Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-09-28

IS TO the Interior f0lsnt0in Of all civil |
Popular consent, flowing in a.
clear and steady current, under the stron.
gest impulses of interest and necessity.
Here then, the uniform policy of our
National Government, from its origin TO
the present time, in every branch, in all
its SUGGESTIONS. and under every shade of
political complexion. we have an inter
probation, combining congressional, Pres
idential and popular assent, ofthat clause
in the constitution on which we predict
our claims;-an Interpretation, which
severe abstract reasoning. perhaps would
hesitate TO endorse, but which happily the
course oftime and events has placed above
its aid. "To regulate commerce with
foreign nations" then is to facilitate,
secure and improve in all necessarymodes;
and not merely to arrange the terms on
which it is to be conducted, nor to provide
these Improvements, merely with view
TO system of reuenue.
From this construction, as a fixed
point, the pleader of River and Harbor
Improvement is entitled to start bis CASE
For, precedent cannot be held to merely
justify the particular cases in which it
first happened to be embodied. or cases
which are specifically like them; but must
be extended to. allothers, marked with the
same general features of reason and
policy. The fact that from any cause. l
care not what, whether the engrossing
rapacity of ono section of the country or
the modest forbearance ofanother or the
obstinate Partially ofthe government. the
proposed extension Of the precedent is
new, unusual, and unbelriended by pref
udices and habits in its favor, may
indeed well explain why it is resisted, but
not why it ought to be. In short, words
cannot mean one thing on the sea bound
margin ofthe Atlantic slope, and quite
another thing in the Valley of the Missis-
sippi. That which expands into all the
dignity of commerce on tide water cannot
shrink and shrivel into trade, in some
strange sense which the constitution can
not recognize, when it winds along the
interior lines of national communication,
to collect the staples or distribute the
returns of foreign intercourse.
All that we Ofthe west demand is equity,
no more; admission to the national treas
ury, through the same avenues Of con.
struction, which have been kept wide
open to the Atlantic States ever since the
Union was formed. 1t that view of the
power of Congress under which they have
been INDUCED to the "top of their bent"
is really ADJUST one, we ask to have it
carried out to its legitimate scope. and
applied, without any arbitrary distinctions
OF place,to all analogous objects. If not
if the harbors, light houses, &c. which
stud the sea sore from Maine to Florida
have been reared on the basis ofnecessity,
expediency, aud finally of usage, but
without clear sanction in the constitution
ITSELF We will join in mourning the
lamentable defect, but we will insist on
our share in the spoils of SO amiable an
usurpation. We are no longer to be told
by the Federal government:-"we are
positively driven by the peculiar exigen-
cies Of that part of our commerce tba:
swims on tide water, to draw pretty hard
on our fund power to serve it: the factis,
your Eastern sisters are so confoundedly
used to having batch Of appropriations
every year, that we cannot shut down the
gate upon them; but as for turning this
ptouS fraud into new channels, why, you
see, that'll never dol" This seems to be
the substance of the scruples entertained
ainst our western claims. demur to
the plea generally and specially. A
statesman. who persistswithout reluctance
or remorse in doubtful course of meas
ures for one part of the country, because
they are expedient and customary, comes
with bad grace to illuminate the stern
rule Of strict construction against another
part, larger in territorial extent, richer in
natural resources, and worthier of indul-
gence upon every ground which could jus
tify it; but which tOrsooth, has not grown
hoary in this permissive pillage of the
Treasury! Our national system is only
sure of the national affections while con-
Quoted OH an equitable and uniform policy;
and local distinctions, openly avowed as
purely arbitrary, can he more offensive
to those regions which suffer from the
than such as are reasoned upon these in.
solent pretexts. If free construction oil
the fundamental law is to be extorted
from it by the force ofnational exigencies,
it must be yielded to every meridian ofthe
Republic 10 which that principle points
the way. If the daughters of the Ocean
are TO be pampered on unlawful bounties,
the giant brood of the Father of Rivers
must not forever be made to do penance,
fasting and prayer for the sins OF their
rapacious sisters.
Every one who has thought much upon
the subject, doubtless would prefer to see
all difficulties obviated permanently by an
ample amendment of the national char.
ter--the sovereign remedy proposed by
so many Of our great men. But at this
era i'm our DoliticAI history. to anDIy thai