The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-24
n he refused TO carry ii out with regard to western

Ifnis view De correct, then we have one other clause
OF The constitution, IN the very same article but in Sec
on nine, which has been set at naught and dehed by
such inconsistent action II is this In the sixth clause
OF the ninth section OF The first article find; mo
or revenue TO the ports OF State those Of
other" How can you erect light-house-how
you expend money for any other purpose Of improve
nen either Tor The protection regulation OF
IN one part OF the Union only and when the
sity is shown IN another part whether the Atlantic
coast or high up our riversrefase it, without going IN
very teeth oil this provision OF the constluon which
declares that preference shall be given the ports OF
one State over those OF anoher' Then, although il
may be said that the constitution does confer express
power 10 do any particular work. claim that al ihose
who conceie the authority OF the general government
go upon the ocean and expend money, or 10 erect light
houses any other works upon the Atlantic eoaa Tor
the benefit Of any part OF the Unlon under that CLAUSE
OF The constitution which gives Congress power ITO
regulate commerce." cannot deny the power 10 the
interior The eighteenth clause OF the eighth section OF
the first article OF the constitution coners Congress
power " 10 make all laws which shall be necessary and
proper for carrying into execution the foregoing p0wers
Il does not specify the particular instances in which the
granted powers shall be exercised but il gives general
power 10 regulate commerce" " declares that no pref
erence shall be given TO port anoher and then
1t gives Congress power TO pass all laws necessary to
carry into execution every general power granted.
i did strike me- and still strikes me- as strange in
consistency TO TO exercise this power, confer
red by the constitution, at point in the Union and for
the benefit OF one po OF the Unon or to go abroad to
foreign and il for the general benefit OF for
egn commerce. and to deny its exercises the right TO
exercise IT. when equal necessity is demonstrated for
It's exercise within the limits OF own country on our
own navigable streams and lakes This Inconsistency
results apprehend, and have stated before, from
what has been the education OF gentlemen living upon
the Atlantic slope OF country under The ideas which
existed at the time OF the formation OF The constitution,
when we had no great lakes. no great rivers. and no
western commerce, and when ideas Of commerce were
restricted to that carried the waters OF the ocean and
those rivers emptyng directly into the from this
bench OF the country, which compared to the West 10
mere bench Commerce then considered existing
here and nowhere else, because we had no other Tho
doctrine then confined to improvements upon the At
lanic coast which perhaps, considering the magnitude
OF The rivers flowing into IT. was correct But since that
Time there has been great expansion OF our country;
the great West has been built up, and we have COM
merce there fully equal if greater than that the
Atlantic coast. Ii then, taking these things
into considerations that if these ideas right in
the beginnings the constitution should be still held 40 SUI
hcient give the power as far our limits ex
tend and that old notions, which have application 10
our present condition, should be abandoned. sAts
Mr.. DOWNS. Mr.. President, as the proposition made
by the honorable from Iowa. 10 make this test
queslionto reject the amendments and save the bl-is
In entire accordance with the position which took in
the commencement, wish 10 make a few remarks IN
sustaining that position. Whether the adoption OF these
amendments, which have been agreed to by the SENATE
as in committee OF the whole, Will defeat the bill IN the
House, must be matter of opinion with individuals
do not in the light oil any contest between the
two houses. | go into discussion OF that kind.
no, influenced by any such eehug; but try to sscer-
tain the fact IN this, in al. other maers for the saus
lacton OF my mind and have come to the con-
cu-lon not because there Ia any particular obstnacy or
peconceved opinion the House OF Representatives,
any particular pocvliy 10 opinions oil peculiar nature
10 prevent them from action, but from the late period OF
the session, from The difficulty OF the subject itself, and
from all the circumstances surrounding --and nothing
occurred IN the debate To change my opinion-that il
these large amendments be made TO the bill Will be
necessarily defeated. Ns
desire 10 vote for the bill as il cane from the House.
| think tndt as IL came 10 us II which should
pass, and therefore am anxious 10 keep as II was
voted Tor he particular amendment under consider
again il depended on that amendment alone; but shall
against il because think better the safe
" OF the bill that OF these amendments should be
adopted
But, Mr. President my principal object in rising was
TO advert for moment 10 OF the arguments used
by the honorable senator from Tennessee Mr. JoSEs in
reia,ion TO Ihs subject The honorable senator from
tennessee, has doae frequently in this debate.
alluded 10 platforms in rather sneerng manner, and he
has taken to-day view oil platforms generally which
suppose will apply 10 the whig as well as to the demo-
cratic platform understood him to intimate that there
something in platforms differing from the constiiu-
uonsomethng in contrast or IN opposition TO the con-
suton OF the country and that therefore platforms were
not be sworn TO. not 10 be adhered to. Now, 70 far
from there being any conflict contrast between the
platform OF party aud the constitution, have always
thought that the very object OF the platform OF party
was TO give their construction 10 the constluon-thsir
Interpretation OF ito pledge themselves TO adopt par
tcular line OF policy in carrying out the powers coner
red by the constitution. Why, them should the gentle-
man come here and contrast the platform with the con-
sulion, and ask us to adhere TO the constitution, and
not 10 the platform Would the gentleman have US be-
ieve that his party or any other party has adopted
platform inconsistent with the constitution Have they
adopted platform which tney do not tnink conSclon-
tous Interpretation OF the constitution warrants can
the gentleman that If his party has done
tainly mine has not The democratic platform 10 our
construction oil the constitution.
Bu sir, the position thus taken by the gentleman from
Tennessee in regard to platforms has something in II
which hope will elicit the attention OF the people OF the
county OF all parties. His party, believe, nj the last
presidential election, and think Others but
tanly the last, their candidate without any plat
form. Their principles to be inferred from their
candidates and their course. They decided to make
platform. As u very often happens when people 81
lent and non. .commilla and left 10 infer what
ought 10 be declared did that al the last presi
dental electonand II necessarily will always turn out
when there is no patform-some persons cheated.
In portion OF the Union said the candidate
teralned the particular set OF opinions which enter
taned IN that quartet and another quarter different
opinions held, and there platform to refer 10.
| Mr. BORLAND. They are doing pretty much the
same thing now.
! Mr, DOWNS. They are doing the thing now.
but little am afraid that, finding that the old
catch would not do-hnding that the same sratagem
would not apply twlce-lhat the system would not
do again. Tor the OF the last presidential eIec
ton too recent 10 induce exact revival oil hey
were afraid 10 resort 10 it.
Mr. BADGER | am very sorry TO interfere with my
| friend IRON Louisiana, but ! must really ask ii his
marks are pertinent to the river and harbor bill
| Mr. DOWNS did not know that the whig party
were so tender this point dld not know that their
sensibi,es easily touched; but hndng that out
| shall touch them little more. Lauybter.1
hlr. BADGER have 40 other objection to the .touch-
ing" except that think, II the senator from LouAiana 10
friend 10 the bill il would be great deal better for him
10 lei US baye vote upon Il than to be occupying the