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

| highway IN tact tor all their "VesSels nounu
TO or from one State shall not be obliged
% enter, clear, or pay duties in another"
the conclusion is irresistible, that its com
merce comes as fully wllhin the power To
regulate commerce MS that of the coast It.
self. There is, indeed, nothing in the
terms by which it is delegated, or In the
nature of the power, or the reasons Tor
delegating it, which can possibly exeludelt IT.
Assuming it, then, as unquesllonable,
that the power is as applicable TO the one
as the other, it follows necessarily that the
right of Congress to establish light houses,
buoys, beacons, and public piers, as far as
they may be necessary for the safety and
facility OF navigation, is as hull and perfect
in reference TO that of the Mississippi, as
that of the Atlantic coast. Thus far, there
can be no doubt. Indeed, they have been
established on the lakes Of the ST. Law
renee, where they are as necessary as on
the coast, without objection or question,
although their commerce was ns little 10
contemplation of the trainers of the consti.
tuition, as has been stated, as was that of
r the Mississippi.
The doubt, then, If doubt there be, is re-
duced TO the single point that the dangers
10 which the navigation of the Mississippi
, is exposed are, from their character, such
/ as cannot be guarded against by light
houses, buoys, beacons, and public piers,
except to very limited extent. They con.
sst of distractions in its channel, and can
, only be well guarded against by removing
|, them. The question, then, is, whether the
/ power TO regulate commerce among The
, States, which authorizes the establishment
OF light houses, buoys, beacons, and public
/ piers on the coast OF the Atlantic and the
lakes, with their gults and bays, does not
: also authorize the removal of snags, logs,
4 and other distinctions, which endanger or
Q impede the navigation of the Mississippi |
\ Your committee, after iull and impartial
Y consideration, can see no reason which
D would authorse the one, that would not the
other. The dangers 20 be guarded against
f are not only as great in reference to the
A navigation ef the Mississippi, as has been
d shown, but the reason why the government
!, should have charge of its improvement ls
e no less strong, If light houses, buoys,
J.. beacons and public piers, would be neg.
IF Iected, il not placed under its charge, be.
e cause neither individuals nor States would
}. have adequate inducement or power TO es.
tabIish them; 50 likewise the removal OF
i snags, and other Instructions, which en-
f. danger or impede IFS navigation, would be
IL neglected, and for the same reason, if not
m put also under its charge. The only diff.
81 ference, indeed, between them. is, that in
8. the one case the money is appropriated tc
ID make visible, or designate, The cause o.
danger, by establishing light houses, bea'
.. cons, or bnoys, while in the other il is ap
of proprlaied to remove them. But it would
,e seem impossible to doubt that the right tc
,e make them visible, or TO designate the
"a place, in order tina, they might be avoided
all involves that Of removing them where
r. practicable; and that The right of reno
s. wing them involves that Of pointing then
II. out, to be avoided. Whether the one o
Ii. the other should be adopted in either case
III is not question Of right, but one Of expe
in diency, depending on their respective prac
is. ucablity, cheapness, and inefticiency. Re
il verse the cases, and who can doubt, il tn
q. dangers against which light houses, buoy'
ne and beacons we're intended to warn wer
no of a nature that they could be removed a
e. cheaply, or more 81, than they could b
or pointed ont, but that The same power whic
oh would authorize the former would also au
ol- ,horise the latter; or that the power to re
M. move the cause of danger, would not al
ed thorise the warning against it, if il coul
At. not be removed?
M. Having now shown that the power
on regulate commerce among the States Is a
,r applicable t, that Of Mississippi as il is I
ed that Of the Atlantic coast, and that the re
10 moyal Of the distractions which endahge
or or impede its navigation is as fully embrt
re. ced by il, as the establishment of ligf
~. houses, buoys, beacons, and public pier
,os YOUR committee will next proceed 10 cor
no slder how far that power, a. applied to Ii
he Improvement oil its navigation, extend
*. They are of the opinion i, extends
ar. the removing Of all distractions within j
ar. channel, the removal Of which would ad
to the safety and facility Of its navigation
: a including such as might endanger or in
ce. pede it by sliding in or Of projecting fro
al us bank, or islands, over the channel
tes includes 10 be more specify the remov
nly of snags, logs, rocks, shoals, sandbank
mo bars, including the one at its mouth, al
de-. trees projecting over or liable 10 slide il
90. to its channel, where the removal won
the improve or secure lis navigation. The
~ all are either within The channel Of the
mr.. yer, or henging over it, or in danger OF S
gu. ding into IT, 50 as To obstrnct It as the col
1n. mon highway Of the commerce Of I
ha, States on its borders; and, as it may tru
CIV be added now, through the power of stea
,er. of the States having intercourse by CO
,inunus navigation with Them. on the p