Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-05-09

or harsh imputation of motives; | ish hin
health and happiness in his retirement; but
must still speak as think Of his public meas.
ures, and OF their general bearing and tenden-
cy, not only on the present interests of the
country, bnt also on the well being and secu-
rity Of the Government itself.
There are, however, some topics of a less
urgent present application and importance, up
on which wish 10 say a few words, before |
advert 10 those which are more Immediately
connected with the present distressed state oil
things
My learned and highly valued friend (Mr.
Ogden,) who has addressed me in your behalf,
has been kindly pleased to speak Of my polit-
cal career, as belng marked by a freedom from
local interests and prcjudIces, and u devotion
10 liberal and comprehensive views oi public
policy.
will not say that this compliment lie doser-
ved | will only say that have earnestly en-
deavorod TO deserve it. Gentlemen, this gov
eminent, to the extent OF It's power, is nation
al. Ii is not consolidated, it does not embrace
all the powers OF Government. On the con-
trary 1t is delegated, restrained, strictly limited.
But what powers 1t does possess, il possess
es for the general, not for any partial or local
good. 1t extends over vast territory, embra-
cling now six and twenty States, with interests
various but irreconcllable, infinitely diversified,
but capable Of being all blended into political
harmony.
He, however, who would produce this har-
mony, must survey the whole field, if all
parts were as interesting TO himself as they are
10 others, and with that genGrous,pairIoti &c feel
ing, prompter and better Than the mere dictates
Of cool reason, which leads him to embrace the
| whole with aftcctionate regard, as constituting,
altogether, that oh ect which he is SO much
J bound 10 respect, TO defend, and 10 love-his
Country. We have around US, and more or
lees within the influence and protection Of the
I general government, all the great Interests OF
I Agriculture, Navigation, Commerce, Manu-
lectures, the Fisheries and the Mechanic Arts.
! The duties o! the Government, then, certuinly
extend over all lis Territory, and embrace all its
j vast interests. We have a maritime frontier,
| a coast, Of many thousand miles, and while
no one doubts that II is tie duty OF government
10 defend this coast, by suitable military prep
arations, there are those who yet suppose that
/ the powers Of government stop at this point (;
and that az to WORKS OF peace, aud works ol
| Improvement, they are beyond our constitutions
| al limits. | have ever thought OTHERWISE
! Congress has right, no doubt, to declare war
! and TO raise armies and navIes; and II has ne
I cessary the right 10 build Notifications and
batteries, TO project the coust from the effects
OF war. But Cnnsrcss has authority also, and
/ ~
| the whole power OF collecting duties on imports
and tonnage. 1t must have ports and harbors,
and dock-yards, also, Tor It's novles. Very
early in the history Of the government, it was
decided by Congress, on the report OF highly
! respectable committee, that the transfer by The
states 10 Congress OF The power OF Uoiic, ting
| tonnage and other duties, and tue grant OF the
authority to regulate commerce, charged Con-
gress, necessarily, with the duty of maintain.
| Guch nj I'D ,,bu nuI LIGHT Iousp-
and OF making such Improvements, as might
have been expected 10 be done by lie States,
! II they had retained the usual means, by Ie-
/ tanning the power Of collecting duties on i'm.
ports. The States II was admitted, had part
cd with this power; and the duty o. protecting
and facilitating Commerce by those means,
had passed along with this power, into otLer
hands. | have never hesi,atcd, therefore, when
the state Of the Treasury would admit, 10 vote
! for reasonable appropriations for break-waters,
| lighthouses, piers, harbors, and similar i'm
proycmenls on any Part OF the Whole Atlantic
coast, OF the Gull Of Mexico, from Maine TO
| Louisiana.
| But how stands the inland frontier How
is 1t along The vast lakes, and the mighty rivers
Of the north and west? Do our Constitutional
| rights and duties terminate, when tue waters
cease TO be salt or do they exist in foil viSor
| on the shores OF these inland seas? ! never
could doubt about this; and yet, gentlemen,
remember even 10 have participated in warm
debate in the Senate some years ago, upon the
constitutional right Of Congress 10 make an
appropriation for pier in the harbor oi Bulia-
! 10! What. make harbor al Buffalo, where
nature never made any, and whore therefore
| it was never intended any should be made p?
Take money from The people, 10 run out piers
| from the sandy shores oil lake Erie, or deepen
! the channels Of her shallow rivers? Where
was the constitutional authority Tor this p
Where would such strides Of power stoP9-
! How long would the State have any over al
| all left, it their territory might be ruihessy IN
vodcd for such uuhaliowed purposes, or how
long wonId the people have any money In their
pockets II the Government Of the L. 81 might
tax them al pleasure, for such cAuavasant pro-
ecls as these Piers, whGrves, haibors and
break-wators in the lakes! These arguments,
gentlemen, however earnestly put forth Hereto
fore, do not strike us with great power at the
present day, if we stand on the shores OF Lake
| Erie, and sec hundreds Of vessels, with valua-
| BILE carSoes, aud thousands oil valuable lives,
moving on its waters, with few shelters from
! The storm, but Ravens created, or made useful,
| by the aid of government These great lakes,
stretching away many thousands OF miles, moi
| in straight lue hut with turns and deilexons,
as if designed to reach, 10y water communities
ton, the greatest possible number OF important
points, through region of vast extent, cannot
but arrest the attention of any one who looks
upon the map. They lie connected, but vari-
onsly pluced-and interspersed as if with stud
led variety oil form and direction, over that
part of the country. They were made for man,
and admirably ada pied for his convenience
Looking, gentlemen, over our country, com
pretending the Atlantic coast, with IFS thick
population, advanced agriculture, extended
commerce, manufactures, and mechanic arts.
lis varieties OF communication, wealth, gen
eral Improvements and looking, then, 10 the
interior, TO the immense tracts OF fresh, fertile