Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-18


eng vessels seamen cagoes, and passengers II has been
regulated among the States by Congress relating to the
uaae' and the vessels employed therein and for the
security OF passengers in vessels propelled by steam, and
y ne removal of all restrictions upon internal trade. Ii has
peeh regulated with the Indian tribes by intercourse laws
prescribing The manner in which shall be carried on Thus
ocH p Y 9ran Of power exercisedsoon after the
aotn - - 'he nd has continued TO be exercised
!, - 'e ~ Pseoi oay Ha- .ded construction be adopt
se u e power other than the will and discretion Of
sweeps into the of national power and
jurisdiction not only harbors and ne rivers
but canals, tupkes and raroadseyery of
ment which facilitate or create trade and ;ntrrco,rse
Indian tribes" 80 ~ $3.50 ~
Should any great object Of improvement exist in our widely
extended couny which be effected by means f
mage uuues, eved by the States, with the concurrence of
i is safer and wiser apply to the States in the
instrument whereby the poqtion for amendment of that
may be enlarged, with such limitations ana Government
perence has shown be proper than assume and exercise
which has been granted which may be regarded
as doubtful in the opinion OF large portion our constu
ents This has been recommended successfully by
Presidents Jefferson, Madison, Monroe Jackson and
fully concur with them in opinion If enlargement Of
power should be deemed proper it will unquestionaby be
granted by the States if otherwise il will BIS withheld and
IN either case, their decision should be final In mean
ume deem proper 10 add that the investigation OF this
subject has impressed strongly than with the
solemn conviction that the usefulness and of this
Government, and the happiness of the millions whomt
spreads its protection will be best promoted by carefully
staining from the exercise of all powers clearly granted by
the constitution JAMES X. POLK.
Before the Clerk had progressed far in the reading Of the
Mr.. CLINGMAN rose and said, he would move that the
reading be dispensed with
[Cres of No. no, from the opposite side Of the House
1t not veto message (sad Mr. c. j it was nothing
which the House could act upon.
"a voice 1t is something that win act upon the House,
reckon
The House manifesting disposition dispense with
the reading
The motion waived and the Clerk continued and COM
pleted the reading.
panyng documents be referred the Committee on Commerce
Mr. VINTON hoped that instead of taking the direction
proposed by the gentleman from Illinois, this message
would be referred to select committee, and that the printing
q would be postponed until the select committee should
have had time to make report upon this important docu
ment SO that the message and the reply might go
the country together In making this suggestion, his
intention 10 that COMMITTEES should be raised,
with the request that he himself should not be placed upon
Mr.. WENTWORTH would state in relation 10 the mo
ton of the gentleman that the Committee Commerce would
probably make adverse report and then both documents
would be printed together. The Committee Commerce
had nothing bee hem and might as well occupy them
selves upon that any thing else.
Mr. VINTON resumed the floor and proceeded say that
he was fully aware that the Committee Commerce. they
had time to do would do ample justice the important
subject discussed in this message He had proposed select
committee believing that from the very elaborate discussion
given to the subject by the President of the United States
could besow upon it. And he agreed with the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr WESrwoRru) that the message and the
answer should 90 out together.
But he had risen chiefly for the purpose Of making remark
upon fact which he had heard stated in that message
among the very few things which he could understand al
though he had listened with all the attention he able to
bestow upon it, he had been able hear but very small
part
The message undertakes (aid Mr. W prove that if the
internal improvements of the country had not been arrested by
former Executive Of the United States the prosecution Of
haya his in an
two hundred millions of dollars Now, that Is
the first time that that assertion has been made by the
of the United States. have doubt that the
President of the United States making that communication
Congress- and through Congress to the people Of the Uni
ted States believed that what is there stated and
true But the President Of the United State as undertake
abors under grevous error in point OF fact when
he says that the recommendation of appropriations TO the
amount Of two hundred millions made by the party which
then in power for series Of years At the very time when
the communicated Congress which is alluded
in the present message the President of the United Sates
served on the Committee Internal Improvements
know sir what was its policy whaits purposes and have
least general recollection Of what it did report and
mend and undertake say that time did ever
into the intention of the Committee Internal Improve
ent, of the House of Representatives, Of that portion
of the House of Representatives. of the Congress Of the
United States who the supporters of the system of
internal improvements, that it to involve this coun-
try in the first dollar Of debt undertake to say that
there bill reported here that would have rendered
borrow dollar Of money carry into effect.
For years. sir while this of internal Improvements
under discussion in this House, and appropriations
annually made towards it, the duty of the Committee
Internal improvements either by addressing letter to the
Secretary Of the Treasury in other mode to
what would be the esiduum remaining in the Treasury
at the end Of the year, after meeting all the appropriations
hat required by the Governments and the bills that
reportedthat is the appropriations that proposed
be made every session while that system had the favor Of
this Househe appropriations that recommended to be
made always limited within what asceraned would
be the resduum remaining in the Treasury after meeting the
other expenses Of the Government And the in
tenton Of the friends of internal improvement part
of their desire, there advocate this floor OF
tenn of internal improvements which should be sustained by
borrowing money and involving the nation in debt AT that
time, the time the of 1924 was passed to which the
President audes in the present message the country owed
debt If recoect right Of something near one hundred mil
lions of dollars small resduIm Of the debt OF the OF
the Revolution and the last with Great Britain II
passed at time said the gentleman from South Carolina,
(Mr RHETT0 this morning, when all Fedcraists
and Democrats If may characterize that Congress-
passed at a time when we all Americans. There was
no party in this House but this body then composed
thcp contained within it weight of character and talent and
experience far geater-whout intending any dsrespec
those that may be here now-ar greater than have
seen in this House from that day TO this
The 18th Congress- that passed the internal improvement
h contained in this body many who have been great
lights in the Union from that day to this. Most OF them
gagged in the debate Of that bill Of the elabo-
rate debates ever heard upon this floor free from all
party bias Men formed their opinions with reference to their