and the administration was not long in appearing. In his first message to Congress, Monroe, referring to the passage at the preceding session of the act concerning a fund for internal improvements, which Madison vetoed, deemed it proper to make known his sentiments on that subject beforehand, so that there should be no uncertainty as to his prospective action in case such a bill were passed again. He declared it to be his “settled conviction” that Congress did not possess the right of constructing roads and canals. “It is not contained in any of the specified powers granted to Congress; nor can I consider it incidental to, or a necessary means, viewed on the most liberal scale, for carrying into effect any of the powers specifically granted.” He then suggested, as Jefferson and Madison had done, the adoption of a constitutional amendment to give to Congress the right in question.
This spontaneous declaration by the President of what he intended to do in certain contingencies was taken as something like a challenge, and the challenge was promptly accepted. Calhoun, next to Clay the foremost champion of internal improvements, having gone into the Cabinet as Secretary of War, Tucker of Virginia reported on December 15, from a select committee, a resolution equivalent to that which Madison had vetoed. Against it Monroe's constitutional objections were marshaled in debate. Clay took up the gauntlet and made two speeches, in which he disclosed his views
