The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-07-17

houses, building piers f., hs,bcrs, tre.k. wster,
and sea ais, renewing chst.uc,icns N rive,s
and providing other facilities for the commerce,
carried on from the ports on the Atlantic coast
and the same obligations have been fulfilled to s
much less extent in providing similar facilitie.
for commerce among the Ststes;'' and that the
principle has been most emplaiically ac.
knowledged 10 embrace the western lakes and
rivers, by appropriations for numerous ligh,
houses upon them, which appropriations have
never been questioned as wanting in constitu.
tional authority.
,. That thus, by a series Of acts which have
received the SANCTION Of the people of ia. Uni
TED states and Of every department of the Fed
eral Government, under all Administrations the
common understanding Of the intent and OBJ
Jects Of the trainers Of the Constitution in grant.
ing to Congress the power TO regulate com.
merce, has been manifested. and has been con.
h'ncd by the People; and this understanding
has become AZ much part of that instrumcn MT as
any one Of lis most explicit provisions.
3. That the power ''to regulate commerce
with Foreign Nations and among the States
and with the Indian tribes" il ON its fac,
SO palpably applicable in its whole extent 10
each of the subjects enumerated, equally, and
IN the same manner, as 10 render any at
! tenipts 10 make il more explicit, idle and fu-
tile; and that those who admit the rightful
application al the power 10 Foreign Com
inerce, by facilitating and protecting its opera
tions, by improving Harbors and clearing out
narigablc rivers, cannot consistently deny
that it equally authorizes similar facilities 10
| commerce among the States
| :. That Foreign Commerce" itself is de-
pendent upon internal trade for the disiribu-
ton of its freights. and for the means of
paving for them, so that whatever improves
| the one, adv nces the other; and they are so
insrparabe that they should be regarded as
one. That export from the American
| shore 10 British port in Canada i, as much
foreign commerce if it had been carried
directyoto Liverpool, neither gains nor loses
any of the characteristics Of foreign commerc
by the dir-ciness or circuity Of the route wheth.
rr il passes through a custom house on the Brit
sh side OF the -. Lawrence, or descends thro'
that river and its connecting canals, to the
| ocean, or whether il passes along the artificial
| communications and natural streams Of any Of
the States to the Atlantic.
| :. That the general government by extend
| ing it, jurisdiction over Lakes and nayiyabc
| rivers, suhlecting them to the same law, which
prevail Oh the ocean. and on its BAYS and
ports, not only for purposes OF revenue. but 10
give security 10 life ami property, by the regula-
lion Of Steam Boats, has prrcluded itself from
denying the jurisdiction for any other l-yiti-
mate regulation of Commerce. Ii il has pow.
IT 10 control and restrain, il must have tn.
same power 10 protect assist and facilitate; and
| if il denies the jurisdiction in the one mode of
action. it must renounce il in the other.
=. That in consequence OF the peculiar dan
gers Of the navigation Of the Lakes arising
from the want of Harbors for shelter, and of
the Western Rivers from snags and other OBJ
structons. there are no parts Of the United
States more alphabetically demanding the prompt
and continued Of the Government 10 d.
minsh those dangers and TO protect the proper
" and life exposed TO them; and that any one
who can regard provisions for those purposes As
sectional, local and not national, must be want
ing in information as 10 the extent of the COM
mercr carried on upon those lakes and rivers
and Of the amount Of teeming population occu-
pied or interested In that navigation.
10. That having regard 10 relative popula-
| ton or 10 the extent Of commerce, the appro-
priaiions heretofore made fer the interior rivers
! and lakes and the streams connecting them with
the Ocean, have not been in Just and fair pro-
portion 10 those made for the benefit Of the At
lantic coast; and that the time has arrived
when this injustice should BE- corrected in the
only mode In which it can be done, by the uni
ted, determined and pers-vering efforts Of those
whose rights have been overlooked.
IL. That independent of this right TO protec-
ton Of ''Commrrc. among the States" the
right OF Common Defence guaranteed by
the Constitution, entitles those citizens inhabi-
ting the country bordering upon tine interior
lakes aud rivers, 10 such safe and convenient
harbors may afford shelter to a Navy
whenever il shall be rendered necessary bv
hosiilitiss with neishbors: and that the CON
struction Of such harbors cannot safely be de-
lay.d 20 the time which will demand their inn
mediate Use.
L.. That the argument most commonly urged
against appropriations TO protect commerce
among the States" and to defend the inhabitants
OF the frontier--that they invite sectional com
binations, TO insure success 10 many unworthy
objects-is founded on practical distrust of
the Republican principle Of our Government,
and of the capacity of the people to select
competent and honest representatives. That i:
may he urged with equal force against legisla-
ton upon any other subject, involving various
and extensive interests. That a Just spPreca-
ton Of the rights and interests of all our
fellow citizens, in every quarter of the Union.
disclaming selfish and local purposes, will lead
intelligent representatives 10 such a distribu-
ton Of the means in the Treasury, upon a sys-
tenn Of moderation and ultimate equality, as
will in time meet the most urgent wants Of all,
and prevent those Jealousies and suspicious
which threaten the most serious dangers 10 our
confederacy.
-. That We are utterly incapable Of perceiv-
ing the difference between a harbor for shelter
-
a mole or pier which will afford safe anchorage
and protection 10 a vessel against storm. must
necessarily improve such harbor. and adapt II 10
commercial purposes.
"a. That the revenues derived from imposts
on foreign goods being the common property Of
the people and the public lands being the com
mon heritage Of all our citizens, 80 long a. these
resources continue. the imposition of any spe-
cal burden on any portion Of the people, TO OBJ
tain the means of accomplishing equally within
the duty and the competency of the General
Government, would be unjust and oppressive.
Is That We disavow all and every attempt to
connect the cause of internal trade and of
commerce aInong tho States with the for
tunes Of any political party, but that we seek
10 place that Cause upon such immutable princi-
plies Of truth, Justice and constitutional duty, rs
shall command the respect of all parties. and
the Difference Of all candidates for public IA
vor.
The following Resolution was adopted:
Resolced, That for the purpose Of making
known to Congress the principles and views OF
this Convention, and the important matters con-
nected with the subject Of its deliberations,
committee of two from each State and Territory
BE- appointed BY the President to transmit the
proceedings Of this Convention to the President
| Of the United States, and both Houses Of Con.
gress, and to comm u nicatc to them such infor-
nation AZ the committee may he able 10 collect,
! to guide intelligent and just legislation. And
that such committee he requested to collect ac-
curate information Of the nature and extent of
the trade and commerce on our Lakes and navi-
gable Rivers, and the amount Of the losses Of
| lives, property and vessels by storms, for the
| want Of ade quate harbors, or in consequence Of
distractions in the nsvigablc Rivers Of the Uni