The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-15

On motion,
The Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The journal having been read
COMMERCE.
The House resumed the consideration of the uninish-
ed business OF yesterdaybeng the following resolution
submitted by Mr.. vIsToN, viz:
Resoipsd That the Committee on Commerce shall here
after be called he Committee Commerce among the
States and shall have charge OF all Questions ,oachns Tue
sa ao bs s s sanding
the House committee 10 be composed OF nine members
Foreign Nations" ii shall have charge of all questions
concerning the regulation of the trade OF the United States
with foreign nations.
The question pending was upon the following amend
ment submitted by Mr.. HousroN, OF Delaware, viz:
Provided That shallbe the duty and OF the Com
Grafton all such petitions matters and things touching the
appropriation Of the public money for the improvement ut OF
both upon seaboad and in the INTERIOR and not OF the
said Committee Foreign Commerce.
Mr. RHETT rose TO address the House upon the sub
ect, and commenced by tracing the history OF the Com
mttees on Manufactures and Roads and Canals espec-
lively, as showing the origin of the latter committee
mere eervescence 81 The Chicago convention The gen
eman from Ohio wanted this committee Tor STATISTICAL
purposes They had already ample provision for OBJ
tanning statistics The constitution only provided Tor sta
stcs in regard to commerce amongst the Staies-the
commerce of State with another, and not as the gen.
ieman wished Tor commerce within me Sates mou,a
tain how much grain, how many pigs, and how many
chickens were raised there The constitution gave
them no power to institute such an nqusition All the
power which the constitution gave them was over the
commerce among the Sates-the commerce when goes
Of one State and into another The gentleman wished
to give Congress absolute power over all internal I'M
provements within each Staeover harbor Improvements
for instance He would proceed to show that harbor i-
provements unconsutional-Or rather, II conshu-
ona pot authorized by the constitution in the mode sng
gested by the gentleman from Ohio Certain States had Tor
many years been authorized to lay tonnage duties for the
purpose of improving harbors; and tonnage duties had
been laid in Baltimore and Charleston, and other places
under that authority The constitution guaranteed the
right TO lay tonnage duties and had never been refused
This was the mode provided by the constitution for the
Improvement OF harbors and Congress- therefore, had
no right change the mode of making those improve
There was but y Wh Se ssy
that by resisting each encoachment upon the princl
pie as it came up For his part he was surprised to
see gentlemen seeking donations OF this kind for the
States Would the proud and wealthy State OF New
York. or the good old Bay State come here as mendi
cants and beggars His own State was not large one
but if those States ready to take such an attitude
he would venture to say that South Carolina would not
follow. 80
who supported the resolution to add to the government
any powers which the constitution had not already
guaranteed. Were they to establish the principle that
this government to appropriate no money for inter
except along the Atlantic seaboad' He should oppose
such principle with all his might Should they suffer
dangered, they had long been, the plea that Con-
gress had power to make appropriations for the I'M
provepent Of water haTbors' Hs was , not pre-
Carolina seemed much alarmed at the proposition to Gre
ate new committee ,
Mr. RHETT interposed. Does the gentleman from
Indiana intend to imply that advocate appropria-
ton for improvements upon fresh water but upon salt
water only!
| Mr. SMITH know that the gentleman from South
Carolina is ready to 60 farther this subject than many
OF his party But he was persuaded that Congress would
provide for the improvements fresh water as well as on
salt water Congress had voted in favor OF internal I'M
nrO mpnfs on
fallen under the tyrannical veto OF the President lie
believed that Congress would not suffer this gross wrong
to 90 on He believed that the Congress now in session
would make provision for internal as well as for
| eign improvements This was suspicious moment to
nal Improvements for he believed that large majority OF
the people of this Union were in favor OF internal i'm
every State, he might say unless 1t
was the State of South Carolina.
| Mr.. ROOT rather to chcit information than to
express his own opinion with any great confidence To
the gentleman from South Carolina Mr. RHETT] he would
was that which had already been gvenhat division OF
the committee would not change or enlarge the power
He saw no necessity for saltwater committee and q
fresh water committee. IA Taught He had never heard
any complaint to the industry OF the committee 1t
was entirely competent to the discharge Of it's duties;
He was as much in favor OF what were called m,erma,
at all troubled with the scupes which afflicted those OF
the gentleman from South Carolina, MT. RHETT While
the united efforts of all friends of internal Improvement
Therefore he opposed this proposition to divide the COM
mittee, which could do no good, and possibly might 40
| harm.
Mr. BEDINGER rose and said will express. in few
words as possible, the which will compel me to
vote against the adoption of the resolution offered by the
gentleman from Ohio. believe it to be mpolitic and
unnecessary, if not unwse and dangerous; and cannot
avoid the apprehension that in the end it will produce
more agitation and distraction to this House than nfor
nation or advantage to the country. l, among Others
who oppose this resolution, may be thought over eau.
tous and may be accused of starting at shadows; but
is better to be cautious in times like these than to
ali I'M IN
longer avail sent here to be cautious cir, and to
be wachfu; and hope shall not slumber at my post
And confess very much pleased at the prompt
ness and vigilance manifested by the gentleman from
South Carolina mr. RHETrl Thursday last, when he
took this ball at the first hop and called the attention oil
the House the covert danger which the resolution con-
tanned Sir my experience and that OF Older and wiser
danger to the institutions and freedom of this country is
to be apprehended from the constant or Ell
forts at encroachment of the confedeated government
upon the rights and sovereignty of the individual States
MY maxim is TO prevent, by every possible means,
the greater government from encroaching upon, and
finally crushing, the lesser know that it is more
custonaryrnore fashionable if may use the termjust
The power of the Executive. But in my opinion it is
not from the Executive that any real danger need be
feared TO the liberties of this country for the Executive
is constantly and closely watched by millions OF vgi.
liant eyes, His slightest acts scanned and criticised
with Jealous scrutny and his slightest alterations from
duty or his smallest cutching at illegitimate power
meets with such instant and camorous rebukng that the
and if there be indeed any danger, it is detected and
crushed in the bud No Executive in this country ever
assumed TO himself power than the constitution
aud laws guaranteed to HIM, without awakening the wrath