Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-03-19

have heard, with great pleasure, that our Assem-
bly, (Virginia) have come TO the resolution OF Civ
ing The regulation Of their commerce TO the led
eral head. | will venture TO assert that there Is
no, one offs opposers who. placed on this ground,
would not see the wisdom of the measure" In
/ a letter to Mr.. Hartley, an English gentleman.
under date Of Jlh September, 1888, he says: /
told YOU when here, OF the propositions made by
Congress TO The States, to be authorized 10 make
certain regulations IN their commerce, aud that
fram he disposition tn strengthen the hands of
Congress, which was then growing fast, | thought
taey would consent To IT,. Most Of them did so,
and / suppose oil Of them would have done II. #
they have not actually done il, but that events
proved a much more extensive power would be
requisite, Congress have therefore desired 10 be
invested with the whole regulation Of their trade"
The present Constitution empowers Congress 10
lay and collect imports, and also 10 regulate Com
mcrce with foreign nations. and among the sever
al States. It forbids the States 10 lay any i'm
posts or duties on imports or exports, except what
may be absolutely necessary for executing It's in-
spection laws.
II i" i'll thus be seen that Pennsylvania was be-
guided out OF the power to regulate Commerce on
the promise thlt 1t would be more eiiectuaily
welded by the General Government as n weaP-
on against England. She yielded the power in
ratif, ing the presen, Constitution of the United
States. She gave up that Of which the most pre-
cious attribute Ia her hands had been The prolec-
ton of manufactures. She Is now powcriess.
England rcpuiscs every product Of her soil, but
she Is forbidden, as a member Of the cOnfedcracy
10 act on the impulses Of self preservation. Her
Indignation is Knocked al, since she surrendered
The control Of the Custom Houses on her own soil.
And 1t IS now said that the power. which she gave
up exists 40 where. She presented IT 10 Congress-,
Nat 1t cannot at this day be found. 1t has per.
ishcd in some obscure way! We sec IT gravely
argued that the only power is to raise Rerenue,
and that in the exercise Of TINS power The purpose
,I.,,I4 h., g., n.1,-,p ,,nD-,,,Inn- corpa Cr,r,
what quarter they may. Well did !, heft our re.
preventative to be foremost in denounciug 4 doc
trIne which would result N this. that Congress is
itnpotcnt except to discourage Manufactures, md
TO diserimir ate against American Industry.
RcS0iued. That while we can thus distinctly
trace the history and purpose of the power TO
regulate Commerce." conferred upon The Gov
eminent, there is evidence, not less persuasive,
IN the petitions which poured IN upon the first
Congress under the new Constitution. They
serve to show tho expectations NJ ,hnt i""A IN
dulged, the universal understanding. that thus
new government was to be IN warm sympathy
with the c0mpnnitg, lis wants and lis capabilities;
not something apart IN suilen dignity or tImld I'm
poicnce. Its powers were considered ample 20
cau1lcrect the hostile or unsocIal legislation Of
foreign nations, and to lnvigorate every branch
Of home industry. In short, the belief was cher.
ishch that one of its leading objects was 10 pro,
mote and advance those great interests, "a, which
The jealousy Of a foreign and insoient dictation.
bad 50 long struck. Atnongs,the earliest 10 press
forward and to ask for the fullest exercise Of
these pienarv powers. was the city of Charleston.
From South Carolina, as appears by the Journals.
came the most earnest entreaty that Congress
would apply the protective principle, to build up
the shipping interest.
From the Journal of Congress.
MoHDAY, April 18Th, 1850.
y petition Of the Shipwrights Of the city of
Charleston, IN the State of South Carolina, was
presented to the House and read, stating the dis
trcss they are III, itom the decline OF that branch
ot business, and The presen. situation OF The trade
aT the United States; and praying that me Wis
dom and policy OF the national legislature may be
directed 10 such measures IN a general regulation
OF trade, and the establishment of a proper Nav
igation AT. rs will tend TO relieve The particular
Gistresses CT the petitioners. and in common with
them, these OF their fellow ShIpwrights through
cut the United States.
In this memorial, which will be found at large
ID the AmcFIcan State papers, 1t Is said
"EnJoying n country which possesses every
thing TO MAKE lis Furnishing. and its
reputation respectable, there wanted bat a gu
preme energetic system. capable If uniting its
efforts, and drawing its resources to n point, TO
render Us a great and happy people. This sys.
tenn, we trust. the wisdom of the General Con
,ention has produced. aud the virtue Of the peo-
pie confirmed. Under your able and upright ad-
mlaisiratson Of The ample power it con,sIns, we
look forward. with pleasing hopes 10 the period
when we shall once more see public credit firmly
established, private rights secured, and our citi-
zens enjoying the blessings of n mild and active
Governmeni. No more. we trust. shall we Ia
ment our trade almost wholly 10 the possession of
foreigners; our vessels excluded flom the ports Of
some nations, and fe,tered with restrictions in 9TH
ers; or materials, the produce of our couutrs.
which should be retained for our own use. export
ed, and increase the maritime consequence of
other Powers
The Baltimore memorial. read on the 4th of
May, 1899. after entreating protection and en-
conragemeut, for The building of ships, adds
with respect to our MANUFACTURES. we have sew
erai valuable ones already established. and others
winch, tis well known, only want encouragement