Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-24
TONNAGE DUTIES.

TONNAGE DUTIES.
We mentioned in our article yesterday the
bill which Senator Douglas offered during the
last Congress, proposing to give in advance
the consent of Congress to the imposition
of duties on tonnage for improvement pur-
poses. The condition of our columns did not
permit us to do more than present meagre
sketch of the leading features of Mr.. Douglass
bill; but in order to give full and accurate
history of the subject to which it relates, it is
necessary that we should lay before our readers
the bill itself We, therefore, append it to
these remarks; and if the state of our columns
permitted, we would republish the interesting
debate, to which it gave rise in the Senate, in
August, 1852.
Technically, we may be wrong in calling Mr..
Douglass proposition with regard to tonnage
duties bill; inasmuch as it was offered as an
amendment to an internal improvement bill.
It was offeled,r TOO, during the Ia5! days of a
long and protracted session, when it could not
command that attention which its merits, and
which the importance of the subject matter to
which it referred were entitled. Therefore it
was voted down; it gave rise to long de-
bate, in which the sternest States-rights demo-
Gratis in the Senate gave their sanction to the
principles it involved. Truman Smith, of Con-
necticut-the notorious Truman Smith, of Con-
nccticut-was its leading and most prominent
opponent, while it was sustained and voted for
by such men as Butler, of South Carolina,
Weller, of California, and Hunter and Mason,
of Virginia.
We sustain, most heartily, the project of re-
moving the internal improvement question from
the national legislature. We suggest that it
may be removed from the national legislature
by permitting the States to levy tonnage duties
for the purpose of making local improvements
In that system we can see no danger We can
not see how it would give rise to corrupt COM
binations, or lead to imprudent undertakings,
or encourage extravagant expenditures. But
we do not suggest plan for the consideration
of Congress, for our purpose is to call the atten
ton of Congress and the country to subject
which we deem of vast Importance; leaving it
to the representatives of the people, and of the
States, to mature plan by which the interests
of the nation may be promoted without violat
ing the Constitution, or opening field for ven-
atty and corruption.
The plan by which Senator Douglas proposed
to accomplish the desirable end we have just
mentioned, was briefly sketched in our article
of yesterday; and through fear that our brief
sketch did not fully and faithfully represent it,
we attach it to these hasty remarks. 1t was
presented in the Senate on the 23d day of Au-
gust, 1852. and il in these words:
SEC. -. And be IL further enacted, That Con-
gress hereby consents that each State NAV au.
thorize the public authorities of any city or town
within its limits, which may be situated on the
coast Of the Atlantic or Pacific oceans, or Of the
Gulf of Mexico, or on the banks Of any bay or arm
Of the sea connecting Herewith, or on the shores
Of lakes Champlain, Ontario, Erie, ST. Clair, HUI
ron, Michigan, or Superior, or on the banks of any
bay or arm of the lake connecting with either Of
said lakes, TO levy duties of tonnage not exceed
ing ten cents per ton, upon boats and vessels of
every description entering the harbor waters
within the limits of such city or town Provided.
That the funds derived from said duties shall be
e. 2ended exclusively in constructing, enlarging,
deepening, improving, anu securing safe ana com
modious harbors and the entrances thereto, at
such cities and towns, and shall be applied to no
other purpose whatever: and p,oviSed further,
That no more higher duties shall be charged
than shall be necessary for the purposes herein
specified; and Congress hereby consents, also,
that the several States bordering said lakes or
either of them or any two or more Of said States,
through their joint action by agreement and COM
pact with each other may make or cause TO be
made such works and structures as shall be me-
cessary to improve and render safe and conve-
nient the navigation of said lakes, or either Of
them, and Of the channsds connecting them to-
gether, either by deepening the channels or by
artificial communications; and for this purpose
they may, by uniform rule, divert a portion of
the tonnage duties not exceeding four cents per
ton, collected at all the towns and cities within
the States entering into such agreement and COM
pact; and IN case any canal or artificial commu-
nication shall be made, reasonable tolls may be
collected thereon sufficient to defray the expense
OF keeping the same in repair, but no more.
SEC =. And BE- II further enacted, That in all
cases where any navigable river or water may be
situated wholly or in part within the limits Of
any State Congress hereby consents that the legs-
lature thereof may provide for the improvement