Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

H. OF R.]

Duties and Drawbacks.--Silk.

[DEC. 15, 1831.

fore us for the expenditure of some fifty or a hundred millions of dollars; and combinations of local and sectional interests will be formed, and press upon us with a force so strong as to impede the independent action of this House. The resolution may appear to be harmless, but I apprehend mischief is concealed in it.

to tax the people to construct roads and canals. But, con- and that we are about to engage in such works on a scale tended Mr. S., pass this resolution, and what is to be the more general and extended than has been heretofore atinference? Why, that this House claims the right over tempted. Hence considerable uneasiness and alarm will the soil of the States to construct roads and canals. Why be excited in some sections of the country. This, of itself, is it that you have in this House a standing Committee on is an evil to be deprecated, and, at this crisis, ought to be Foreign Relations, &c. &c.? Because those subjects be- avoided, if possible. But, further, we shall hold out enlong legitimately to Congress. He regretted that this couragement which will cause our table to be loaded with resolution had been brought forward. If it passed, it petitions, soliciting appropriations for local and sectional would seem to imply no disposition on the part of this objects. Then, sir, should a standing committee be apHouse to relieve the people from the unjust burden of pointed favorable to such appropriations, we may expect, taxation under which they are laboring. This Congress before the close of the session, to have propositions bewas anxiously looked to as the one which is to do something to relieve the country from the burdens that now hang over them. This feeling did not only exist in the agricultural States, but all over the country; and if the vehicles of information were as important in the North as in the South, we should hear of but one general sentiment of disgust. But, sir, in those States, for whose benefit Mr. MERCER replied; being followed, in further oppomy constituents are taxed, we have no means of knowing sition to the resolution, by Mr. MITCHELL, of South Cathe general dissatisfaction which prevails among the poor-rolina, whose speech was cut off by the rule of the House er class of the community. He hoped that the present ses- which limits the consideration of resolutions to the first sion was not to pass off without materially reducing the hour of each day's sitting. tariff. Should that be done, the gentleman's system of roads and canals would, of necessity, stop; because we should have no money to give him. He considered the The SPEAKER laid before the House a letter from the two systems as one, and whenever one fell, the other Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a statement of the would of course follow. He had very recently read in amount of duties and drawbacks on the several articles immost of the public journals which favored the pretensions ported into the United States, and re-exported therefrom, of a certain individual, and who might with propriety be during the years 1828, 1829, 1830. From this statement considered as the father of this system, that that indivi- it appears,

DUTIES AND DRAWBACKS.

dual had never advocated a system of taxation for the pur-That, in the year 1828, the accruing duties pose of improving roads and canals.

He had read it with

much pleasure, because he thought it ominous of better times. But see, we are met at the threshold with a proposition which threatens to rivet the system of taxation on

us.

were

[ocr errors]

- $29,951,915
the drawbacks payable
In the year 1829, the accruing duties were
the drawbacks payable

In the year 1830, the accruing duties were
the drawbacks payable
SILK.

4,001,665 27,689,731

4,213,168 28,299,159 4,511,182

Mr. S. said there was another objection he had to the resolution. The President, in his message at the opening of the session, had said nothing on the subject of internal improvements. One gentleman on his left had said "it The SPEAKER laid before the House a long and inteshould be there if it was not." The gentleman from Vir-resting communication from Peter S. Duponceau, of Phiginia had stated on the floor that no mention of the sub-ladelphia, upon the subject of silk manufactures, accomject was made in the message; and therefore it was the panied by samples of plush for hats, manufactured at gentleman had introduced his resolution now. He should Philadelphia from American silk; of gros de Naples, for not impute any thing like improper motives to the gen-ladies' dresses, manufactured at Manchester, in England, tleman, but he would speak of the effect of the gentle- from American silk; and thrown silk, in the unboiled state. man's course. It would be to hold up the President to The letter and samples were referred to the Committee

his internal improvement friends as opposed to the sys-on Agriculture.
tem, when, in fact, and in truth, no such thing existed.
The President had very properly omitted to say any thing
on this distracting subject; but a department of the Go-
vernment had, in a very delicate manner, brought it to
the view of Congress. Upon the whole, he thought the
resolution was wholly unnecessary, and that it would, at
this time, be highly improper to pass it. He rejoiced that
his friend from South Carolina had yesterday met it in such
an able manner.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15.

