Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-18


Commerce among the States would have. Where them was
to be found reason for committee Why divide the
labor of the between two committees He had never
derstood that the Committee Commerce very hard
working committee. He did believe they worked as hard
Others though he admitted had been very able
and faithful committee-dong all that belonged to IT, Why
them he repeated raise two committees do the work which
had been conveniently done by one The Committee on
Commerce had already been constituted in accordance with
the old rule by the Speaker and for one, he willing
trust that committeeman he would here take occasion
that he strongly in favor Of internal Improvements,
they Called any other gentleman and he represented
constituency which was deeply interested in them and
which not troubled with such scrupes those which
entertained by the gentleman from South Carolina Air
RHETT) He feared theeect Of raising this committee.
The commerce among the States justly entitled to much
consideration with foreign nations. II their
duty ito promote both The between the States
and Canada immense And he would beg leave to sug-
gest to the friends of this that they should need
especially while the present Executive spared to them
all the united force of the friends of among the
States and commerce with foreign natons and he should OPP
pose any motion which would have the effect of dividing them
of appearing divide them. He believed the existing
committee competent discharge its duties, and it the
safer policy to leave that committee unchanged He had
desire dodge the question but he thought nexpedent
put weapon the hands of the opponents of internal inn
provements-especialy such weapon the gentleman from
South Carolina had shown disposition use when he had
indicated his conviction that in this involved
spice of abolition. He knew they asked for appropriations
for internal improvements because they wanted benefit
and he they derived the power make ap
preparations for such purposes from the clause from Which
they derived their power appropriate money for the promo
ton Of foreign But he believed they should make
stronger stand when they confded all these interests to
committee than when they apportioned them between
seveal for true it ever was, divide and
conquer"
Mr.. BEDINGER desired to give few reasons for which
he should his against the resolution of the gente
from Ohio (Mr. VISToS) He believed il to be impo
ic and nexpedient if positively dangerous He might
be accused, with those who oppose this esoution of
Iara ha both,
cautious and vgiIant especially when such resolutions
presented for their consideration and e confessed that
he pleased with the prompt and vgant in which
the gentleman from South Carolina (M RHErT) took up
this matter Thursday last, and with the effort that gentle
had made this day in its opposition was better to be
cautious than ras and his short experience aided by the
perencc of those who older and than HIMSELF had
taught him that the greatest danger to which this country
exposed from the constant encroachment of the
Federal Government upon the rights of the individual States
1t customary and fashionable adays to attribute all
danger that threatened to abuse of Executive power
but he of opinion that the power OF the Executive IN
this country be dreaded much abuse of
the general powers of the Government. The Executive,
comparatively could do harm for whenever the Execu
tive of this land should dare TO grasp the power which the
constitution conferred upon him. he, watched he was
by millions of viglant eyes, would receive rebuke,
he not hurled from his Office. And how it that the
General Government would encroach upon the rights OF the
States Would it armed with power, and accomplish
that end by orce No the contrary, the Federal Gov
arrays herself in the garb of patron and PROTECTOR
and thus she strikes at the root of State rights not by hrea
tenng their bertes but by extending to them her protection.
In this he esaw great danger and he would keep the greater
good by refusing the lesser Otherwise would be if
seventy four permitted to down and swamp her
own boats.
And now what there in this resolution 1t provided
that the Committee Commerce shall hereafter be called
the Committee Commerce ameng the States and shall
have charge of all questions touching the regulation of trade
among the several States of the Union There shall also be
added 10 the standing committees of the House committee,
all Ike
Committee on Commerce with Foreign Nations 1t shall
have charge of all questions concerning the regulation of the
trade of the United States with foreign nations.
Now if the General Government possessed The power
which the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Q. B. SMITH
tended had internal improvements it might be
sary appoint committee such here proposed but
while he reoced hear the gentleman from Indiana
plainly lay down his broad proposition thought the country
would not sanction and therefore he could assent to
this resolution II seemed 10 him that the apprehension Of
the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. RHErr)
rect and that this resolution had been introduced for the
press purpose OF opening the broad question and enabling
committee enforce the doctrine of internal improvement
He willing to entrus the whole matter to the people of
the United States but never with the broad principles OF
tce of equity and Of right before hempnncpes such
had been exhibited by the gentleman from South Carolina
(MT RHErT -coud they trampe the rights OF the nd
vdua States He repeated that he glad the gentleman
from Indiana had shown his hand and to what he asked,
woudit lead Was the Federal Government to improve
any river lake, and stream whether the States willing
not The gentleman from Indiana had said that II
not every palty that receive the attention of
this Government but who told him whether any particular
stream patry not Was il the magnitude OF stream
which gave to the Government its constitutional power
Might not lesser streams sometimes be infinitely impo
ant than others that greater Might not some small
habos be of more importance the of the country
than some that larger
But he wanted no such committee here proposed
for other Look again the terms Of this resolution
and then let them ask themselves if this committee, after a
gung itself with nqung how much tobacco and other
produce had been traded off from the several States might
not find other employment for itself II requited spirit of
prophecy to foree the consequences black cloud might
already be found in the horizon and he wanted committee
by whose wind and thunder that black cloud be brought
10 overshadow
VETO OF THE RIVER AND HARB0R BILL.
message here received from the President Of the
United States which, the debate having been suspended for
the purpose of reading it
The SPEAKER laid before the House as follows
WASHINGTON, DECEMBER Is, lS47.
To the House Of Representatives.:
On the last day of the last session OF Congress, BILL
titled An act to provide for continuing certain works in the
Territory of Wisconsin, and for other purposes, which had
passed both Houses presented to for my approval
entertained nsuperabc objections its becoming law but
the short period of the session which remained afforded
sufficient opportunity to prepare my objections and commu
nicate them, with the BILL the House of Representatives,
in which it originated For this the bill retained
and deem il proper to state my objections TO it.
Although from the title Of the BILL would that its
main object was make provision for continuing certain
works already commenced in the Territory Of Wisconsin, it
appears examination Of its provisions that contains only
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