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

ton. whether it may not be constitutional
" applied to increase the safety and lacll-
ity of The commerce Of the Mississippi and
lis waters.
Ii is admitted that the trainers OF the
constitution, in delegating the power, had
in contemplation the Atlantic coast only,
AT the time, but very small portion OF
our population had passed the Allegheny
mountains into the valley OF the Mlssls.
sippi, as has been stated, and none had
reached The ST. Lawrence and its Lakes.
There was not single State situated
wholly within the valley. Indeed, the
greater part, including the whole OF It's
right bank, and all on both banks below
the 3lst parallel, belonged 10 Spain, VINO
claimed the exclusive right TO navigate
the river to the south of il, and right IN
common with us to the residue. In such
state OF things, il s not probable that
The navigation of river so full OF 0bstruc-
TONS, and with q current too rapid TOR
ascending navigation, with the power then
used for propelIng vessels on its waters,
ever occurred to the trainers of the consl'
tuition, while deiberating on deleg ting
the power ia question But, although
their attention was directed TO a partlcu
lar case, they we're TOO wise to provide a
remedy applicable exclusively to 1t, by
restricting It to the coast navigation, or to
the establishment of light houses, buoys,
beacons, and public piers. They looked
to the future, and provided one of more
comprehensive character, and calculate d
to remedy the evil in whatever form 1t
might appear.
Great changes have since occurred
We have acquired the entire valley oil
the Mississssippi, and have the exclusive
control of its commerce. What was then
an almost uninhabiled wilderness, now
contains nearly one half of the population
Of the whole Uuion, and many great and
Furnishing States. Its commerce, then OF
small amount, and carried on IN iran
boats of small tonnage, and impeled
by power too weak TO ascend its stream
now rivals that of the coast in amount, the
cost and size of the vessels by which trans
ported, cheapness Of freight, rapidly o
transit, and the force by which they are
impeled--a force so great as to complete
" overcome its turbid and rapid current
II has done more. Ii has so Intimately uni
led the navigation Of the river and the guilt
that vessels navigating the one may the
other. so as to pass and repass 10 and Iron
each other in one continuous voyage; Jus
as it (for all practical purpose) the Mis-
s,ssippl was part OF the guilt, or an lnlan'
! sea,
In consequence Of these great changes
) the reasons which Influenced the trainers O
the constitution TO delegate 10 Congress IN
, power to regulate commerce among IN
r STATES are now applicable TO the State
bordering on the Mississippi and lis grea
6 tributaries, as il we're then 10 those bordeI
/ inc on the Atlantic coast. lfitwas neces
/. sary to delegate it in reference 10 the la
= ter, to prevent embarrassment and coll
sion between them in consequence OF eac
e other, the necessity is equally urgent |
r reference to those bordering on the Nh
4 sissippi, for the same reasons. Indeed,
:. NAV be said to be more so; because numt
i. rous States grouped together on lnrg
n stream and its tributaries, and dependin
!. on its navigation exclusively, as the mi
G dunn Of their commerce with eacn ONT
l. and the rest of the world, would be muc
v more exposed to embarrassments and co
;. hsions, without common power 10 reg
/. late their commerce, than those stretche
it out on a long line of seacoast. The ID
d ter might possibly manage each TO reg
e late its own commerce, without commd
r. power; but without such power the 10
is mer would almost necessarily be involve
i. in continued conflict and hostiIilles. >
CT again, the necessity of common pow
st to regulate commerce among them, IN r
of ference to the safely and facility Oh us n
yigalion, is greater in relation 10 the Stat
n, on the borders of the Mississippi, lncludII
ht its tributaries, than on the coast as Y
Z. dangers and impejiments to which It IS e
e, posed are greater, while, from their cha
nd acter, they may be more effectually qua
Us ded against by being removed.
10 50 urgent, indeed, is the necessity OF
Oh common power to regulate its commerc
1t that il may be safely affirmed that il wou
lie REQUIRE a confederation among The stat
~ on lis borders for that purpose, as The on
Isl means Of preserving peace and preyen''
a the must deadly conflicts among them,
NJ structlve alike to their commerce and pr
do neri,y. had not the constitution Invested
* States of the power, and delegated 1t
ng the federal government. If TO these
ne. oan, reasons tor a common power TO rel