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.

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

ness, so that knowledge and business may be quickened and diffused.

SECTION TWELFTH. MILITARY DUTIES.

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The national government is charged with the common defence of the Union, and the states are deprived of all means of military support except in their militia. Congress has exclusive power over the and the sword of the Union for this purpose. The power to declare war is vested in Congress, and the President has no power to order any act of hostility unless Congress shall first direct it. We maintain a small regular army sufficient to garrison our forts and guard the Indian frontier. Hence Congress is empowered to provide by law for calling forth the militia, and for organizing, arming and disciplining it, and for governing it when in the service of the United Stetes,"reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress." It becomes an important question what that training and organization shall be. The battle of New Orleans has demonstrated that sharp-shooters of the militia, securely posted, can by their deadly fire prevent a charge by an army of veterans. May it not be wise to cast

aside our militia trainings and cumbrous organization and merely enrol the citizen soldiery, which in 1842 amounted to about 1,674,486. Let them be divided into cohorts of 100 each with a centurion or captain to command, and in case of war let those called into service be trained to the rifle and guerrilla warfare. They would be trained to prowl around an invading enemy in companies, each under its captain, and to attack as opportunity offered. In defensive war, our only wars, such a force would be formidable. In the plains of the the south or west a portion of this force might be mounted. Forty thousand of foot-cohorts and ten thousand mounted men would indeed be a formidable defensive force. We merely suggest these views for the consideration of military gentlemen, for arms are not our vocation.

The national government was charged with the duty of establishing a national judiciary to carry into effect the powers of the Union at home and abroad. It has been well performed. The Supreme Court of the United States, by its able and accurate exposition of the treaties, constitution and laws of the United States as well as its decisions in all other cases, has won for itself the crown of

judicial honor. Under the distinguished John Jay, John Marshall and their learned and able colleagues and successors, this high court has established a character for ability, learning and integrity that has firmly secured to it the public confidence and the nation's gratitude.

SECTION FOURTEENTH.

INTER-STATE RELATION.

As Congress has exclusive power over interstate communication, no state can legally pass a law to interdict any freeman from entering into its jurisdiction from another state by sea or land, nor has any state a right to pass any law relative to any vessel or its free mariners sailing under a lisence of the United State, either requiring bonds or confining them during the stay of a vessel if colored, nor has a state or its authorities any color of authority to stop, delay, touch or open the mail and search for or seize any of its contents in any (See McCullock vs. the State of Maryland, 4 Wheaton R. 432. Osborn vs. United States Bank, 9 Wheaton R. 862. Brown vs. State of Maryland, 12 Wheaton 419, 440, 448, 9, and 9 Wheaton 209.) For by the Constitution of the United States a free citizen of one state has the full rights of a freeman in all the States, and the power over these subjects resides exclusively in

case.