After the presentation and reference of various petitions and resolutions,

The House resumed the consideration of the following resolution, moved by Mr. MERCER:

Resolved, That there shall be appointed for the present session, and hereafter, at the commencement of each sesMr. DOUBLEDAY said: Inexperienced, as he was, in sion of Congress, a committee of seven members of this legislation and debate, it became him not to occupy much House, to be styled "a Committee on Roads and Canals,” of the time of the House. When this subject was before whose duty it shall be to take into consideration all such the House yesterday, he supported the several motions to petitions and matters or things, relating to roads and capostpone its consideration, because he deemed it one of nals, and the improvement of the navigation of rivers, as great delicacy and importance, which ought not to be has- shall be presented, or may come in question, and be refertily decided. After mature deliberation, said Mr. D., Ired to them by the House; and to report thereupon; tofind myself constrained by a sense of duty to oppose the gether with such propositions relative thereto, as to them adoption of the resolution. I hope, sir, the question of shall seem expedient.

national local internal improvements is so far put at rest, Mr. MITCHELL, of South Carolina, concluded the that it will not be necessary for this House to adopt any speech in opposition to the resolution, which he commencnew measures for the despatch of this description of busi-ed yesterday. ness. But if we pass this resolution, I conceive these re- Mr. WILDE moved to refer the question to a Commitsults will follow. It will be understood by the public, (and tee of the Whole on the state of the Union, to test the perhaps it is so intended by gentlemen who support the disposition of the House to entertain a wide debate on so resolution,) that we consider works of internal improve- narrow a ground. ment within the scope of our legitimate powers and duties;

Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, considered the whole

DEC. 19, 1831.]

Postage on Newspapers-The Laws, &c.--Slaves in Dist. Col.-Impost Duties.

debate unimportant. Standing committee or select, there must be one. Names were nothing.

Mr. MITCHELL called for the yeas and nays on the question of agreeing to the resolution, and they were taken as follows:

[H. OF R.

1st. That, to all actual subscribers, newspapers and pamphlets, not exceeding one sheet, should pass through the mail free of postage.

2d. That all owners of printing presses and types, and all persons actually working and employed as printers, YEAS.-Messrs. Adams, Chilton Allan, Allison, Apple- should be permitted to receive their letters free of postage. ton, Arnold, Babcock, Banks, Noyes Barber, Isaac C. 3d. That the two cents at present allowed to postmasBates, John Blair, Boon, Briggs, Bucher, Bullard, Burd, ters for delivering free letters be dispensed with. Burges, Cahoon, Carr, Choate, Condict, Condit, Eleuthe- 4th. That, so soon as the national debt shall be paid off, ros Cooke, Bates Cooke, Cooper, Corwin, Coulter, Craw- the whole expense of the Post Office Department be deford, Creighton, Daniel, John Davis, Denny, Dickson, frayed out of the general fund. This proposition, he preDoddridge, Duncan, Ellsworth, George Evans, Joshua sumed, would meet the views of gentlemen who are so Evans, Edward Everett, Horace Everett, Findlay, Ford, much alarmed to know what shall be done with the accruGilmore, Grennell, Heister, Howard, Hughes, Hunt, ing and increasing revenue.

