Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-02-08
JOLIET. ILLINOIS. FEBRUARY s, 1s4 .,s !.

| two houses, there had been, reported bv
the Committees on Internal ImproveInents
bills containing appropriations for such
objects, exclusive of those for the Cum.
berland road, and for harbors and light,
houses,tothe amOunt of about one hundred
and six millions of dollars. In this a.
mount was included authority to the Sec.
rotary of the Treasury to subscribe for
the stock Of different companies to greas
extent, and the residue was principally for
the direct construction of roads BY this
government. In addition to these projects,
which have been presented to the two
houses under the sanction and recommen.
dation of their respective committees on
internal improvements, there were then
still pending before the committees. and
in memorials to Congress, presented, but
referred, different project for works of a
similar character, the expense Of which
cann0t be estimated with certainty, but
must have exceeded one hundred millions
of dollars"
Much, sir, was thus done by President
Jackson to correct a growing evil, the
consummation of which must be corrup.
ton, bankruptcy, and ruin; but still, much
remained to be done. The rule he laid
down only reached part of the evil, and
did not go far enough, as he afterwards
admitted. 1t was reserved for Mr.. Polk
to extend the rule, and strike at the root
of the whole -eyil--to finish the work
commenced by his illustrious predecessor.
And how did he finish it? Simply by re.
ferring the subject of river and harbor i'm
provements to the States, who may clear.
Iy take cognizance 1T. with the consent
of Congress. But Twill let the President
speak for himselc: He says:
1.-THE constitution provides that mo
State shall, without the consent Of Con.
gress, lay any duty oftonage.' With the
consent Of Congress, such duties may be
levied, collected, and expended hy the
States. We are not left in the dark as to
| the objects OF this reservation OF power to
the States. The subject was fully con.
sidered Ivy the convention that framed
the constitution. ltappears, in MIR. Mad
i.on's report Of the proceedings Of thai
body, that one object oil the reservation
was. that the states should not be res.
trained from laying duties of tonnage fol
the purpose OF clearing harbors. Other
objects were named in the debates; an:
among them, the support Of seamen. Mr.
Madison, treating on this subject in the
Federalist. declares that
THE restraint on the power Of the
States over imports and exports is enforc
ed by all the arguments which prove the
necessity submitting the regulation o
trade to the federal councils. 1t is need
less, therefore, to remark further on thi:
head, that the manner in which the re
strain. is qualified seems we'll calculated
at once to secure TO the States d reason.
able discretion in providing for the con.
veniency of their imports and exports
and to the United States reaosonabl,
check against the abuse Of this discre
ton"
1.-THE States my lay tonnage duties 70
clearing 'harbors, improving rivers, 20
for other purposes; but are restraihe'
from abusing the power, because, befor,
such duties can take effect, the consent
of Congress must be obtained. Her
is safe provision for the improvement {
harbors and rivers in the reserved power
of the States, and in the aid they ma
derive from duties OF tonnage levied wit
the consent of Congress. Its safeguard
are; that both the State legislatures an
Congress have to concur in the act O
raising the funds; that they are in ever,
instance to be levied upon the commerce.
of those ports which are to profit by thu
proposed improvement; that no question
ofconfIcting power or jurisdiction is in
volved; that the expenditure being in thu
hands of those who are to pay the none.
and be Immediately benefited, will b.
more carefully managed and more pro
ductive Of good than if the funds were
drawn from the national treasury, ant
discussed by the officers of the genera
government; that such system will carry
with it no enlargement of federal powe
and patronage, and leave the States to bt
the sole Judges of their own wants ant
interests, with only conservative neg
alive in Congress upon any abuse of thu
power which the States may attempt.
"Under this wise system,tbe improve
ment ofharbors and rivers was commenc
ed, or rather continued, from The organi
zauon ofth government under the presen
) constitution. Many acts were passed b!
the several States levying duties of ton
mage. aid many were passed by Congress
) giving their consent TO these acts. Sucl
acts have been passed by Massachusetts
i Rhode Island. Pennsylvania, North Car
olina. South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia
and Georgia. and have been sanctione,
by the consent of Congress- a1s c.a.
i, Such, Mr.. Chairman, is brief outlin
} Of the history of internal Improvement
by this government, and such has beel
M PoIL,s oourse ,,nor, that subiect WI