Newspaper Page Text
THU CONSTITUTIONALIST. 1
JAMES GARDNER, JR.
TEK M S .
Tri-Weekly, per annum, $0 00 |
If paid in advance, 5 00 j
W eekly, per annum, 3 00 j
If paid in advance, 2 50
fc>- All new subscript ions must be paid in advance, j
Advertisements inserted at the following rales:
Tri-Weekly, per square, fO 50
W eekly, per square, first insertion, 73
Lack subsequent insertion, 5'J -
Monthly, “ SI 00
JKyAll advertisements not marked, will be in
serted until forbid, and charged accordingly.
QZr Postage must be paid uu all Communications
and Letters of business. >
TWENTY- NINTH CONGRESS,
r I II S T SESSI o > .
[Correspondence of the Baltimore S mi.]
Washington, July 14, 1846.
{SENATE.
Among the petitions presented was one by
Mr. Webster from certain importing houses,
protesting against the passage of the tariff
bill. Mr. W. seconded the prayer ol the
petition by a speech, in which he denounced
the bill as dangerous and ruinous to the busi
ness community.
Several unimjiortant matters having been
disposed of, the consideration of the Uriffbili
was resumed.
Mr. Evans having the floor, spoke at great
length in opposition to the bill, and in reply to
Mr. Lewis. Without concluding, he gave
way, and the bill was laid aside.
The graduation hill, as amended by the
house, was resumed, and alter a brief dis
cussion referred to a committee.
The remainder of the day was devoted to
the consideration of Executive business.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The consideration of the Senate bill to
reduce and graduate the price of public lands,
was once more resumed.
The question being on an amendment of
fered yesterday by Mr. McKay to another
amendment by Mr. Cobb,
Mr. '1 'ruinan Smith, at twenty-five minutes
after ten, moved that the House adjourn.
This was negatived—yeas 6, nays 163.
The amendment of Mr. McKay was then
agreed to.
The amendment of Mr. Cobb, as amended,
was also agreed to.
The bill as amended was then read a third
time and passed—yeas 92, nays 90.
The following is the shape in which the
bill passed:
The first section provides that all public
lands which shall have been offered lor sale
twenty years or more, on the Ist of December,
1846, shall thereafter be subject to entry at
one dollar per acre for the term of five years.
All the before described lands then remaining
on sale, shall be subject to entry at 75 cents
per acre for another term of five years, and
all such unsold at the end of the last men
tioned term be entered at 50 cents per acre.
The second section provides that the quan
tity of land which the President of the U. S.
nhall hereafter proclaim and offer for sale in
any one year, shall not exceed three millions
of acres.
The third section provides that upon every
reduction of the price of said lands, which
shall take place by the graduation process of
this act, the occupants or settlers upon any
of the said lands shall have the right of pre
emption at such graduated or reduced prices,
whicli right should extend to a period of six
months from and after the date at which the
respective graduations shall take place: and
any land not entered by the respective occu
pants within that period shall be liable to be
entered or purchased by any other person
until the next graduation or reduction in price
shall take place, when it shall, if not pre
viously purchased, be again aubject to the
right of pre-emption for six months, as before,
and so on, from time to time, as said reduction
shall take place; provided, that nothing in this
act shall interfere with any right which has
accrued or may accrue by virtue of any act
granting per-emplions to actual settlers upon
the public lands.
•Section fourth provides that all acts and
parts of acts as provide for an exemption
from the imposition of taxes upon lands sold
by the United States, for five years from and
after the day of sale, be and the same are
hereby repealed.
There appears to be no doubt but that the
Senate will concur in the amendments.
The Senate bill providing for the improve
ment of the navigation of the Ohio, Missis
sippi, Missouri and Arkansas rivers, was
taken up and rejected, by a vote of yeas 120,
nays 48.
The House then went into committee of
the whole, and considered the bill authoriz
ing the issue of Treasury Notes on a loan.—
Ax a late hour the committee rose, when Mr.
McKay gave notice of a resolution to termi
nate the debate to-morrow at noon. The
House then adjourned.
