CHANGE OF FRONT, But NOT OF PRIN-
CIPLES
The Pennsylvania says that the Know-Nothingsi
that region for tho purpose Of deception and in view
of the fact that their secret pottings were discovered
have changed their name, and are now called Tho
United Order of the Star Spanged Banner The
oaths principle. and objects arc still the same and
Mr.. Pollock, the Wing candidate for Governor of
is said to have taken the two degreesin
thi. order under the name and as such received