Now, it strikes me, Sir, that there is no maintaining these votes, but upon the power of internal improvement, in its broadest sense.  In truth, these bills for surveys and estimates have always been considered as test questions; they show who is for and who against internal improvement.  This law itself went the whole length, and assumed the full and complete power.  The gentleman’s votes sustained that power, in every form in which the various propositions to amend presented it.  He went for the entire and unrestrained authority, without consulting the States, and without agreeing to any proportionate distribution.  And now suffer me to remind you, Mr. President, that it is this very same power, thus sanctioned, in every form, by the gentleman’s own opinion, which is so plain and manifest a usurpation, that the State of South Carolina is supposed to be justified in refusing submission to any laws carrying the power into effect.  Truly, Sir, is not this a little too hard?  May we not crave some mercy, under favor and protection of the gentleman’s own authority?  Admitting that a road, or a canal, must be written down flat usurpation as was ever committed, may we find no mitigation in our respect for his place, and his vote, as one that knows the law?

The tariff, which South Carolina had an efficient hand in establishing, in 1816, and this asserted power of internal improvement, advanced by her in the same year, and, as we have seen, approved and sanctioned by her Representatives in 1824,—­these two measures are the great grounds on which she is now thought to be justified in breaking up the Union, if she sees fit to break it up!

I may now safely say, I think, that we have had the authority of leading and distinguished gentlemen from South Carolina in support of the doctrine of internal improvement.  I repeat, that, up to 1824, I for one followed South Carolina; but when that star, in its ascension, veered off in an unexpected direction, I relied on its light no longer.

Here the Vice-President said, “Does the chair understand the gentleman from Massachusetts to say that the person now occupying the chair of the Senate has changed his opinions on the subject of internal improvements?”

From nothing ever said to me, Sir, have I had reason to know of any change in the opinions of the person filling the chair of the Senate.  If such change has taken place, I regret it.  I speak generally of the State of South Carolina.  Individuals we know there are who hold opinions favorable to the power.  An application for its exercise, in behalf of a public work in South Carolina itself, is now pending, I believe, in the other house, presented by members from that State.

I have thus, Sir, perhaps not without some tediousness of detail, shown, if I am in error on the subject of internal improvement, how, and in what company, I fell into that error.  If I am wrong, it is apparent who misled me.