I yesterday stated that Mr. Smith, from
the committee on roads and canals, to whom
hud been referred numerous memorials in fa
vor of the construction of a rail road from
New York to the Pacific Ocean, had made
an adverse report thereon. It is very inter
esting. The following is an extract:
“By reference to the map, it will be seen,
that this proposed rail road route, is not on
the top of a range of mountains, but like all
others similar routes through lofty ranges,
it passes through gorges and narrow defiles,
overhung by rocks and by mountain peaks -
of the most terrific altitude. These inoun- !
tains, thro’ and among which the asked for I
rail road would run, are from 7,000 to 16,- !
000 feet high. In two places the road would ;
have-Ao be 8,000 feet above the level of the
sea. Amid these vast solitudes, the snow
must necessarily drift in heaps of mountain
magnitude, and it is said lies unineltcd du
the greater portion of the year. If the art of
man could by any possibility, contrive to re
move at a reasonable expense these vast
masses of snow, it could not prevent a return
»f the labor every wintry storm. And these
•terms appear late in the Spring, as well as
early in the fall, for the rains bf low lands
are all uubces of snow in the mountains.—
When H rains in the valley, it generally
enows on.the mountains, except in very
warm weather. Again, if the immense mass
c« of snow to be removed, extended but a
few miles, the difficulty might be overcome, 1
bat when the great length ot the road over the !
snowy region is considered, the difficulty be- j
comes impossible. Sixteen hundred and six
ty-five miles of the road are upwards of half !
a mile high, and 800 feet over.” In conclu
sion, the report says “it is safe to say that
the work could not be accomplished for one \
hundred millions of dollars.”
I A bill is however reported, appropriating j
' 825.000 for a survey ol the Upper Missouri,
j Columbia and Clarke’s rivers, and the North
passage of the Rocky Mountain, lor the pur
pose of ascertaining the possibility of epon
{ ino a cheap and easy communication be
i tween the navigable waters ot the Missouri
and "Columbia rivers, and to estimate the
i probable cost of constructing such improve
ments.
Washington, July 15,1846.
SENATE.
After the presen'alion ot petitions.the con
sideration of the warehousing bill was re
sumed, the question being on its passage.
Mr. Clayton gave his views, alter which
the hill was passed by the following vote :
YEAS —Messrs. Allen, Archer, Ashley, Atchi
son , Atherton, Bagby, Benton, Berrien, Breese,
Bright, Calhoun, 1 ass, Chalmers, Colquitt, Dick-
I iuson, Dix, Fairfield, llannegan, Haywood, Hous
ton, Johnson of La., Lew is, McDuffie, Benny batk
| er, Rusk, Met ier, Speight, Turney, W ebsler, W est
j cot!, Vulee—3l.
NAYS—M es>rs. Barrow,Cameron, Cillcy, John
i M. Cl; iyton, Thomas Clayton, Crittenden, DaVis,
Dayton, Greene, Huntington, Jarnagm, Johnson
of Md., Maugum, Miller, Moreliead, A lies, Bhelps,
Simmons, Sturgeon, Woodbridge—2o.
The tariff'bill was then taken up. Mr.
Evans having the floor, resumed and conclu
ded his remarks from yesterday in opposition
j to the bill. When he concluded there ap
peared to be a general disposition on the ad
ministration side of the Senate, to lake the
question at once on the bill, and there were
repealed cries of “question.”
Mr. Davis, however, moved that the fur
ther consideration of the bill be postponed
till to-morrow, as he desired to speak.
On thisjnotion a division was had, and the
result was—yeas 34, nays 32. *So the bill
was postponed till to-morrow.
It is now evident that the question on the
passage of the bill will be taken in a much
shorter time than was anticipated, the whig
Senators only being desirous to speak.
The Treasury note bill was received from
the House and referred. Numerous private
bills were then disposed of.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The consideration of the Treasury note
bill was resumed in committee of the whole,
and debated till noon. It was then reported
to the House with an amendment providing
850,000 for the payment of the “lost treasury
notes.”
The amendment was agreed to, and the
hill as amended passed by a vole of yeas 118,
nays 47. It was then sent to the Senate.
The House then went into committee and
took up the bill providing for the payment of
the volunteer Jorces for one year.
