National Republican., 1873-12-31

pretty broad In scne rcspec,s but scarcely
suf,ssnsay 90 to justify the fears oppressed
by the Wkig that thc sovercienty Of the
States are about to be once more wiped out
Il b little singularthat those States which
have been most aided and cared for by the
Gcnenl Government have the least jealousy
In regard 10 the Infringement Of State SOW
ereignty. In 1857 the State Of Vlr-
ginia, In her sovereign capacity, ccdcd
to tho General Government tho north
western territory, with the provi.
sion that 1t should ever remain
free from involuntary servitude. Out Of
this magnificent territory have been erected
all the present Northwestern States That arc
now clamorins, In their gnnges, for FREE
water. line back through old Virginia as an
outlet for their productions 10 the markets
Of the world. Ithas not ye, been pretended
that Congress hns power to construct such
waterways or highways through the do
main Of the States without tho consent OF
| such State, unless II be necessary for the
common defence or for carrying the mails
But II should be remembered that when the
above oession was made the ''more perfect
Union" established by the Federal Consti.
tuition had not been perfected. The Gov
eminent was then confedcracy Of States
In adopting the Constitution tho power to
regulate commerce was conferred upon
the Genenl Government. But did II ever
occur to the sticklers for ''5tate rights" TINT
no provision was made by the fathers
In their wisdom for the transaction Of
commerce on land rs well as on
the watcrf In their days canals, nail.
ways. electric telegraphs, steamers and
pneumatic tubes were all unknown as
means OF transportation or communication.
Docs the Whig pretend to say that Con-
gress may not change line Of telegraph
into apost route when that method Of com.
mmication shall supercede the present
mailsf or that freight transported from
State to State upon railways and canals Is
not commerce within the meaning of the
word as used In the Constitution Just as
much as though they were carried In YES
soils on rivers, or lakes, or oceansf We arr
too apt TO forget, in reading the Constitu
| 'oht hov hstio hb huhSio
the wonderful transformations that wer'
soon TO be developed in the means Of effect
ing the same ends. which were duly con
sidarcd 10 the preparation of Its provisions
It would appear. therefore, that fall
construction ,of Its language woult
be 70 acknowledge that II conferrc'
upon Congress the powers to arrive at tn
same practical results now which II cncon
passed then by whatever means may be a
Its command for that purpose. Passenger
and freight then reached the James rive
from New York by sailing vesscl-a waite
passage confcssedly under the control o
Congress. Now they make the same tril
in less than one tenth Of the same time b.
nilway-a land passage. Is the latte
method Of transportation one whit tn
less commerce than the formcrf The In
vcntions Of man have created revolution
In the means Of arriving at precisely tn
same end In different way from tina
which prevailed when the power 10 reg,l
late commerce and establish post route
: was conferred upon Congress. But 1t
not made to appear that this fact should In
tcrfere In any manner to prevent Congrcs
: from exercising Its regulating prcrogative
: