Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-07-23
new Series, Vol. 2...No. 4.

questions Of constitutional power have been
raised in reference to appronria,;ons oc ,,n,,.,.
nv Congress. for the improvement of tho l,l,,
/ harbors, and ! am well convinced tina, home.
mon nave sincerely entertained strong scrunl,
upon this point but all my observation and oy
neri"nce have induced me 10 believe that tbex,,
scrnples where the individual admits the nav,
10 Improve the Atlantic harbors, arises from tl.
want Of an acquaintance with the lakes and Tia,
commerce upon them. and an inability to BE-
'Ieve the facts in relation to that commerce.
when truly stated. II is not easy for one, f..
liar with the lakes and the lake commerce, tn
realize the degree of incrcdulty, as to the mac.
nifnde and Importance of both, which is found
IN the minds Of honest and well informed met.
| residing in remote portions Of the Union, a,.i
| having no personal acquaintance with either
wmle do not recoect an instance of nemis<
ot Congress, who has travelled the lakes and OIL
scr, ed the commerce upon them, within the la:
ten wears, requiring any further evidence or ar
gnmcnt, to induce him TO admit the constitu-
ilona power and the proprety Of appropriations
Tor the lake harbors, as much as for those Of tn,
Atlantic 'st. | have long been of the opinion,
therefore, that to impress the minds of the pet-
pie of all portions Of the Union with realizing
sense Of the facts as they are, in relation To
these inland seas, and their already vast and
randy increasing commerce, would be all that
Is required to secure such appropriations as the
state OF the national treasury will from time 10
time permit, for the improvement Of the lak..
harbors. ! mean the improvement of such har-
bors as the body of the lake commerce require.
Tor its convenience and safety, rs contra ts,in-
gnlshed from the numerous applications for these
improvements, which the various competing To-
cal interests upon the shores of the lakes NAV
prompt; and ] make this distinction because nv
hn, ali, Yl,.fo ,,tio g.
harbor improvements at the public expense are
made and passed. within distances of a very few
miles, and at locations where, from the natural
position of the lake and coast, good harbor at
either point would secure 10 the commerce Of
the lake all the convenience and safety of du.
picafe improvements Much of the difficulty of
obtaining appropriations grows out of these con.
fctlng applications, and the sternness With
which all are pressed as necessary to the lake
commerce. mpairs the confidence Of strangers
to the local claims and interests in the impor-
lance of all.
1t is the duty those who urge these improve
ments, for the great objects for which alons
they should be made at the expense of the ma.
Il m. viz the convenience and safety OF the
lake commerce, to be honest with Congress, and
TO urge appropriations only at points where these
considerations demand them. The river i'm.
provemont' constitute much more difficult sub
lect. and the connection of them with the lake
harbors. has often, to my knowledge, fatally
praJndced the former. There are applications
tor improvements Of rivers, about which as a
mater Of principle and constitutional power.
have no more doubt than about the harbors upon
the lakes, or the Att 'ntic coast and there are
those, which, in my judgment, come neither
within the prlnci pie nor the constitutional power;
but to draw line between the two clas.e. Of
lpnn I h,,, ,,,,t IL
temptS to do this, but none Of them have appear
ed to my mind to be very sound, or very prac-
teal. The facts and circumstances are so verv
variant between the various applications, that
doubt whether any genersl rule can be laid down,
which will be found Just and practical and
think the course most likely 10 secure a salts
factory result. with the least danger If viola.
ton of principle, would be for Congress to act
separately and independently upon each appca-
ton. There has appeared to me to be one broad
distinction between these cases, which has not
2 WAYS been regarded. but which think always
should BE-. tits between the applications to pro.
tect and secure the safety of commerce upon
rivers, where it exists and is regularly carried
on in defiance of the distractions sought to be
removed an in the face Of the dangers they
place in its way, and thos, applications which
ask tor improvement Of rivers, that commerce
may be extended upon them, where it is not
The one class appear TO me to ask Congress %
regulate and protect commerce upon rivera
where commerce in fact exists, and the other. 10
create it upon river, where it does not exist
This distinction, if carefully observed, might aid
in determining some applications ofbuth classes,
but is not sufficient dividing line for practical
legislation, iii is for the settlement of the prn-
ciple upon which all such applications should
rest use the term commerce" in this def.
milton, a do in this letter, in its constitutional
sense and scope.
must ask yonr pardon, gentlemen, for ,rou.
bling you with so long and hasty Il communica.
ton, in reply TO your note. |, ia not made for
any public use, bnt TO express 10 you ve.v imper.
tectIy somr Of nv views upon the interesting
subjects You bring 10 my notice, WEIGH shall
not have the pleasure Of communicating in per-
son, and TO satisfy you that am not Indifferent
10 your request.
Be pleased to accept nv thanks for your no
lite invitation, and to believe me-,
Your very respectful and ob't. servt,
SILAS WRIGHT.
Messrs n. B. JUMP and others.
The Letter fran Gen. Casa