The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-07

Mr. Chairman the differences between the two
great parties of the country, on this very subject Of
internal improvement, arose IN ths convention
which framed the constitution. NO man could be
ignorant of its bearing and Importance whilst en-
deayoriug to build up two governments over the
same people, and to apporion the powers between
them. Accordingly, this subject was distinctly
brouoht before the convection. Qouyerneur Nor
ris. The ablest and most sklfhl champion OF conso-
idation in the convention, designated the powers he
proposed TO give by the Constitution In the duties
prescribed to certain officers lie proposed, amongst
others 10 make a secretary Of domestic affairs; and
made il his duty to attend 20 matters Of general po-
lice, the state Of agriculture and manufactures, the
opening OF roads and naysations, and the facilita
ting communications through the United States; and
he shah, from time TO time, recommend such meas.
nes and establishments as may tend 10 promote
those objects" Here, sir in admirable grouping,
is almost the whole body Of FEDERALISM. The gene
raj government was 10 haze charge Of the police Of
the States-enact eorn-ays 10 promote agriculture,
prohbitory tariffs TO promote manufactures, and
1.-THE opening Of roads aad napigations through the
United States" Mr.. Maris's plan was referred TO
the committee Of detalj the committee, in due time,
reported on these poinv the present constitution
the police OF The States, oa<ytuthorzng the PSes-
dent of the United States TO call out the militia Sin
case Of insurrection or INVASION" They gave no
power ITO promote agriculture or manufactures, or
TO open ''roads and nsyigatons.n IL was, probably,
with distinct view TO the rejection Of these COM
bined projects OF Gouverneur Morris, that Alexan-
ander Hamilton asserts in the Federallst, that "the
encouragement OF agriculture and manufactures is
an appendage of the domestic police Of The States. {"
With respect to roads" the committee reported
the clause of the constitution it now stands
Congress shall have power 10 establish post Offices
and post roads," DIR. franklin was not content
with this clause, being clear negaaon "to
open roads and nayigaliohs" He therefore pro.
posed, when it came up for consideration, as an
addition, "tO provide for cutting Canals pheTe deemed
necessary" He still held on to the "navigatons."
Judge Wilson, his colleague, supported DR.. Frank
Inns amendment, aud beg leave TO ask the special
attention Of the committee 10 the reason, and the
only reason, he assigned for supporting it. "Mr.
Wilson mentioned the importance of facilitating by
canals the communication ,oith the Western settlements"
The importance Of facilitating communication
through the United Suites" was brought forward
by Gouveneur Morris. The importance ''of faci-
Iating, by canals, the communication with the west
ern settlements" was urged by Mr.. Wilson in the
convention. All power looking 10 such objects fail
ed DIR. Franklin's amendment failed by vote Of
to 3; Virginia, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, only
voting for il.
Now, sir know Of no method so conclu-
sve of ascertaining the true meaning of the const
tuition as its history. So complicated and inter-
woven are all the interests OF society, that where
two governments are to be organized over people,
the one carved of the other, there mig be, in
the absence of history, the gravest doubts TO the
powers conceded or retained. The constitution Of
the United States, it is true, is but bundle Of spe-
caI grants. When a power, therefore, is not spe-
cally and plainly granted, the presumption must he
against il. But this presumption must be an oyerru-
ing fact, where il has been expressly proposed in
the convention which framed the constitution, 10 be
given, and it has been denied. There is no room
o..
and ruthlessly stride over the constitution, but
it can convince no one, but him whose interests
or prejudices control his reason. To maintain,
after the history of the convention | have land
before you, that Congress lean provide for
cutting CANALS" ito open roads and naviga-
tons in the Absence of any such power in the con-
stuton and the express refusal to grant it In the
conventsu which made ia a proof how vain is
right in struggles for power Gouverncur Morriss
whole batch of federulismwas put down and reject
ed in the convention. Ii grasped both the taxing
and expending power, and was designed TO render
both limltless excepting at the discretion OF Con-
gress AS money is the great instrument of all gov
eminent, he knew that unlimited power over money
was all that necessary to secure consolidation
in government. How would he triumph, il he were
now upon this floor, and saw his whole policy COM
pIete, not by the instrumentality of his ancient
friends but by that Of his ancient foes' tariff to
promote manufactures" finds advocates amongst the
roads and navigations"i is upheld by the democracy
of the West Doubtless, sir, he would consider
them capital good federalists.
The gentleman from Michigan Mr.. McCLEL-
land began his argument the constitution by
citing precedent. He quoted the act of 1883, pro-
vidng that ''piers, lighthouses beacons, and
buoys," should. be supported by payments out of
the treasury. He laid special stress on the word
"piers," to support, presume, his harbor improve
ments. Sir, suppose the "pers" alluded to in this
act were incident to our beacons and lighthouses
They are very common 10 facilitate to them,
or to protect them. do not deny, however, that
our lighthouse system does afford some apparent
justification to appropriations for other purposes
in harbors. But l do deny that those who
established this system ever contemplated the
policy he advocates. They never designed that
lighthouses and buoys were to be a general
charge upon the treasury. The tonnage duty
exacled on all of our vessels entering our ports,
was expressly designed TO support the sys
tenn, at the expense of those who should enjoy its
benefits. For the same purpose, lightmoney, as it
was called was also exacted. In 1796, petition
was presented TO Congress, praying to be indcmnl-
fled for the loss of ship entering Newburyport
The lighthouse had been undermined by a storm,
fourteen days before the ship reached the port
The petitioners contended that as they paid duties
to keep the light, they should be UNIDENTIFIED The
Committee on Commerce and Manufactures, in
their report to Congress- said "On this petition the
committee would observe, that, although the tonnage
money paid by the holders Of ships, for The purpose Of
supporting lighthouses, involves duty the part
of government to take generally such prudential
measures will embrace the object, yet it cannot
be supposed that government, while It is extending
convenience for the good Of the citizens ever con-
templated it should be responsible for any losses
that might occur, in consequence Of that conve-
nience being incomplete, in any instance, arising
from the neglect omission of any Of its agents,
from any other cause.'" Does the bill before us
lay any tonnage duties to reimburse the treasury
for the expense of making the harbors it proposes
If it did, the gentleman might, with some show Of
reason, cite the lighthouse system, as it was origi
nsy established, to support his harbor policy.
know that these tonnage duties and light money
have been long since abolished, as every other bur-
den which bears upon the industry of the North
But it was not so in the beginning. Those who put
the government in motion were too just to expect
the people of the Union generally to pay for the
convenience Of part. The evil, as well as the dan
ger, ofvolating the constitution of the United States
in appropriations consist in this. Make those
who benefit by the violation Of the constitution pay
for it, and few would complain, and fewer still
would seek to violate it. The great strife is to
make all pay, whilst part receive Put back the
duties on tonnage and raise them high enough to