Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-07-08

the extent that had been conended for BY some gentlemen On
this floor He thought tia very limited power and upon the
and upon the largest rivers Of the United States which
had heretofore been improved by appropriations from Congress-
the power would be OF avail But the time (for
he wanted speak briefly the subec he could
for this resolution, because be thought the power
toonay in Congress to give authority to any State 10 this
Union pass laws 10 regard tonnage duties previous the
action Of the State itself He could not therefore, for
this resolution He suggested amendment strike
that part Of s revolution which related the question Of
constutonaliy.
Mr.. HUNT very unwilling to consume the time Of the
House, at this advanced stage of the session. in debating the
propositions contained in these resolutions II subject
which had been very fully discussed occasions
only this House but throughout the country, which had
been fully investigated by every gentleman here and which,
doubt, every one fully prepared to without
further debate they would be after days had been
ed in its further discussion.
Mr.. ATKINSON wished make inquiry of the gentle
man. Being one of the Committee on Commerce. by which
s bill had been repsed he desired know Of the gem
teman who the chairman Of that committee whether the
report had received the unanimous sanction OF the commit
tee whether there dissenting voices and, 80,
who they were.
Mr.. HUNT replied that this subject referred the
Committee on Commerce. early day Of the session.
They had felt their duty to investigate and take some ac-
ton the questions referred them by the message
of the President and the bill of the gentleman from South Ca
rona M RHErT in relation tonnage duties There had
been very full discussion OF the subject in committee and
the conclusions arrived at adopted by the majority OF the
4
and the gentleman from South Carolina r SIMPSON, dis
scnting from these resolutions
He wished to call the attention Of the House for moment
the character Of the resolutions they had been COM
mened upon by the gentleman from Michigan.
Mr.. TURNER inquired if the resolutions had been printed
Mr. HUNT replied that thy had but not by the order of
| the House.
4 Mr.. TURNER hoped, then that the gentleman would al
low them be referred or at least postponed until they could
be examined by all.
Mr. RHETT said If the Gentlemen would agree TO refer
them, Committee Of the Whole the state Of the Union
and fix any day which they should up, they would
i be perfectly ready to meet htm
Mr. HUNT replied that the gentleman from South Carolina
would ecoect that these souons had been reported
weeks ago. and that his Colleague (M srns) had at that
time got the floor, and they had gone until this morning
They had been printed In t papers OF the city, and ne could
suppose necessary to take up any further TIME Tor
gentlemen to prepare to vote
Mr. LAHM inquired, in case the previous question
moved and seconded, if would be in order 70 call for dv
sion SO as to vote upon the resolutions separately
/ Mr. HUNT. Undoubtedly.
Mr. LAIN said there were two for which he would vote
Mr. HUNT proceeded say that the first resolution de-
cared the power Of Congress make improvements Of habo
and rivers in all cases where they were necessary TO the
protection and facility of with foreign nations the
commerce among the States" 1t was general declaration
of that power specific and precise phraseoogy which be
thought could be questioned He believed every gentle
man had made up his mind that point
Mr.. FARAN wished TO be allowed while the gentleman
the first resolution quito him question. That
resolution declared that the power Of Congress extended
all where il necessary facilitate commerce among
the States He wished 10 ask the gentleman whether he
derstood the resolution to extend Of local and
purely II o national character
Mr. HUNT replied that every gentleman would judge for
himself Of the Of the power granted TO Congress by
opinion the extended TO all where was necessary
protect among the States whether the rivers
large small but did extend purely local works.
As the duty Of this Government exercise this power
there difference of opinion but he believed there
majority Of the House, and Of the country who were pre-
pared declare their opinions in favor Of this also But he
would not take up the time Of the House.
He had single word say reference to the third
luton which had been objected BY the gentleman from
Michigan on the ground thar disrespecul the Pre-
sdent Of the United States woud be remembered that, at
the opening of the session, the President had thought his
dnty send message this House, with the bill passed by
the last Congress- containing his for refusing to give
his that bill It could have been supposed by
the President that this Congress would take any action
that specific bill there end Of it. and the power OF
Congress exhausted when the President had refused his
the bill and the only object in sending here
make up issue with Congress- and O any thing was
hoped be securely control the action OF Congress That
message bad been referred 10 the Committee Commerce.
and for what purpose According the taken by the
committee, incumbent them to express, in proper
FORM their dissent from the messages and the resolution
simply declared that the assigned by the President
were insufficient and unsatisfactory The Committee on
Commerce felt them be unsatisfactory He believed they
were unsausfacofy congress the country
and he thought upon subject Of such magnitude, when the
President had gone Of his way TO proclaim in advance
that be would not give his assent to measure which
might be adopted for the protection OF national commerce.
that only proper the part OF Congress- but that
emneny due themselves and the country 10 declare
their sentiments that due to the importance OF the
subject due TO the public opinion OF the country and he
thought they would fall short OF that duty they failed
record in unequvoca terms thst the judgment Of the Pres
dent to the constitutional power the Government and the
objections be had assigned the exercise Of that power were
not satisfactory, and would control the action OF Con-
grsss.
Mr. EVANS, Of Maryland, remarked that the President OF
the United States never hesaed declare his opinions Of the
action Of Congress- and that be bis friends did not consider
that disrespeco when done with the direct view 70 IN
fuence the action Of Congress.
Mr. HUNT said quite respectful Tor Congress TO
express their opinion upon the message OF the President which
bad been communicated them, for the President
in advance TO advise Congress Of what his action would be
As to the fourth resolution be entirely agreed with the
emsn from Michigan that il entirely within the power
Of Congress give s the imposition Of tonnage du
ties by any State That power given in express
BY the constitution. But in his opnlon-and that the
conclusion Of the Committee Commercet not with
in the meaning and intent OF tie constitution that Congress
should give its assent in general terms in advance to any Law
State might pass Such would virtually nbrogate
that clause Of the constitution which declared that Congress
should give its assent and surrender the whole
tonnage duties to the States without prohibition The clause
Of the constitution which conferred this power was
"No State shall, vthoo the consent of Congress- lay any
duty tonnage keep troops ships OF IN time OF peace,
with foreign Power engage In war unless actually inyad
ed, such imminent danger rs will admit delay