Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-04-27

Of cnnfscalon.
To conntcract this law, the Legislature
of New Jersey enacted hat If any citizen
Of hers should be- restrained, or injured in
person or property, by any party acting
under The law Of New York, such citizen
should have remedy in her courts. if the
offender could be caught within her terri
tory. and should be entitled to treble dam
ages and costs. New Jersey called this
act la,o of reioriion: and justified it on
the general ground of reprisals.
On the other side, Connecticut took fire,
aGd as M steamboat could come down the
Sound from New York to Connecticut, or
pass up from Connecticut to New York.
piihoul a .New York license, she enacted o
law. by which heavy penalties were impo.
Sod upon all who should presume to come
into her ports and harbors, having any such
license.
Here. sir, was very harmonious state
Of commercial intercourse a very promis-
ing condition Of things, indeed! You
could not get from New York to New
Haven by steam nor could you 60 from
New York to New Jersey, without tran
shipment ia the bay. And now, sir, let me
remind the country, that this be|ligerent
legislation of the States concerned was
just fled and defended by exactly The same
arguments as those which we have heard
in this debate. Every thing which has
been said here. to prove that the authority
TO regulate commerce does not include q
power to regulate currency, was said in
that case. to prove that The same authority
did not include an exclusive power over
steamboats, or other means Of navigation
do not know reason. suggestion, an
idea, which has been used 10 this debate
or which was used in the debate in Sep.
TENDER, to show that Congress has no pow
or to control the currency Of the country
and make it uniform, which was not used
in this steamboat controversy, to prove thu,
the authority Of this Government did not
reach the matter then in dispute. Look to
the forensic discussions in New York
Look TO the argument in the court here
You will find it every where urged that
navigation does not come within The gem
"ral idea of regulating commerce; that
steamboats, are but vehicles and lnstru
mcn's; that the power of Congress is gen
eral. and general only. and that it does
moi extend TO agents and instruments.
And what. sir, put an end TO thus state OF
things? What stopped these seizures and
conf -catons, Nothing in the world, sir,
but the exercise of the constitutional pow,
or of this Government. Nothing in the
world, but The decision of the Supreme
Court, that the power Of Congress to regu
late commerce was paramount that it
overruled any interfering State laws; and
that these acts of the States did interfere
with acts Of Congress, enacted under its
clear constitutional authority.
As to the extent of the power of regu'a.
ting commerce, allow me to quote a single
sentence from the opinion of one of the
learned Judges Of the Supreme Court, de-
livered on that occasion (; Judge always
distinguished for the great care with which
he guarded State rights; mean Mr.. JUS
tice Johnson. And when have read 1t,
sir, then say, if it does not confirm every
word and syllable which have uttered on
this subject either now. or at the Septem
Der session. "ln the advancement o! soc!-
ety." said the Judge, "labor. transporta-
ton, intelligence, care. and various means
Of exchange. become commodities. and en-.
ter into commerce ; and The subject The re
hicie. The agent, ana these rarious operations,
berome the objects Of commercial regulation. :"
These ust sentiments prevailed. The
decis of the Court quoted the danger
Gus controversy; and satisfied, and | will
add gratltied, most highly grat!fed, the
whole country.
Sir, may We not perceive at the present
moment, without being suspected Of look-
ING with eyes whose sight is sharpened by
too much apprehenslon-may we not per-
ccive, sir, IN what is now passing around
Us, the possible beginnings Of another con
rroversv between States, which may be of
srll greater moment, and followed, if not
arrested bv still more deporabe conse.
aucnce-9 Do we see no danger, no distur
bance, no contests ahead? Sir, do we not
behold excited commercial nvalship, evi.
IDENTIFY EXISTING between great States and
great ci',ess Do we not see an emuIous
competition for trade, eXterns and internal?
Do we not see the parties concerned en-
argmg, and proposing to enlarge, to vast
extent, their plans of currency, evidently in
connection with these objects Of trade and
commerce9 Do we not see States them
selves becoming deeply interested in great
banking institutions? Do we not know
that, already, The notes and bills of some
States are prohibited by law from clrcula
ting IN others'
Sir, will push these questions no far
Their: but ! tell you that il was for exact, "
such crisis as thIs-for this very crisis
FOR This identical exgency now upon us
that this constitution was framed, and this
Government established. And. sir, let
those who expect to get over this crisis
without effort and without action, let those
whose hope it is that they may be borne
along on The Tide of circumst ances and IA.
vorable occurrences, and who repose in the
denial OF their own powers and their own
responslbl,y-le let all such, look well to
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