Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-03-08

the other House time for its action But three hours
the session left fo this and all other which
manned TO be completed Besides, the principle of tho
thing he could not acquesce in the propey of separating
this object from all the other objects of internal improve
Inent and putting into bill which must OF necessity pass
He could not assent give such preference He admitted
Its Importance but there other parts OF the
try which felt equal interest in other improvements in he
vicinity. Why they all be set aside for this
This appropriation for Western rivers used formerly to be
inserted in the general bill for works OF internal Improvement
but under the jackson administration and that which follow
ed the entire system Frustrated the greatest exutaor
eyinced its fall it said to be deunct for but
il had revived with the revving prosperity OF the country
had received the smiles Of Legislative favor Ant
now the appropriation be removed from all its associates
and put this amy BILL because that the only bill
which the neceeo the Government rendered certain pass
On the Senator's doctrine OF merits this not proper pro
cedure; for other improvements had merits well this
Mr.. f. placed between two evils the the nd
mission OF the amendment into this bill and thereby eopardne
the harbor bill and the other the refusing put here
and thereby possibly rskng its by linking with the
fate Of the harbo BILL On the whole, he believed that the
lesser evil would be TO refuse its admission in this bill and
he should accordingly though with great reluctance vote
against the amendment of his friend from Kentucky
Mr.. HANNEGAN moved TO amend the amendment by
inserting appropriation of two hundred and twenty-five
thousand dollars for the continuance Of the Cumberland road
be divided into three equal parts for the three States OF In
diana, Illinois, and Missouri.
question of order here arose. from Mr. DICKINSON hav
ing proposed previous amendment for the Hudson river and
Mr. d. insisted his amendment which would oil course ex-
cude for the present that of Mr. HANSEGAN.
Mr.. MOREHEAD said that close examination OF tins
subject into which he had gone ago, had satisfied HIM
that the gentlemen who opposed this amendment were In the
wrong The appropriations had last year been sePara
ted hills called the Eastern and the Western harbor
bills the former of which had been vetoed but the other
ed Now, perhaps with view to prevent similar result
both bills had been united into As friend TO the appro
paon now proposed Mr. NJ had regretted this For years
past this appropriation for Western rivers had always had its
place in the army bill for ten years this had been the case
and doubt would have been continued under the Jackson
and Van Buren, administrations had not the whole system
been suspended Why should the former course be now de-
parted from The army bill the proper place for these
appropriations because the whole application of the money
eened 10 the Secretary of War; and belonged the jul
riscon of that Department Mr. NJ. dsclaimed all OPPOSE
the objects contained in the harbor bill but would the
friends Of those contend that because they could not
get all their habo into the BILL and were in great dan
OF losing the whole that therefore gentlemen from the West
must be deprived OF the opportunity of securing the improve
nent of the great rivers in the valley He hoped not Let
those gentlemen rely upon him and his ends-let them suf
Ter this amendment to then whether their
objects would not in turn receive hearty support.
Mr.. WOODBURY. said that the argument of the honor
able Senator from Kentucky would apply just well all
the other items of internal improvement to these Western
rivers because they all referred the Secretary
and all belonged to the jurisdiction of the War Department
hat time had gentlemen to argue the merits of all the
items in the harbc bill 1t of the question, and
those who desired that bill pass had but question
to put all Its items into this military BILL
put none of them.
Mr. DICKINSON said he could not consent to withdraw
his amendment If the Western the BILL the
Hudson ought also. 1t naturally connected with
the army bill than the other amendment
Mr. HUNTINGTON referred to documents to show that
Mr. MoREnLAD mistaken in surprising that the river
preparations had always been put into the military bill The
practice the contrary had been place these the
same bill with other rivers of the country with the improve
nent of harbors and other works of a similar character
After conversation between Messrs. DICKINSON and
the former understood conserving that
he question should first be put Mr. HASSEsASs amend
nent proposing appropriation for the Cumberland Road
L was taken accordingly by yeas and nays and resulted
olows Yeas Q, nays 35.
so the amendment rejected.
Mr. DICKINSON now renewed his amendment, appropri-
ang for Improvements in the Hudson river but it
was rejected without a count.
Mr.. ATCHISoN moved an amendment for the improve
nent OF the Tennessee rver below Knoxville which in
like manner rejected
Whereupon Mr.. CRITTENDEN, observing that he was
unwilling TO press measure which it contened would
be the certain destruction of the habor BILL consented with
draw his amendment for the Western waters
Mr. MOREHEAD moved to amend the bill by inserting an
Of So 500 for the purchase Of ground for add
honal barracks at Newport Kentucky but rejected
without count
Mr.. BARROW now renewed the amendment which Mr.
CHITrESpES had withdrawn on which he demanded the
yeas and nays, and they were ordered.
Mr.. DICKINSON thereupon observed that, if that
to be renewed he should claim share, and his
amendment for the Hudson river
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE said that this question OF
merit but question Of place No disputed the merit OF
the object but why dsplace it from its appropriate posi-
ton in the harbor bill He proprety III removing
item of that bill without the rest The adoption OF the
amendment the ruin of that BILL and 1t had almost seem
cd TO him il that really the object with some gentlemen
The question being put Mr.. B,naows amendment, i
was rejected by yeas and nays, follows cas- IL nays 20
After the proposal of suny other amendments all oil which
rejected the bill reported to the Senate, read hirC
umc passed. and TO the President Tor his signature
HARRoR BILL.
This bill having on motion of Mr.. WooDBRIDoE, been Ia
ken up as in Committee Of the Whole, and being open
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE said that he fully aware of The
difficulties which surrounded his in relation this bill
He had received repeated from gentlemen
quanted with the Of this bill in the other branch that
the slightest change should be made in it, would certainly b.
rejected its there Yet he had been charged by the
Committee on Commerce with the duty of reporting sevca
amendments and situated he was between dangers tn,
one hand and duties the other he concluded the whole
present the amendments and suffer the Senate upor
them in such they might deem expcdient HI
therefore proposed his first amendment follows
For strengthening and deepening the channel Of the
shore Of the straits Of Detroit opposite Maiden, in Canada
and within the State Of Michigan twenty thousand dollars"
In explaining and supporting this amendment, Mr. w. OBJ
served that the southern extremity of the strait between the
British and American shores, which ordinarily denomi
mated Detroit river, that strait five miles wide but @
higher and opposite the British fortress Of Maiden bu
four miles wide The greater part Of the water passing
Lake ST. Clair flowed TO the west Of island in this strait
called Boideu fiat limestone ledge Close TO tina
island there was channel through which all American
of necessity obliged pass, Immediately under the
guns both Of fort Maiden and of another British fort upon III,
island Through the broad limestone ledge which he hat