Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-03-11

MIR. WoouDfluSe demanded lDe yeas diiu nays
which, being taken, resulted as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Archer, Aiheron, Basby
Evans Fairfield, Huger, McDufiie, Niles, Sc
yier, Woodbury-l0.
NAYS essrs. Allen, Ashley, Atchison, Bar
row, Bayard, Benton, BerrieD, Breese, Bucha-
man, Cloate, Cruenden, Dayton, Dickinson,
Dix, Foster, Francis, flanagan, Haywood,
Henderson, Jarnagin, Johnson, Mangum, Mil
Ter, Morehead, Phelps, Porter Semple, Sim
mons, Sturgeon, Tappan, Upham, Walker,
While, Woodbridge "a.
MIR. Evans inquired what was the aggregate
amount appropriated by the bill
Mr.. Woodbridge said il was about one mil
lion six hundred thousand dollars.
Mr.. McDuflie. More than that twas nearer
Two millions.
Mr.. Evans asked if the Senate was aware
of the amount of appropriations which had been
made at this Congress? He had endeavored TO
keep up with them rs we'll as he could, but he
confessed they had got far beyond his calcua-
tions; and he apprised gentlemen now, that they
must not be surprised il they should find the IL
nances OF the country running very low indeed,
before the year was out. And it, as was not I'M
possible, they should find themselves under The ne
cessity OF borrowing money, he prayed them TO
remember that that necessity, il il came, would
have been imposed by their own legislation. Mr..
L. had no scruples on The subject of internal i'm
provemenis; yet he confessed that the amount
proposed in this bill appeared 10 him enor-
nous. II Congress should appropriate halt
million, or even seven or eight hundred thousand
dollars year for objects of this description he
should consider il just proportion OF the public
expenditure; but 10 present mass of items
Of SO large an amount, 10 be passed in This lump
ing manner, al this late hour Of the session, was,
in his Judgment, an unwarrantdble proceeding.
MIR. McDute said he was very sorry 10 be
obliged 10 oppose this bill; but he was consrain-
ed BY solemn sense OF duty 10 occupy the floor
for brief period in endeavoring 10 proven, The
final consummaton OF an act so monstrous as
this. Could he suffer bill like this TO pass with
out an attempt 10 oppose, 10 analyze It's Objects,
and TO show 10 the country their true character,
he should deSpise himself as base traitor 10 The
trust reposcd in him. The Senate had been od
by the Senalorlrom Massachusetts, (Mr. Choae.)
and with some force of reasoning when lbe bill
was up for the admission Of Iowa and Florida
into The Union that The principle OF thus com
bining Two States in the same bill was radically
wrong because many would be induced TO vote
for such bill for the sake OF introducing one
State, who were entirely opposed 10 the admission
of the other. Now, though the principle oil this
argument was right, YET il did not apply IN that
case, because The Union, being established upon
compromises between the North and The South,
the admitting OF n Northern and Southern Stale
by the same bill, was only further carrying out
of The compromise principle and was therefore
in strict conformity TO the spirit OF the Consllu-
tion But what did they see now Here was
bill which combined not two, but more han two
hundred different objects, not one OF which
could stand alone on It's own merits, ana owed
lis entire prospect OF success 10 this very sns-
pcious combination. Why were all these put in
one and The same bill !? When the Senator from
Kentucky (Mr. CriIlenden) presented that item OF
The bill which was clearly The most national IN
lis character, Git any one Of them was nationally
what was the result? 1t was rejected and reject
ell on The ground that, if il was taken out of this
harbor bill, the bill must be lost. II was the first
time in the Congress OF the United States when a
principle, he would not say SO corrupt because
that was harsh word. but SO very Objectionable,
had been openly avowed as that measure must
be retained in order, BY its merits, 10 carry This
monster, this many-headed hydra, through both
Houses of Congress. Let gentlemen take ont OF
this bill the appropriations for the benefit OF any
one State, and put them together in bill by
themselves, would such bill pass? Every body
knew that il would not Bul they were put TO-
gelher, and kept together, that the whole might be
carried BY a emp dc man. IL would be neon
sisent with The respect which he entertained for
himself, and the decorum imposed by the pre-
sence Of the Senate, 10 apply 10 an attempt like
this The language which he felt presented itself 10
his lips the least he could say of il was that it
was combination TO plumber the public Treasu-
nv. Yes; he repeated the assertion; il was nel-
Their more nor less than combination 10 plumber
the public Treasury.
Mr.. Med could say with the Senator from
Maine, (Mr. Evans,) that he entertained no con-
- t.,rn oTi nj
nal improvement, il lhey were OF strictly naiun-
al character He was moi opposed 10 this bill on
party grounds nor simply as an expenditure OF
public money; but il he was called upon, as the
last public act OF his life, 10 swear that he believed
these appropriations were asked rather for the
sake oi havin. The public money expended IN
different portions OF The Country than Tor the sake
oil the public works indicated in the bill, he could
do So with 4 good conscience. The question on
this bill was a question of the distribution of mo-
ncy from The Treasury; and he must again So
lemnly protest against the principle OF thus COM
bining a multitude OF local ob;ects-ihc improve
menI .! small rivers and the opening OF little
harbors, and similar lmprOvemcnts-in one bill,
merely for The sake OF carrying that which, on
the ground of It's own merit, could not pass either
House Of Congress.
One Administration was now on the eve Of
oi It's advent The parry which was going out
had come into power on The avowed principle Of
The proprieiy OF works of nteIna! improvement
by The General Government. The party now
coming into power had, tromthe days OF General
Jackson downward, been distinguished By its un-
compromising opposition TO the whole system
with hut a very lew exceptions. Yet what
spectacle did the Senate Chamber present At this
moment If this bill should pass, il would pass
by more Democratic than Wing votes And II
Mr.. Med. knew any thing OF the President who
was 10 be sworn in tomorrow, and he thought he
did, for he had served with him in the other House
or ten years he coall say with truth that there
was no one man who, in his public course, had
been more irlcconciIaby hostile 10 This system, in
all lis forms and throughout all its DISCUSSES. He
trusted that gentlemen would not, in these last
moments OF an expiring Congress, preciracly
rush upon measure thus indiscrect and extra
VACANT. Andrew Jackson ha,i derived a large
part OF the glory which encircled his name, from
the very fact that he had arrested this system BY
his veto. And il there was one act which, in a
certain portion ofthis country, had reflected more
Credit on the present Administration than any
other, il was the veto OF John Tyler on this very
bill. Mr. Med predicted that, should this bill be
repeated at The mex, session. it would, as mat
Ter of course, receive from the coming President
a like commentary.
Mr.. McD. not only opposed the principle OF the
bill as wrong in ITSELF but he opposed its large
appropriation on principles OF national economy.
An economical expenditure Of the public money
had been Inscribed on The banner Of the party 10
which lie belonged Is one Of The leading maxms
ofils policy. Now, whatwas. the preser, condition
of the Treasury, and what was il likely 10 be for
years ;ocome? lie called upon the Chairman
Of the Committee on Finance: (Mr Evans 10
state TO the Senate what would be the probable
amount of revenue for the coming year, and whe-
Their il was likely 10 be such as would Justify The
appropriation OF nearly two millions OF dollars 10
obiecls of this plion-ohects which were
NOT at all necessary and which could only be
justified by the existence Of an overlooking 1'rea
sury. Mr.. Mods own opinion was, that, il the
amount OF imports was TO be regulated BY that OF
exports, The imports of duliable articles during
the next twelve months would be from twenty 10