§；1123。Upontheconstructionofthisclauseoftheconstitution，twooppositeopinionshavebeenexpressed。
Onemaintains，thatthepowertoestablishpost—officesandpost—roadscanintendnomore，thanthepowertodirect，wherepost—officesshallbekept，andonwhatroadsthemailsshallbecarried。8Or，asithasbeenonotheroccasionsexpressed，thepowertoestablishpost—roadsisapowertodesignate，orpointout，whatroadsshallbemail—roads，andtherightofpassageorwayalongthem，whensodesignated。9Theothermaintains，thatalthoughthesemodesofexercisingthepowerareperfectlyconstitutional；yettheyarenotthewholeofthepower，anddonotexhaustit。Onthecontrary，thepowercomprehendstherighttomake，orconstructanyroads，whichcongressmaydeemproperfortheconveyanceofthemail，andtokeeptheminduerepairforsuchpurpose。
§；1124。Thegroundsoftheformeropinionseemtobeasfollows。Thepowergivenundertheconfederationneverpracticallyreceivedanyotherconstruction。Congressneverundertooktomakeanyroads，butmerelydesignatedthoseexistingroads，onwhichthemailshouldpass。
Attheadoptionoftheconstitutionthereisnottheslightestevidence，thatadifferentarrangement，astothelimitsofthepower，wascontemplated。
Onthecontrary，itwastreatedbytheFederalist，asaharmlesspower，andnotrequiringanycomment。10Thepracticeofthegovernment，sincetheadoptionoftheconstitution，hasconformedtothisview。Thefirstactpassedbycongress，in1799，isentitled\"anacttoestablishpost—officesandpost—roads。\"Thefirstsectionofthisactestablishedmanypost—officesaswellaspost—roads。