Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-05-11

dlsrespect toward individuals. He whose
character aud fortune have exercised such q
decisive influence on our politics, for eight
years, has now retired from public station.-
/ pursue him with no personal reflections, nc
reproaches. Between him and myself there
has always existed respectful, personal in.
tercourse. Moments, have existed, indeed
critical, and decisive upon the general sue
cess OF his administration, in which he has
been pleased to regard my aid as not alto
gcther unimportant. now speak Of him, re.
; spectfully, as distinguished soldier, as one
who, in that character, has done the state
much service; as n man, too, Of strong and
decided character. Of unsubdued resolution,
and perseverance, in whatever he undertakes
In speaking Of his civil administration speak
without censoriousness, or harsh imputation
Of motives; wish him health and happiness
IN his retirement; hut ! must still speak rs
think, OF his public measures, and Of their ge-
neral bearing and tendency, not only on the
present interests Of the country, but also on
the being and security Of the government It.
self
There arc, however, some topics Of less
urgent present application and importance,
upon which | wish to say n few words, be.
fore advert to those which are more imme-
diately connected with the present distressed
state Of things.
My learned and highly valued friend, (Mr.
Ogden,) who has addressed me in your be.
halt, has been kindly pleased to speak Of my
political career, as being marked by n free
dom from local interests and preJudices, and
devotion to liberal and comprehensive views
Of public policy.
i will not say that this compliment is de-
servcd-l will only say, that have earnestly
endeavored to deserve it. Gentlemen, this
Government, to the extent its power, is ma
tional. 1t is not consolidated, it does not
embrace all the powers of Government. On
the contrary, it is delegated, restrained strict
ly limited.
Il But what powers il does possess, it pos
sesses for the general, not for any partial or
local good. 1t extends over a vast territory,
embracing now six and twenty States, with
interests various, but not irreconcilable inf
nitely diversified, but capable of being blend
ed into political harmony.
i He, however, who would produce this har-
mony must survey the whole field, rs If all
parts were as interesting to himself as they
are to others, and with That generous patri-
otic feeling, prompter and better than the
mere dictates of cool reason, which leads him
to embrace the whole, with affcctiOnate re-
gard, os constituting, altogether, that object
which he is 50 much bound to respect, to de-
fcnd, and to love,-his Country. We have
around us, and more or less within the inf1u-
ence and protection Of the General Govern
ment, all the great interests of Agriculture,
Navigation, Commerce, the Fisheries and the
Mechanic Arts. The duties of the Govern
ment, then, certainly extend over all this ter
ritory, and embrace all these vast interests.
We have q maritime frontier, a sea coast Of
mary thousand miles; and while no one
doubts that it is the duty of Government to
defend this coast, by suitable military pre-
parations, there are those who yet suppose
that the powers Of Government stop at this
point; and that as to works Of peace, and
works Of Improvement, they are beyond our
constitutional limits. ! have ever thought
otherwise. Congress has right no doubt.
to declare war and to raise armies and navies;
and it has necessarily the right to build forti-
fcations and batteries, to protect the coas:
from the effects Of war. But Congress has
authority, also, and it is its duty, to regulate
Commerce; and it has the whole power of
collecting duties on imports and tonnage
1t must have ports, harbors, and dock yards,
also for its navies. Very early in the histo-
ry Of the Govrrnment,it wns decided by Con-
grcss, on the report of highly respectable
committee, that The transfer by the States To
Congress Of the power of collecting tonnage
and other duties, and the grant Of the author
ity to regulate Commerce, charged Congress,
nee ssarily, with the duty ofmantaining such
piers and wharvcs, and light houses, and OF
making such improvements, as might have
been expected to be done by the States, If
they had retained the usual means, by retain
ing the power Of collecting duties OIL imports.
The States, it was admitted, had parted with
this power; and the duty of facilitating and
protecting Commerce by these means, had
passed, along with this power, into other
hands. ] have never hesitated, therefore,
when the state Of the Treasury would admit,
to vote for reasonable appropriations, T. :
breakwaters, light houses, piers, harbors and
similar improvements on the whole Atlantic
Coast, or the Gulf Of Mexico, from Maine to
Louisiana.
/ But how stands the inland frontier? How
is it along the vast Lakes, and the mighty
Rivers of the North and West? DO our con-
stitutional rights and duties terminate, when
the waters cease to be salt? or do they exist,
IN full vigor, OH the shores of these Inland
Seas? ] never could doubt about this; and
yet, Gentlemen, ] remember even to have
participated in a warm debate, in the Senate,
some years ago, upon the constitutional right
Of Congress to make an appropriation for
Pier in the Hsrbor Of Buffalo. What! make
q ilarbor at Buffalo, where nature never made
any and where therefore il wns never intend
ed any ever should be made? Take money
from the people, to run out piers from the
Sandy shores Of Lake Erie, or deepen the
channels Of her shallow River? Where was
the constitutional authority for this? Where
would such strides Of power stop? How
long would the States have any power at oil
left. if their territory might be ruthlcssly in
J,I g.. pch Ill ...l lam