Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-08-26
CONCLUSION.
Mr.. CALHOUN made the following
REPORT:
ITO accompany bill S. No. 2l6.)

referred the memorial Of the Memphis
Connection, hare had the same under
consideration, and submit for the con-
sideratiOn Of the Senate the following
report:
Nor will il be more liable to abuse by
being improperly extended to the i'm
provement of its smaller tributaries, which,
as has been shown, are not embraced in
it, than it will be by extending it to like
streams falling into the Atlantic or the
lakes. The principle which prevents the
power from embracing the one equally
prevents it from embracing the other, and
is equally as clear and well defined in the
one, as the other. If the objection be
good in the one case, it is in the other;
and if the liability to abuse be a good rea-
son for abandoning the improvement of
the navigation of the Mississippi, it is at
least as good for abandoning that of the
coast and the lakes.
But there is the not least probability that
Congress will ever abandon the exercise
of the power. 1t has not only the right,
as has been shown, but it is its duty TO ex-
ercise it; a duty, under the constitution,
TO the States Immediately interested, and
which are, by one of its provisions, pro-
hiblted from adopting the only means by
which they could themselves regulate
their commerce with each other. Indeed,
the States directly interested in its exer-
else are too numerous and strong TO per-
nit the power 10 be abandoned, or lie DOR
mant; and all attempts TO prevent It's due
exercise on the part of those who may
dread its abuse; or who may be adverse
TO its exercise from other causes, would
have no other effect but to compel the
more moderate and scrupulous of those d.
recty interested in its due exercise to unite
with the less moderate and scrupolous in
their own and other portions of the Union,
and thereby place the power under the ex-
elusive control of those who would exer-
else it without regard to abuses, or to the
restrictions imposed by the constitution.
On the contrary, by admitting the power,
supporting lis due exercise, and direct.
ing their efforts to combining 1t within its
proper constitutional limits, the united eff
forts of the moderate of every portion of
the Union might succeed IN preventing
abuses, and carrying at the same time in
TO full effect the intention Of the trainers
Of the constitution in deiegating the power.
But, if such efforts should fail to prevent
extravagant and unwarranted appropria-
tons and expenditures, there remains a
certain corrective to both-perhaps the
only certain One-against the abuses in.
cIdent TO appropriations and expenditures
Of general fund on local objects, which,
by united efforts, they might succeed in
applying. 1t is that of raising the sum to
be expended, from the interest to be bene-
flied by the expenditure; that is, in this
case, by a moderate duty on light and
tonnage, on vessels engaged in navigating
the coast, the lakes, and the Mississippi
and other rivers embraced by the power;
and by applying the sum SO raised from
each TO the improvement OF its navigation
The same mode Of raising and applying
the requisite sum, in reference TO smaller
streams, might be adopted by the States
interested, at least as far as tonnage du
ties are concerned, with the consent o
Congress. 1t is the equitable and fail
mode which was practised by the States
before the adoption of the constitution, ane
which is practised by the government o
the country from which we derive our orr
gin and language, as has been stated.
was also the mode practised in its early
stages by the federal government; with
however, this radical defect, that the sum;
raised, instead of being kept as sepa
rate fund to be applied to its specific ant
Ia ol,InptC hlpDdpd with fhE
general funds of the treasury. The duty
imposed would, of course, constitute {
general charge on the commerce on which
it would fall; but when the vast amour
of that Of the coast, the Mississippi, ant
the lakes is taken into the estimate, and tht
strict economy to which the mode of rails
ing and applying the fund would lead il
the expenditures, there can be no doub
the charge would be far more than com
pensaled by the reduction Of the rates o
insurance.
Such are the conclusions to which you
committee have been brought, in References
to the portion of the memorial which re
lates to the improvement of the navigation
of the Mississippi and its great tributaries
1t remains, before concluding, to considc
what preparatory measures should b.
adopted in order TO insure systematic
iudicious, and efficient expenditure of tin
money which may be appropriated to carr.
the power into effect, should Congress
concur in their VIEWS in relation to it.
They are of the opinion 1t is Indlpen
sable, for that purpose, to constitute
board of able and experienced engineer;
whose duty it should be to make, unde
the direction of the Secretary of War,
careful examination and survey of tn