Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-07-22

The following are the propositions submitted by the
Convention to their fellow citizens and the Federal
Government, as expressive of their own sentiments
and those of their constituents
FIRST, That the Constitution of the United States
framed by practical men, for practical purposes declared
in It's preamble. go provide for the Defence to
promote the general welfare and to the blessings Of
liberty; and was mainly designed a govern
ment whose functions should be adequate to the protection
of the interests of all the States or of two
more of them, which could not be maintained by the
ton of the separated States. That in strict accordance
with this object the derived from
surrendered the general government with the express
understanding that they should be applied to the promo
ton Of those common interests.
2. That among these interests and objects
list Foreign Commerce, to the regulation Of which, the
powers Of the seveay conessedy inadequate
and 3D. internal trade and navigation wherever the con-
currence of two States necessary its pre-
servatlon where the expense Of its maintenance should
be equitaby borne by two States and where of
course those States must necessarily have voice in its
regulation and hence resulted the Constitutional grant of
power to Congress- 'o regulate commerce with foreign
nations and among the States
3. That being thus possessed both of the means and Of
the power which denied the States respectively
Congress became obligated by every consideration of good
faith and justice TO cherish aud increase both the
kinds of thus committed by expand
ing and extending the of conducting them and
riding them all those facilities and all that protection
which the States individually would have afforded had
the revenue aud the authority been left to them
a. That this obligation has been recognised from
the foundation of the government and has been fulfilled
partially, by erecting lighthouses building piers for har
bors break waters and seawas removing distractions
rivers and providing other facilities for the
red from the ports the Atlantic coast and the
Obligations have been fulfilled much less in pro-
vdng similar facilities for commerce among the States
and that the principle has been emphacaly acknow
edged embrace the Western lakes and rivers by
priations for lighthouses upon Them which ap
preparations have been questioned in Congress
wanting constitutional authority.
5. That thus by series of which have received
the sanction OF the people of the u ). and Of every de
paTment of the Federal Government, under all Admins
tratiOns, the understanding of the intent and ob
ect of the trainers Of the constitution in granting Con
gress the power to regulate has been manifested
aud has been confirmed by the People, and this understand
ing has become much part of that instrument
one of Its most explicit provisions
i 8. That the power "to regulate commerce with Foreign
Nations and among the States and with the Indian tribes
is on lis face so PaPaby applicable in its whole extent Il
each OF the subjects enumerated equally and in the
manner to render any attempts make il expl
ct idle and futile and that those who admit the rghtu
application of the power Foreign Commerce. by acil
tating and protecting its Operations by improving Hsr
bors and clearing out navgabe rivers consistently
deny that equally authorizes similar facilities to "Com
merce among the Stacs.'
/ T. That Foreign Commerce" is dependent upon inter
nal trade for the distribution of its fIeghs and for thu
means of paying for them, that whatever improves thu
one advances the oher and they inseparabe tina
they should be regarded one That an export from tn
American shore a British port in Canada Is as much
foreign if it had been carried directly to Lv
erPOo and that expectation to Liverpool neither gain
loses any of the characteristics Of foreign
by the drectness crcuy of the route whether passe
through custOm-house the British side of the 5,
Lawrence or descends through that river and its
ing canals to the whether passes along the
ucIal communications aud natural streams of any of tn
States to the Atlantic.
8. That the general government by extending its uris
dction over lakes and navgabe rivers subjecng then
TO the same laws which prevail the ocean, and il
bays and ports not only for purposes Of but
give security TO life and property, by the regulation
Steam Boats, has precluded itself cr denying that ju
dction for any other legitimate regulation Of CoEmefc,
II has power to control and restrain it have III
same power TO protect, assist and facilitate and if it d.
MES the jurisdiction in the mode of action shout
! renounce it in the other
9. That in consequence Of the peculiar dangers Of h
navigation Of the Lakes, arising from the Of Harbo
for shelter and Of the Western Rivers from snags aud o
distractions, there parts OF the United Stat,
! more emphsticaly demanding the prompt aud continue
OF the Government to diminish those dangers aud
protect the property and life exposed them and that
who regard provisions for these purposes section
al local aud not national be wanting in information
the extent Of the commerce carried upon those lax
and rivers, and of the amount Of teemng population
! pied interested in that navigation.
II To- That having regard TO relative population to 1t
extent Of commerce, the appropriations heretofore
the interior rivers and Iak and The streams connecI