Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-03-08
CONGRESS.
IN sENATE.-Nrcnr SESSION OF MARCH 3.
RIVERS AND HARBoRs, DC

u
popang s340O for the Improvement OF the navigation OF
the Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, and Arkansas rivers
hundred thousand dollars OF the amount TO be expended the
Ohio above the falls.
Mr. &. said he that an item like this had been
inserted by the other House in the harbor BILL which
the Secretary table and ready TO be taken up its
but this item for the great Of the West had usually been
inserted in the military bill, and he not willing that IFS
safety should be eoparded by having mixed up the msce
aneous matters contained in the habor ba huge omnibus
loaded down with all sorts Of appropriations amounting TO some
two millions OF dollars.
Mr. PORTER expressed himself very friendly to the OBJ
lec moved by the Senator from Kentucky, but he greatly
feared that should appropriation like this be removed from
the harbor BILL would render almost certain the defeat OF that
bill II well known that the harbor bill had encountered
stormy debate in the other House. and its passage which was
not obtained without great difficulty might part be attrbut
ed to the incorporation in it commanding the sup
port Of SO large Western interest The appropriation more
properly belonged that BILL where had its natural place
Mr. SEWER advocated the amendment This appropria-
ton for the Western rivers important TO
passage if it suffered to have fair chance
il always passed unanimously Nobody said could
thing against it, there but money the Treasury
the expenditure The Treasury full, and the appo-
paon, inserted in this bill certain pass. And
could his friend from Michigan the part of the dog in the
manager Would he oppose measure like this risk its safety
he could get his little habo there the lakes
provided for He knew that ts popular measure, and
would he insist for that reason hanging TO it halt thou
sand appropriations for little harbors and creeks Mr. s. had
always voted for his appropriations he had gray sup
porting his harbor appropriations he had served the gentleman
till he had become veteran IN aiding him IN his harbors and
his little improvements but if he going pursue
this course he could his friend that there end Of
all his vao the service, and he would say him, with Jack
Fasa, that he might kill the next Percy himself A laugh
Mr.. CRITTENDEN said that he bad acted with IL
beraty voting appropriations for the improvement of har
bors and all kindred works of improvement He had de
sire defeat endange the geneman BILL but he could
consent throw this appropriation, which of such
vital importance to the entire Mississippi valley into yas
cadon like the habor bill, which had been thrown
many various creatures the ark contained Many of the
gentlemans objects of very dspuabe poprey not
few Of them had been vetoed at the last session but
the proprety or the consttuonay OF Improving these
horoughares in the West there dispute. Give
them this appropriation and then they could prove themselves
liberal IN their support of other objects But these he
could endanger 70 the great valley they
the place of ocean, and indeed they had, with equal
truth and beauty been said to constitute the great Medeua
mean of the West.
Mr. PORTER admitted the importance Of the object pro-
posed but reminded the gentleman from Kentucky that, on
this subject of appropriation for works OF internal improve
Inent, hand The temper of the House III
relation to it such that he did how this could be
separated from the harbor bill without the certain loss of the
latter The improvement of these great naturally
nected itself with bill for the improvement smaller streams
and Of harbors all the Unon and he would remind
Senate that the British policy in relation her American pos
sessions, and to the great Northern Lakes such that gen
emen would British ships Of on those lakes in forty
days from the ports of England.
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE said that he felt great embarrass
ment relation to the amendment proposed Ii these
appropriations for Western stood bill BY Themselves
none would vote for them with alacry sustain them
with zeal than he should but he told that if any
alteration should be made in the harbor BILL must be
returned TO the House this late hour lis loss was certain
lie had himself some amendments 10 that BILL which he
anxious to PROPOSE and he knew how to act
IN regard to hem for the just stated And he
desirous Of knowing in the first place, whether any amend
rnen was proposed be made =, the sur nurocr
bill n be touched, he desired to have
his amendments inserted il hut If 20 secure its mas
sage, the Senate determined to leave Stood then he
must vote against the present amendment which
out OF II feature Of such great importance.
Mr. WHITE had hoped that before this time minute and
searching examination of the lake harors and the lake shores
generally would have been gone and completed Some
thing OF this kind had been ordered by Congress but he be-
eved the survey, made AT ALL had been very slight and
imperfect He observed that portion Of the appropriation
moved be expended improving the navigation
Of the Arkansas He knew that the Arkansas was
long stream and Of great value and importance He had
desire 10 speak in derog4on Of he would inquire
what its preemnence the Wabash and the Illinois
streams not perhaps long, but which oaied hundred times
mIch their bosoms To be sure these rivers
would stand no sort Of comparison with the Mississippi AMI
the Missouri with the Ohio but he reason why they
must be postponed in favor Of the Arkansas Certain ne
that the present amendment greatly elaneer the habr
bill and acquainted with the NORTH and especially
with the commerce the great lakes could fail appreciate
the vast Importance Of that bill Mr. w. here some
details that subject, and referred the rivers and canals
which empted into the lakes and the necessity Of their
pruyemen Of the astonishing growth of our internal
commerce those great sheets of water.
Mr. w. had wish risk appropriation so important
rat proposed He earnestly desired il 10 I've made
but he wished il retained in the harbcr b because
Ter from that bill necessarily kill the latter by sending
back for the House this late hour Let
gentlemen remember that IN the habor bill the appopa-
non Tor the Cumberland road If il lost that lost for
the present session
Gentlemen said that the farbor bill contained some items
winch had been vetoed II the danger which they
eded LOT mat b lei them take Of these eNceptonab
he and men, though must go hack the House, il would
90 PACK with less certainty Of future than if
portant and so popular the Improvement Of the great West
ern rivers should have been first removed from IL
MI DA said That these Western rivers were 10 60 into
inns army m ne hoped that tho Hudson river would be
included.
Mr. DICKINSON proposed an amendment including an
aPopfauon of the improvement Of the navigation Of the
nson nVe between Albany and Troy, and below Albany
nc observed that there propey attaching an amend
nent like this 70 the military BILL because The United states
mad an arsenal on that river, opposite 10 Troy AID as we
were soon TO have with Mexico he wished Ia proyic
clear channel through which the Mexican feet MIGHT sail mn
and try Their hand al taking it. a laugh
Mr. ARCHER said that he had once believed ~, The
Oenera government could not constutonaly engage m
woks q internal improvement but further reflection had since
conyncei hun not only that Congress had the power but ia
under the strongest obligations Of duty to remove Inc ,
uons iron the great Mediterranean Of tho West and 10 f
ae oy every means IN ts power the navigation Of our
Wates ny inc immense internal trade of TIL, country No
haDor III INC country equal in Importance 10 the national
weDehS WIN these great arteries the interior Of our land
Ohornhaeey, however they full OF distractions the
ehoYa " wSh was very practicable, and demanded large
appropriations from the Government, He vas yVllin, q ii;
sert IN this bull appropriations fsf the Mssisp tho Ohio
the missouri, and Arkansas rivers but there he ,yo,,d ~
MI bEhlEN entered hts solemn rotes, acains. tho min;