The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-02-12
TW ENTN-NINrH CON0K ESs.
SECOND SESSION
Senate.


Senate.
Warrington, Feb o Is47
Beautiful morning something Of the balminsss of
spring in the afmop here Unusual thropg Of the pao-
pie in the galleries and ante chamber ard lohbes Of the
Senate brilliant representation Of the daughters OF
Uncle Sam in the circular balcony all anxious hear
the opinions Of Mr. Calhoun on the Mexican war, and
the way to Mexican peace Prayer nv the Rev Hsny
slicer Journal of Yesterday Pei,ions-reports.
THE NEW PILOTS
On motion OF Mr. DIy, tho Senate took the bill
the repeal Of the pilot law Of 1887 which gives to the
pilots an equal privilege over the commerce
The object Of the bill Of Mr. Dix il to repeal thi. act
and to leave the management Of the New York pilot law
to the New York Legislature.
Mr. DIX explained the justice and necessity of this
measure was to repeal the pilot law of 1897 Before
the adoption Of the constitution of the United States eve
New York as early 1884 the Legislature over this
subject exercised its authority and the government and
all persons not licensed from any participation in the
business to the extent of their Jurisdiction Previous
power the pilot laws was a State right
The act of confederation found So and lett il So But
in the adoption of the constitution assumed that in
the power conferred upon Congress to regulate com
merce" was also delegated the power of controlling tho
pilot system The first act that was passed by Congress
after the adoption OF the constitution provided that all
laws relating to pilots shall be subject the State laws
where they may be- From 1889 down to the year 1887
this the established sy stem Ihthe winter OF 1888
81 there were two disastrous shpwrscks in the Sound
Of Long Island Gas undersood and in the excitement of
the moment the New York pilots were held responsi.
bic The excitement extended even to this citv Ana On
the I'd March 1877 an act was passed by Congress pro-
yidng that In all navigable waters lying between two
Sta es vessels navigating said waters may employ pi
lot from either State This give an equal priv.
lege to the pilots of New Jersey with those Of New
York as the latter were held responsible for the acct
dents which had recently occurred. Subsequently,
upon full and mature investigation of the facts tho New
The disasters it found had originated from other
causes over which the New York pilots had CONTROL
Of s nnder Of
II was supposed, however that combinations Of
New York pilots had been formed leading to
relaxation OF their duties and TO consequent dam
gers and losses TO commerce But the Legislature Of
New York had been apprsed Of this and had passed
act Tor board OF commissioner and for
the suppressionn OF such combinations and adapted
TO open the door to an enterprising competition The
New York pilots for their skill industry and enterprise
in their arduous vocation were not surpassed by any
pilots upon the earth. They the owners Of their
boats, equal to any In the world and Of an aggre
gate value OF at least 100 900. The New York LeGisa
ture at the session before the last repealed ali m reKula
tons of the stem because OF the nterposion Of Con-
gress in the act OF 1887 He asked the repeal that
act because II was not necessary, because II
just ju gment upon meritorious cliss OF citizens
and because II were repealed the Legislature OF New
York would take ample of all scesary
for the benefit Of commerce. in the same manner in
States But there we're graveI confderaons. requiring
the repeal OF this Law Have Cone ress the under
the right To regulate commerce 10 regulate pilots to
presctihe Their number an TO regulate III. limits
within which they shall oct II sdmr this i, does
not follow that the act of eighteen hundred and thirty
sccords with the power conferred upon Congress
Tho act 1887 authorizes the pilots o, Now Jersey TO
within limits OF the Jurisdiction Of the state Of
New York contend that Congress has no such right
A. we'll nights sheriff Of south Caroline presume to
exercise has functions within the Limits Of Georgia. by
authority Of the Marshal OF the former state. 1t
would be an act OF usurpstIoD Of sste rights We
gard the pilot law OF 1887 ia the same bgnt. We cons
der an encroachment upon tho nights Of the state Of
New York-a species Of encroachme hich from small
may grow up TO high handed and gigantic
usurpations There other and prac icsl
dorstions against the act OF 81 The New Jersey pilots
are smenaSle to no law Of New York OF Congress
but to New Jersey alone though their Line Of duty lies
Congress leg sates at all upon this subject should do
directly and efficiently, In an Uniform manner
all the s,sss in the same snacment Instead OF the peo
pie ot one state beng prohibited from extending any
sort Of jurisdiction wihn the limits Of another, your
present pilot law authorizes State to extend its laws
within limits OF another preference, too, il given
by your laws to Massachusetts, which has ex -iusvs
control the pilots OF Boston, and TO South Caroline
which has the sole authority over the pilots Of Chscson
while New York is only permitted concurrent juris.
