Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-12-07

10 tUt ptltiou oO'ctuiicuS
The expenditures for the same period
were five millions two hundred and twelve
thousand nine hundred and fiftythree dol
lars and forty-tbree cents--leaving bal.
lance Of revenue over expenditures Of three
hundred and forty thousand and eighteen
dollars and five cents.
l am happy to find that the fiscal condi-
ton of the Department is such as to justify
the Postmaster General in recommending
the reduction OF our inland letter postage
10 three cents the single letter when pre-
paid, and five cents when not prepaid. He
also recommends that the prepaid rates shall
be reduced to two cents whenever the rev.
enues of the Department, after the reduce
ton, shall exceed its expenditures by more
than FIVE per cent, for two consecutive
years that the postage upon California and
other letters sent by our ocean steamers
shall be much reduced and that the post
age on newspapers, pamphlets, periodicals,
and other printed matter shall be modified,
and some reduction thereon made.
II cannot be doubted that the proposed
reductions will, for the present, diminish
the revenues of the Department. 1t is be-
leved that the deficiency, after the surplus
already accumulated shall be exhausted,
may be almost wholly met, either by abol-
isbing the existing privileges of sending
free matter through the mails, or by paying
out of the Treasury to the Post Office De-
partment sum equivalent to the postage Of
which it is deprived by such privileges.
/ The last is supposed to be the preferable
mode, and will, if not entirely, so nearly
supply that deficiency as to make any fur
ther appropriation that may be found ne
cessary so inconsiderable as 10 form no OBJ
Stacle TO the proposed reductions.
entertain no doubt of the authority Of
Congress TO make appropriations for Lead
ing objects in that class Of public works
comprising what are usually called works
of internal Improvements. This authority
/ suppose to be derived chiefly from the
power of regulating commerce with foreign
nations, and among the States, and the pow
er'ot laying and collecting imposts. Where
commerce is TO be carried on, and imposts
collected, there must be ports and harbors,
as well as wharfs and custom houses. Ii
ships, laden with valuable cargoes, approach
the shore, or sail along the coast, light-hou.
protection OF life and property. Other IA
clitties and securities for commerce and
and navigation are hardly less important
and those clauses of the Constitution, there
fore, TO which have referred, have receiY-
ed from the origin of the Government
liberal and beneficial construction.
Not only have lighthouses, buovs, and
beacons been established. and floating lights
maintained, but harbors have been cleared
and improved, piers constructed, and even
breakwaters for the safety Of shipping, and
sea walls to protect harbors from being fill
led up, and rendered useless, by the action
OF the ocean, have been erected at a very
great expense. And this construction Of
the Constitution appears the more reasona-
bic from the consideration that if these
works, OF such evident importance anFutil-
ity, are not to be accomplished by Congress
they cannot be accomplished at all. BY
the adoption of the Constitution the several
States voluntarily parted with the power of
collecting duties OF imposts in their own
ports and it is not to be expected that
they should raise money, by internal taxa
. ton, direct or indirect, for the benefit OF
that commerce, the revenues derived from
. which do not, either in whole or in part,
60 into their own treasures.
Nor do perceive any difference between
the power of Congress TO make appropria-
tonS for objects of this kind on the ocean
and the power to make appropriations for
similar objects Oh the lakes and rivers,
wherever they are large enough to bear on
their waters and extensive traffic. The
magnificent Mississippi and its tributaries,
and the vast lakes OF the north and the
, northwest, appear to me TO fall within the
/ exercise of the power, as Justly and as clear
, y as the Ocean and the Cult of Mexico
1t is mistake TO regard expenditures judi
ciously made for these objects as expendi-
lures 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. Ma
! ry OF less than mile in length, though all
. cal in its constitution, would vet be national
!. in its purpose aud in its benefits, as il would
remove the only distractions to naviga-
tion of more than a thousand miles, affecting
several States, as well as our commercial
relations with Canada. So, too, the Break
water at the mouth the Delaware is erec-
ted, not for the exclusive benefit of the
States bordering on the bay and river of
that name, but for that of the whole coast
wise navigation of the United States, and,
to considerable extent also, of foreign
commerce. If a ship be lost in the bar at
the entrance OF southern port for want of
sufficient depth OF water, it is very likely to
, be northern ship and if steamboat b..
{ sunk in any part of the Mississippi, on ac-
, count OF its channel not having been pro.
perly cleared of distractions, in may be a
boat belonging to either eight or ten States.
E l may add, as somewhat remarkable, that
among all the thirty-one States, there is
none that is not, TO greater or less extent,
bounded on the ocean, or the Cult of Mex
leo, or one of the great lakes, or some nav
igable river.
4 In fulfilling our constitutional duties, fel-
| lONU-citIzpnc th,e