involves the character and prosperity of the United States. We hold it to be the clear duty of the government of the Union to raise all sums of money necessary to an economical administration by duties upon imports, so adjusted as equally to protect all branches of American industry. By this course in twenty years our republic will rise to great power and influence. The policy and duty of Congress on this subject are plain and obvious.

SECTION EIGHTH. PUBLIC DOMAIN.

The public domain consists of about one thousand millions of acres, worth about three hundred millions of dollars. The policy of our republic in disposing of the public lands, has been benign with regard to the people. They are so cheaply sold that every industrious and economical man in the nation may buy and own in fee simple a farm. The first settlers are justly allowed preemption rights as a reward for their industry and enterprize. A suitable portion of these lands is reserved for the support of schools in every township of public land. The speedy settlement of the country and the education of the people are thus both provided for. This and the great extent of the domain will for a long line of ages insure the perpetuity of republican virtue and intelligence, and

the permanency of the principle of representative government. The present policy is wise and ought to be steadily adhered to.

SECTION NINTH. STATE DEBTS.

There is one plan by which a part of our public lands might be used advantageously to restore the public credit of the States and of the Union. Let the States at once in the mode provided by the Constitution of the United States, amend that instrument as follows:

Let the amendment provide that Congress may by law appropriate, in the ratio of the white population of the States of our Union, or of congressional representation, one hundred millions of acres of land to be applied according to the provisions of such law to the discharge of the debts of the States; the portion of any State not indebted, or which has securely provided for the payment of its entire debt to be directly transferred to such State. As part of the amendment let the States prohibit themselves from contracting hereafter debts transferrible, except on the State Registers of debt, and let each State renounce the right to contract a debt for the future, which in all shall exceed three millions of dollars at any one time. further inducement to the States, let the States be

As a

released from their obligation to repay the proceeds of the public lands already distributed to them, or deposited with them by the United States. Such an amendment would restore state credit, prevent any future accumulation of debt and destroy the relation of debtor and creditor, now existing between the Union and the States. Such new provision of the Constitution would raise our credit and character at home and abroad and confer honor upon our republic.

By the Constitution of the United States, and the decisions of the Supreme Court in the case of Gibbons v. Ogden and Brown v. the State of Maryland, the power over inter-state as well as foreign commerce is vested exclusively in the Congress of the United States. Hence every State law regulating commerce or intercourse of persons or property into, out of or through any state, are void for want of jurisdiction. For this reason all State laws that have been, or that may be passed on this subject are obviously unconstitutional and void.

As the National government has exclusive authority over the subject, its duty to foster foreign commerce and protect it is manifest.

Another great duty of the National government

grows out of its exclusive jurisdiction over commerce between the States. This covers the field of inland, coast-wise and lake trade and commerce from State to State. This jurisdiction covers the great lakes of the interior, the sea coasts and navigable rivers up to the highest port of entry or delivery. The power of Congress over this subject is exclusive, and here the States are powerless. The Supreme Court of the United States so decided in Gibbons vs. Ogden. (9 Wheaton's Rep. 198-9.) Brown vs. State of Maryland, 12 Wheaton R. 446, is to the same effect, and shows that a State has no power to prohibit or impede the sale of foreign goods by requiring importers to take licences or otherwise. It does not extend to lakes lying within a single State, or to artificial communications made by a State, as canals for example, or in navigable rivers artificially made navigable by a State. It is a plain duty of the government to construct harbors, light houses and to excavate rivers below ports of delivery or of entry for the promotion of commerce. Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Superior and perhaps others, with the rivers Mississippi, Ohio, Red River, Hudson and many others require the fostering aid of the nation for their improvement. As far and as fast as our finances will allow, this power of Congress ought to be exerted.

SECTION ELEVENTH. POST OFFICE.

The post offices and post roads fall within the exclusive national jurisdiction. It is an obvious duty, and it connects itself with the injunction upon Congress in the Constitution to raise taxes and imposts "to provide for the common defence and the general welfare of the United States." The quickest and cheapest communications should be established, but the greatest speed in conveying the mails should at all events be obtained. Railways give the most rapid locomotion and are preferable to all other modes of transmitting the mails. Steam-boats are next to rail-ways in this desirable point. Rail-ways are also valuable as they may radiate from all our great sea ports to the interior, and furnish the means of military defence as well as mail facilities. The government ought to promote such rail-ways for this double object. Such is and ought to be the policy of the republic. In 1842 the whole length of mail road was 147,732 miles, of which 3,091 was rail-way. As the use of the mail depends upon its cheapness, the postage ought to be charged at the lowest possible rate that would sustain the post-routes. The adoption of Morse's electrical telegraph will probably prove a great aid to our post-office department. The great object aimed at should be speed and cheap