Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-07-27
raze to ruins splendid ed,fces. and make

sldnu alone 10 adu 10 your countless acres
of public domain more Indian lands, for the
benef, Of Spectators and land companies
under pre>emp' laws: much Of It has
gone into the pockets Of Office Folders {;
much has been sponged up by the stipend
aries and merceaarles Of power scattered
through all the highways and by-palhs
where booty may b. secured: and no small
portion night be found, If it could be over.
taken. in The safety vaults of your two
legged Sub Treasures.
Mr.. Chairman, OUTLAWS Of these descrip.
tons do not carry many public blessings
along with them to the generation that now
is, or that which 10 to come. They may
build up private fortunes. accumulate large
masses of wealth IN the hands of individuals,
give employment to swarns OF relalntrs and
favoriles, and support many men IN ldleness
and luxury; but they do not dlfflse unver
sal and enduring benefits, or tend to pro
mote the general prosperity. To my ap~
prehension the expenditures contemplated
by the bill now under consideration are OF
the latter character. A. such, i, commends
itself to my iudgmen, and my sympathies,
and will, hope, be favnrablv regarded by
the committee. | speak of the general
prime lpIe of the bill. II there is any i'm
proper item Of appropriation contained in
it. any specific work which ought not to be
provided for. any thing InJudlclous OF ex
cessve in the details Of the measure, | wall
g. with gentlemen IN correcting 1t. and
sha be g lad to have The error pointed out.
But my colleague does not aege any
thing of this KIND. He goes against the
whole bill. He cannot vote, he says for
anv part oft, and amnngs, the restraining
influences | lhnk he enumerated certain
constitutional scrupIes. Well, sir, be-
leve | have noticed all the objections
which were urged by the gentleman except
this last, and confess my embarrassment
| in deciding how to treat that. Scruples in
regard to constitutional power have co. to
b. very much like scrnples Of conscience in
matters OF faith. Whenever refuge is ta
ken behind either. you have only to ascer-
tain their precise extent, and. if they cover
the point m dispute, there is an end OF The
argument; the whole question then resolves
itself into matter of conscience, with
which it would, OF course. b. very ndellcate
to interfere. Had my colleague gwen Us
| the boundaries OF his cous',lut lOnal scru-
pies, and they had been found Co extensive
with The bill, the debate on that poin
would have been closed. Bu' in my 'gnor
ance Of the latitude and longitude, | am a,
loss TO know whether he confines the
constitutional power, as some do. to the
salt water, or carries It, as some others d.
into the fresh water also. and, If INTO The
fresh at all, how far. For instance. there
is point some distance up the Hudson
river, known as the 'Overslaugh,' or over.
slow, but some sonnet lines called by those
who navigate that stream Marcy's Farm.
tor the sake of b'evi'y aud euphony.
should be glad to know whether the gen
leman's line of constitutional power run.
above or below the 'overslaugh.' If belo,
that point, then new line must have beer
run since tho pear 1886; for. by the Jour
mails of The House, now before me, | fint
,fat my colleague then voted an apprnpr,a
ton for improving the navigation OF thu
Hudson at that place. Now, sir, csnno
comprehend that refinement Of ca>uistr,
which makes 1t constitutional to help tn,
navigation Of the Hudson. aud uncous'i'n
',onal 10 improve that Of the Mississippi
Cumberland aud Allegany rivers, or OF lh,
great lakes.
The obs,rucions at the 'overslaugh' pro
dnce great loss and inconvenience to tn,
people Of the West and North. Much val
liable properly Is arrested and Ice boun,
by The closing of the canals IN consequence
Of its detention upon that bottom Th
bill before Us contains an appropriation q
100000 for completing the remova u
those obs'rnc'lons. Does my coragn
intend to stop that work also? Ha. an ap
preparation for tins Object become uncons'i
'utional, or 's It in the wrong bali ?
leave The gentleman to adjust tins matte
WI h the CT lzens Of Albany and Rensselaer,
and those who trade through the Cham
plain cana. We, of the West think ,her,
IS short and easy remedy for our troubles
bv turning the Ecie Canal INTO the Hud
son little below rhe Farm
will not longer de'an the committee
| have considered. as fully As tmr allowed
all he objections which nv colleague ha
urged against TINS blii, and ] cannot dis
cover. m a ! Of them, anv good reason f.
withholding from 1t my support; no, M
even IN the menace of the ayes and noe
with which he closed his speech! How ia
the genlleman's friends NAV feel fla'ierr
by the compliment unnlIed IN that threat
for themselves to decide. But my rPspec
for those vnh whom | am associated W,
not allow me 10 Suppose that any opnlon
will be changed by the terrors Of tn" recorc
] appreneud the gentleman viii axe ua'h
ing by his motion. For myself, say, wit
\ my honorable colleague, Mr.. Foster.) tina
am wiling my vote, in favor If this hi
should 60 forth with that Of the chaIrma
! OF the committee OF ways and means agaln-
! it. am wiling and deslr,ous that all tn
great and growing communities which sen
their productions aud receive their supple
} Trough the lakes and their connect IN
channels, should know who is for arrest ms
, AT once and forever nil further ,mnrove