The American patriot., 1855-10-13

prosperity and union, under the power which Cor
gress may already possess, or such amendments of
the Constitution as may be appropriated by the
States"
In all that Mr.. Jefferson said or did, he cxhib;.
tod his extreme anxiety to employ the surplus
rev .nue Of the United States in the Improvement
of the moral and physical condition Of his country
by the const ucton Of roads and canals, and by es.
tahlishng institutions of learning, to he sustained
by the autho ity and means Of the federal govern
ment; and while he regarded these things as the
" foundations of prosperity and union" he was
equally consistent in the opinion that Congress was
without authority unless the constitution was
amended and the power specifically conferred by
that amendmant.
Mr.. Madison in 1911, by special message rc.
commended canal proposed by New York. to
the attention Of Congress in this language: at
ia TO less certain that scarcely any county offers
more extensive opportunities for that branch Of
improvements than the United States and none,
perhans Inducements equally persuasive to make
most Of them"
In his seventh annual message he recommends
internal imp ov nments in thi, language: Among
the means Of ada cirg public interests, the occa.
sion is proper one for recalling the attention of
Congress to the Ct at inporta ce of establishing
throughout our country the roads and canals
which can be executed under the national authority
No objects within the circle Of political economy 40
richly repay the expense bestowed upon them
thnro nro tho ,,ttS, ,ofu u,b:o1 sn n;
versally acknowledged; none that do more honor
to the government whose wise and enlarged patri-
otism duly appreciates them. Nor is there a coun-
try which presents field where nature invit 's
moe, the art of man to complete her work for
his accommodate n and benefit. These considera-
10 ave strengthened moreover, by the political
feet of these facilities for INSTRUMENTATION in
bringing and binding more closely together the va.
rious parts of our extended confederacy; while
the States with laudabe enterprise and emulation
avail themselves Of their local advantages BY new
roads, by navigable canals, and by improving
streams susceptible of navigation the general 60
vernmen is the urged to similar undertakings,
requiring national ju' 'isd'ction and national means
for the purpose of fcompletng so inestmablc work.
In this language of NJ. Madison VIC find the length,
depth and breadth Of the doctrine maintained by
the Wing party upon the subject Of internal i'm.
nrovcments. The arguments of their leaders and
statesmen are but the repetition of the language
anil sentiments which have fallen from the lips of
this enlightened and patriotic democratic Prcs'.
dent. In tn, sentence which W" have quoted. Mr..
At u 4.
as a question Of national po'icv; his views are in
harmony with those Of Mr.. jeff rson, ard corst'.
tute second link in the chain Of proof nv which
propose to sustain the second and third dbranchcs
Of the proposition with which we commence this
argument
During the last session Of Congress und # M.
Madison's administration, bill approprating the
bonus which the IInit.d States Rank was to pay
III" government for ia charter, to purposes Of IN
t'rnal improvnm nts, passed both honsrs of Cor
gross after full and able discussion of the qnes.
ton of the consttutionality of internal improve.
ments by the general government. This bill was
vetoed by NJ. Madison upon the ground that Con.
g'css was without authority over the subject under
the powers enumerated in the constitution. Thus
we have our FIRST second and third proposit' 'ons
sustained. showing by the concurrence of demo.
c-at'c Presidents upon the subject, that it was a
qu st'on of policy on one Rand, and Of constitu-
tiona power on the other-the first commanding
their highest appreciation, the second encountering
their decided opposition.
In his first annual message, NJ. Monroe uses this
language: "a difference of opinion has existed
from the first foundation of our constitution to the
present timo, among our most vrtuous and en-
ightened citizens respecting the right Of Congress
to establish such a system Of internal improve
ments-taking into view the trust with which am
honorcd it would be improper after what has
passed, that this discussion should be reviewed
with an uncertainty of my opinion respecting the
right Disrcgard;ng the early impressions have
bestowed on this subj ect all the reft con which its
great importance demands, and the result is set
tied conviction in my mind that Congress does not
possess the right 1t is not contained in any of the
specified powers granted to Congress; nor can
consider it Incidental to. or a necessary means
viewed on the most liberal scale for carving into
effect any Of the powers which are spccifcall,
granted. In communicating this result, canro
resist the obligation which feel to suggest to Cor
gress the propricty of recommending to the State.
an adoption of an amendment which shall give tt
Congress the right in QUESTION.
In the same message he says: "Ncver did
country of such vast extent offer equal inducemcnt
to imp,o ovcnents of this kind, nor ever were con
sequences of such magnitude involved in them.
In his sixth annual message he says: "Belevin,
that a competent power to adopt and execute
system Of internal improvements has not beer
granted to Congress, but that such power con