The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-01

BY some error, the quotation we made last
week from Gov. Bebb's special message was omit
ted. We give itnow. 1t is but right that every
view, on the subject Of internal improvement
should be presented, especially when strong ef-
forts are making to break down the system alto
gether
The constitutional power of Congress either
to construct, TO aid in the construction Of Ma
tonal Railroads, rests on more solid foundation
than even the universally acknowledged power
to construct lighthouses. The former is an
express, the latter an implied power. Under the
express power " 10 establish post Offices and post
roads" Congress is bound to establish, that is to
fix, 10 settle permanently, the best means which
the discoveries Of the age have given TO the world
for the transmission Of the mail. A Railroad is
not only the best, but 10 the only "post road
that can be established on the main routes at all
adequate to the exigencies of the public service
Congress must very soon establish Railways as
" post roads, or surrender TO corporations this
great constitutional power and obligation.
But the constitutional argument does not rest
on this-bass alone. The power TO construct har-
bors is inferred from the power "to regulate
commerce with foreign nations" II the power
to regulate commerce with foreign nations, car.
by the construction Of lighthouses, harbors and
break-waters, certainly, the power to regulats
''commerce among the several States," carrie,
with IL, also, the power to aid that commerce BY
the most efiectual means which the invention Of
Of man has devised.
This power also clearly results from the con-
stitutiOnal obligation TO suppress instructions
and repel invasions by the use Of the most eff
fectual means necessary and proper for that pur-
pose.
Foreign commerce has always been the darl-
ing child Of Congress. For its coasts have
been surveyed, harbors fortified, commercial
treaties made, discriminating duties imposed
navies built up and maintained, and wars waved
at a cost TO the nation, Of hundreds of millions
In the meantime what has been done for inter
nal commerce. Nothing. comparatively moth
ing! The aid of the General Government in
this respect, must hereafter be- more equally and
Justly dispensed. The freemen of the interior
have, at length, the power TO do themselves JUS
tice at the ballot-box, aad IL tciH be done Hith-
erto the benehcient action Of the Federal Gov
eminent has been confined almost exclusively
TO the Maratime coasts. The Convention which
met at Chicago last summer, great in numbers,
intellect, and fixed resolve, will direct the ate n
ton of the Government to our lakes and rivers.
But appropriations must not be made for these
objects alone.
The Railroad has made the land as subser-
Went to commerce as the tedter Oceans are
no longer the only great highways of nations.
Since the discovery and invention of the Rail-
road and the Magnetic Telegraph, instead OF
facilitating they interrupt what is now called
rapid Accommodation. With the great dis
coveries Of modern times, new governmental
obligations have arisen. The mail can no long,
er be transmitted on the great thorough-fares OF
the world by sail vessels and mail coaches
The steamship and locomotive have taken their
place; the latter being by far the most rapid and
regular fundamentally. In view of ali this, a
general system Of Railway 'pOst roads" has be-
come indispensable.