In the course of the discussion which en
sued, Mr. McKay, in answer to a question
stated, that the 811,700,000 in this bill is in
addilion to the ten millions heretofore appro
priated.
Mr. (i. Davis moved to amend by providing
for the payment of volunteers called out but
not taken into service.
The arnendmcMil was discussed by Messrs.
Ralliburn, Vinton, Houston and others, afier
which, at a iate hour, the committee rose
without any definitive action on the bill, and
the House adjourned.
Washington, July 16, 1816.
•SENATE.
Mr. Webster, in conformity to a promise
made yesterday, introduced a written state
ment for the purpose of showing that the pre
sent bill for the modification of the tariff will
not produce any thing near the sumoftwen
ty-eight millions. In the course of his re
marks, he said he would not be deterred from
pursuing the course he has marked out for
himself with regard to petitions, by any re
marks of the “Union,” charging him with a
desire to create a panic.
After the presentation of sundry petitions
against the present bill, Mr. Lewis, from the
finance committee, reported back the Trea
sury Note bill without amendment. It was
considered as in committee of the whole,
and then postponed til! to-morrow.
Mr. llannegan then called up the resolu
tion for an adjournment on the 20th of July.
Mr. Turney moved to substitute the 10 h
of August.
Mr. llaneoan accepted the modification.
Mr. I ,ewis opposed the resolution, and
moved that it be laid on the table.
After some remarks from Messrs. Sevier,
Calhoun, Cass and others, the motion to lay
on the table was rejected.
The resolution was then passed by a vote
of 30 to 16.
After some debate on (he Texas navy bill,
the consideration of the tariff bill was re
sumed.
Mr. Davis having the floor, spoke at great
length in opposition to the bill.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. McKay, from the committee on Ways
and Means, reported a bill making appropria
tions for the following objects:
For arrearages for pay and mileage of mem
bers of Congress, 8166.700.
For expenses of the delegations of Indians
now here, from and back to their homes, $61,-
540.
For fulfilling treaty with the Kansas tribe,
810.000.
For other expenses attending treaty, 83,-
000.
The bill was twice read and referred to a
committee of the whole.
Mr. McKay, from the same committee, also
reported a bill to continue in the public ser
vice numerous clerks and other officers of
government, the authority for which lias
expired. It was twice read and committed.
Mr. Cranston presented resolutions of the
Legislature of Rhode Island, expressing the
gratitude of that State to Gen. Taylor. They
i were read and laid on the table.
On motion of Mr. Cauffman. the post office
i committee were directed to inquire into tfie
expediency of providing for a lice post office
for the use of the army.
Mr. J. R. Ingersoll introduced a joint reso
lution, which was passed, authorizing Hie
President to cause medals to be struck from
the trophies of Palo Alto and Resaca de la
Palma, for distribution among the soldiers.
The House then went into committee, of the
who e, and considered the bill appropriating sll,-
7lK>.ood for the expenses of volunteers.
The amendment of Mr. Davis, providing for the
pay of those volunteers w ho were called out with
out authority of law, was ruled out of order.
Meveral other amendments having been rejected
the bill was reported to the House without amend
ment, and read a third time and passed by a vote
of yeas 160, nays 4.
The joint resolution of the Senate to adjourn on
the loih of August was taken up
Mr. Droragoole moved to lay it on the table.
Lost.
The resolution was then passed withe ut a divis
ion.
1 he House then went into committee on the bill
providing for the pay and mileage of members, the !
expenses ol the Indian delegations, and other pur
poses.
Alder some rather undignified proceedings, evi
dently intended to perplex the chairman, ilf. ■'
Wentworth, the committee rose without accom- I
phshiug any thing, and the House adjourned. - j
n.im mu ■»■wo
! Last nisflit it appears that Senator Semple tried, i
i it is supposed, to escape from voting on the taritt .
l)ill by taking his passage in the Baltimore cars.
After hts baggage had been stowed away, and ne
had taken las seat, lie was discovered by his politi
cal friends, and in a friendly manner pulled out. i
They could not spareiam.
j Destructive Conflagration—The town
i of Nantucket in Ashes —One Hun
dred and Eighty Buildings Con
' sumed!
i A slip from the Warder office, furnishes
| the following particulars:
At 11 o’clock F. M., on the 14th inst.,the
' inhabitants of Nantucket were aroused with
the appalling cry of fire, and it was soon dis
; covered in the store occupied by E. G. Kelley.
