The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-28

ffofr hat tune to ths present without interruption
on-.Spute. Az natural consequence Of the In
sre .se and extension Of our commerce, ports Of
entry and delivery have been multiplied and esab-
lshec, not only upon oar seaboard, but in the in
terior of the country, upon our lakes and navisa-
Dc rivers. The convenience and safety OF this
commerce have led 10 the extension Of these ex-
peadilures TO the erection Of lighthouses, the
placing, planting, and sinking Of buoys, beacons,
al piers, and the removal Of partial and tempo
obstr0enoGs IN our nayigable rivers, and IN
~ .arboss upon our great lakes as well as on the
sabcard. Although / have expressed to Con-
gress my apprehension that these expenditures
rive sometimes been extrnvagant and dispropor-
l,nate 10 the advantages TO be derived from them,
wave not felt il TO be my duty to refuse my
4 to bills containing them, and have contened
self to follow, in this respect, in the footsteps
~ all my predecessors"
II must be peculiarly grateful to every friend OF
nadsr the Constitution, TO find il fully sustained
ana justified by that yenersted patriot who never
fkiiod, whether in the Cabinet the field, TO stand
by the Constitution. The prosperity and advance
ncnt of his country in all her varied interests and
ss!f riaily in the extension Of her commercial in
teresis by the Improvement of the great natural
avenues and depots of her commerce, were objects
which lay near his heart. He repeatedly, in his
messages to Congress, declared himself the friend
OF those internal improvements which were ma
uonal IN their character and designed TO advance
the great interests Of general commerce. And as
permanent proof Of his sincere devotion to these
intsrests, he placed his approval upon record to
acs OF Congress appropriating more money for
these objects than the aggregate Of all other acts
Of this character which have been sanctioned by
every other Administration, from the adoption Of
our Constitution to the present time.
Sir, it needed the vigorous mind, the determined
will, and the infexible purpose of such man at
fhnk znA af
and guide this policy. II needed his strong arm,
at the same time, TO protect it against the attacks
of its enemies, and to it from the excuses of
Its friends. The nations Of antiquity were accus-
toned to erect statues commemorative Of the vir-
tues and achievements of their heroes and states
men. We, at an humble distance, follow their
example, and the gratitude of this Republic will
soon be evinced by an equestrian statue to be
erected in this Capital in honor of the hero Of
New Orleans.
But, sir, permit me to say, that while the work
of the artist shall transmit to posterty the vcto-
rious General In the attitude of triumph there is
another work, not less permanent, and equally
grand and iRposing--the Delaware breakwater, a
structure which owes its existence chiefly TO the
wisdom, hrmness, aud expanded national feeling
of Andrew Jackson. And the tempest-tossed
mariners through future years who shall take ref
uge behind its surgebeaien wallis will ever be re-
minded Of him, the hero and statesman, whose
policy 1t commentaries, and whose distinctive
character it indicates its silent but impressive
majesty. There it stands, and there we hope it
ever will stand. as he, its great founder, stood,
when in the zenith of his power, firm and i'm
movable, amid the Earring elements of political
factions
Sir, in this review Of the policy of our Govern
ment, shall not omit TO notice the veto message
of President Polk on the river and harbor bill of
1876. That message presents, In a very able man
ner the opinions Of that distinguished statesman,
whose administration fills one Of the brightest
pages of our country's history. Those opinions
had been long befsre formed, expressed, and acted
upon by him from the very commencement of his
public life in the councils of the nation. They
entitled, are all the productions which ema-
mated from the pen of that able man, to our most
respectful consideration. But when we reflect
upon the circumstances which called forth that
veto--the preconcciyed opinions Of the President;
his hitherto consistent opposition to such measures
as he was there called upon officially to approve
an empty Treasury; the pressing exigencies of
the Mexican war the vast amount of debt already
incurred in its prosecution; the prospect OF a still
further increase of this debt and the great uncer-
taInty which then hung the issue OF the con-
test-we cannot fail TO see that, aside from any
views of presidents and clearly settled previous
policy, there were other reasons abundant and
sufficient 10 Justify the course adopted by the Ex-
ecutIve. Indeed, he sets forth, as one OF the
prominent reasons justifying the Withholding of
his approval of that bill, the situation Of our
Treasury, and the embarrassments created by the
war with Mexico. l trust that single exception
occurring under such circumstance will not be
allowed by the American people TO have unsettled
and overturned the well-established policy OF the
country for near half a century on the subject Of
these improvements.
cannot dismiss this review of the constitutional
power in question without referring TO opinions
expressed by two Distinguished statesmen Of diff
ferent sections of the country, and each, during
his public career, welding a political influence
more potent than the highest official station could
give refer to John G. Calhoun and SiIas Wright
Mr. Calhoun, in the report TO which 1 have
already referred, after pursuing at some length a
course OF the most luminous and forcible argu-
mentaton, arrives at the following general con-
illusions. After citing the provisions OF the Con-
stitution and the subsequent acts of Congress, he
says
"Thcse provisions furnish conclusive proof that
the States, under the power TO regulate commerce.
established lighthouses buoys, bescons, and pub
lie piers; that Congress regarded the power as
delegated 10 H. 10 the same extent that the object
Of the power the increased facility and safety
Of commerce along the coast; that 1t nppertained
especially 10 the regulation of commerce among
the States, the portion Of the ocean in It's
vicinity is the great common highway Of the COM
MERGE Of the States bordering on it; and that it
embraced navigation as well as trade"
Again he adds;
Having nov shown that the power to regulate
commerce, fairly construed, embraces The estab-
lishment Of lghihouses, buoys. beacons, and pub
lic piers, for the increased safety and facility of
the commerce Of the Atlantic coast, your com
mittee will next proceed to consider the question,
whether II may not be consttutionally applied to
increase the safety and facility Of the Mississippi
and its waters.n
After pursuing at some length the line Of his
argument, he concludes thus:
"Hsving now shown that the power to regulate
commerce among the States is as applicable TO the
commerce Of the Mississippi as il - 10 that OF the
Atlantic coast, and that the removal Of the OBJ
strucuons which endanger or impede its naviga-
ton is as fully embraced by il as the esiabsh-
ment Of lighthouses, buoys, beacons, and pubic
piers, your committee also Of the opinion that
IT extends TO the removal of like distractions in
it's great navignble tributaries, including such as
have three or more States bounding on their navi-
gable wsiers.n
Thus the whole power claimed by the friends
of these measures rs conceded by this eminent
r - l.