The Evansville journal., 1846-01-08
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
WEDNESDAY. Dec. "a,

whether they had not employed a clerk, or
dered certain documents to be printed, &C..
and ifso by what authority it was done, be-
ing under consideration, the folloWing discus
sion was elcited:l
Mr. Holloway said he had no desire to
urge tie adoption of this resolution during
the absence ofany Senator who ielt an inter-
est in the question involved in it; yet, he
would take the occasion which it presented
to give his views in relation to the action of
the committee called upon TO give the infor-
nation sought by the resolution.
Before doing so, however, he must be per-
mitted to refer TO what he regarded as very
strange conduct on the part of his Exeellen-
/ cy the Governor. One week had now elapsed
since the adoption of resolution calling on
that individual to transmit to the Senate
such information as he might possess touch
ing the agency-or, the pretended agency OF
Mr. Butler. His Excellency,, although sta
ting, in the message transmitting Mr. But
ler's letter to the Senate, that MIR. Butler was
the agent of large number of our bondhoI-
ders, had not seen proper to submit the eyi-
dence of such agency to the Leglslature!-
Why, if it existed, did he not do it? Was
there anything improper in the request? lie
/ did not wish to act until he knew whether
such action would avail anything. He wasat
1 a loss for reasonable excuse for the Cover
nor's silence, when thus respectfully called
on, by the unanimous voice of the Senate,
for information in his possession effecting
the interest of the State? His reasons, how
ever, whenever made known, might be salts
factory. He would not now say more about
| that matter.
Now. as TO the action of the committee.
He had been present at some of its meetings
and had listened to the discussion, by Mr..
Butler, of the proposition which he submitted
| to IFS consideration. No one had been per-
miued by the committee toreply to those ar
guments. He had ii all his own way.-Mr.
Butler sought occasion before the committee
to allude 10 remark, made by him, { Mr.. II. }
few days since in the Senate chamber, de-
nouncing the pretended agency as mere
stock, gambling operation, originating in Wall
street, New York, among the very same men
who had swindled the State out of millions oi
money. Mr.. Butler denied any such con-
nection. Mr. Fl. did not know positively that
such was the iact, but of this he was well as
sured, Mr.. Butler has heretofore been inti-
mately concerned in such operations, as is es-
tablished by the Mckenzie pamphlet. How
ever much the manner by which Mckenzie
became possessed of the facts detailed in
that pamphlet, may be liable 10 censure. the
facts themselves are admitted by all. The
course pursued by Mr.. Butler was enough
to convince him of the truth of his assump-
1 ton.
Mr.. Butler advocated the extenion of the
Wabash and Erie canal 10 the Ohio river, and
entered into an argument to convince the
committee that it will, when completed, be-
come an exceedingly profitable investment,
Eyielding a large amount of interest on the
cost of its construction. 1t is, by him, pro-
nounced to be "Indiana's jewel" her only
source of wealth, by means of which alone
will she be able to liquidate her Indebtedness
In these views Mr.. IL could not agree with
him. They were not in accordance with our
experience nor with the spirit OF the age
Rail roads were every where superceding
canals. In England canals were being filed
up for the purpose of constructing Railroads
on the same location. The Ohio canals do
not yield three per cent, whilst there is not
a Rail road of an hundred miles in length, in
the United States that did not yield more
than six per cent. The New York and Erie
canal was the only profitable canal anywhere,
and that was in consequence of the Rail
roads running nearly parallel being prevent
ed carrying heavy articles of commerce.
| Again, for large portion of the year, canals
IN this latitude, are frozen and useless. Not
so with Railroads. Before the completion
of the canal to the Ohio river, if it ever be
ldone, the State will be traversed by Rail
roads in every direction, which will give ev-
cry facility of sending the surplus produce to
market. He would never vote in favor OF
: the prosecution of canal, unless it were
under very peculiar and totally different cir
cumsances than those surrounding the one
now in contemplation.
: 1t is idle to talk about making an arrange
ment with Mr.. Butler for the prosecution oi
this work. He is not authorized by those
for whom he pretends to act, 10 advance a
single dollar for that purpose. Indiana, ev-
en- were it advisable to do so, is unable &c
affect loan to the amou Mt of single cent
Looking at the matter in this light he saw
no necessity for a continuation of the labors
of that committee and for that reason would
vote TO suspend it, at least, until they would
submit the information called by the resolu
ton.
Mr.. Coffin said, he was not surprised a
. the course which the Senator from Wayne
had seen proper to take, The Senator has
sought every occasion to impede the ac
tion of the committee to whom the subject o
the State Indebtedness had been refereed
In every instance, SO far, at least, he hac
: been foled in his designs. Without inten
dinu the least disresnacf for that Senafnr q,