The flames spread with such rapidity as to
bailie every exertion to repress them —expe-
dients of blowing up houses was resorted to
as the only means loarrestthe conflagration
but it would seem with little success. More
than twenty buildings are tints destroyed,
| and indeed many mure would nave been.
The town presents a scene ot devastation
i that language cannot describe, ihe whole
; square of buildings bounded by Main, Centre,
Broad and Federal streets is in ruins, and
! nearly all the buildings opposite those which
formed the square. Trinity Church is now
in flames.
All the buildings on North W ater street as
far as Aaron Mitchell’s, (inclusive) all the
buildings on Main street from G. 11. Riddell’s
to straight wharf. On Union street as far as
the building occupied by the town officers (in
clusive.) Washington-st. as far as Capt.J. H.
Pease’s (inclusive.) Dr. Ruggle’s house on
Orange street was blown up; which arrested
the flames at that point.
The aggregate loss is at present incalcula
ble. Many rumors are afloat of injury re
ceived by individuals, but they are so vague,
and the whole town is in such confusion, that
it is utterly impossible to arrive at the truth.
W e are at this moment told that no one has
been seriously hurt. The Inquirer and Mirror
printing ollices are both destroyed. We can
give but a hasty account of this dreadful ca
lamity.
“High Duties make Low Prices.”
O
Whig theory.
[Commentary from Vie National Intelligencer.]
Effects of the New Tariff. —We are
permitted to make the following extract of a
letter from a distinguished gentleman in
Pittsburg to a member of Congress, dated
6th July instant.
“The intelligence of the passage of Mc-
Kay’s bill produced great consternation in
this city yesterday. Pig iron fell is 2 per ton,
and wool 2 cents per lb., instantly, and a
further decline is looked lor to-day.”
Who has not hoard the whig orators over
the whole South and West contend that the
act of 1842 lowered the price of iron? Yet
its repeal by one house lowers the price $2
per ton at once, and a further fall is expected.
We have yet to see what will be its effect on
cotton, flour and other agricultural produce.
Being less sensitive, and not having the bene
fit of a close market, they will not probably
rise until the bill passes both houses, and
they feel the expansive and wholesome effect
of the doors being opened to the markets of
the world. But let us hear no more ot high
duties making low prices of manufactures,
when we have it now openly avowed that the
mere possibility, by the vole of one house,of
lowering the duty, has also lowered the price.
Washington Union.
[From the Federal Union. (
’Tis true and pity it is ’tis true.
When Gen. McKay’s biii for the reduction
of the tariff’, was introduced into Congress,
the Southern Recorder on the 28th of April
last, thus discoursed:
. “it will not fail to strike the intelligent
reader that the Democracy have in this, Uieir
great tariff measure, come over completely
and boldly to the whig ground, and taken such
position, that Southern whigs, at least, will
find no difficulties in the way of a most cor
dial support of the measure.”
*‘** * * * *
“W e congratulate our Southern members
that they have the good fortune of so easily
sustaining their own views, by the measures
ol our former opponents. They will, of course
as cordially support the general measure as
reported by the Democracy, as if it had ema
nated from a Whig majority.”
\\ hen the Recorder claimed as the proper
ty of its own party, this thunder of their op
ponents not a little surprised as well as
amused at the boldness of the act, we con
gratulated the Wjiigs of Georgia, upon the
position they had then assumed, cordially
welcomed them to the anti-tariff platform oc
cupied by tiie democracy, but not unmindful
of the previous “change that had come o’er
the spirit of their dreams,” we conjured them
to stand firm,and begged them, if they should
again fly off, that they would not deny that
they had been with us.
Weil, the time of trial has come. Mr.
McKay’s bill, which so “completely and
boldly took whig ground,” as the Recorder
assured us, has been acted upon in the
House of Representatives. Where stood Mr.
Toombs and Mr. Stephens and the other
Southern members, who were congratulated
upon occupying on their “whig ground,” a
position where they had “the good .fortune
of so easily sustaining their own views?”
