American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-01-21

Governor Clinton's Message. regret ex.
remedy that the great length OF this document VIII
prevent our being able TO spread its interesting con-
tents before our readers There are many thines
10 it OF general nature, and when deserve INC
serious noIice OF the statesman and politician. II
would have been impossible in fewer words to have
given stronger arguments in favor Of the policy OF
dffusing the light of education among our Citizens
than are contained in the following extract. IL
comprises, in fact every thing that can DC said upon
the subject, and can read 1t without acknow'
lodging its paramount importance
CA republican government is certainly most con-
genial with the nature, most propltious to the well
fare, and most conducive TO the dignity oil our spe.
ces. Man becomes degraded in proportion as he
loses the right Of self government. Every effort
ought therefore to be made to fortliy our Tree insti-
tuIions; Sc the great bulwark OF security is 70 De
found in eGucaton-the culture OF the heart and the
head-te diffusion OF knowledge, plety and morali-
ty. A yirtuous and enlightened man can never sub
nit to degradation; and virtuous and enlightened
people will never breathe in the atmosphere OF sla-
very Upon education must therefore rely Tor
the purity, the preservation, and the perpeluaion oil
republican government. In this sacred cause we
cannot exercise too much liberay 1t is identified
with our best interests in this world and with our
best deslinies in the world to come"
On the subject Of The navigation Of the great ca
nal of New York, the Governor, as might have been
anticipated, differs from the general government in
his construction of the laws OF the United States,
regulating internal commerce. His arguments are
forcble and confident, at the same time that they
eyince proper respect for the constituted auhorl.
ties:
" | cannot pass over in silence (says he) the at
tempt which has been recently made to bring the
boats navigating canals within the opet alton oil
the statutes for regulating the coasting trade OF the
United States, by requiring from such boats enroll
ment and license, and the payment OF tonnage du
ties. The canals are the properly of the state,
within the jurisdiction of the stale, have been con-
strucled by the state, and be destroyed by the
state. They have been made at its expense, alter
the general government had refused all partcipa-
ton and assistance. 1t cannot well be perceived
how the regulation Of commerce 8 with foreign ma
tons, and among the several states or with the In
dian tribes can authorize an interference with
vessels prosecuting an inland trade through arh
cial channels. The coastng trade is entirely dis
tinot from trade through our canals, which no state
in the Union, nor the general government itself, has
a right to enjoy without, our consent.
The consequences OF such assumptions would be,
il carried into effect to annihiate our revenue arts
ing from tolls to produce the most oppressive niea
sures, 10 destroy the whole system OF internal i'm
provements, and TO PROSTATE the authority of the
state government.
A Just exposition OF the laws Of The United States
canno. authorize their application to such cases.
But if different Interpretation should prevail then
it becomes very serious question indeed, whether
the state can enforce its laws imposing tolls. The
supreme court Of the United Ssaes has solemnly
adjudged that coasting license from a collector is
grant of the right Of navigation. If so, and that
right being derived from law Of Congress, it will
be commended that it cannot be prohibited nor
trolled by any state law. The right to be complete
must be enjoyed without restraint. The state can
not demand toll as the price OF the enjoyment Of
such right if it has not the power to prohibit such
enjoyment altogether.
Ii may be further remarked that the power to-
regulate commerce among the states, under which
the act regulating the coasting trade passed, is
held by that high tribunal to be exclusively in Con.
gress. II So and If that any other act which
Congress may pass under that power, can be appli-
ed 20 the canals, it would follow consequence
that our laws imposing tolls are void from the be.
ginning. The state has no power to adopt them.
and in this view OF the subject, it would seem to be
immaterial whether any license be taken out under
the act OF Congress not.
The supreme court has also declared that the
power to regulate commerce includes power 10
regulate navigation as one means OF carrying on
commerce. The same remark may be made with
feA' 'o'SSt Sot'SSA""6 any hAu III No"ol'oi'o'o"
whether by land or water, the power to regulate
commerce applying to the we'll as to the
other. II Congress can declare that boat passing
between different parts Of the same district, within
the same state, shall take license, why it not
direct that wagon shall take one under similar
circumstances? When we shall have arrived at
this point, we shall begin to have some adequate
notion of the extent TO which this claim may be
carred.''
AS this subject is now before the Congress of the
United States, MIR Clinton evidently reserves him
self for its further discussion, to await the decision
OF the national government. Nat. Journal.