Huntington, Ingersoll, Irvin, Jenifer, Kendall, Kennon, 5th. The fifth proposition he considered a very importKerr, Leavitt, Lecompte, Letcher, Marshall, Maxwell, ant one. It was, that all the newspapers within the United McCarty, Robert McCoy, McKennan, Mercer, Milligan, States should be permitted to publish the laws of the Pearce, Pendleton, Pitcher, Potts, John Reed, Russel, United States, and the advertisements of the Post Office Slade, Southard, Spence, Stanberry, Standifer, Stewart, Department, and that each should receive one hundred Storrs, Sutherland, Taylor, Francis Thomas, Philemon dollars per annum for such publication. Every man in Thomas, John Thomson, Tompkins, Tracy, Vance, Vin- this country was presumed to know the law; and he was ton, Washington, Watmough, Wilkin, Elisha Whittlesey, held amenable to the law, as knowing it. Such being Frederick Whittlesey, Edward D. White, Wickliffe, the fact, he thought that much pains should be taken to Worthington, Young.-96. let those who are subject to the laws know what the laws were. As at present promulgated, there was not, he would venture to say, one man in a thousand, who ever saw the laws that were there enacted.

NAYS.-Messrs. Adair, Alexander, Robert Allen, Anderson, Angel, Archer, John S. Barbour, Barnwell, Barringer, Barstow, James Bates, Beardsley, Bell, Bergen, Bethune, James Blair, Bouck, Bouldin, Branch, John. Mr. A. concluded by moving that the petition be laid Brodhead, John C. Brodhead, Cambreleng, Carson, Chand- on the table and printed; which motion was agreed to. ler, Chinn, Claiborne, Clay, Coke, Collier, Conner, Craig, SLAVES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Davenport, Warren R. Davis, Dayan, Dewart, Doubleday, Drayton, Felder, Fitzgerald, Foster, Gaither, Gordon,trict of Columbia, made the following report; which was Mr. DODDRIDGE, from the Committee for the DisGriffin, Thomas H. Hall, William Hall, Harper, Hawes, read, and concurred in by the House: Hoffman, Hogan, Holland, Horn, Hubbard, Jarvis, Jewett, C. Johnson, C. C. Johnston, Kavanagh, A. King, John King, Henry King, Lamar, Lansing, Lent, Lewis, cording to order, had under their consideration the meMann, Mardis, Mason, William McCoy, McDuffie, Thomas morials of sundry citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, R. Mitchell, Muhlenberg, Newnan, Nuckolls, Plummer, to them referred, praying the passage of such a law or laws Polk, Edward C. Reed, Roane, Root, A. H. Shepperd, by Congress, as may be necessary for the abolition of Soule, Speight, Wiley Thompson, Verplanck, Ward, slavery and the slave trade within the said District, and Wardwell, Wayne, Weeks, Wheeler, C. P. White, Wilde. beg leave to report thereon, in part:

--90.

Adjourned to Monday.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19.

POSTAGE ON NEWSPAPERS--THE LAWS, &c.

Mr. ARNOLD presented the petition of Samuel Martin, of Campbell's station, in the State of Tennessee. The petition, Mr. A. remarked, presented several new and interesting questions, which would, no doubt, at some period not far distant, call forth the action of this House. He therefore moved that the petition be read; which being done,

The Committee for the District of Columbia have, ac

Considering that the District of Columbia is composed of cessions of territory made to the United States by the States of Virginia and Maryland, in both of which States slavery exists, and the territories of which surround the District, your committee are of opinion that, until the wisdom of State Governments shall have devised some

practicable means of eradicating or diminishing the evil be unwise and impolitic, if not unjust, to the adjoining of slavery, of which the memorialists complain, it would States, for Congress to interfere in a subject of such deliCacy and importance as is the relation between master and

slave.

