[THE house resolved itself into a committee of the whole on
the bill to set apart, and pledge, as a fund for internal
improvement, the bonus and United States share of the dividends
of the national bank. The discussion was commenced by Mr.
Calhoun of South Carolina, who advocated the constitutionality,
importance, and expediency of a system of internal improvements,
under the authority of the general government. The same views
were expressed by Mr. Clay (speaker), Mr. Gold, of New York, Mr.
Sheffey, of Virginia, and others. The bill finally passed both
houses (but was vetoed by president Madison, on constitutional
grounds, on the third of March, 1817). In the brief remarks of
Mr. Clay on this occasion, which are subjoined, he expresses
the same sentiments as will be found more at length in his
subsequent speeches on this subject.]
MR. CLAY (speaker) observed, that it was not his intention to enter
into the general discussion of the subject; he wished only to say,
that he had long thought that there were no two subjects which could
engage the attention of the national legislature, more worthy of its
deliberate consideration, than those of internal improvements and
domestic manufactures.
As to the constitutional point which had been made, he had not a doubt
on his mind; but it was not necessary, in his judgment, to embarrass
the passage of the bill with the argument of that point at this time.
It was a sufficient answer to say, that the power was not now to be
exercised. It was proposed merely to designate the fund, and, from time
to time, as the proceeds of it came in, to invest them in the funded
debt of the United States. It would thus be accumulating; and congress
could, at some future day, examine into the constitutionality of the
question, and if it has the power, it would exercise it; if it has
not, the constitution, there could be very little doubt, would be so
amended as to confer it. It was quite obvious, however, that congress
might so direct the application of the fund, as not to interfere with
the jurisdiction of the several states, and thus avoid the difficulty
which had been started. It might distribute it among those objects
of private enterprise which called for national patronage in the
form of subscriptions to the capital stock of incorporated companies,
such as that of the Delaware and Chesapeake canal, and other similar
institutions. Perhaps that might be the best way to employ the fund;
but, he repeated this was not the time to go into this inquiry.
With regard to the general importance of the proposition; the effect
of internal improvements in cementing the union; in facilitating
internal trade; in augmenting the wealth and the population of the
country; he would not consume the time of the committee in discussing
those interesting topics, after the able manner in which they had
been treated by his friend from South Carolina. In reply to those who
thought that internal improvements had better be left to the several
states, he would ask, he would put it to the candor of every one, if
there were not various objects in which many states were interested,
and which, requiring therefore their joint coöperation, would, if not
taken up by the general government, be neglected, either for the want
of resources, or from the difficulty of regulating their respective
contributions. Such was the case with the improvement of the navigation
of the Ohio at the rapids; the canal from the Hudson to the lakes; the
great turnpike road, parallel with the coast from Maine to Louisiana.
These, and similar objects were stamped with a national character; and
they required the wisdom and the resources of the nation to accomplish
them. No particular state felt an individual interest, sufficient
to execute improvements of such magnitude. They must be patronised,
efficaciously patronised, by the general government, or they never
would be accomplished.
The practical effect of turnpike roads in correcting the evil, if
it be one, of the great expansion of our republic, and in conquering
space itself, as was expressed by the gentleman from South Carolina,
is about to be demonstrated by the great turnpike road from Cumberland
to Wheeling. That road is partially executed, and will probably be
completed in about three years. In the mean time, Maryland is extending
a line of turnpike roads from Baltimore to Cumberland, which is also
partially finished, and will be completed in the same period. Three
years from the present time, we shall have a continued line of turnpike
roads from Baltimore to Ohio. The ordinary time requisite to travel
from Wheeling to Baltimore, prior to the erection of these roads,
was eight days. When the roads are completed, the same journey may
be performed in three days. The distance, in effect, between those
two points, will be diminished in the proportion of five eighths, or,
in other words, they will be brought five days nearer to each other.
Similar results will follow wherever this species of improvement is
effected.
Mr. Clay owned that he felt anxiously desirous for the success of
this measure. He was anxious, from its intrinsic merits; from his
sincere conviction of its tendency greatly to promote the welfare of
our common country. He was anxious from other, perhaps more selfish,
considerations. He wished the fourteenth congress to have the merit
of laying the foundations of this great work. He wished this congress,
who, in his opinion, had so many other just grounds for the national
approbation, notwithstanding the obloquy which had attended a single
unfortunate measure to add this new claim to the public gratitude.