The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-10

: may hold the Canadas. He objected 10 the manne
in which the appropriations for the lakes and river
have heretofore been made and expended-a few
thousand dollars scattered along at every little cove
harbor, and inlet, without accomplishing al
effective defence at any point--and advised
his western friends, instead Of continuing this
system, which looked rather like a scramble for
division of the spoils than a wise provision for the
wants OF the country, TO select some one, two, or
threeNellgibe points upon which 10 concentrate our
appropriations, and 10 make there efficient harbors
for military and commercial protection and defence.
he referred 10 the manner in which the approPna
tons had been expended for the improvement OF the
oyersaugh in the Hudson; the estimates for this
work being 1919 634, and 1870, 900 having been APP
propriated upon it at different times; and then, the
appropriation having ceased, leaving the work in
complete and insecure, so that IL had been washed
away and injured and had done little or no good.
i Mr.. WOOD lin his seat) said it had done much
good. r ,
what would have been done had the appropriation
been made, and the work carried on in proper and
| udicous manner. He read from a report of Col
Albert, showing the importance Of the improvement
Of the Hudson in military point Of view, and con-
sdered that the only ground on which this aporo-
priatien could be justified was that while il facili-
tates and advances the commerce Of these States and
of the civilized world, which is borne upon It's waters
in 80 immense Quantities, II 10 also necessary in
military view TO facilitate the transportation of
troops and munitions Of war in case Of war.
| Mr.. TlBBATTS was understood TO inquire
whether the improvement OF the Ohio and the
Mississippi rivers was notesled for on the same
ground
Mr.. GORDON, resuming, replied that with ref
erence TO them he had not yet made up his mind
that they arms Of the sea- that they ebbed and
flowed and were subject TO admiralty and maritime
jurisdiction. He knew that the Memphis conven-
ton had made what was certainly new discovery
that these inland streams Finland seas #" where
ships float, and where whales coold swim, he sup
posed. But he was not yet satisfied; his mind
wanted more light and he believed after all that the
| light struck up by that convention a sort Of
ignis taiuus which, instead of leading them into a
safe harbor would lead them into the swamp from
which they would never emerge, Of political dark
ness-he would not say Of political destruction
He not going TO quarrel about the Ohio and the
Mississippi; he cared not where the money was ex-
pended, ifexpended properly and where is needed
for objects which within the pale Of the eonsttu-
ton.
great cry had been made, especially by the gen.
tleman from Alabama, Mr.. PAYNE, that more mo-
ney had been expended for defence the North than
at the South. Mr.. G.. dissented from this statement
with reference to what had already been expended
but Texas had not come in for her share yet. The
State OF Texas would soon be heard by her repre-
sentatyes on this floor, and should be called
upon TO appropriate millions on millions for her
harbors; she would FIX herself like a horse-leech
W
give over until gorged and all her ports and harbors
had received due attention from the treasury Of this
naton-more attention than they deserve, and more
than other sections have received.
Having finished what he had to say upon the bill,
he wished now speak little of matters and things
in general, the Estate of the Union generally"
was "under consideration" The West the great
and growing West, had complained that il had not
been fairly dealt by. Mr.. G.. referred to an article
from the "Daiy Times" upon this subject He
was sorry to see such complaints, for he really
thought the West was getting nearly all the APP
preparations that made, and still they were
not satisfied.
IA voice: "What have we gotp'l
Mr.. G. would tell them what they had got. He
had heard some gentlemen the other day say, upon
the authority Of distinguished southern statesman
who had taken a prominent part at the Memphis
convention that some fifteen or sixteen millions Of
dollars had been expended in the West which were
not worth dollar. Who had got this immense
amount but the Vest Il had been expended upon
the rivers and the hsrborson the lakes for the bene
fit Of the West.
"A voice: "For the benefit OF the East also."l
No; Commended Mr., g., for the benefit of the
West. The great Erie canal and the line of co NJ
municaions from the East to the West to the far
mers Of New York has been a rather than
blessing it has brought the West nearer TO the CITY
| Of New York, than the very lands Of his constitu-
uents, which were within sixty miles OF the Hudson
river. There had already been appropriated for
these western lakes S2S6l ,964, not one dollar of
which went for the benefit of New York or the
eastern States.
IA voice: "Where is Buffalo'"l
Mr.. McCLELLAND inquired if lakes Ontario,
Champain, and part of Erie, were counted in the
West
Mr.. GORDON. Since the completion of the
Welland canal they
Some confusion and some irregular conversation
followed.
Mr.. G. further stated that the benefit of these
great lines ef communication enured especially and
almost exclusively TO the West enabling them to
become the powerful and successful competitors in
the market Of New York in agricultural produce
tons, and njurng, in this point Of view, instead of
beneftng, the farmers of the State of New York
The West (Mr. G. continued) had had 6,642 1872
acres of land worth at least 81 50 per acre. in
addition TO nearly three millions of dollars given for
roads and canals. He heard voice saying they had
fought for it, and won the whole oft Where was the
West (he asked) in the revolutionary war; In the
womb of time. New York and the old thirteen States
fought for and won the whole of the public do
main, and coded the confederation and the Union
and this government had magnanimously given
away to this young and growing infant Of the West,
6642, 900 acres Of land for roads and canals be-
sides near three million dollars in money. This was
| not all; there were bills reported this session. APP
propriating for internal Improvements in the West
nearly three million dollars, and about eight million
acres of land. Not only that, but they wanted all
policy, and then they would introduce bills to cede
these lands to the States in which they lie. And if
all this was not done, they would complain, he sup
posed, that they were not well treated. This was
all very modest Still the West complained that it
had been "wronged, pundered, oppressed, and out
ragged"
1t had been stated that we were to purchase free
trade in the ports Of Great Britain for our grain and
breadstus by the surrender of half of the territory
of Oregon, and q reduction of our own tariff. He
did not believe that policy should be regulated
or governed by the policy Of Great Britain in any
respect that our just rights in Oregon were to be
maintained at every hazard, and our tariff modified
without any regard to what Great Britain might do
with her own tariff II we should cede the one-halr
of Oregon the equivalent for the reduction of the
tariff, she might turn round and raise her duties
and would do so undoubtedly, and shut her ports
against the entrance Of our breadstuffs whenever it
might suit her interests. He was a revenue tariff
man, and he held that we ought to do what our duty
required in the matter of modifying our tariff with
| out reference to the action of Great Britain upon
w. ~