Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-08-19

to be delegated to Congress in reference
TO them.
In order to understand why the States
exercised the kind of powers they were ac-
customed to do, at and before the adoption
of the constitution, for the safety and tacll-
ity of their commerce, il is necessary to
bear in mind that they we're then conIin-
ed to the Atlantic coast, along which they
extended from New Brunswick to Florida;
and that their commerce with each other
was confined 10 the coast and It's bays -
On turning to their legislation during that
period, it will be found that the powers
they exercised for that purpose we're re.
stricted 10 theestablshnent OF liehl houses,
buoys, beacons, and public piers. They
are all of description well adapted and
necessary 10 guard against the dangers
and impediments to which such q COM
melee as they then carried on was expo
sed; while they were, at the same ume,
such as would be neglected, or not esiab-
lished at all, unless the public took charge
of them; because individuals had neither
adequate motive nor power 10 establish
or attend TO them. That the power to es.
tabish them refers TO that of regulating
commerce, may be certanly inferred from
the motives and object of their establish
ment; and that commerce, IN legal Ian
guage, embraces navigation as well as
trade, may, with not less certainty, be ln'
ferred from the same circumstance, as
they relate directly and exclusively 10 navi'
CATION. II we turn from the Legislation Of
the States prior 10 the adoption of the con-
stitution to that of the federal government
il will be found that it confirms not only
the correctness of these inferences, but
all that your committee has stated in this
connexion, as they will next proceed to
show.
So important was the power to regulate
commerce, land especially among the states
regarded, that il was among the flrst sub
jects which claimed the attention oil The go
vernment alter it went into operallon.--
On the 7th of April, 1889, Just monll
after the commencement OF the govern
meni, an act Of Congress became Law
by the approval Of the President, entitled
Gan act for the establishment OF Ugh
houses, buoys, beacons, and public pelrs;
that is, moles raised for the shelter Of YES
sells against storms or ice. 1t provide
that all the expenses, which shall accrue
for the support and maintenance and re
pairs of such as were erected, placed, o
sunk by the States, before the passing Q
the act for the safety and ease Qacillly
navigation, shall be betrayed out OF tn
treasury of the United States, with til
proviso that the expense should not b
paid by the U. States after one year, IN
=, less they should be coded and vested /
the United States by the States 10 who
!. they belonged, with lands and tenement
| appertaining to them Ii also provided fd
. the erecting of light house near tn
: entrance Of the Chesapeake bay, and fc
8 the expense of keeping, rebuilding, an
n repairing o! the the establishment. lhe'
e provisions furnish conclusive proof Thu
e the States under the power regulate con
Z merce established lighthouses, buoys, bel
I, cons, and public piers; that Congress re
8 garded the power as delegated 10 1t, to tt
d same extent; that the object OF the pow
!. was the increased safety and facility
e commerce along the coast; that it aPpe
}. tanned especially to the regulation OF con
r, merce among the States, as the porti'
e of the ocean in its vicinity is the great Cor
r mon highway of the commerce OF II
/ States bordering on it; and that II embr
d, ced navigation as well as trade II mi
'e be added, in confirmation of the constru
J. ton which places this establishment u
IN der the control Of the government, that
Ie accords with the practice oil the COVER
ii ment of the country from which we DER
i'll our language and origin; with this diff
i, ence. that there the establishment W
'e principally under the control Of incorpor
I'd ted companies or individuals, but snh)'
70 to the legislation Of Parliament as mi
ne have been we'll known to the trainers
es our constitution.
II In carrying the power into execute
mt Congress has studded the coast with lls
nd houses and beacon.lighls, to guide IN ga
n. ty the mariner by night on his voyai
nd against the danger of capes, reels,
in shadows, and has thickly planted bu'
he at the mouths of harbors and lnlects,
nd point out the narrow channels throu
Oh which he may safely pass into Them
lat has gone further, and constructed put
in piers, (including harbors of protectIo
at. where vessels can take shelter agal
in storm and ice, and annually expend
IN large sum in repaiug, supporting ana
ms, larging the establishment. 10 ms
u.s. that the power, to this extent has been
he ercised by Congress from the beg'nn
TO, of the government until the present II
without interruption or beng serou
our questioned as 10 its constitulional'ly, Ell
on, in or on, of Congress, during that i
led neriod and il nav he safely inferred