terests must to a greater or less extent, a contrariety of opinion, which after many years resulted in the reorganization of parties. The most prominent of these were protection to American manufactures; internal improvements by the General Government; the acknowledgment of the independence of South American republics, and the extension of slavery into new States beyond the Mississippi.

Mississippi was admitted as a State on the 10th of December, 1817; Indiana had been a member of the Confederacy since the 11th of December previous; and Illinois became a State on the 3d of December, 1818.

Internal duties having been abolished, it became necessary to provide some means for raising the revenue required for the support of Government. There was a strong and increasing sympathy in favor of supporting home industry and offering protection to the infant manufactures of the country. The tariff of 1816 was amended, increasing the duties on articles already subject to charge, and adding others to the list. Such was the unanimity on this subject in Congress, that on an act continuing the duties on woollen and cotton goods for a period of seven years, there were but three dissenting voices in the Senate, and only sixteen in the House.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Congress gave early attention to the subject of internal improvements, to which the President had referred at great length in his Message.

No subject has received more earnest attention, or awakened a more lively interest in the public mind than that pertaining to the development of the internal resources of the country. In presenting a review of the

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

83

legislation on the system of internal improvements, we are restricted to a succinct exposition of facts, leaving the in telligent reader to draw his own inferences.

The phrase "internal improvements" must be taken in its popular signification, without confining it to the restricted view or extending it to the latitudinarian scope which is sometimes done: as defined by Gen. Jackson, "in building piers, improving and preserving forts, bays, and harbors, and removing obstructions to the navigation of rivers."

The public record shows that the practice of making appropriations in some form, to promote internal improvements, had its origin with the Government, and has continued from that time to the present. The wisdom of such a policy is revealed in the growing and abounding prosperity of the entire country. The continuity of this system has, from time to time, been interrupted by the executive veto of bills containing features considered objectionable; and the frequency of such obstacles in the way of continued improvements during these latter years, demonstrates "that there is no public principle further from being settled than that upon which this very legislation has been founded-none upon which parties seem disposed to wage a more vehement or interminable warfare."

The constitutional provisions upon which the advocates of internal improvements rest the authority of such legislation, or the guarantees under which they act, are the following:

"Congress shall have power to establish post-offices and post-roads.

"To declare war.

"To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes.

"To pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States.

"To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution all the powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.

"To dispose of, and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States.

"To raise and support armies.

"To provide and maintain a navy.

"To exercise exclusive authority over all places purchased by the consent of the Legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings."

But those provisions are deemed of primary importance which confer power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States; and with the Indian tribes; and to provide for the common defence and general welfare.

The first step taken in Congress towards a system of internal improvements, was a resolution offered by Mr. Madison (1796) providing for the survey of a great postroad from Maine to Georgia. It was urged that inasmuch as the benefit to be derived from such a measure would redound to the prosperity of the whole country, the expense incurred in carrying on the work should be defrayed from the general fund. Through the jealousy of Northern and Eastern members, who were apprehensive that the benefits would all accrue to the Southern States, the committee appointed for the consideration of the subject made no report.

Mr. Jefferson, though never an ardent friend of internal improvements, suggested, in one of his annual mes

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

85

sages, the propriety of employing the surplus revenue for the purpose of carrying forward such works; although it might, in his opinion, be necessary to amend the Constitution in order to accomplish that end.

The encouragement given by this recommendation of Mr. Jefferson so aroused the public mind, that in 1810 an effort was made in Congress to provide for carrying on to completion the works already in course of construction, and many others which were contemplated in different parts of the Union. The entire subject was deferred to the next session, except an appropriation of $60,000 for the Cumberland Road.

A bill, adapted to the promotion of internal improvements, in accordance with frequent recommendations to Congress, passed that body, and was vetoed by Mr. Madison on the last day of his administration. Mr. Monroe, the President elect, anticipating future action, gave an advance expression, in his first annual message, against such a line of policy. The subject was little agitated for a number of years.

Petitions from several States, asking the aid of the General Government in carrying forward works of internal improvement, were sent in to Congress during the session of 1821-22, and were referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals, who returned a favorable report, designating the objects claiming the attention of the Government. A bill accompanied the report authorizing the President "to make all necessary surveys." The committee presented powerful reasons in support of the measure proposed; the great advantages to the country, developing its resources-enhancing the facilities for the transportation of commerce, and the wealth which it would bring to all the States. It was believed that ample power was granted under the Constitution; and cases were cited

where several works, authorized under the administrations of Messrs. Jefferson and Madison, had been undertaken. Inconvenience arising from inefficient means of transportation during the late war was dwelt upon, and the proposed measure urged on the ground of "national defence." The effort was ineffectual. A bill passed during this session, providing "for the preservation of the Cumberland Road," was returned by the President, with the objection "that Congress do not possess the power, under the Constitution, to pass such a law." He did not doubt, however, "that improvements for great national purposes would be better made by the National Government than by the governments of the several States." To that end he expressed an opinion, that "an amendment to the Constitution ought to be recommended to the several States for their adoption."

Returning to the regular course of events, we find Mr. Clay earnestly advocating-during the first session of the fifteenth Congress-the adoption of measures to promote the interests of internal improvements. The House Committee reported in favor of appropriating the dividends of the United States on its stocks in the National Bank, to such objects. A strenuous opposition was made to the passage of such a bill. Able and exciting debates on the constitutionality of the measure were had in both branches. During the discussion, an incidental vote in the House indicated a majority of fifteen in favor of internal improvements. It becoming known, through his friends, that the President would feel constrained to veto any measure of the kind which should be presented to him prior to the amendment of the Constitution, as he had suggested, the subject was postponed to a future day, and received no further attention during the session. The second session of the fifteenth Congress convened on the 16th of Novem