Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-23
CONSISTENCY OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.

PARTY.
2. That the Constitution does not confer
upon the General Government the power TO
commence and carry on q general system OF
internal mprovements.--Cin Cincinnati Plat
form.
The above extract from the Democratic
platform adopted at Cincinnati, pledges
the party to oppose internal improvements
by the general government, because the
constitution does not warrant the expen
diture of the public money upon objects Of
that character.
Now let US examine Mr. Buchanan's re.
cord, and see how it and the platform agree,
whether they are not irreconcilably antag,
Onistic.
Mr.. Buchanan was elected to Congress
in 1920, for the first time, and took his
seat in the House in December, 1921. In
April, 1922, bill to continue the Guns
berland Road, and to authorize the cree
t'Om Of toll gates upon Il, was under discus
sion. When the vote was about to be tax
en-, Mr.. Taylor rose and said he conSid-
cred this bill such a UioLatiOn of the cOnsti-
ton, that he felt himself impelled to call
for the yeas and nays" The vote was &C
cordingly taken by yeas and nays, aud the
bill passed, Mr.. BUCHANAN VOTING IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE.
On the 22d day Of May following, Pre-,
sident Monroe returned the bill to
the House with his veto. Like Mr. Taylor
he regarded it as palpable violation of
the constitution, and placed his foot upon
it. A short time afterwardsthe House took
vote upon the questioned passing it over
the veto, add it failed Mr. BUCHAN,
AN DODGED. He commenced his Congress
sional life dodger, and has become one
of the most artful in the country. See
Gales d SeatOn's Register Of Debates, 1921
2, PIP. 1874, 1903, 1875.
The same session, on the I4th of March,
the Dismal Swamp bill being under consid-
Grafton, he declared, eff there be any prin-
ciple of Constitutional law which at this
day, should be considered as settled, it is
that Congress hare the po,0er TO aid inter
nalimprOUemeats By subscribing for stock in
companies incorporated By the States" Page
1918.
He also voted page 1874 for subscribing
100000 stock in the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal.
In 1928, 1926, 1926, Mr.. Buchanan did
not vote upon the bills to continue the
Cumberland Road.
In 1927 he voted for the bill Reg
Deb. p. I4IS.
In 1929, another bill authorizing the
erection of toll gates on the Cumberland
road was before the House He voted
against this bill, thus taking the opposite
side to that he embraced in 1922. Reg.
Deb p. 36l.
In 1886, the Cumberland Road bill be
ing before the Senate, Mr.. Buchanan yot
ed against Mr. Clay'S motion to reduce the
appropriation to the road in Ohio from
$4,000 to 5000, 600 also against Mr.
Clay's motion. to reduce the appropriation
to the road in Indiana from $3.50, 900 to
100000.
Mr.. Clay then offered the following
amendment Provided the expenditure
of that portion of the appropriation to be
made in the State of Illinois shall be lin
tied to the graduation aud bridging OF
said road, and shall not Be considered as
Pledging Congress for future appropriations
for maoadamizing said road" This amend.
ment was adopted; ayes 80, nays l4-Mr.
Buchanan voting NO. See Congressional
Globe, 1886, PIP 2O7, 2Os.
On the Ilth day of March, 1886, he vot-
ed against an amendment similar TO the
last; and when the bill came up on its
third reading, vOrED FOR IT. Same, Pag,
22s.
On the 96th of February 1886, Mr..
Buchanan announced in the Senate that
he had VOTED FOR THE MAYS
VILE ROAD BILL, tohick IOas uetoed
bv General Jackson. Said he, Il voted for
thai bill, and whatever / may have thought
AZ the time Of the veto Of that particular
road, Tam eonUiHosd that the principles pAial
acre asserted an II, hare been Of great serrio
10 the country" See APPendir 10 Con. Globe,
p. I65.
In 1887, Feb. Is, he rOtcd fOr the appro-
priation of $440, 600 to continue the Cum.
berland Road in Ohio, Indiana, and Hin
ois, and against Mr.. Walkers amendment
providing that the bill should not be re-
garded as pledging the faith OF the United
States to any additional appropriations for
the Cumberland Road. See Con. 6LObf,
p.5l64.