The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-03-08

| This measure so important to the interests of
New Orleans, has been defeated. The half mil
lion appropriated 10 the Mississippi and its ribuia-
RES is for this year. lost AT this time the failure
Of this easure will he severely felt for the nu.
merous railroads which are interesting the coun.
try In every direction, are successfully competing
with the rivers The snags and bars will continue
| to increase in number and extent. But what adds
10 the injury, is the fact that Representatives from
Louisiana, should have spoken and voted against
the bill Mr. Morse of the Fourth District, has pub.
lished his speech, a copy of which he has politely
sent us. Hear him:
Sir; in regard to this question: am an mira man. lam
apS nSt os 10 rivers and harbors
the seaboad. What right has The city Of New York to ask
e s SS ss The
power to provide for light buoys and break
which has been moe literally partaRer in this system Of
no his siae that has as
9f these than my own district the Red River
Of the splendid rivers in America. running through
several Staes and this is what would within Mr. Cal
the people of Louisiana against quitting their hands
into the Treasury for the purpose Of performing work that
what would say to my constituents
In answer 10 the first inquiry as to the right TO
build lighthouse on the lakes and the seaboard
we refer the gentleman to the legislation of Con-
gress from the first session to the present time In
the year 1885, at the first session under the Consti
tuition, Congress passed I" An Act for the estai.
ment and support of light houses, beacons, buovs
and public piers"
1t appears that the States had erected and main
tanned these works by tonnage dues. They sur
rendered the right to levy such dues, and conse.
quenily the obligation to furnish the necessary
facilities for commerce, devolved on the Federal
Government This view was acted upon i'm
mediately; and in 1902, this principle was an
nounced in a report of the Committee on Com
merce, and adopted.
The States of Pennsylvania and Delaware ceded
the site of piers, beacons ETC., to the United
States in 1889 and 1903. Acts for the establish
| ment of lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public
piers, passed from year to year. In fact the
right to establish such on the sea coast, has only
been questioned, after half century of acquies.
ence.
Why should North Carolina erect light houses
along her dangerous coast Her own commerce
is trifing in amount and value, Her seamen know
every nook and inlet of the coast. They will not
be at the expense of lighting their shores for the
benefit Of foreign commerce. &c. too, of Florida
Even Massachusetts,, with its long-extended cape
projections and beacons for the vast commerce ex-
posed to shipwreck.
Then, as to the West Why should one State
keep the river clear within its own limits, when
it is the channel for the commerce of the whole
valley! The front proprietors might Just as well
be asked to keep the channel in good order, as
that the States should be expected to do it.
Mr.. Morse is consistent when he puts the sea.
coast lights and buoys on the same footing as the
improvements Of the West. But the man who
represents the Raft region, and votes against an
appropriation for its removal, must make up his
mind to retire to private life.
We have heard the gentleman make speeches to
his constituents, but he talked about every thing
but internal Improvements.
Mr.. Calhoun's project for inland navigation from
New Orleans 10 Boston, worthy of his great
mind. In 1919, when Secretary of War, he made
y voluminous report, in which he urges with great
force the importance of constructing roads and
canals. 1t equals the conception of De Witt Gin
ton. But while the latter was practical man,
and dealt with realities, Me- Calhoun was meta
weaver of subtle theories and dis.
tinctions. One hought-the other acted The
one left the Erie Canal: the other, thor ghts on
the Constitution.
When such men as Washington, Gallatin, Cal
houn, lend their names to any great measure
smaller men may safely follow their example