Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-26
HARBoR BILL.


We referred, few days ago, to the bad feel
ing which existed in the House of Representa-
: lives, and the following abstract of the debate
on the Harbor Bill, on Monday last, will show
something of the spirit which now prevails:
Mr.. CLAY read from former report an esti-
nation of the sum requisite to effect all the OBJ
jects already surveyed.
Mr. beatty reminded him of certain liberal
appropriations for Alabama, and inquired whe-
taer he had been equally active in opposing
them?
Mr. MERCER commented with severity upon
the statement made in the report quoted by Mr.
Clay, and denied that it had ever entered into
the mind OF any human being, that all the works
surveyed were to be completed by the General
Government Many of them were for State OBJ
jects-others for undertakings of private COM
panies-others had prevented the waste of mo-
5 ney in impractcable undertakings and the Go
vernment had engaged in only four of all the
objects surveyed.
Mr.. Clay replied, and still insisted that there
were enough works already surveyed to occu-
py the Government for the next fifty years.
MIR. beatty reminded him of the large grants
OF public lands to the State of Alabama. and
asked how much of that land had been brought
into market?
Mr.. HANNEGAN avowed his determination to
present item be negatived He also reminded
Mr.. CLAY, of the grants to Alabama and the ap-
preparation for Savannah river
Mr.. PIERCE of New Hampshire, moved the
previous question, but withdrew the motion at
the request of
Mr.. WAYNE, who explained on the subject of
Savannah river.
Mr.. PIERCE then renewed his motion for the
previous question, but it was promptly negativ-
ad-Ayes "a Noes Sc.
Mr.. DICKINSON, of Tennessee, insisted that the
"ote upon this bill was to be viewed as test
!ote upon continuing the system ofinternal i'm
provements, and invoked the South to support
their principles.
Mr.. MERCER denied that the veto doctrine had
The remotest connection with the present vote
The President had more than once sanctioned
this very appropriations
Mr.. WISE inquired what amount of money it
would require to complete all the works already
surveyed.
MIR. MERCER repeated in substance his former
explanation.
Mr.. WISE complained of this as an evasion
of his inquiry. He did not care if it was the
flag end of the most disgracefu session of Con-
greSS that had ever been held, he would not
consent that such bill should pass without an
imadversion. The men of the South had not
stood by their colours, and he now called upon
them to take the constitutional ground for which
they had always commended He made frequent
alluson to the approaching Presidential con-
lest, and addressed successfully the delegation
Of several different States, demanding their
vote in view of that event
MIR. CLAYTON addressed the House with much
warmth, threatening notification, should the
system of Internal Improvements be perseve-
red in.
Mr.. BEARDsLEY taking Mr.. WISE upon his own
ground, that this was to be test vote on the
Presidential question, called upon all who were
In N IA fc foX- ~
BILL and all opposed to it to vote against it. The
yeas and nays would then show how matters
stood in regard to the next Administration.
MIR. JONES adverted to the sudden change of
MIR. BEARDsLEY's course on this bill, as it was
bur two days since he voted against it. He ami
madverted on the practice Of log-rolling, and
argued to shew that the law of 1924 did not re-
quire the present appropriation. He concluded
with some pretty plain illusions to notification.
Mr.. WISE deprecated all tricks upon travel
lers, and protested against this vote being made
a test question as to the Presidency He had
meant to designate it as test question only in
reference to the system of internal improve
ments. The,real difficulty in the House had
been, whether the National Republicans or the
New Workers should take the responsibility of
defeating the bill.
Mr. BYNUM regretted these sectional illusions,
and hoped the trends OF economy and the Con-
stitution, wherever found, would vote against
the bill.
Mr.. BEARDsLEY replied to Messrs. WISE and
JONES, explaining the grounds of his change OF
opinion, and closed by reminding Mr. JONES that
areProaeh on that subject should, last of all,
have come from gentleman who one day de-
clared himself on personal examination that a
certain candidate was entitled to seat in the
House, and the next day brought in a repor
declaring that it was impossible to discover to
whom the seat belonged
This retort produced much sensation and
great merriment in the House.
The question was then put on concurring in
the amendment for surveys, and decided by
yeas and nays as follows yeas l03, nays 81.
s@-z-----..--.---.---
The arrival yesterday of the ship Josephine
from Ireland, was quite an unexpected circum-