Each and all of them voted an emphatic and
decided No. It seems then, their “good for
tune” lias left them, they have abandoned
“their ’ views,” and the Recorder is left
“solitary and alo, e,” to mourn over the de
fection ot those in whom he confided. As a
matter of course, we infer that our cotem
porary will abandon those who have aban- j
doned his and “their views.”
In the approaching congressional, cam
paign, is it 100 much to expect that the bat-.
tenes of the Recorder, will chime in with
those ot tiie Democratic press, and that its
thunders will be heard in opposition to the re
election of Messrs. Toombs and JStephens?
“THE SOUTH AGAIN BETRAYED.”
This, a week since was the cry of Georgia
whig presses, when counting upon the delec
lion ot Ohio from the democratic ranks they
had supposed there would be no modification i
of tiie tariff. But they have been disappoint- j
ed. Ohio democrats stood by their princi- i
pies. The bid has passed the House of Re- 1
presentatives. And the Hon. Robt. Toombs I
i aud the Hon. A. H. Stephens, tne nuilifiers ,
j ot tiie tariff of IB2S, voted to retain the bill j
of abominations of 1842. By whom-has the
South been betrayed? Will the Slates Rights
men ot IS32—the whigs of 1846 answer?— }
Federal Union.
THE TARIFF BILL INTIIE SENATE.
It is ascertained that Messrs. Cameron
i and Sturgeon, tne democratic Senators from j
! Pennsylvania, and Mr. Niles, democrat Irom |
Ct.,vvitl vote against the bill. If the Senate !
WLJ BHBEjjSijgggESSJJPJ IBWIgI!3PBWWiy
I be full, when the vote shall be taken, and the
I oilier Senators voting according to their par
tv alignments, this will make a tie, and the
bill will be passed bv tiie casting vote of the
, Vice President. But Mr. Berrien is now
absent. If he shall be present, how will he 1
vote? What will he do with his celebrated
free-trade report, and his not loss celebrated
anti tariff’speech, delivered in Milledgeville
last winter, staring him in the face? nous ver
ruus. —Federal Uiiinn.
Fashion s Winnings. —The N. \ . Spirit
of the Times says;—"Fashion has run twen
ty-one races at tour mile heats, winning
twenty. The gross aggregate ot the stakes
and purses she has won amount to the enoi
nious sum of thirty-nine thousand nine hun
dred dollars! She has started or walked
over twenty-six times, and lost but two races,
and is attiiis moment in as fine health, and
sound in all respects, as at four years old.
She is a prodigy, indeed.”
AUGUSTA. GEO.,
MONDAY MORNING, JULY 20, 1816.
(LTLast week we had two days and nights
of cold raw weather, accompanied with rain.
Winter clothes and fires were quite comfor
tably. This cold change must operate un
favorably upon the growth of cotton. Yester
day was a bright and pleasant day.
JZTAfter tempering somewhat of the exu
berant fire which blazed in the communica
tion of “A Catholic,” as handed to us, we
concluded to publish it as it is now presented
to the reader. We can appreciate the spirit
of offended piety, which has prompted the
effusion of our correspondent, in seeking to
proclaim that the religion in which he has
been nurtured, was dealt with on a recent
occasion harshly and uncharitably. This
induces us to give him a place in our columns.
Otherwise we would have declined it, for
we deprecate religious controversy, especial
ly in a secular newspaper. We certainly do
not intend allowing our journal to be made
* a vehicle for the criminations and recrimi
nations of sects. We have omitted much
which formed a part of the communication
of “A Catholic,” for two reasons :
First, because it said more than the occa
sion provoked. It opened up long standing
griefs, and dilated upon persecutions which,
however unjust and violative of-the religious
rights of any sect in our republican govern
ment, we did not consider as sought to be
renewed in our community.
Eecond, Because we do not consider the
Protestant denominations of this city, or any
of them, as responsible for tiie offensive re
marks ol the Reverend Missionary from Chi
na. We go farther, and say that we do not
believe they met with their sanction.
We have beard but one language from
them—that of dissent from such sweeping
denunciations as were indulged in.
We believe that in this respect a proper
Christian spirit prevails in our tommunity.
