The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-10

distinguished OF his party including those OF
the lamened Jackson and Sias Wright, and embracing
many OF the most eminent hvng statesmen IN 'he eoun
try-of whom he mentioned the names OF Van Buren,,
Benton Cass, and Calhoun, IN connexon with the Secre
ary of State the Secretary OF the Treasury and the Sec
rotary of War. Mr. s. repeated his admiration OF the
Presidents frmness and added his belief that nothing
less than the most honest, calm and full convection OF
duty could have induced HIM to take the course he has
But il was the misfortune OF Mr. > 10 diner from ihe
President on this subject; and he desired TO stae IN
few words, the points OF that difference ihus differing
from the President he should clam the privilege OF sa-
ting and explaining his ylews-not SO much win the IN
enon TO make complete argument upon the points IN
yoved show the weak portions OF the opposite ar
gumcnt
The message assumes the broad ground that Congress
has no power do anything TO facilitate navigation Tor
the benefit OF the commerce OF the country; mat that
clause IN the constitution giving to Congress power 10
regulate commerce. does not to ASSIST or tdeundfe
Mr. s. complained OF the narowness OF the Presidents
arg ument too much argument OF mere meta
physical pathological characters and when he came to
the examination OF the historical portion OF his Argument
he had found II to be Inaccurate IN many respects lie
did not propose now to deian the committee by lnsttu
ting any critical examination into the metaphysics and
philoogy of the President, but desired TO refer to MIR
Cahouns report upon this question to the last Congress-
which would set the historical argument IN ITS true hight
and whilst he could not agree wholly with that distln-
guished South Caonian, as his position had been de-
fined on other subjects he considered his argument i'm
pregnabe upon this Mr. Calhoun ne sad appeals 10
history prior and subsequent 10 the adoption OF the con-
siiiuon, and its contemporaneous construction and
shows that the States exercised this power before they
surrendered with the power 'to regulate commerce"
and to impose duties and tina, after that surrender, Con-
ges assumed the power and the States exercised 1t no
longer.
The error in the historical part OF the Presidents
gument consists in his combining himself to particular
class of Improvement OF rivers and harbors In his
sage of 1916, he admits that lighthouses, buoys, bea
cons and public PIERS, constructed by the govern
ment from the beginning. This was contemporaneous
construction, which had obtained the uniform acques
cence OF all parties from that day to this Here Mr. s.
IN
light houses, buoys, beacons, and public plers and the
facilitate commences and conended and illustrated
his idea by stating going to show that the principle
was the same whether it extended to the erection by Con
gress of lighthouse on the seacoast or the removal OF
rock or snag river Butt had been argued that light
house being 'needful building" Congress might
sruct it, because the general government exercises
elusive jurisdiction the ground which has to be pur
chased and owned by the government; and hence Con-
powers enumerated But the President says aid and ia
ciitate is not one OF these powers conferred
upon Congress- This, construction, however, would
prove too much for the argument; for church or a
paper-ml might be considered needul building, But
it was only last year that President Polk signed bill ap
proprating $500 for the construction of light houses
in the very teeth of his argument here Mr. s. spoke
also of the coast survey which had been so long in prog
ress facilitate commerce, and argued that, to be con-
sisten with the doctrine of the veto message the Pres
dent would have to abolish this great work Not only
so but every lighthouse would have to be blown out,
all territorial improvements would have TO cease and un
Il finished public works remain forever so.
Mr. s. treated OF the jurisdiction of the federal govern
men and the rights Of The States under the constitution
of the jurisdiction of the federal courts over maritime con-
tracts, and contracts between individuals OF different
States; and, though jurisdiction created no power, OBJ
structions (as in public ways and navgable sreams)
might be removed without invading anybodys right.
If, the President intlmaes IN his veto message OF
1916, he acquesces in the exercise by Congress of the
power to construct light houses buoys, PIERS &c, how
does he refuse his assent to other improvements How
many presidents did it require to establish constitu-
tonal principe Might It not, at least be safe for
him to follow in the footsteps Of the ilusrous Jack
son, and his successor, Mr.. Van Buren,? And here
Mr., s. went into an enumeration OF several works of
public Improvement which had received the approval Of
President Jackson and making SPECIAL reference to such
as he favored here in the city of Washington If Pres
dent jackson had favored the construction for which
Mr. s. contended, it would have been manifested by his
executive acts; Tor he was not man accustomed to do
things by inches and pecemeal When he undertook to
abolish corrupt system, he did it boldly and at once,
without stopping for considerations of mere individual
tackled the United States Bank; and if it had been hs
object to break down this system OF internal improve
ments, he would have done it.
4 Mr.. s. admitted that this power to improve rivers,
harbors, &C., might be abused and in this connexion,
he read from the Presidents argument, admitting the
existence of substantial objections every bill he has
the abuse OF the power By the abuse of this power,
post roads might be extended TO every mans door, but
this was not an argument that we should have post
roads. II Congress might raise immense army, and
make every man soldier, was argument that Con-
gress should be restrained from the exercise of any
to create armed force; If government might purchase
the ishmus of Tehuanepec, might also have
canal the continent of Europe and Asia but there
would be abuse of the power and the President says
correctly "that the treasury of the world would not he
sufficient for these things"
Taking wide range OF instances to support his posi-
ton, MIR. s. showed that the power TO improve harbors
and rivers incident to the taxing power, and
should therefore, be retained by the general government
and State jealouses and every conflict of sectional
interests would be thus prevented showing also, the
mpossbity that the navigation of the Mississippi river
could be improved by the States Such works of great
national interest could always be done cheaper and better
for the people by the general government; because the
States in this business, ike individuals and corporations,
would become exorbtan unreasonable, and oppressive
Thus far Mr. s. differed with the President in the mat
ter of the but in other points he agreed with him,
especially in the necessity of curtang the government
expenditures at this time. The government engaged
in war, and creating debt to carry it en- That this
war just part, he considered settled ques
ton, and was ready to employ all the energies OF the
government to prosecute it with vgor to just and
honorable termination. If those opposed to the war
should seek to embarrass the treasury at this time,
by appropriations of money for any object of improve
ment, he would resist them. The public credit should
never suffer He had been in favor of tax tea and
it again but he would not these articles for the i'm
provement of rivers and harbors And, in conclusion,
he repeated, that if there should be any time manifest
ed disposition on the other side OF the House the
principle he had supported either directly or nd-
recy, coverty openly to obs,ruct the prosecution of
the war; he pledged himself to oppose The movement
with all the energies he possessed
4 On motion Of Mr.. J, w. HOUSTON, the committee
rose, and reported