If, under any circumstances, such an interference on Mr. A. resumed, and said he felt bound to make a pass-are satisfied that the present is an inauspicious moment for the part of Congress would be justified, your committee ing remark. It might seem to some gentlemen that the its consideration. propositions contained in the petition were wild and visionary. He confessed that, when he first received the

Resolved, That the Committee for the District of Colum

Impressed with these views, your committee offer for petition, the boldness of some of the measures petitioned the consideration of the House the following resolution: for startled him; but, upon reading it a second time, and bia be discharged from the further consideration of so after a moment's reflection, he was convinced that all the much of the prayer of the memorialists, citizens of the propositions contained in the petition were worthy of con- State of Pennsylvania, to them referred, asking the pas sideration, and that some of them, he honestly believed,

deserved the highest consideration. All its propositions sage of such law or laws as may be necessary for the abohave the same tendency. They tend to open up the foun-lition of slavery and the slave trade within said District, tains of information to the whole people; and if, as he as relates to the first of these objects, the abolition of thought all must admit was the fact, the stability and per- slavery within said District.

manence of this Government, with all its boasted institutions of freedom, depended upon the virtue of the people, and if the virtue of the people depended upon their intelligence, then he was certain that he had not attached too. much importance to this petition. Mr. A. asked what the petition proposed. It contained five distinct propositions.

VOL. VIII.-91

IMPOST DUTIES.

Mr. DEARBORN submitted the following resolution to the consideration of the House:

Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of exempting from duty teas, coffee, wines, pepper, spices, indigo, and

H. OF R.]

Impost Duties.

[DEC. 19, 1831.

wool; the current market value of which, in the United hear, preferred decidedly, he said, that the resolution States, at the time of importation, shall not exceed twelve should go to the Committee of Ways and Means, rather cents per pound. than to the Committee on Manufactures. He requested the Clerk to read the resolution referring a portion of the message to the Committee on Manufactures. The resolution being read as follows:

Mr. HOFFMAN proposed to amend the resolution by striking out the last clause, from the word indigo.

Mr. McDUFFIE said that the resolution proposed only an inquiry, which did not commit the House; and every resolution for an inquiry he thought should be adopted. The resolution decides nothing; if it did, he should be opposed to it: for there was nothing, he thought, so unwise as to remit the duties on articles of luxury, while they were retained on articles of necessity.

Mr. HOFFMAN did not, he said, oppose the inquiry; but he wished to refer the portion of the resolution relative to wool to the Committee on Manufactures. The limitation in the last clause, he understood to refer only to wool, and he moved to strike out the clause that it might be referred to the Committee on Manufactures.

"Resolved, That so much of the President's message as relates to manufactures and the modification of the tariff, be referred to the Committee on Manufactures:"

Mr. A. said that, having been appointed chairman of the Committee on Manufactures, and being a new member of the House, he had inquired into the duties of that committee. He found it was one of twenty-one standing committees, which were raised at the commencement of every session; but he had been unable to find that any duty had been assigned to the committee by the rules of the House. Subsequently, on the instance of a gentleman who was certainly not in favor of the tariff as it existed, so much of the President's message as relates to the manutures and the modification of the tariff, was referred to this committee. I will read, said Mr. A., that part of the message which is thus referred:

Mr. DEARBORN said the limitation was intended to refer to wool only. It was well known that we imported from South America, Smyrna, and the Baltic, wool of a kind which did not come into competition with the coarsest wool which we produced. The price of wool which he "The confidence with which the extinguishment of the referred to, was from one to four cents a pound, and it public debt may be anticipated, presents an opportunity would be introduced and supplied to our manufacturers for carrying into effect more fully the policy in relation to at from nine to twelve cents a pound. The proposed re-import duties, which has been recommended in my forduction of duty would not effect the agricultural interest, mer messages. A modification of the tariff, which shall while it would benefit the manufacturers of coarse cloths. Mr. HOFFMAN repeated that he made no opposition to the proposed inquiry, but to the reference of the last clause to the Committee of Ways and Means.

Mr. DEARBORN was willing to take the course suggested, and to modify the resolution so as refer the clause respecting wool to the Committee on Manufactures.

