Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-07-29

were aOle Statesmen anu learIleu Id" >,
took an active par, in this discussion, aud
were familiar with the meaning of the
terms, as politically and legally applied
at the time. Under such circumstances,
il is fair presumption that in using them,
in deegatlng the power, they intended 10
attach u meaning 10 them similar TO that
in which they had been in The habit OF
employing them in their, political discus'
sions, aud 10 which the States had been
customed 10 use them in IesisIating on
The subject Of regulating commerce prior
to-, aud subsequent 10, the Revolution.
Assuming such TO be the case, your
committee are brought TO The question,
What powers were the States accustomed
TO exercise in regulating their commerce
before and at the time of the adoption OF
the constitution, as far as they relate TO its
safely and facility? The answer will solve
the question rs 10 The true meaning ofthe
terms, and the Kind Of powers intended 10
be delegated IN Congress in reference to
them..
"lp order 10 understand why the States
exercised the kind of powers they were
accustomed tn do, al ant! before :he adop'
,ion Of the constitution, for the safety and
facility of their commerce, il is necessary
10 bearin mind that they were then comm
ed to the Atlantic coast, along which they
extended from New Brunswickto Florida;
and that their commerce with eacl other
was confined TO lhe cuasrs and :its bays.
On turning 10 their legislation during that
periud, it will be found that The powers
they exercised for thai purpose were re-
stricled 10 the establishment of Ii 5ht.hous'
'es, bnoys, beacons, aud public piers. They
are all of description well adapted and
necessary 10 guard against The dangers
and impediments to which such com.
nlcrce as they then carried on was expos
ed; while they were, at The same time,
such as would be eglected, or not estd'
bIshed at all, unless the public took charge
of them: because individuals had neither
adequate motive horsepower to establish or
allend loihen. That The power 10 esla.
biish them refers 10 that Of regulating
commerce, may be cer!aiuly inferred from
the motives aud object Of their establish.
lnent; and that commerce, in legal Ian.
guase, embraces navigation as well as
trade, may, with not loss certainty, be
inferred from The same circumstances, as
they relate directly and exclusively TO
navigation. If we turn from the lesisla.
,on oil the States prior TO the adoption Of
the constitution inalhat OF lhel ederals 90.
FyernsreMt, II wifi be '1nnudT dTtiHt 1tcentIrrfs
not only the correctness Of these interen'
cos, but all thai your cpmniuee mas stated
in lhis,cunneAion, as they will next p'
ceetl 10 show.
so important was The power rresu'a'e
commerce, aud especially among .ne
STATES. regarded, that it~as among ."e
first, subjects which CbHheu 'he auenuo"
or The government der II wenl into oper-
a,ion On The pa Of April, 1889. just a.
mon,h month after r,e commencement, of the go
,arn."en,<';in n.~ acl of Congress became a
Ion hv/iIe approval Of the President, Gil.
,,r1"An act for the establishment of
Llsht houses, buoys, beacons, ana public
piers; !" thai is, moles raised for The shell
Ter OF vessels against storms or ice. Ii
provides that all the expenses, which shall
accrue for the support ana maintenance
and repairs o.! such as were erected, pIac-
ed, or sunk by the States, bcIure The pass
ing of The act for the safety and ease ia
ciily) navigation, shall be betrayed out
orthe treasury of the United States, with
the pruvso that the expense should not be
paid by The United States after one year,
unless lhey should be ceded and vested in
The United States by the States 10 which
they belong, with the lands aud eoements
apperrainins 20 them. Ii is also provided
for The erecting of lighl house near the
entrance of the Chesapeake bay, aud for
The expense Of keeping. rebuilding. and
repairing Of The establishment. These
provisions furnish conclusive proof that
the Suites, under the power to regulate
commerce, established light. houses, buoys,
beacons, aud public piers; that Congress
regarded the power as delegated 10 II, to
the. same extent; that the object OF the
power was ,heincreasod safety aud facility
of commerce along the coast; that It ap
perlaiued especially to the regulation OF
commerce among the States. as the .por-
tiou ollhe ocean in its vicinity is the great
common highway oflhe commerce of the
STATES bordering on it; and that it embrac-
ed navigation as wei rs trade. Ii may
be added, in confirmation of The conslruc-
ton which places this establishment under
the control of the government, that 1t ac-
cords with lhe practice of The government,
Of the country from which we derive our
language aud origin; with this difference,
that there the establishment was princi-
pnlly under the control of Incorporated
companies OF individuals, but subject TO
the legislation of Parliament, as must have
been well known 70 the trainers of our
constitution.
In carrying the power into execution,
Congress has studded the coast with light
houses and beacon lights, 10 guide in safety
The mariner bynighl on hisvoyase, agains.