The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-19

ia and unjust because II is for private advantage an
proposed that those who to receive shall moi be
those who pay but that the whole community shall be
taxed IN order that local appropriations may be made for
the benefit OF portion OF the community whether il be
an the increase OF their commerce. or by the mere expend
ure OF money itself This is with me an obiec-
on which goes TO the principle OF this and all similar
bills.
But further this is proposition which authorizes the
federal government TO invade the State authority. 1t
makes no restriction, was suggested BY Mr. Monroe.
n reference to obtaining the consent OF the State II is
Ia into State and make what the general COVER
choose TO call Improvement whether il be desirable to
that State not
Worse STILL if possible it is to disregard your treaty
obligations with Mexico; for It snakes appropriation
to improve the Rio Grandea river 10 this
try and TO Mexico and the boundary between them, and
the Improvement OF which only be made by the
senl OF both govelnmentsan obligation the worthy
oi consideration because OF the different modes OF using
The stream by the two people, and because that which
may be done under the belief that il would be an in
provement might be the destruction OF the navigation and
subyersve OF the interests and rights oi Aexico Have
you made surveys OF that river Have you examined the
formation of its banks Have yon sounded 10
tell what will be The result OF removing natural dams
Have you measured the velocity OF the stream and
tanned what will be the consequence OF changes to suit
our mode OF navigation! We are asked to go blindly
into this appropriation for the improvement of river
have righ, to interfere with, with the
of Mexico, the joint of that navigation. You
have made calculation on The consent OF the States;
but it may be that the States will consen--hat some
OF them will regard 1t INVASION But If il be other
wise, their consent cannot enlarge powers, and
are the more called on TO maintain the constitution in
proportion as others are ncautIous II Is thus that pre-
cedens established, and dangerous violations OF the
constitution SO frequently arise. There can be greater
power the part OF this government river which
lies within the limits OF State to remove sandbar or
to take away natural dam, than there be within
the limits OF the Stale to dig canal TO build road
may be that the most vital interests OF that State
connected with the obstruction which you propose TO
remove; for it may be connected with fishery pecu
liar navigation which is the source OF their wealth or 1t
may be essential for the support Of extensive manuac
turing communities II IS one OF the most dlcult prob
making change in the bed OF stream. ltmay be that
in endeavong TO remove an mpediment which operates
natural dam, you will drain the pool and destroy the
whole OF the navigation upon the river before it. 6u.s
These local interests which may safely be left
10 the people who live upon these streams These are
by those directly connected with them. W4as
do not wish to be understood as opposing the i'm
OF rivers and harbors nor the making OF canals
and roads. | am opposed to such works by the federal
government where required for the OF the army
the navy, and authorized by the grant for military
poses You have right upon the seaboard or upon the
lakes to construct haTbors necessary Tor your navy and
the national defence, You have right, Tor military
object 10 make the necessary roads and improvements in
rivers This grant narrowly limited and doubly re-
scted; the right terminates with the necessity of exer
csing upon the part OF the federal government The
moment sufficient population has assembled there to
take upon themselves the responsibilities and duties OF
State the necessity for military defence passes away.
cep so far as may form part OF our national frontier
II s only in lis wilderness condition that the aecessity
es to limit beyond that recognised as allowable within
the States .Fr
am in favor, them Mr. President. with such limita-
ton have stated, of resorting 10 tonnage duties tor
the Improvement of rivers and harbors, nsed of taxa
ion of the whole people OF the United States to allow
the States where the Improvement TO be made to lay
tonnage duties upon the commerce OF that river or har
Dor, and from the money collected 10 make the I'M
provemen,s desired am in favor Of this for several
reasons-hrst. the money will be collected from those
who receive the benefit of the work secondly.
ii will be laid only for improvements which desirable,
and the money will be expended with rigid economy.
For this opinion, however that the proper mode of
ing money for such expenditures IS by tonnage duties
upon the vessels connected with The which
TO be improved have the high authority OF the last
democratic administration, which has been said 10 have
neg ecied its duties in relation 10 The Improvement OF
rivers and harbors Mr. Polk, in his message, when he
vetoed bill very similar TO this, sad
The constitution provides that no State shall without
The consent OF Congress- lay any duty of tonnage With
consent Of Congress such duties may be levied eo-
ecled and expended by the States We are not lett in the
dark c objects Of this reservation Of power 10 the
States, The sub'c fully considered by the conven-
on that framed ihe constitution II appears in Mr.. Mad
son. report OF the proceedings that body that object
OF the that the states should not be re-
strained from laying dues OF for the purpose OF
clearing harbors Oher objects named In the de-
bates, and among them the support o sesmen MI
Madison, treating this subject IN the tederais declares
sat the restraint power Of the States imports
aud exports enforced by all the arguments which prove
toe necessity Of submitting The regulation OF usde 20 ths
federal councils II Is needless, therefore, TO remark further
hi. head than that the manner IN which the restraint
qualified well calculated at once TO secure TO he
reasonable dis Ieon in providing or the convent
aud and TO the United States
reasonable check against the abuse OF thus dscrchon
The States lay tonnage sntes ior clearing haroor nm
proving rivers for other purpoies, but are restrained
abn ling the power because before such dutes can
take feet the consent Of Congress must be obtained
Under this wise system the improvement OF hntbor
and rivers commenced, or rather continued, IRON me
the government under the present consutu-
ton Macy passed by the several states ievying
duties tonnage and many passed by Congress- CIV.
ing TO those acts such acts have been passed
by Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Virginia North Carolina, South Carolina, and Gcorgis,
and have been sanctioned by the consent OF Congress,
Without euumeratng them all be Instructive 10 re-
f. them illustrative OF the mode OF imProv'
ent, the oonsttuonaliy OF which there can be no
doubt" .."E
Such was the authority OF Mr. Polk and he rested not
on his own authority merely. but he quoted from me
same high authority which has been cited by the senator
from Michigan In speaking OF the great abuses INTO
which we were about by this system OF aPpopri-
ang money internal improvements the rapid progress
tha, was making the accelerated pace with which II
moving when checked by Gen. Jackson, he says;
"His veto OF the Maysville road bill followed up by
his refusal sign the making appropriations for build
tng ghthouses, light-boas beacons, and monumentr,
acng buoy improving harbors, and directing surveys
an act authorizing subscriptions for stock In the Louisville
and Portland Canal Company; an act for the improve
inent haIbors and the navigation OF certsn
tVers; and, inally an improve the navigation OF
the Wabash river"
In his objection. to the last named he says:
The desire embark the federal government in works
Of internal improvement prevailed in the highest degree
during the first session OF the first Congress that ad the
horzing subscription tho part of the United states lot
stock in the Maysvile and Lexington Tpmpse IotnPsy
the houses, there had been reported of un
COMMITTEES on Internal improvements bus oohsa"' ' e ~ ,b