The republic., 1851-03-15
President Fillmore and the Senators from
Maine.


President Fillmore and the Senators from
Maine.
We have already alluded to the remark of
MIR. CLAY, in the Senate, on the last day OF its
session, in regard to the exercise of the power
of Congress for the regulation of commerce.
From the official report of the Senate debate we
extract the sketch of the proceedings which
called forth the observation, for the purpose Of
pointing public attention to it, with few words
of comment:
LIGHTHOUSES.
"Mr. Bradbury. l now move that the Light
house bill be taken up. 1t will take but moment
to pass it,
''The question being taken upon that motion, it
was adopted
"Mr. HAmLIN. If the Senate will pardon me for
a single moment, rise for the purpose of saving
time. This bill contains only the ordinary small
appropriations for lighthouses It is a small bill,
and think it might be safely put upon its pass
age without reading it. 1t contains appropria.
tions for only abost two hundred thousand dol
lars while bills of this character generally con-
tain from half million to a million and q half
The bill was then read the first time by its title.
The Senate, as in Committee of the Whole,
proceeded to consider the bill and it was read
a second time, and reported to the Senate with
out amendment, when il was ordered to a third
reading.
81 Mr. CLAY. wish TO make single OBJ
servation. l hope the Senate and tho country
will take notice with what facility and with
what unanimity the power to regulate commerce
upon the seaboard is exercised, and what opposi
ton is made to the exercise of the power in
relation to the valley of the Mississippi.
Z" Mr.. HAMLIN. The difference in the two casea
is, that the is calculated to give light and the
other ia not.
.sThe bill was then read third time and
passed"
Well might Mr.. CLAY desire to fix the eyes
of the country on the remarkable fact to which
he directed their attention The power to
build lighthouses, and the power to improve har
bors and rivers, are both derived from the same
clause Of the Constitution: Congress shall
have power to regulate commerce acith foreign
nations and among the several States and
with the Indian tribes" The grant compre
hends all foreign commerce, and all commerce
among the States. In the convention that
adopted the Constitution there was no opposi-
ton to this clause, and it passed without di
vision.
President FILLMORE, in the liberal and ma
tional spirit which distinguishes his entire
policy, is in favor Of Lighthouse bills, as well
as of River and Harbor bills. eff ships" he
said, in his annual message, :" laden with valu-
able cargoes, approach the shore, or sail along
the coast, Lighthouses are necessary at suitable
points for the protection of life and property"
After enumerating the various objects for which
the commercial power of the Constitution had
been invoked for the benefit of our seacoast, he
continued "Nor do perceive any difference
between the power of Congress to make ap
preparations for objects of this kind on the
ocean, and the power to make appropriations
= for similar objects on lakes and rivers, wher-
ever they are large enough to bear on their
waters an extensive traffic." In the exercise
of this power, President FILLMORE urged that
" we should consider ourselves as deliberating
and acting for one and the same country, and
bear contantly in mind that our regard and
our duty are due, not to particular part only,
but to the whole"
So much for the WHIc policy as laid down
by President FILLMORE 1t is eminently
tional, looking to the lakes as well as the two
oceans-to California, az well as Michigan OF
Maine. But turn now to the Democratic poll
cy. Mr.. HAMLIN and Mr.. BRADBURY are the
two Democratic Senator's from Maine. They
both spoke against the River and Harbor bill.
There was time te, examine it. At too
: late period of the session it was urged upon
Congress, and disposition was manifested to
force it through. The Senate could not ex
anime the items" 1t was by such arguments
as these that they opposed the River and Har
Dor bill. MIR. BRADBURY threw every imagina-
BILE impeachment in its way, spoke against time,
and finally endeavored to clog it with the ex-
traordinary amendment which has been the
subject of so much comm !ent, and which, with
Mr.. CAss's modification, came so near passing.
We quote from the report of the Republic;
"ldr. BRADBURY moved TO amend the bill by add
ing thereto provision. that theso appropriations
shall only be carried into eee when there shall
be surplus in the treasury alta paying all other
appropriations.
he addressed the Senate at len 9Th on the sub
Jecs OF tho public debt and tho wa ut of provision
'o' "-payment. Also upon the ju 'tice OF s0rcing