Mr. CONDICT would ask, before the question was taken, for the reading of the resolutions by which these subjects had been referred to the Committees on Manufactures and Finance. He believed that the subjects embraced in the resolutions had already been referred to appropriate committees. The resolutions being read, The SPEAKER said, that if the subjects had been referred, the resolution was not in order.

Mr. HOFFMAN remarked that the easiest way to dispose of the resolution was to pass it; there would then be no doubt how much was referred to one, and how much to another committee.

Mr. EVERETT proposed to his colleague to refer the entire resolution to the Committee on Manufactures. Mr. DEARBORN agreed to modify his resolution accordingly.

produce a reduction of our revenue to the wants of the Government, and an adjustment of the duties on imports with a view to equal justice in relation to all our national interests, and to the counteraction of foreign policy, so far as it may be injurious to those interests, is deemed to be one of the principal objects which demand the consideration of the present Congress. Justice to the interests of the merchant as well as the manufacturer, requires that material reductions in the import duties be prospective; and unless the present Congress shall dispose of the subject, the proposed reductions cannot properly be made to take effect at the period when the necessity for the revenue arising from present rates shall cease. It is therefore desirable that arrangements be adopted at your present session to relieve the people from unnecessary taxation, after the extinguishment of the public debt. In the exercise of that spirit of concession and conciliation which has distinguished the friends of our Union in all great emergencies, it is believed that this object may be effected without injury to any national interest."

This passage, Mr. A. continued, thus referred to the Committee on Manufactures, contained every thing which relates to the reduction or modification of the tariff. Now Mr. McDUFFIE saw no propriety in the reference of the only question was, whether subjects embraced in the the resolution to the Committee on Manufactures. We resolution had been referred to the Committee on Manucertainly did not manufacture tea, pepper, &c. He moved that the resolution be laid on the table; which he with drew, at the request of

factures or not; if not, I shall congratulate myself and my colleagues of the committee.

Mr. McDUFFIE then requested that so much of the message as was referred to the Committee on Finance be read; which was accordingly read. There are two sides to the question, said Mr. McD. To the Committee of Ways and Means was referred the reduction of duties not affect ing manufactures, and the resolution was of this character.

Mr. CAMBRELENG, who said that it was highly improper, in his opinion, to refer subjects of finance to the Committee on Manufactures. We were gradually divesting the Committee on Finance of the powers properly belonging to it; and he expressed surprise that the gentleman from Massachusetts, with all his experience, should Mr. ARCHER said that the modification of the resolu propose this modification.

Mr. EVERETT replied, that whatever related to the modification of the tariff, had already been referred to the Committee on Manufactures. One of the most important bearings of the tariff was upon manufactures. The same reasons which influenced the House, on the motion of the gentleman from Georgia, [Mr. WAYNE,] to make this reference to the Committee on Manufactures, would justify the motion now before the House. He felt no disposition to go into a discussion of this great question at this time, nor was he prepared for it.

Mr. ADAMS, after some remarks which we could not

tion referring it to the Committee on Manufactures, rendered it ridiculous. The motion was wholly inconsistent with the uniform usage of the House. He moved that it be laid on the table. Lost.

Mr. HOFFMAN said that the modification which he pro posed extricated the subject from all difficulty, to wit, the reference of the clause respecting wool to the Committee on Manufactures, and of the rest to the Committee of Ways and Means. He hoped there would be no further discussion on the subject.

Mr. WAYNE, having been referred to by two gentlemen in the discussion, thought it his duty to say a word or two

Dec. 20, 1832.]

Breakwater on Lake Champlain.-Pay of Army Officers.--Internal Improvements.

[H. OF R.

