The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-17

10 DC appropriated for the objects and II the
resolution OF the gentleman from Kentucky should
Dc adopted this amount OF money would keep all the
snag boats necessary for that purpose. lie hoped
gentlemen would not vote against this resolution but
allow II to pass, that the interests Of the West NAV
not be lost sight of but he greatly regretted that he
MIR 7 had not embraced in his resolution an an.
preparation for the Ohi), above the falls
la the Of his remarks he said In al he fell
bound TO reply TO some OF the remarks of The gentle
man from Pennsylvania, Mr. Stuart who SAID that
those who voted for the improvement of the Western
waters upon constitutional grounds had Yielded the
question on every point, and were compelled 10 be
consistent. to vote for improvements in every other
section OF the country To this doctrine he was on
posed altogether, and said that the Western waters
stood upon different ground To that Of roads aud ca
mails, which are embraced in the exploded Amer can
system lie would also state, for the Information Of
the House, that surveys had been made under
other administrations, before the veto of the Mays-
willie Road Bill by General Jackson as stated in that
message, which would cost iieo hundred millions of
dollars to complete yet that gentleman had said that
Dy cutting OIL The tariff the prosperity Of the country
had been ruined, when the whole country know that
ITS nd'isty had been Frustrated by this very Ame-
ricon system, which had induced the States 10 en-
bark IN IT, without any prospect whatever Of realiz-
ing the deusion which had been held out to them by
tins exploded system IL this appropriation of t,oo
hundred millions had not been cut off by the veto of
General Jackson, what would now be the condition
OF the country The gentleman from Pennsy lvania
had gone into this question: from the remarks which
fell from the gentleman from Missouri (Mr Bow
lin,) VINO SAID, let Congress reduce the tariff to a
revenue standard, and then the Government would
be enabled to make these necessary and constitutions
al improvements Now, let the House test this beau
tiful protective tariff system. In 1882, under high
tariff, before the Compromise act from the report of
the Secretary Of the Treasury il appears that only
$4,000 GOO had been received from the customs to
carry ON this splendid American system. He was
opposed to such delusve policy, but he in
favor Of revenue tariff which would bring into the
Treasury adequate means for the economical support
OF the Government, and if there any to spare he
would then not only vote for appropriations for the
Western waters but for the Hudson, il il was not a
spring branch, as asserted, which he believed was no.
so, except IN comparison with the great Missis
siPpia common highway, according TO the ordinance
Of 1881, and which brings it within the constitutional
jurisdiction OF this Government. He was in the Le-
gslature OF Indiana, minority of 10, when this
log-roliing system was going on, against which, he
protested at the time, and the effects of which have
Frustrated the energies of that State by involving her
In heavy debt, which would have to be paid by the
sweat of her honest and industrious citizens. 1t is
true that the people of the West have complained of
neglect; but they have asked Congress TO ap-
propriae dollar for them which wa. not clearly
constitutional Their complaint rested upon the
ground that liberal appropriations had been made for
Improvements in other sections of the country-such
the Breakwater in the Delaware-o no practical
use whatever, while the Mississippi had been neglect
co. ana the consequence mas been great loss oil Ile
among whom are some of the best citizens of the
country. He hoped the resolution would not be re-
considered.
Mr.. MORRIS explained, and sa d, when the Break
water was completed II would be practicable but IN
an unfinished state it was of little USE and it would
be wrong to abandon it now, il fast approach
ing to completion, and after having cost so much
time and money.
MIR. SMITH said there we're others, which he
would not now mention but in candor and sincerity,
IL. E.lt E.l
called upon to make appropriations for fear it would
transcend the bounds Of the Constitution.
Here the House received message from the Pre-
sdent of the United States through the hands Of his
private secretary
Mr. STUART, Of Pennsylvania, said he was not
present when the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. eller)
had stated to the House that his remarks in relation
to MrNan Buren,, being oppos ed to internal improve
ments were untrue and he would at the proper ZINE
brand him with the falsehood upon his forehead and
il not, he would take the brand himself Upon that
ground he was ready to meet the gentleman, and he
should take the brand
Mr. WELLER said, in the Intelligence the gen.
tleman is reported (and he presumed he report
ed correctly to have stated to the House that NJ r.
Van Buren, had instructed the Secretaries who made
out the estimates to withhold them which he did
pronounce untrue and the gentleman made another
statement-that Mr.. Van Buren, would have vetoed
the bill embracing these estima IS II it had been
presented TO him. In 1888 he signed the bill making
proves this statement also untrue.
Mr. STUART denied the report Of the Intelligent
Ger, and said that he did not state it a fact, but
" presumed" it to he so.
Mr. WELLER HeIe is the gentleman's Ian.
guage, aud there Is no presumption but positive
assertion of the fact. Does he suppose that the
members of this House do not understand the English
language Here they are quite clear and explicit,
and any read TIE paper aud he felt bound to
pronounce the statements untrue in every essential
particular.
MIR SMITH, Of Illinois, then took the n,or aud
spoke against reconsideration Of the resolution aud
in favor of the improvement of the Western waters,
which come within the constitutional Jurisdiction
OF Congress. Ii was his opinion that the interests
OF the West had been long negec,e and it was time
something should be done but he rdicued in a most
sarcastic the bait which had been thrown out
by MIR. Stuart, of Pennsy vania, TO catch the West
and make them acknowled the con.ttutonality Of
the exploded American system. lie said the people
of the West had been ground down by this system Of
indirect taxation long enough, and II time they
should cut themselves loose from such a plundering
system, which. only tended TO the enrching of the
importing merchant and the manufacturer, at the ex-
pense Of the hardy and industrious yeomanry OF the
country.
Mr.. IAMMETT here offered an amendment to
the resolution, as follows;
"Thit the Committee Of Ways and Means inquire
into the expediency of making q necessary appropri-
alton for the improvement of the Mississippi and its
tributaries
1t was objected TO.
Mr. WIN TON then took the floor and went into
constitutional argument in favor Of the internal inn
provement system generally.
The question was further debated by Mr..
HARDIN, of Illinois, and Mr.. BARNARD, Of New
York. who contended for the constitutional power Of
Congress to make roads and canals, under the autho
riiy Of regulating commerce with foreign nations,
and among the several States, and with the Indian
trbes.m
MIR. CAVE JOHNSON then gave his views on the
vote he had given for reconsdcring the resolution,
and said when the question came up in another shape
he should vote for appropriation for the Nlssissp-
pi, but he should cut off the Hudson
lie then presented amendment as follows