Each denomination is disposed to pay due
deference to the rights and feelings of the
rest, while eacli rejoices in the untrammeied
| exercise of its own.
We will close our comments, intended as
oil upon the troubled waters, by quoting a
passage from holy writ, which may not be
inappropos:
“Behold! how good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dueil together in unity:
“It is like the precious ointment upon the
head, that ran down upon the beard, even
Aarail’s beard, that went down to the skirls
ol his garment.”
ILTIt will be perceived, by reference to
Congressional proceedings, that Congress
will adjourn on the 10th August.
There seems no doubt that the new tariff
bill will pass. Messrs. Webster and Evans
are hopeless of defeating if, and will not at
tempt to trammel it with amendments.
The efforts at panic-making are not very
successful. The “Union” doubts whether
even a respectable fright can be got up.
Panics got up by speculators and manufac
turers have lost their potency.
O’We notice by the last accounts from
Mobile, that the Georgia Regiment had em
barked for Point Isabel. Previous to their
departure, they were paid by the government,
i Die allowance of $42 each, fur 12 month’s
clothing, in advance.
OTt will be perceived tiiat Gen. Haralson
is renominated for Coi gress from his district.
Hon. John H. Lumpkin has received the
same compliment from his constituents.
The nominations of the district conventions
were in both instances unanimous. These
| are tributes well deserved by those efficient
and able representatives.
We are pleased to perceive that Solomon
i Cohen, Esq., is nominated in the first district
: by the democratic party. If distinguished
; intelligence united with untiring zeal and
energy can win success, a triumph awaits
him. The majority he has to overcome is
about the same as that which Hon, G.W, B.
Towns succeeded in overcoming in his dis
trict. Since then democracy has gained
: ground everywhere.
APPOINTMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT.
Among the appointments of Surgeons
and assistant-Surgeons, under the act of IStli .
June, we notice the following;
i Hr. Paul F. Eve. of Geo., to be Surgeon.
Dr. J. J. B. Hoxey, “ Assistant Surgeon.
“TIIE ATLANTA LUMINARY,”
Is the title of a new paper, which has just !
made its appearance. The first No. appeared
! on the 14th inst. It is published at Atlanta,
Geo., by JosephS. Baker, and Thus. Wilson.
It is neutral in politics and religion. It is a
large and well printed sheet. Being favor
ably located, it has a good chance for suc
cess, and the style and character of its edi
torials and selections, indicate that it deserves
success.
-i «..jy
MR CALHOUN’S REPORT UPON THE ME
* MOIIIAL OF THE MEMPHIS CONVEN
TION.
This document was looked for by the
country with intense anxiety. Tiie friends
of Mr. Calhoun, with apprehension, feared
that lie was committed to that latitudinarian
construction of the Constitution, which coun-
I tenances the most reckless schemes of Inter-
I . - . ,
nal Improvement. His opponents rejoiced
| in the anticipation of bis prostration in the
| south, by an abandonment of former state
I rights opinions. And the strict construc
: lionists trembled foCtlie Constitution, at the
! idea of his potent influence and lofty genius
| being enlisted in behalf of a gigantic system
which was to be reared upon its ruins.
We have read the report, carefully and
jealously , for our own apprehensions had
been excited on this.point. We are prepared
to say, that it is not only an able and pro
foundly logical argument, but it is a
thoroughly Stax? Right’s paper. It is one, :
around which, the friends of strict construe- \
lion will rally, when they have fully examin
ed it. It repudiates all internal improvements
under the “general welfare” clause, and
“common defence” clause, and so far as the
influence of this report will go, it strikes a
heavy blow at the system of log-rolling and
bargain, by which large sums arc annually
filched from the Treasury for local improve
ments.
There are five leading topics brought in the
memorial before the attention of Congress
and discussed in the report.
The first and most important is, the im
provement Ly Congress of the navigation of
the Mississippi and its tributaries.
