The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-25
Rivers and Harbors-ronnaxe Duties

We copy the following remarks says the Indiana Sen.
ne from the Mobile Is C.) Register OF the 81 instant
they viii serve TO call attention 10 matter Of great
political inlefes, 10 the western States:
"a very intelligent correspondent OF the Advertiser
with great force AID effect the necessity OF adopting early
and efficient for improving and de. penng tho bar
bot OF M bde. We fully concur the wisdom OF the
writer's views In reference 70 an obrc vital TO the
mercisl prosperity Of his pnrt aud u the citizens OF Mo-
other heavy which they bave already sssnmed for
Improvement purposes, should he much gstibed Rt the
~ @ aons Which woas ssb b." .hooa se pa"
ahsnd ought not 10 fat 4 no other oden-igh i be-
t-r The question OF liver and hsrOor and internal in.
pfovements has alwnYs been vexed and in
me balls OF the national Congress. The State rights parry
has steadily denisd the OF Congress erpend the
public In local Improvements in the States. and
as depicted IN coors TOO atihuy d'rkened by expert
ence The long train OF evsot sectional isvorittsn, log
rolling, and corruption woeld follow after prae-
ca acknowedsmeni Of the grant OF constitutional power
Whir the const8on gives 10 Congress the exclusive
powef TO regulate ornnercc apd white II declares thst
'ao state sal without the consent Of Congress lay any
duy, the advocates OF the State rights doctrne Of
asnds od' embarrassed, and The federal inlernalm-
pysment parlisans are str ngihened 10 the discussion
ud be an obIsc, Rfeay 70 De desired tnis question
could b. rever wed from the balls Of Congress and NJ
the time ne ua aid oonntion,l means Tor rver
| aud hsrbor provements should ofler
D1ting the las session oi Congress- Sensior Douglas
RI ~ cd plan Tor ehecng these most desirable ends,
o. the 3i OF August ls3l he introduced an amendment
proyeinent bill which embraced the
lines Of bis plan. This amendment which . appended to
these rem,ss, proposes thar the general government
sh 1uI s IN advance authorize each State
dne or the i'm OF the harbors and
wholly within It's borders, and also the authority ist
contiguous States 20 unite IN JOINT arrange
tonnage duues for the Improvement Of navsahe
Stems. bounding passing through such States The
usrds aod pr5yides Tor The faithful and exclusive
fund 40 rsisrd for the purposes specified aud prS
vdes that higher duties shall be charged Than are ne
cess-rg to meet toe ends propofed
eve unhssi,stiosy appreciation Of the prin
oples OF this snendnent. and hope the subject will
clam the early attention oil the federal legislature tie
true that the southern Sses would start in the adoption OF
TINS policy far behind hef northern sni eastern
general government, and might with justice claim 20 be
paced upon an equal footing with them, takng INTO sc
count elsuve popuiaon ent OF districts, and bsrbo
and river i'm povements. B1twe would be willing 70 fore
20 be.e st demand, for the .ake OF Ioever driving tn.
disturbing element from the federal legstureol closing
mp that su,ce OF corruption, and OF placing IN the hands OF
each State the u authority nd power 10 rors
Improvement and commercial derny. 4 is proper
mark that Mr. Deugss's amendment was offered during
action of Congress- Is prne pies received hovevcr the
suppor aud advocacy OF saoh men as Buue
q South Carolina, Weller OF California and Honer and
Mason Of Vrgna sesdng opponent was the notorious
Truman smith, OF Connecticut
Then follows the amendment. which too lengthy TO
copy This amendment proposed io give the consent o
Congress that each State may authorize the proper an-
ihor,es OF any Town OF ety 10 lay tonnage duties ior
The Improvement OF hatbors at such places secondly
that Congress consents ha, when river wholly with
IN the i,n', OF State, The Legislature thereof may lay
tonnage duties for The Improvement Of such ver and
thiray, that Congress consent that when rver, or any
body OF able waer may he situated in Two or more
States, may form the boundary thereof saeh States
enter into compaets with each other and lay tom
duties TOR the improvement OF the navigation o
such rver or nas,gabe wa,erp We think proper thus
particularly 10 state the provisions oil ihe amend
meni offered by MI Douglas as The subject may be IN
roduced into Congress during The present sess'on The
amendment was defeated by vote OF yeas ~, nays 25
and Mr.. Douglas announced his intention TO renew hls
proposition AZ The next session II will undoubtedly ex
cite much attention The proposition nev and coner
plates important change he policy OF The govern
ment Without expreheng opinion upon IT. we mus
say ha, dsssrvesthe ssrsoss consideration OF Congress