Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-08-12


commerce among the States, TO their ox
ternal commerce with each other no S,,,os
ana to leave their internal commerce. with
me exception above stated, under the ex.
elusive control of the several States 70.
sPecnve'y, Such, in their opinion, is the
plain and literal meaning of the words
mat they are intended 10 restrict tho
power, Is certain; but, if that be admitted.
II would seem impossible to give any other
construction to them, which would moi no
either 50 rigid, on the one side, as to de.
prlye them OF all meaning, or. on the 9th
err be so liberal as 10 subject the entire
commerce of the States, internal as well
rs external, to the control of Congress-
10 this It may be added, that the construc-
ton which they give accords with the rea-
sons which governed the trainers of the
constitution IN delegating the power to
regulate commerce with foreign nations
and among the States, as recurrence TO
the history of the causes which led to its
formation will clearly show.
II Is well know that the present consti-
tuition was adopted to remedy the defects
OF the old articles of confederation.-
Among them, none were found more en-
barrassing, or having a stronger tendency
TO weaken the Union in its foreign rela-
tons, or TO ALLEVIATE the attachment or the
States TO each other, and bring them into
collision, than the power they possessed
under the confederation of repuIatinr COM
merce, with the exception that no State
should enter into any treaty, Confedera.
ton, agreement, or alliance, with any for
eign power or other State, without the con.
sent of Congress, or should lay imposts or
duties which may interfere with treaties
entered into between the United States
and foreign powers. Even this was quali-
fled by proyiso, which prohibited Con-
gress, from making any treaty, by which
the States would be prevented from aving
such imposts and duties as they might
think proper 10 impose on their citizens. or
from prohibiting the expectation of any
species Of goods or commodities whatever.
The embarrassments, distraction, and
hazard of collisions, growing out of the ex.
ercise OF the power thus reserved to the
States respectively to regulate their CON-
merce with foreign nations and with each
other, were SO great and alarming, as, in
the opinion Of the rehecting and patriotic,
TO demand speedy and effectual remedy,
and contributed, more thaBany other cause
10 the calling of the convention which form
ed the constitution, as is well known
Care was accordingly taken 10 apply eff
fectual remedies, as might be expected
by deIegating to the newely formed govern
mcnt the exclusive power Of regulating the
commerce of the States with foreign ma.
lions and with one another, and prohibl
ting, without qualification, the States from
entering into any treaty, alliance or confed
Grafton, as has been stated. But equal care
was at the same lime taken not 10 extend
the remedy beyond the evil. And hence
the restriction which limits the power t.
regulate commerce to the external rela
tons Of the States with foreign nations
and each other, TO the exclusion OF thei
internal commerce, as the evil to be RENE
died resulted wholly from the one, not a
all from the other.
To be Continued.