Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1843-02-25
Congressional.


the survey Of certain canal routes IN the
Territory Of Iowa, was taken up.--'hc
question icing on the amendment Of MIR
&C. Dodge 10 apply $500 Of the ap
preparation to the removal Of the obs;ruc-
tons in the Mississippi river at the rap.
ids Of the Des Moines,.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON spoke briefly
in opposition to the amendment.
MIR. REYNOLDS replied, arguingin IA
vor Of the great benefit to be derived from
the proposed improvements, and conten-
ding that the opening OF this great ma.
,iona highway was not mere local
measure, bu, alike interesting to all the
States OF the Union.
| Mr.. THOMPSON Of Mississippi did no.
rise to make speech, bat to urge upon
the committee. 10 pass on this bill with.
out further discussion. At the last SEES
sion of Congress. the days set apar: for
| 'rcrrtorla! business wero principally
consumed in the examination OF general
questions, without coming TO any decisive
result; and he leard tina; this day would
be taken up in the samo .nnnner il they
allowed i discussion to go on. on the con.
s,itutional powers 81 the Government
| lie hoped that the committee would, with
out further debate, settle this question
a question which lie considered to be one
Of mere expelicnce on'y--viz, whether
they should appropriate this $4,000 to
,oads and improvements i'll tho Territory
of Iowa, or to the opening and improve.
,nent oil the Mississippi river, the great
highway Of the Union.
Mr.. iRNARDopposed the amendment,
on tho ground that the Improvement Of,
the Mississippi was not Territorial bust
ness, and that Legislation in regard TO it
in this way gave it Il preference over 9th
er rivers ol the United States equally de-
serving OF the favor OF The Government.
. He was willing to give the $4,000, Or
100000, II necessary, for the Improve
mcnt oi the Mississippi river; but at the
same time he waited to start ia r---l,c
wanted the Hudson river 10 have an equal
share. There was bill OH I.e table.
making an appropriation Tor the improve
ment oil several rivers Of the United
States, including the Mississipi us we'll
Us the Hudson, and he wished gentlemen
to wait till that bill came up.
|, Here was an appropriation Of $4,000
tor clearing out the distractions OF the
Des MONIES and Rock River rapids, aud
gentlemen talked Of its Importance; but
he would ask them IT, tell him the amour,
OF merchandise which passed over the
Dcs Moines rapids? Was it $4,000, 600
per annum? Was in SlO,00O,OOo' He
would 60 tor those improvements at the
proper time; bu. he should ask gentle.
men, the same time, 10 give him lit
tie lor,ll,e North River; aud 10000, 900
.! merchandise every year passed The
spot where they proposes to make I'm
provements III that river. besides one
million Of passengers. Now, he made
these remarks to show gentlemen that
there we're other important points which,
required their attention as we'll as the
rivers IN question. lie did no, like this
way OF getting at the Improvement OF the
Western rivers, while olhc's. quite as i'm
pOrlant were lett unn,ilced Let them
wait until they get Il repor. irona proper
COMMITTEE and then he would 60 as lar as
far as they ought 10 go, considering the
slate the national treasury. He would.
it it were necessary, go the whole length
oil the river, extending 5000 miles, wnen
tie State OF the treasury would permit;
bu;, 1T present, he would recommend that
lney should wait. He was against this
amendment; but he would 20 iur the orr.
giual bill.
Mr.. BLACK, in the course Of some OBJ
servations, expressed his disappointment
OH hearing the speech Of the gentleman
from Illinois, MIR. REYxoLDs;l for that
gentleman hau promised 10 make some
remarks OH the constl,uliunalitv oil tins
bill, but lac had done nothing more than
cite preceuenls 10 Justify it. lie then cal
led tnat gentleman 5 attention to the Mays
vile road bllt, which, was vetoed Wy the
political cllei oi the gentleman troun II
ltiuls- General Jack .vll-as u precedent
.. contrary tendency
Mr.. WARD said he Thought the propo.
sition Vi the gentleman fron, New York
Mir. BARNARD was u correct one: and he
l.oped The Delegate. from Iowa would with
draw his amendment; aud when it came
into the House in another form, lie mir.
WARp] would give i. his support.
Mr.. DODGE oil Iowa said lie saw the
time oil The House would be los: on this
proposition, and the other Territorial busi-
ness would not. consequently, have proper
consideration. aud therefore he withdrew
his ume .dment.
Mr.. ROOSEVELT said the motion oil
the Delegate, which was just Withdrawn,
to strike on. every section oi the original
bill, and substitute for it u different pro-
position, was All admission by the Dele
gate that hls appropriation was uncallcd
for, or ut least could be dispensed with.
He did not intend 10 BE- unkud 10 the Ter
ritories, but he wished to be kind to the
credit 0! the country. they had been go.
ing on too last; and now they found II a,
il they We're 10 have any ..noney, they
must borrow it. He hoped soms regard
would be paid to the state Of the treasury
and he would beg gentlemen 10 remem
Der that even borrowed money was to be re
paid. lie hoped ,h's body, at least, what
ever others might do, would hold 10 the
doctrine lhatevery engagement nto which
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