The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-12-19

$5.552,17 So, including the annual apprt
priation Of $500, 900 for the franked mute
of the Department, and excluding the fol
, eign hostages collected for, and payable I
, the British Government. The expenditure
for the same time, were S., pig, 953 50: leav
ing balance of receipts over expenditure
Of $40, O1S 05.
am happy to find that the fiscal cond
ton of the Department is such as to justif
the Post Master General in recommendin
a reduction Of our inland postage to cent
the single letter when'p pre- paid, or FIVE cent
when not prepaid. He also recommend
that prepaid rates shall be reduced when
ever the revenue of the Department shal
exceed its expenditure by more than fv
per cent for two consecutive years; that tn
postage upon the California letters, an.
those sent by our ocean steamers shall b.
much reduced, and that the rates Of postag
on newspapers, pamphlets, periodicals an,
other printed matter shall be modified, ant
some reduction thereon made.
! 1t cannot be doubted that the proposed
reduction will ror the present diminish tn,
revenue of the Department. 1t is believed
that the deficiency, after the already accu
mulated surplus shall he exhausted, may
be most fully met by restricting the priv
lege of sending free matter through the
mails, or by paying out of the Treasury
to the Post Office a sum equivalent to the
postage Of which it is deprived by tina,
privilege.
The first is supposed to be the preferable
mode, and will, if not entirely, so nearly
supply the deficiency rs to make any further
appropriations unnecessary. Ii may he
! found so inconsiderable as to form no obssa.
Gle to the reduction.
l entertain no doubt Of the authority OF
Congress to make appropriations for lead
ing objects in that class Of public works
called by the general name of Internal I'M
provements. This authority suppose to
be derived chilly from the power of regula-
ting commerce with foreign nations among
the States, and the power Of laying and col
lecting impOsts. When commerce is TO be
carried on and imposts collected, there must
DO ports and harbors, as well as wharfs end
custom-houses.
If ships laden with valuable cargoes ap-
proach the shores. or sail along the coast,
and lighthouses are necessary at suitable
points, for the protection Of life and proper
ty, other facilities and securities for COM
merce and navigation, are not less impor-
tant, and these clauses Of the Constitution,
therefore, TO which have referred, have
received from the origin ofthe Government,
a liberal and beneficial construction. Not
only have light houses, buoys and beacons
been established, but harhors have been
cleared and improved, piers constructed,
and even break-waters for the safety of ship
ping, and sea-walls to protect harbors from
damage, from being filled up and rendered
useless by the action Of the ocean, have been
erected at great expense.
This construction of the Constitution appears
the more warrantable, from the consideration if
these works, Of such evident importance and util-
lty, are not accomplished by the General Govern
ment, they will not be accomplished at all. By
the adoption of the Consultation, the several
states voluntarily parted with the power Of col
Letting duties on imports within their own ports,
and it Is not to be expected that they should
raise money by internal taxation, direct or ind-
rect, for the benefit Of that commerce, the reve-
nues of whrch do not, either in whole or in part,
go into their own treasures. Nor do perceive
the difference between the power of Congress to
make appropriations for objects of the kind on the
ocean, and the power to make appropriations for
similar objects on Lakes and rivers wherever
they are large enough to bear on their waters an
extensive traffic.
The magnificent Mississippi and its tributaries.
and the Lakes on the Northwest, appear to me
TO come within the exercise of the power. as
justly and as clearly as the Ocean and the Gulf
Of Mexico: 1t Is mistake to regard expendi-
lures judiciously made for these objects as expen-
ditures for local purposes.
The position or site Of the work is necessarily
local; but its utility is general. A ship canal
around the Falls of St. Mary, Of less than mile
IN length, though local in its construction yet is
National in its purpose and benefits, as il removes
the only obstruction TO a navigation Of more than
a thousand miles, affecting several States, as
well as our commercial relations with Canada.
So too, the Brcakwater at the mouth of the
Delaware, is not for the exclusive benefit of the
States bordering on the river of that name; but Of
the whole coastwise navigation of the United
States, and to a considerable extent also, of for
eign commerce.
III a ship be lost on a bar Of Southern port
for want Of sufficient depth Of water. it is very
likely to be Northern vessel and if a steamboat
be sunk in any part Of the Mississippi, on account
of its channel not having been properly cleared of
distractions, it may be boat belonging to either
of eight or ten States. may add, as somewhat
that among all the thrty-one States.
there rs none that is not, to greater or less ex-
tent, bounded On the Ocean or Gulf Of Mexico,
or one of the Great Lakes, or some navigable
stream.
In fulfilling our Constitutional duties fellow |
citizens on this subject, as in carrying into effect
all powers conferred by the Constitution, we !
should consider ourselves as celebrating and act
ing tor one and the same country, and bear con
stanily in mind, that our guard and duty are due,
not to particular part only, but to the whole |
therefore recommend that appropriations be made
for completing such works, as may seem to the |
wisdom Of Congress TO be of public and general
Importance.
The difficulties and delays incident TO The set |
llement of private claims by Congress, amount in |
many cases. to injustice There is reason to be ap-
pretended that many unfortunate creditors Of the
government have been thereby una voidabIy rum |
ed. Congress has so much business Of public |
That it is impossible thar it should give
much attention opriyate claims, and their accu-
mutation is now so great, that many claimants
must despair Of ever being able to obtain hear.
ing.
1t may be doubted, whether Congress, from the |
nature Of its organization, r properly constituted
% decide on such cases II is impossible that each |
member should examine the merits Of every claim
,pon which he is compelled to vote, and il Is pre-
'osterous to ask Judge to decide a case which |
ne has never heard Such decisions, frequently
must do injustice, either to claimants, or to the
government, and I perceive no remedy for this
,rowing evil except in the establishment Of some
tribunal to adjudicate In such cases. beg leave
most respectfully to recommend that provisions
,e made BY law, for the appointment OF a Com