Upon this Mr. Calhoun reports favorably. J
The report gives many remarkable and in
teresting statistics of tiie immense prodne- i
live capacity of the west, and the vast and
increasing commerce that floats upon the
waters of the Mississippi and its tributaries.-j
It argues then, that this vast commerce
comes properly tinder the supervision of
Congress, to wiiich is delegated (lie authori
ty to regulate commerce between the several j
states. The convention had in contempla- i
tion at the time the Constitution was framed, j
its applicability to the states on the Atlantic. ;
It did not then foresee the vast commerce be- j
tween the states, upon the lakes and the
Mississippi. Yet, so far as the lakes are i
concerned, appropriations have been made
without cavil, for light-houses, buoys and
piers. The authority to do this resides no
where but in the federal government, under
the general clause to regulate commerce be
tween the several states. The states are |
expressly prohibited from making compacts, |
among themselves, in numbers greater than
two at a time, and then only with the consent
of Congress. Yet some provisions are ne
cessary for their commerce, and they cannot
be made by combinations of any two states.
fc>o with the valley of the Mississippi, contain
j * n g nearly lialfof the population of the Union.
; The Mississippi and its tributaries are direct
j connecting links with the commerce of the
gulf, and are in fact, the means of the exten
sion of that commerce. For “vessels naviga- !
ling tiie one may the other, so as to |
pass and repass to and from each other in one i
continuous voyage, just as if (for all practical *
purposes) the Mississippi were a part of the '
Gulf, or an inland sea.”— Rep.p. 13.
The right to regulate commerce being i
conceded, under it, “Congress has studded
the (Atlantic) coast with light houses and
beacon lights, to guide in safety The mariner I
by night on his voyage, against the dangers I
of capes, reefs and shallows, and has thickly
planted buoys at the mouths of harbors and
inlets, to point out the narrow channels
through which he may safely pass into them.
It lias gone further, and constructed public :
piers, (including harbors for protection)
where vessels can take shelter against
storms and ice, and annually expends a large I
sum in repairing, supporting and enlarging
the establishment.”— Rep.p. 13.
The question occurs, does not tiie power
legitimately apply to the increase of the
safety and facility of the immense commerce
of the Mississippi, and its waters.
The clause of the Constitution which forbids
the states from entering into any “treaty,
alliance or confederation,” excludes the posi
bility of any agreement among the several
slates bordering on the Mississippi for that
purpose. The power must reside somewhere.
Being taken from the states, it became vested
in the federal government.
Two States, by consent of Congress, can
form a compact, but no two States could un
dertake so vast a scheme fur facilitating the
commerce of the Mississippi.
The next question that occurs is, whether
Congress has power under the provision to
regulate commerce, to remove obstructions to
the navigation of the Mississippi. It is ar
gued with great force, that if it be constilu
j tiunal to establish light-houses,, beacons and 1
1 buoys to designate dangers, that they may be
j avoided, it is equally so to remove them. It
is purely a question of expediency, which
should be ad ipted. It is also shown that the 1
latter requires by far, a smaller appropriation
i of money.
The second topic discussed is, whether
harbors, or canals around tails or other ob
structions of the Mississippi, including its 1
great tributaries, are embraced in that power.
The committee contend tiiat they are not em
braced, except when harbors are for shelter ;
or naval stations. ,
The third topic is in reference to the em
bankment of the Mississippi, with a view to
reclaim vast portions of public domain now 1
useless, but which could thus be made va
luable.
The Report recommends as the most Tea- i '
sible mode, that the number of owners of such | 1
land be reduced, and that to accomplish this,
I the price of these lands he gradually reduced
! at the rale of one-fifth, every four years, till
brought down to 25 cents, and that all re
maining four years thereafter, be ceded to
their respective States. Individual cuter
prize may then undertake the experiment of
reclamat ion.
The fourth topic discussed is, as to the
constitutionality of constructing Rail Roads.
This is pronounced as not embraced by any
clause of the Constitution. They are works
of internal improvements, and therefore not
authorized. They must be constructed by
the Stales or individual companies. But as
| public lauds through which they may pass
will be enhanced in value, the general gov
ernment. deriving benefit thereby, properly
may, and in justice should contribute to their
construction. Tws modes are suggested
One is, to give every alternate section of laud
through which the roads pass. The other
! is, to remove the duty on rail road iron used®
for their construction.
The fifth question discussed is the con
struction of a ship canal, connecting the Mis
sissippi and the lakes. The Report denies to"
Congress the constitutional authority for any
such purpose.