It was ordered that the bill should be referred to a Committee of the Whole House.

in relation to the question. The mover had confound-that it was inexpedient to depart from the usual routine ed the duty of different committees. The subject of of business, by making bills of ordinary legislation special finance was proposed to be referred to the Committee on orders. Manufactures. If the Committee on Manufactures were to take cognizance of matters not affecting manufactures, they would take from the Committee of Ways and Means On the consideration of that part of the motion of Mr. the whole subject. The spirit of the message was this: DRAYTON which proposed to make the bill the special as the present revenue is more than we shall want here- order of the day for the first Wednesday in January, Mr. after, we must reduce the tariff; but did not contemplate TAYLOR, of New York, stated himself to be opposed to so great an enlargement of the duties of the Committee the granting of special orders, a practice which made on Manufactures. The resolution called on that commit- business of great importance, mingled with that of very tee to decide on the reduction of tea, coffee, &c., and au- little importance, accumulate in a manner highly prejudithorized them to say to the treasury, your revenue may be cial to the necessary despatch of public business. He reduced so much. It is true that the Committee on Manu- suggested to the gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. factures might not take this course. Without meaning DRAYTON] the propriety of modifying his motion, so that any compliment to the chairman of that committee, his the bill might be referred to the Committee of the Whole belief was, that he would take no course affecting the on the state of the Union, and then he might move whenduties of other committees, but it was contrary to parlia- ever he pleased for the consideration of the bill in question. mentary rule to give more power to a committee than pro- On the original motion being lost, Mr. DRAYTON acted perly belonged to it. The action of the Committee on on the suggestion of Mr. TAYLOR, and the bill was referManufactures would be no way impeded by this restric-red to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the tion. When the Committee of Ways and Means had re-Union. ported, its recommendations would be the subject of discussion.

Mr. BATES rose to speak, but the SPEAKER reminded him that the hour for the consideration of resolutions had expired.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20.

BREAKWATER ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

Among the petitions presented to-day, was one by Mr. HOGAN, of New York, asking from Congress an appropriation for the formation of a breakwater on Lake Champlain. Mr. H. moved to refer it to the Committee on Commerce. He thought such would be the proper reference, since the establishment of the breakwater prayed for would, undoubtedly, produce salutary effects on the commerce; and, as a certain result therefrom, on the manufactures of the country.

DUTY ON TEAS, &c.

The House resumed the consideration of the resolution offered yesterday by Mr. DEARBORN.

Mr. DEARBORN rose, and said that, when he had moved this inquiry, he had no idea of its giving rise to a debate, such as yesterday arose upon the form of it. Desirous to save the time of the House, reserving to himself the privilege of introducing his proposition at a future time, in this or some other shape, he now withdrew the resolution.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Mr. PEARCE moved the following resolution: structed to inquire into the expediency of making an apResolved, That the Committee on Commerce be increek leading from the ocean into the large pond on the propriation to defray the expense of a survey of the west end of the island of Block island, for the purpose Mr. DODDRIDGE, of Virginia, thought that this sub-of so far extending the width and deepening said creek ject should be referred to the Committee on Internal Im- as to admit vessels to pass through the same to said pond, provements, if it were intended to refer any question at and thereby afford a safe and commodious harbor to the navigation of the country.

all to that committee.

This resolution being read,

ing out "Committee on Commerce," and inserting "ComMr. DODDRIDGE moved to amend the same by strikmittee on Internal Improvements."

Mr. JEWETT thought the petition ought to be referred to the Committee on Commerce, because its prayer was one of vital interest to that branch of national industry. Mr. MERCER, of Virginia, appealed to the good sense of the House, if the petition ought not to be referred to the Committee on Internal Improvements, and hoped his before the House in preceding sessions; it had been reMr. PEARCE said the very same measure had been friend from Virginia [Mr. DODDRIDGE] would offer a reso-ferred to the Committee on Commerce, had passed this lution to refer all subjects of a like nature with the House, and been sent to the Senate. The Senate had not petition in question to the Committee on Internal Improve

ments.

The petition was then ordered to be referred to the Committee on Internal Improvements.