dicton with neghborng State. II you assume TO es-
absh pilot - STEM LEI It at least be uniform and equal
in its operation New Jersey has all the benefit oil this
concurrent jurisdiction. The New York pilots never
interfere with her commerce she has but little foreign
trade Hers is a coastDg trade, carried in small
sells rally OF less tn hundred TONS requiring
pilots under the law The operation Of the law, there
lore, IS altogether unequal But whether the existing
law unconstitutional not, experience, said Mar:
Dix OF nine years had proved II to DO inexpedent and
resulted good effects 1t had brought the local ju
rsdction OF States into conflict between New York
and New Jersey, Louisiana and Mississippi. In tho
navigation OF the Mississippi river The federal govern
ment should its jurisdiction in parental cha
racter; but whom It encrosches upon the rights Of
States becomes alien to that character In conclusion,
ASK repeal Of the act Of 81 not only because 1t is
unequal, not only because II was passed in a msappre
henson OF facts, not only becsuss has produced no
beneficial results not ly because has brought dfe
rent States and different classes into conact but because
believe Congress has no power to iegslate rs has
DONE at least that this powers Of doubtful csns,'u
uonality.
On motion Of Mr. MILLER, the bill laid aside Till
to morrow 80
The pension bill taken up end considered awhile,
but the offer oil amendment II was laid aside when,
On motion OF Mr. BurLss, another committee oil con
ference was ordered TO be appointed oy the Chai, on
the point still dispute between tho two Houses on the
bill OF ten regiments with the understanding mat the
House was ready TO recede, that the pu may Uecomea
law The bill will therefore pass, requiring al the om-
cers before sent into service, 10 be appointed by the
President and confirmed by the senate.
rgy BILL OF THREE MILLioSs
On motion of Mr. sEvisr, the Senate took up the
sc retion OF the President, with view to paving the
way to negotiations with Mexico Two amendments
BY Mr. BnnarES, declaring that it is not the pur
pose the United States to dsmember tho territories Of
Mexico
q Mr.. CA@, declaring that indsmnitiss arc proper
subject for regulations Tor peace and
for prosecution oi the with vigor
Mr. CALHoUS and the hum oil conversation which
had prevailed all around and below was suspended and
a moment OF uninterrupted silence interviewed MI.
Calhoun said-Never, MIR. President since have been
upon the stage Of action has our country been placed
IN more critical situation. We are not ony IN inc
midst Oh awar 81 very sIss' oYnysd domss,e dues
ton Of the most irritating and dangerous ehsrsoe,
Both of them demand most serious ana democrats
confederation and do trust that before TINS soss'Vm
closed abort as rs tho remnant Of time remaining thst
both OF them will receive fun d1scussion ~ uf w
ourselves In order fully to understand them, as WI ~
10 the country. For the present, shali Pioeesu "
cons,der how can the conducted 10 secure
peace upon the most advantageous tefmsi ",
l,tc fully how can the war DO S o."y'I 4, ~
uLyauaEcousiy 10 secure all the otJecs ot Will ~
oa3 Tor ony n eaectinQ objects can Inc wal ne