Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-02-20
internal improvements.

next Congress. This is, perhaps, as wen
for the public interests as also for those
to be Immediately affected by the pro-
nosed improvements. At the heel of
session Of Congress, at any time, there
would be danger that the subject would
not receive proper consideration, and
that it would be passed upon on grounds
not connected with the merits of the
particular case involved. AT this par
tcular juncture there would be still
greater danger that the matter would
not receive the consideration due to it.
The disclosures of the investigation com
mittees in reference to the affairs Of the
Union Pacific railroad company and of
the Credit Mobilier, or more particularly,
the actions and testimony of parties con-
nected Herewith, has produced decid-
edly unfriendly feeling in the public
mind against government aid to rail
roads and other means of intercommuni-
cation. Whether this general feeling is
Just or unjust, it would have its effect
upon the minds of members of Congress
and sway their actions and votes with
out regard to the right, necessity or pro-
priety of such government aid. There is
another reason that probably had its in
1uence in putting these matters past the
present session. The next Congress will
more particularly represent the views
and opinions of the people at large than
the present Congress. To be sure, both
bodies are composed to a great extent,
of the same members, but they yet come,
AS it were, fresh from the people, and
are supposed, in accordance with the
theories Of our government, to more
nearly represent the views of their con-
stitueus than does the present Congress.
Whether this be true or false in fact, it
is So considered and it IS proper that it
should he So In any event, the subject
having been called to the attention of
the country by the President, in his an
nual message, the people, before the as
sembliug of next Congress, will have
had ample opportunity to consider and
reflect upon the whole matter without
excitement and prejudice, and their rep
resentativea, during the vacation, will
learn the views of their constituents and
be the better prepared to represent them
al the coming session than now. We
speak of this matter as though il was
entirely a question of policy and eXpedi-
eucy, and we so consider it. There has
been a time in our political history when
tie opinions that one entertained on the
subject of government aid to internal
improvements determined his political
orthodoxy or hercsy. To maintain the
right Of Congress to extend aid for such
purposes was to place one in antagOnism
TO the great Democratic party of the ia
ton. The question of expectancy and
policy had nothing to do with it. Not
withstandng Congress had power, under
the constitution, ito regulate commerce
among the several States, ''to provide
for the common defense and general
welfare. " ITO establish post roads" and
'sto make all laws which shall be neces-
sary and proper for carrying into eXecu-
ton the foregoing powers yet the
right of Congress TO extend aid to rail
roads and canals, 0F To the improve
meut ut rivers and harbors, was long
mootpd question in politics, and many
hard fought battle Of words has Con
Qress and the stump been the theatre OF
on this particular subject. The progress
Of events and the necessity of the conn-
trv has changed all this. While the ar
gument may be based upon either or all
IF the clauses of the constitution above
quoted the country has come to gener-
ally concede that such a power exists in
Congress, without stopping particularly
20 inquire upon which grant of power
me right is based. Both parties, by the
.actiod Of their representatives in Con-
yress. ss well as in their party platforms,
.eoncedq the right. This is seen in the
annual appropriations made for the inn
provement Of rivers and harbors, which
command the votes of Democrats as
well as Republicans; in the grant OF
land 10 aid in the construction Of rail
roads: and, in fact, even in the arpro-
Driation for the signal service. The adj
mission Of this constitutional power is
seen more plainly, if possible, in the aid
extended to the building OF the Pacific
railroad. This project was endorsed first
by the Republican National Convention
at Philadelphia, in June, 1856, and by
both the Breckenridge and Douglass
conventions in 1860. The land grant to
these roads was passed through Congress
by Democratic as well as Republican
votes. This aid to the Pacific railroad
Uoes even further than mere land grants
notwithstanding that the grant OF Land
is. in effect, nothing more or less than
extending government aid, we are not
left. in this case, to the inference. Con-
gress went further and granted actual
pecuniary aid to the road. The aid, to
be sure, was granted by Republican
Congress, but it was also accomplished
bv the votes of the Democratic men,
bers. This action of Congress, the long
line of precedents established by the al
post numberless river and harbor inn
rrov,~ uent appropriations and the vast
number l>f grants of land to aid in the
construction Of railroads in the different
States. would seem to establish beyond
Question the constitutional power OF
CONGRESS in the premises. The question
If eynediencv. however, IS dliierent
one, and one upon which we shail speak
hereafter.
EDWIN Nj. STANToN's Predictions OF
THE FUTURE OF SPAIN.-Forney's enron
tcle. Sunday, prints a conversation which
Colonel Forney and General Sickles had
with Mr. Stanton Immediately after
Sickles was appointed to Madrid. The
px-Secretary is represented as saying ;
'Wemust make no mistake about Spain.
She Is one of our eldest and ablest allies
bohoyed snlepdidIy TO us during the