PAY OF ARMY OFFICERS.

Mr. DRAYTON, from the Committee on Military Af fairs, reported a bill to regulate the pay, emoluments, and allowances of the officers of the army; which bill was twice read; when

acted on it, and, therefore, it became necessary to bring propriety of committing all matters relative to improving it again before this House. Much had been said as to the harbors or rivers to the Committee on Internal Improvements; but as the improvement proposed related to an island in the Atlantic Ocean, disconnected with the continent, he hoped a distinction might and would be made betwixt this and a measure of internal improvement; that it would be seen to be a measure connected with the inMr. DRAYTON stated that it was highly expedient terest of commerce, and referred accordingly. that a measure similar to that embraced in the bill should Mr. SUTHERLAND said he thought it would be as become a part of the law of the land. The bill did not well to allow this business to go on as heretofore; and, contemplate any interference with the present regulations therefore, he must dissent from the amendment proposed of the army, but was merely intended to have the effect by the honorable gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. Donof removing an anomaly much complained of, which was DRIDGE.] No one, he was certain, would accuse him of the inequality of pay for equal duties performed at differ- being an enemy to internal improvement; but, for the adent stations. He, therefore, moved that the bill should vantage of the nation, and to save the time of the House, be referred to a Committee of the Whole House, and be he thought this resolution, and all of a like nature, should made the order of the day for the first Wednesday in go to the Committee on Commerce. Almost every proposiJanuary. tion of this nature had been heretofore submitted to that

This was opposed by Mr. McDUFFIE, on the ground committee. For three or four years they had endeavored,

H. OF R.]

Internal Improvements.

[DEC. 20, 1831.

though unsuccessfully, to carry this measure through the possibly, no matter how remotely, be construed to relate Senate. It might be said that he belonged to the Com- to the improvement of our commerce with foreign Gomittee on Commerce, and was, therefore, anxious that vernments, was said to be within the scope of the powers these matters should be brought within its jurisdiction. of this Government; but any thing which related to the Such was not the case; but as they had hitherto failed, he promotion of the intercourse betwixt State and Statewas anxious that another opportunity might be given to that was unconstitutional; then the cry was, directly, make the attempt. He had that morning seen a number" hands off." The House had acted wisely the other day of papers of a similar character, relative to matters which in referring matters relative to rivers, harbors, &c., with had been investigated deeply and attentively in the Com- those of canals and roads, to one committee. He asked mittee on Commerce, but which had never been acted on whether there could be any difference between the forby the Senate. Were the whole of these cases, by amation of a breakwater near Newcastle, on the Delahasty and inconsiderate motion, to be transferred to a com- ware, and the digging of a canal on the same river, to mittee wholly unacquainted with their merits? Gentle- run from Bristol to Trenton, or, in another direction, to men would see that the only result of such a measure the mouth of the Lehigh. After some further remarks, would be to produce heart-burnings and dissensions in Mr. M. concluded by expressing his hope that this resoluthat House, and disappointments to those without, whose tion would be sent to the Committee on Internal Improvecases were at issue. It had been said, and truly, by the ments. He was willing, though, to come to a sort of comchairman of the Committee on Commerce, that the ma-promise, by leaving to the Committee on Commerce those jority of that committee had yielded to the minority the matters on which they had formerly acted. right of reporting to that House many propositions; it was Mr. BURGES replied. He observed that he was allikewise true that those propositions, with the addition of ways mortified to find himself misunderstood, but he was much light and intelligence in that House, had, by a ma- deeply mortified, indeed, to find himself misunderstood jority, been sent to the Senate. They had failed to carry by his friend from Virginia, [Mr. MERCER,] whose lumitheir measures through that House; and he hoped, inti-nous mind had shed so much of its own light on all quesmately acquainted as they were with these subjects, the House would allow them to try their luck, once more, through the present session.

ments.

