Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-28

81.
only diversity Of opinion among them arose upon tn,
point those duties should be levied and the
constructed by the Federal Government or under State
authority These doubts solved BY the clause
providing in effect that while the power was reserved to
sne snoud not be exercised except by the con-
sent OF Congress- order that the local legislation for the
improvement OF navigation might not conflict with the
general enactments for the regulation of Yet
the nrst Congress which assembled under the Constu-
lion commenced that series of contradictory and partial
enactments which has continued to the present time and
proven the fruitful source Of conflict and dssenson
The hrst OF these acts provided that all for the
support of lighthouses beacons, buoys, andpubc piers
Should be paid out of the national treasury on the con-
dtion that the States in which the same should be sua
ted respectively should cede the United States the said
works. together with the lands and tenements there
unto belonging and together with the jurisdiction OF the
same" A few months afterwards the same Congress
passed an act consenng that the States Of Rhode Island
Maryland and Georgia might levy tonnage duties for the
purpose OF improving certain harbors and rivers within
their respective limits This contradictory legislation
upon subject of great national Importance although
commenced BY the first Congress, and frequently
fropriatons from the national treasury have
and irregular sometimes granssi and at othesk witS
held hopes only toDe Sdceeeded by dsap-
pointmentstonnage duties have also been collected
the consent Of Congress- at various times and for limited
periods in Pennsylvania Maryland Virginia, North Ca
rona South Carolina Georgia, Alabama Massachusetts,,
Rhode Island and perhaps other States Indeed there
has been time since the Declaration Of Indepen
dence when tonnage duties have been collected under
State authority for the improvement Of rivers har
bors both The last giving the consent Of Congress
the collection Of these duties passed for the benefit
Of the port Of Baltimore in 1885, and will not expire
until 1861.
Thus will be seen that the proposition to pass gen.
era law giving the consent of Congress to the imposition
of tonnage duties according to uniform rule and upon
equal terms in all the States and Territories of the
Union, does net contemplate the introduction of new
principle into legislation upon this subject 1t only
proposes partial and fuctuating policy into
q permanent and efficient system.
If this proposition should receive the sanction of Con-
gress and be carried into successful operation by the
States it would withdraw river and harbor improvements
from the perls Of the political arena and commit them to
the fostering of the local authorities, with steady
and unceasng of for their prosecution
The system would be plain direct and simple in respect
harbor Improvements Each town and city would have
charge of the improvement of its harbor and would
be authorized to tax its commerce to the extent
cessary for its construction The money could be applied
other object than the improvement Of the harbor
and higher duties could be levied than necessary
for that purpose There would to be danger of
the power being abused for in addition to the resric
tons, limitations, and conditions which should be en-
braced in the laws comforting the consent of Congress-
interest will furnish adequate and ample assurances
and motives for the faithful execution of the trusts If
any town whose harbor needs improvement should fail
impose the duties and make the necessary works.
neglect would inevitably tend to drive the commerce to
some rival port, which would use all the means IN its
power to render it's harbor safe and eommodous and a
ford all necessary protection and facilities to navigation
and trade IT, the other hand, any place should at
tempt impose higher duties than will be absolutely
cessary for the construction of the requisite improvements
this line of policy to the extent of the would bave
the same deeterous effects upon its prosperity The
injurious influences would result from errors and
bunders the plan of the work. from extravaganza
and corruption in the expenditure of the money Hence
eachocay and every citizen and therein
would have direct and personal interest in the adoption
of wise pan and in securing strict economy and entire
fidelity in the expenditure of the money While upon the
rivers plan of operations would not be direct and
simple in the Improvement of harbors, yet there
NOT pereered that serious Inconvenience or OBJ
would arise to the success Of the system 1t would
be necessary that the Law which shall grant the consent
of Congress to the imposition of the duties shall also give
like consent in conformity with the provision Of
the Constitution that where the river to be improved
shall form the boundary Of be situated in two
States, such States may enter into compacts with each
other by which they may, under their joint authority
levy the duties and improve the navigation. ...e :.
In this manner Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jer-
sey could enter into compact the improvement the
Delaware river by which each would appoint COM
missioner, and the three commissioners constitute
board which would levy the duties prescribe the mode of
their collection devise the plan of the improvement and
superintend the expenditure of the money The six
States bordering the Ohio river in like manner, could
each appoint commissioner, and the six constitute
board for the improvement of the navigation of that river
be applied to the Mississippi by which the nine States
bordering upon that stream could each appoint
missioner and the nine form board for the removal Of
snags and other distractions in the channel from the
Falls of St. Anthony the Gulf of Mexico. There
be difficulty, therefore, in the execution of the plan
where the water lies in two States, or
forms the boundary thereof in whole in part and
where the river is entirely within the limits of any one
State like the Illinois Alabama, it may be improved
such the Legislature may prescribe, subject
only to such conditions and limitations may be
tanned in the act of Congress giving its AL the
necessities aud difficulties upon this subject seem have
been oreseen and provided for in the clause of the
Constitution wherein isis declared in effect that with
the consent of Congress- duties may be levied for
the improvement Of rivers and harbors and that the
era States may enter into compacs with each other for
that purpose whenever it shall become necessary subject
only such rules Congress shall prescribe for the
guation of commerce ....
1t only remains for me to notice some of the objections
which have been urged to this system 1t has been said
that tonnage duties taxes upon the OF the
country which must be paid in the end by the
of the articles bearing the burden do not feel
disposed question the soundness Of this proposition
presume the is true of all the duties, tolls, and
charges upon all public works. whether constructed by
Government individuals. The State Of New York de-
rves of than two millions Of dollars year
from her canals or course this is upon the COM
Of the country and is borne by those who in
tcrested in and benefited by it. This tax is blessing
burden dependant upon the fact whether il has the
eject to diminish increase the cost of transportation
If could have enjoyed the benefit of the canal
without the payment of tolls and it, by its construction
and the payment the cost of transportation has been
duced to one tenth the which We would have been
compelled to have paid without it, who would not be will
ling make still further contribution to the security
and facilities of navigation thereby the price Of reghs
bar ;pa