A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 503 pages of information about A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents.

A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 503 pages of information about A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents.

To the objection that the United States have no power in any instance which is not complete to all the purposes to which it may be made instrumental, and in consequence that they have no right to appropriate any portion of the public money to internal improvements because they have not the right of sovereignty and jurisdiction over them when made, a full answer has, it is presumed, been already given.  It may, however, be proper to add that if this objection was well founded it would not be confined to the simple case of internal improvements, but would apply to others of high importance.  Congress have a right to regulate commerce.  To give effect to this power it becomes necessary to establish custom-houses in every State along the coast and in many parts of the interior.  The vast amount of goods imported and the duties to be performed to accommodate the merchants and secure the revenue make it necessary that spacious buildings should be erected, especially in the great towns, for their reception.  This, it is manifest, could best be performed under the direction of the General Government.  Have Congress the right to seize the property of individuals if they should refuse to sell it, in quarters best adapted to the purpose, to have it valued, and to take it at the valuation?  Have they a right to exercise jurisdiction within those buildings?  Neither of these claims has ever been set up, nor could it, as is presumed, be sustained.  They have invariably either rented houses where such as were suitable could be obtained, or, where they could not, purchased the ground of individuals, erected the buildings, and held them under the laws of the State.  Under the power to establish post-offices and post-roads houses are also requisite for the reception of the mails and the transaction of the business of the several offices.  These have always been rented or purchased and held under the laws of the State in the same manner as if they had been taken by a citizen.  The United States have a right to establish tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court, and such have been established in every State of the Union.  It is believed that the houses for these inferior courts have invariably been rented.  No right of jurisdiction in them has ever been claimed, nor other right than that of privilege, and that only while the court is in session.  A still stronger case may be urged.  Should Congress be compelled by invasion or other cause to remove the Government to some town within one of the States, would they have a right of jurisdiction over such town, or hold even the house in which they held their session under other authority than the laws of such State?  It is believed that they would not.  If they have a right to appropriate money for any of these purposes, to be laid out under the protection of the laws of the State, surely they have an equal right to do it for the purposes of internal improvements.

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A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.