The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-08
Internni Cemmerce.
Mr.. ViRt0n's resolution, TO which We referred
last week reads:

Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce
stSll hereafter b. called "the Committee on Com
merce among the States" and shall have charge
OF all questions which may be referred touch
ing the regulation Of trade among the several
Safes Of the Union. There shall also be added
70 the standing committees Of the House a COM
mittee, TO be composed Of nine members, which
shall be called "the Committee on Commerce
with Foreign Nations" 1t shall have charge
Of all questions which may be referred concern
ing the regulation Of the trade Of the United
States with foreign nations.
To this Mr.. Houston (Of DsIaware) offered
the following amendment:
PTorided, That il shall be the duty and power
OF the Committee on Commerce among the States
10 take into consideration all such petitions and
matters aud things touching the appropriation
Of the public money for the improvement Of
the navigation Of rivers, lakes, harbors, and in
lets, both upon the seabOard and in the interior,
and not Of the said Committee on Foreign Com
msTce.
Mr.. r. REETT Of S. e. opposed the resolution.
He meant to resist to the last the fearful strides
Of a gigantic policy which was sneroaching on
the powers Of the States. The resolution ask
for information. We have that. We have all
We want. The commerce Of Louisville, Chicago,
Cincinnati, ofevery town shines in the reports
while Massachusetts, can give you all her pro-
dnciions from hob-nail TO a steam engine.
Mr.. r. denied the constitutional power to d.
vide the committee, or to appoint this new one.
The constitution spoke of commerce among not
citAIn, the States: in other words. Of the foreign
commerce of the States with other States.
Ii was an effort to send spies and inquistors
to every town in the Union, 10 find out how
people lived, what they did, Sc, sc. Evidently,
The orator thought the next step would be 10 pro-
hibit the slave traffic between the States. and
saw in thi. internal committee ga sort of sbOli-
ton move" Yet he denied, out and out, all
power on the part of Government to improve
harbOrs or rivers. lie asked:
What right have the people upon Lake Michi-
gan TO come to me, down in South Carolina,
and ask that should contribute TO put their
hsrbors in order1 Is IL not the dictate Of the
most common justice that those whose naviga-
ton is 10 be protected by an Improvement should
contribute any pay for that Improvement And
what sort of interest, on the other hand, have
the people Of Indiana or Kentucky with the
hsrbor in Charlestonl Why should we call
never saw or Of which they know nothingl Ii
is precisely the principle of the Post Office De-
partrnent, which lays 20 moderate duty upon
letters that those who receive the benefit Of the
Department sustain It. And this is a provision
of the constitution eminently just, eminently
right.
Mr. c. b. Smith, Of Indiana, said this was no
proposal to extend the power of the Govern
ment. Appropriations for internal improve
ments had been made by every Congress.
He could bear testimony to the immense sac
rifces Of property which the West hso been
compelled to sustain, and to the immense loss OF
valuable lives, in consequences Of the squamish-
ness of our President; because he regards the
distinction drawn between salt water and fresh
water improvements. He Mr.. s. undertook to
assert that the power Of this Government over
improvements can only find a limitation in the
discretion Of Congress. Gentlemen might seek
to find il elsewhere, bat elsewhere IL was merely
imaginary. II was a position which he held
; could not be controyerted, that the power to
make improvements was power 10 improve
any rivers, whether their waters washed the
shores Of one State or a dozen; IL was power
TO improve any harbors, whether they were on
the seaboard or the lakes; It was power which
was within the sound disc reIion Of Congress
! Congress alone could determine what sppropra-
tons to make TO protect or to facilitate our CON-
merce, whether that commerce with "for-
eiqn nations or "between the States" Con-
gress has acted upon this view Of It's powers. II
did so last year. II did so during preceding
years Ii made liberal appropriations for the
es and rivers Of the West, and for Western
harbors too. Did any gentleman deny the
power Of Congress 10 improve the Mississippi
. riyerl He thought that would hardly be called
in question now Did any gentleman deny the
, power to make appropriations for the improve
ment OF the Ohio riverl He thought that toe
would be generally conceded. II, then, tina
power was conceded--If we have exercised IL
he took II for granted that power would be agair
exercised by this Congress; but whether theil
act would become law he knew not
As to the division Of the committee, he wa
> for Il. II was all right.
Z Four years ago a report was made from the SPe
cisl Committee on Rules, at the head of which
: he believed was the venerable gentleman from
Massachusetts,, Mr.. ADAMs,) which proposed !
division of the Committee on Commerce sucl
as was now proposed. That report, however
was never brought 10 the vote Of this House, In
consequences Of its involving the question Of sls
:, very. The appropriate moment then had nov
arrived for establishing such adivsion, and ere
: ating committee with special reference to in
Improvements.
q the ground. lie had no desire to dodge TIN
question. He desired to place 1t fairly befor
the country. The question Of internal improve
mepts IL one which will command the vote Of
large portion Of this Mon, unless II be the Stat
% Of South Carolina. He was not In favor Of
e prodigal waste Of the pubiic money he was no
Il in favor ofexpending money in improving ever
:. little stream. No but he desired 10 acknowl
u sdge the power Of this Government to facilitat
and TO protect the commerce of this country
,. and ne desired to il judiciously administered
m With this view he desired TO see committe
l. appointed whose wisdom, and experience, an
% intelligence would enable them 10 report sue
n objects 10 Congress as are worthy Of the supper
r of this Government.
q, Mr.. Root Of Ohio followed. He feared III
= advocacy of the gentleman from Indiana, an
"a the opposition OF the member from South Care
y, lima, would cause the resolution to be adopte
4 He did not want that. He saw that we were
:. hGye s.salt and fresh water committee'-to /
p eelvided and conquered" He thought oil
ne committee enough. He did not wish to aroui
a prejudice against internal Improvements esp
Id chilly as the proposed committee was charg'
Id with having spice Of abolition in 1t.
a Mr.. Bedinger Of Va, thought the rssolutie
=. positively dangerous. 1t was inerpedient, III
constitutional, but more than all dangsrou
ed The committee would enquire about corn, &c
q ton and what not; but they would enquire, al'
nj aboat another matter. II might End other or
Jploynsnt for itself plL -