In conclusion, we are of opinion that Mr.
Calhoun has never by any production more
thoroughly identified himself with State
Rights, and a strict construction of the Con
stitution, than by this Report. It is alike a
i noble emanation of his genius, and a scru
| tinizing investigation of the powers of gov
ernment, over ibis question of internal im
provement. State Rights men and strict con-
I structionists should rally around this report
! and sustain it, for its tendency is to restrict
the authority of Congress, and check the pro
digal waste of public money. If the west
, will approve it, und be satisfied with it, adieu’
\ forever to the internal improvement parly of
! the-counlry. It will be annihilated. The
i South und West combined can keep the bands
| of that party forever out of the public trea
: sury.
Had the question been more maturely con
■ sidered, a different fate would have befallen
; the bill of Mr. Calhoun to improve the navi
j gation of the Mississippi and its tributaries.
| It would not have been so summarily stran
: g!ed by a vote of 120 to 48.
We accord with the following remarks of
! the Charleston Mercury.
“The attempt to separate the Mississippi
i from the rabble of petty schemes of internal
! improvement, and place it where it belongs,
I with the Atlantic coast under the guardian
! ship of Congress for the simple and definite
i purpose of making its navigation safe, has
I filled the whole tribe of log-rollers and plun-
I dcrers with rage, and they have succeeded
j in stifling that measure. It has been con
j detuned because it was not local, and tint
i founded on a laliludinarian construction of
tbe constitution. That it was voted down liv
the very men who passed the River and
Harbor bill, is proof enough that this is the
true slate of the case. The west has been
represented in this matter by inconsiderate
men. To the west, the safe navigation of the
Mississippi is of paramount importance,—and
being a vital measure to the entire trade
of one-half the union, the necessary expen
diture would meet little opposition, if they
would allow it to be put on its proper ground,
and acknowledge its broad distinction from
all merely local appropriations.
“ i'he West is lighting against its own best
interests, in urging every member of Con
gress to heap his budget of local wants upon
tins great, just and beneficial measure. The
weight of rubbish becomes intolerable, and
the whole sinks together.”
We hope the time is not distant when the
south and the west will unite and act toge
ther upon this great question of internal im
provements, and will bring the government
back to the good old republican standard,
recognized in the days of the ’9B and ’99 reso
lutions of \ irginia and Kentucky.
[communicated. ]
Dear Sir, —The liberality evinced in your
editorial of the 17iJi, has entitled you to the
gratitude of the Catholics of this community.
\ our remarks in reference to the assault of
air. Shuck upon Catholicism, are just and
proper. I look upon them as the fresh
promptings of an enlightened heart, and hope
you will give me a small space in your
columns for a few reflections, dictated by
the same spirit as your own. If there he a
subject on which the spontaneous impulses
of the heart, and the unprompted dictates of
the understanding, are distinct and clear, it
is that which regards the right of one man
to c<*n roi tiie religious belief of another.
Accuslorned too to regard it as a self-evident
principle, that every one is entitled to the
tree possession of his own sentiments, it is
hard lor Catholics to remain passive under a
persecution of the tongue and press, which is
far more outrageous to personal feeling than
even legal restrictions.
It has been customary, with our Protes
tant brethren, for a number of years past, and
particularly of late, to denounce a denomi
nation whose members areas correct in their
deportment as any of their fellow-citizens.
iiy is this? \V by, in peaceful, civilized
America should the most powerful dennmi-'
nations be called on to discountenance anti*
denounce one, which is decidedly in the mi
nority? Jt a controversy must be waged,
can it not be conducted as controversies
should be, without the pride, the prejudice,
the cupidity, the revenge and the countless
evil impulses, which prompt the blind zealot,
in every ago to choke the argument he can
not answer in the dying gasp of a throttled
adversary—to shut him out by exile—lode
grade him by disfranchisement—to seal his
lips by ignorance—to pre-occupy by violence
tne open mind of youth? Is the Catholic
to be excluded from the enjoyment of those
privileges, which he was the first to assert
for others! 1 Is he to be denied the blessings
of a government, which the hand of Catholic
Carroll helped to raise—-Carroll, who threw