The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-04-18

Gen. Jaskson t,pon me SuiJsst6f q Internal In.
proyrrnents," He commended that ns 10 the con.
slitutionaliy Of appropriations for the improve
ments of harbors there was no doubt upon the
subject. +
Mr.. RHETT denied this, and called tor proof.
Mr.. GIDDINGS cited the first Congress, which |
ever met, and which made appropriations for the
improvement Of the Delaware river.
Mr.. DOUGLASS said all our Presidents had
sanctioned the same by signing and approving
bills. He asked whether the Charleston harbor
appropriations were constitutional, in the view
Of the gentleman from South Carolinay
Mr.. HOLMES here came to his colleagues
rescue, and said these appropriations were un-
constitutional also. sfHH aSt &A sS1
Mr.. d. said he was glad to have driven the
gentleman to this dilemma, but the same gentle
man had maintained, at this very session, that
appropriations for the Ohio and Mississippi RI
vers were constitutional.
Mr.. HOLMES reasserted this, and found the
special power for this purpose under the ordinance
of 1857. r .ss8f u q AZ
Mr.. D. said that appropriations were no more
constitutional for these rivers than for their tri-
butaries or the lakes. No President had pointed
out differeEce-there was none in fact. His
view Of the subject was this, that objects mere
local were not constitutional, but that those which
were national, were. Those who took differ
ent position left the democratic platform, and not
he had departed from it. t. I5la
Mr.. RHETT responded, and discussed the
powers under the constitution. He classified the
old Republican, and the modern Democratic par
ties, and claimed political kindred with the gen.
tleman who had preceded him, and was therefore
the more surprised at the difference between
| them. He thought the gentleman claimed the
most lattudnaran powers. -
Mr.. u. interrupted Mr.. r. frequently, and there
was a considerable !" short hand" debate between
them. II sa. q z4 aasl 81 iy 5 &as a 43i854
Mr.. R. finally grew warm, and declared his en-
tire want of respect for the understandings OF
gentlemen who maintained the distinctions set
forth. 1t was clear to the common sense of any
man, that if you could make appropriations for
one of these Objects you could for another. He
did not regard the amount Of money involved, but
| contended for the principle, which bore directly
upon the best interests of the Government Mr..
r. spoke with great zeal against the entire object
| of internal improvements, and argued that If the
views of the gentleman from Illinois we're cor
rect, Pennsylvania, and any other State which
had contracted debts for internal improvements,
could call upon the General Government to as
sumo them, for these works were as much for the
public benefit as the Improvement Of Illinois
rivers. sa FL, AN.
Mr.. HOLMES insisted that he was not driven
into the support of internal improvements by the
| light of any locofoco match. All the argument
that he had heard was that Gen. Jackson was in
favor of internal improvements, ergo they we're
constitutional 5hi w
Mr.. DOUGLASS said he could give him ano-
ther name, that of John C. Calhoun.
| Mr.. HOLMES said he cared neither for the
opinion of the one or the other in question of
this kind. He was discussing constitutional
! question, and would be ashamed to bolster him
| self with the opinion of any man. aapiiu
Mr.. DOUGLASS again came to the contest,
and was talking about Gen. Jackson's opinions,
when Mr.. RHETT said, "Gen. jackson again y
he would scorn to pin his faith to any great
! mans sleeve.
| After this interesting breach between these
loving Locofocos, and the disposal of some ques-
| tons of order, a vote was taken upon an amend
ment, increasing the appropriation for the Ohio
river from 50 10 100000, and the same was
| agreed to by 80 to 81!
| The next amendment was to strike out the
| word Wabash, (Which had been inserted in COM
mittee) and upon this, also, the yeas and nays
were taken, and were ayes al, noes 1873.
The next amendment was tor increasing the
appropriation for the Ohio river, below the falls
at Louisville, from 100000 TO 1928, 900. The
yeas and nays were again called, and were ayes
| IS, nays 90; so the amendment made in COM
| mittee was rejected.
The next amendment was one offered by MIR.
KENNEDY, of Ia, upon which he moved the
previous question, but which he afterwards wish
ed to change, finding that he had made mis-
take, and offered the wrong amendment-but
the previous question had been seconded, and
the previous question, for once, returned to
plague the mover. Pending this matter,
The House adjourned.
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