The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-04-30
Col. Lamaxss ResoluSfoEs-'Ehe
South and West.


ries by the general government. To this
scheme should be added another for re-
moving the obstacles to navigation at the
mouth Of the river by deepening the Dar.
or by ship canal, ore or both.
The results which will flow from the ac-
complishment Of these schemes con
sidered, nothing ia the way Of internal
Improvement comparable to them in IN
portaDce can be undertaken by the fed
eral government. Twenty-nine years ago
/ November 18th, 1845J convention rep
resenting seventeen States was held at
! Memphis to consider these schemes and
to concert plans for their adoption.
Z Hon. john G. Calhoun, d strict construc-
ZIONIST Of the straitest sect, and next 70
| Jefferson and Madison, the abIest ex-
1 Founders Of the constitution the country
has ever produced, attended the conyen-
ton and presided over its deliberations.
The body adopted 4 memorial TO Congress
which bIr Calhoun from special com
mittee reported favorably to the L. 5.
Senate with an unauswerable argument in
support Of the measure. He demonstra-
! ted the power and duty Of Congress I'M
der the Constitution to carry out the work,
and by a strong array Of statistics showed
the vast and rapidly increasing commerce
Of the Mississippi, including its tributaries,
the great losses to which this commerce
was exposed-the practieability Of remov-
/ ing the principal causes of them and
/ thereby increasing the safety and facility
Of their navigation. These statistics are
valuable even at this late day, and the
report is interesting for its estimates of
the future growth in population. indus
/ try and productions of the immense empire
embraced in the magnificent regions
washed by the Mississippi and its tribu-
taries
Coming to the question, who has the
power and whose duty is it, TO improve
the navigation of these streams and re
claim the lands subject to their inunda-
ton, Mr. Calhoun said:
1T is certainly not that OF individusls-
Its improvement is beyond the reach OF their
means and power. Nor is it that of the
several States bordering on its naYigable
waters; it is also beyond their means aud |
power. acting separately. Nor can it be |
done by their united and joint action -
There are sixteen States. and two Terrific |
rjcs that soon viii be States, lying either |
wholly or partly within the valley of the |
Mississippi, and there still ia ample space
for several more
These all have ! common interest 10 lis
commerce. Their united aud joint action
would be requisite for the provement of
its navigation. Bus the only means by
which that could be obtained Is expressly |
prohibited by the 10th section, 1st article
of the Cons tuition, which provides that
mo State shall enter into any treaty, ALI
0nce or confederation" But if neither in1i-
vjjuals, nor States scting feperately or
jointly, have the power TO improve its nav
gation, it must belong to the Federal gov
crnment, if the power exists at all as there
is other agency authority in our sys-
TEN OF government by which it could be ex-
ercised. But If it does, it must be comprised
among the expressly granted and enumera-
ted powers, or among those necessary and
proper to carry them into effect. es under
either, all the powers bel onging to it are
to be found. And thus he question is pre-
sented for consideration. Is it To be found in
either2 The decision involves important
If it is nor, then this great
branch of our commerce already among
the greatest, and destined in a short time
10 exceed every olher-will be left ex-
posed 70 the great hazard and enormous loss
Is TO which it has been shown to be subject
ed. without any power in the system any
where to provide for its safety. although
millions might be annually saved by a COM
paratiyely small expenditure, as expert
ence mas proved Whether such be the
case OF not. your com mittee will next pro- (
coed to consider.
Your committee after full and mature
of the subject are OF the
opinion that there is authority to do the
work. and that it is To be found in the DOW
sr so regulate commerce with foreign {
nations and among the several States" and
more specifically to regulate /: among the
states,
Mr.. Calhoun conceded that in delega-
titution had in contemplation the Allan (
ic coast, the region of the Mississippi not ]
1eing then embraced in the territory of the !
United States; but he argued that the rea-
on which influenced them to delegate to 6
congress the power to regulate commerce t
mong the States are now as applicable to :
he States bordering on the Mississippi,
nd its great tributaries as it was then to !
hose bordering on the Atlantic coast If /
was necessary to delegate it in reference i
0 the latter to prevent embarrassment
nd collision between them, it is equally
rgent in reference to those bordering on G
be Mississippi, because the numerous l
tates grouped together on it, and depend 7
lg on its navigation exclusively as the
ledium of their commerce with each
Their and the rest of the world, would be {
lore exposed to embarrassment and col d
sions without common power to reg L
late their commerce. than those
.retched ont on long line of sea- :;
lore.
The whole South and West will en- h
orse the resolutions of Col Lamar. f.
hey will be gratifet that they have re- Of
lived the unanimous sanction of the "
to whom they we're referred. Il
ct the South and West, constituting the
eat central column of the Union. stand
lifted for improvin G the commerce of the 70
and its tributaries. for remov- ii,