Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-06-20

snu cons saa regulations pre.rrsa.ss AZ esfSS-,.
S.ales mayss on which the ei,,,...i. kksSke U.
$3.50 s'sses cioS eonmereisfo iifa with
.s g subjects ofHoms, and a s aai eSsis
sr u P pSs e, lIaes Siga ssifsSait com
nerce eHasag ~ ssssls, States no mossItavesA
Congress with hris3k,i5n osertks 81 N eour-
ses ofthe States. mantle FIRST braucf Ios me
grant does over ina batter courses os Ysrfign
+ powers, Which ~ouh be an aptusd4N The
right Of ce-nloa use Of tie peopss Of ne. tnised
sf1trs - The nayixabse waters or each 3sld ere
~ Si4tt arises fron the express sJitblsiion
eontaines ia ire cohstituIion. mat 'ths isizens I
OF each Late shah vuvs-s~as. all fstts ;isges
apd iuf1lnilies OF citzensin the sever n stps ),
while. d refore. the navigation of zrssfiser IN 4
aay STAT, is. By the laws Of such Siat4 tlIowed /
10 The ciizens thereof, the same = org Asearsd
by The Constitution Of the United Sislks on the
SANE teras and condition, 10 the citizfFt ofey-
cry other state; and so Of any ether nc viiege
or immunity. The application or ihe avenue
of4his GoIerBment, IL The poweT 70 .dn % was
admitted, 10 improving the nsvigaiienl pr The
rivers, by removing obstrueions or q ller wise,
would ID for the most part producing pr only
local benefit The consequences DitN prove
disastrousIy ruinous TO as many Of or fe!iow
citizens, asthe exereise7cf such PoveH would
! benefit 4EH4
rwiIltaks one instsncefurnished 'the pre-
sent bill out or no in 'idious feeling, hbfsuch il
would be impossible for me 10 feel, blt beeause
OF my grester familiarity wiihlocatissss in il
lustrs ton the above opinion. yTwfHi6 thou \
sand dollars are proPosedio be afpTotnbled to-
wards improving he barbor Of RiehhqDd, in
the State Of Virginia. Such improventht would
furnish advantages 10 the city of Richmond,
and add 70 the value of the property n is citi-
zens. while il might have. a most dissstFeus in
nus4ee over the wealth and ProsPess tofN Pc
tersb1rg, which is situated somef t4t$ty-hye
miles distant. on branch Of James ffer, and
which now enjoys fair portion ef ths trader
So. too, The improvement Of James, tlter 10
'Rchmobd and Of the APpomattox ID Peefsbarg,
might, by inviting the trade TO those two toWns,
have The effect of prosirsling the town Of Nor
folk, Tbs. too might be sccomptsAed with
out adding single vessel TO the uhSber now
engsgedl in the trade Of the Chesspsaks Bay,
or bringing into the Treasury doilsrtef addi-
tional revenue. Il would produce. mos proba-
bly,, the single effect Of concentrating Gle com.
merce NOW prod'ably enjoyed By thrsePlscss,
upon one Of them. This case FURNISHES an apt
illustration Of the effect Of this bl ID several
other particulars.
There cannot. in fact, be drawn ,hs highest
discrimination between The improving DE streams
Of SLATE under the power 10 regui4te com
mefce, and the most extended sys.em1l inter-
nal improvements on land The excAtatng
canal or paYingsa road, are equally tss much
incidents 10 such claim of power, as tkktemov-
/ Jog distractions from water COURSES. [Nor can
such power be restricted BY any fair Ilarse Of
reasoning, 10 The mere fact Of making the i'm
proyement. 1t reasonably txtendsako to the
right OF seeking return Of the mean4zexPend-
ed, through the exaetions Of tolls ahd5he levy
/ ing Of contributions Thus, while thesH3onstitu-
lion denies 10 this Government the privilege Of
acquiring property 10 the soil of ~ State,
even for the purpose Of erecting a Necessary
forIiicatiop, without grant FROM sukb State,
this claim 10 power would invest il " Ia control
and dom iii ion over the waters and So Eof each
State, without. restriction. Powers 81 incon-
gruous cannot exist in the same instrdeent.
hebili is also liable 10 a serious ktjeclon,
because Gifts blending appropriations nnmer-
Gus objects, bot few Of which, agree althfir ge-
neral features. This necessarily profaces The
effect Of embarrassing zExecuive scQ0h Some
Of The appropriations would receive n1kpnclion
if separated from the rest, howevf1lnuch !
might deplore the Reproduction Of ~ system,
which. forsome time past, has been peletined 10
sleep with, apparently, the scquiescenIFl OF the
county. l might particularize the E@awsfe~
Breakwater, as anlimprovement Wheh&doks TO
the security, from the storms Of ouI Elended
Atlantic seaboard, Of The vessels Of all i cOun-
try engaged either in The foreign or elcoast-
WISE tfudes -,Sh - sthN esfSty OF ye Tero-
nue. bDI when, 10 connection with THAI ie same
bill embraces Improvements Of rivers points,
far ID the Interior connected alone with he trade
of such river, and the exenion Of mefs peal IN
! huences, no alternative is left me but usedhe
qualified rio. with which The Execul.k Ne is in
vested by The Con 5iiiution, and TO retn the bill
/ TO The House in which il originated, "a IFS ufi-
| mate reconsideration and decision.
Il In sanctioning bill Of the same Die with
ithai returned, for the Improvement oaNhe Mis-
slssippi and its chief tributaries, ann cs[ain hsr-
| bors on the ,iskes, if bring myself Al srently
! in eonAictiMiih any Of The principles fsin as
serted, il wiharise on my part exclusively from
1 the want Of just appreciation Of lodEhties-
/ The Mississippi occupies fealing altogether
| different from The rivers and water Hurses Of
the different States. mo one State, orKhy Dum-
Der OF States, canexercise any other jnHsdieton
over il than for the punishment Of c|nes and
the service Of civil process il bellows 10 no
particular State or States, bat Of colHIIh right,
! by express reservation. TO all the Stai& II is
reserved as great common highway FOR the
commerce Of the whole country. To I've con-
ceded 10 louisiana, or 10 any other Sta admit
! ted as 4 new State into the Union, the Inclusive
1 jurisdiction. and consequently, the rigid omske
improvements and to levy tolls on the #gments
OF the river embraced wiihinits territWial linn
lis. would have been 10 have dissrpo& BED the
chief object 10 the purchase OF Louisiad which
was to secure the free use OF the Miss sippi to
/ alllthe people Of the United States, bether
evies on commerce were made bya f4eign or
/ domestic Government, would hare 4fqually
burdensems and Objectionable.
I The Uniied States, therefore lis char d with
| its improvement f,r the benefit Of ALI I'D the
appropriated cf Government means III i'm
| provement becomes ind;spensably nees%pfy for
| the good Of al MI
( As 10 the harboTs Oh The lakes, the al ofigln-
aies no newIimprovemenls, hut makes Hpfopri-
! atoms for the continuance Of works alll3dy be-
gun. II is Is much the duty a The Goflitiment
/ 10 construct good hsIboIs, without ref .snee 10
/ The location OF Interests Of cities for ,h Shelter
\ of HE extensive commerce oil the lak as 10
1 build breakEaiers on the Atlantic cosslkfir the
protection of the trade Of that ocea34t These
great inland seas are visited. BY df3Edctiye
storms and the annual loss of ships ant ktfgoes,
and consequently ofTevenue ID The Gofknhent,
i Is immense If, then, there be any VIZ en-
bFaced By that act. which is NOT re4ri54ih or
I der aGIas shelter and security 70 lhe SIippng
against The lempes,s which so ellen 81 "a over
those great inland seas, bui has on The d|nlFsfy,
originated more 10 a spirit OF spec0liS|op and
/ local interest than il one Of the ehaEaa hllad-
ed to, the House OF Representatives, vi regard
\ my approval of the bn, more as fha tsnit Of
misin formation, Than any design 10 shht8 BIN or
modif5 the principles laid down 10 this age
| Every system IS liable 10 run into ali&e, and
none so rfuch4sc as that under con4 fetion,
aud rneasafes cannot be too soon taket " Con-