The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-04-05
TWENTY EIGHTH CONGRESS,
THURSDAY, APRIL A, 1914.
FIRST SESSION
SENATE.

SENATE.
large number of memorials against any al
teration in the existing Tariff were presented
by Messrs. TALLMADGE, BUCHANAN, and
FRANCIS.
Mr.. FOSTER presented petition from CHI.
zens of Tennessee, asking a reduction of postage
Mr. BREESE, on leave introduced bill pro-
viding for the sale Of the lands in Illinois, Iowa,
and Wisconsin, supposed to contain mines. Mr.
B. also gave notice of bill to abolish the Mill
tary Academy.
NAVAL DEPOT AT MEMPHIS.
Mr.. FOSTER moved postponement of the
previous orders to take up the bill to establish
navy yard and depot at or adjacent to the city
of Memphis, on the Mississippi river, in the
State of Tennessee.
Mr.. BREESE desired to have this matter post
poned until the Mississippi river was surveyed.
There was no pressing necessity Tor 1t at once.
After some further objections to taking up the
bill now by Messrs. KING and TAPPAN,
which was replied to by Mr. FOSTER, the bill
was taken up.
Mr.. BREESE then moved an amendment, to
strike out all after the enacting clause, and pro-
vide that the President should select some officer
of the navy, Of the rank Of post captain, to pro-
coed with a corps of engineers to the Mississippi
river, and survey the same, with view to the
selection Of proper site for naval depot, and
that their report should be made IN detail. Mr..
B. enforced his amendment with a few remarks,
and insisted that it would be blind outlay of a
large sum of money, to appropriate it without
further information.
Mr.. FOSTER said the gentleman from Hi
nois was fighting behind masked battery; he
did not come out boldly. Between them it was
only question Of location, and his friend had
not told the Senate which place he preferred
but he Mr.. F. would tell them. Cairo was
| the gentleman's Ell Dorado--a place that was
often entirely overlooked; and when he was
along there year or two since, person might
have walked from the deck Of a steamboat into
the second stories of the houses-his friend from
Missouri over the way (Mr. Atchson) smiled,
| but he knows speak truly, (Mr. A. nodded
assent.) The Senator from Illinois, when this
subject comes up, is struck with shivering OF
| economy, but where was his retrenchment spirit
| Yesterday, when he advocated an appropriation
| of 100000 for the continuance of the national
road, $4,000 per mile?
| Memphis was one hundred and sixty miles
below Cairo, was healthy and prosperous, and
shipped 100000 bales Of cotton yearly to New
| Orleans but what did Cairo ship, or what COM
| modify had she to deal in, but alligators
| (Laughter) Memphis was in the same condi-
ton with the Grecian General the Mississippi
| Senators were instructed to vote for Vicksbure
| first, and Memphis in the second place-so, after
| the battle, every general voted the first honors
| to himself, and the second to Themistocles.
| Memphis must be the place.
| Mr.: TAPPAN spoke briefly in opposition to
the bill
Mr.. PEARCE thought there was fatal OBJ
lection to any place on the Mississippi, and this
was, the depth Of water. He agreed that Mem
phis would be the best place for depot, bu,
could not think it would answer for navy yard
Mr.. FOSTER then made an eloquent appeal
in behalf Of the West, after which, the bill was
laid aside, and the Senate went into executive
session