tions connected with a subject dear to both of them— that of internal improvement. He went on to repeat his former argument, contending that to the Committee on Mr. DODDRIDGE then withdrew his amendment. Commerce belonged the regulation of the matters conMr. FOSTER immediately renewed it, by moving to nected with our foreign intercourse, and to that on Inrefer the resolution to the Committee on Internal Improve-ternal Improvements the supervision of works connected with our inland trade, such as an increase of the facilities Mr. BURGES said he did not rightly understand the of internal communication between the separate States. particular limits of the powers of the respective com- He denied that the illustration of the breakwater and the mittees; but he had always understood thus much, that the canal was correct. There was a wide difference between Committee on Commerce had jurisdiction over subjects a breakwater, which is the means of assisting our foreign connected with such parts of our commerce as related in intercourse, and the canal, which has no direct communicaany way to our intercourse with foreign nations; and that tion with foreign nations, and which is only connected with our home commerce, that which was carried on between foreign commerce by being the medium of pouring forth the different States of the Union, came within the pro- the surplus of our domestic trade, and directing it into vince of the Committee of Internal Commerce, as having the channel of foreign commerce. The Committee on Incognizance of the medium of its communication in the ternal Improvements had only a relative jurisdiction; whilst, same manner as the Committee on Commerce had jurisdic-in his [Mr. B.'s] opinion, that of the Committee on Comtion in matters connected with foreign commerce, and the merce, in such questions as the present one, was exclusive. mode of communication with foreign countries. If he Mr. FOSTER said he had been extremely gratified had thus taken a right view of the question, the subject of when it was proposed to refer a resolution for the forma the resolution submitted by his colleague certainly apper-tion of a breakwater to the Committee on Internal Imtained to the Committee on Commerce. The place for provements; still more gratified that the House sustained the proposed harbor was not connected with the conti-that proposition. Surely the House would not depart nent of America, and its principal importance was from from its recent conduct in a case so precisely similar. the benefit it would be to our foreign commerce, although, strange distinction had been made as to the powers of this incidentally, it might also be beneficial to our internal or House in matters of foreign and internal commerce. He coasting trade. Block island was without a harbor on its denied that such a distinction existed. If this House had outer side, but, in its inner one, was a spacious sheet of power in one case, it had in the other. But so far had water, which, by the expenditure of perhaps as little a this erroneous distinction been carried, that many gentlesum as five thousand dollars, applied to the improvement men would vote for a measure given to the Committee on of the creek, might be converted into one of the most Commerce, believing it to be then constitutional, who secure and commodious harbors on our coast. Any man would have voted on the other side if the measure had might see, at a glance, that such was not a question of in- come from the Committee on Internal Improvements, beternal improvement merely; it gave greater facilities lieving in that case it would be unconstitutional. to our foreign intercourse, and as such belonged to the wished things to be called by their right names: he was Committee on Commerce. one of those who held that "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

A

He

Mr. MERCER said he thought his honorable friend from Rhode Island [Mr. BURGES] had founded his distinc- Mr. CAMBRELENG said he was indifferent about the tion betwixt improvements to facilitate internal commerce, fate of the motion; but if the House decided to send this and those to benefit foreign commerce, on a wrong basis. resolution to the Committee on Commerce, it could do no What was meant by internal improvement, was any thing less than reconsider the resolution of his honorable colwhich would promote the interests of trade, no matter league as to the breakwater on Lake Champlain. All he whether internal or foreign. Now, the formation or im- wished was that a line should be drawn in these matters, by provement of a harbor would as much benefit the coast- which the House might abide. ing trade betwixt the different States as it would that betwixt this country and a foreign nation. He could discover the reason why gentlemen availed themselves of the supposed distinction. Every improvement which could

The question was then put on Mr. FOSTER's amendment; which was agreed to-yeas 80, nays 64.

The resolution was, therefore, referred to the Committee on Internal Improvements.

« AnteriorContinuar »