The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-05


South, aiany future day, unhappy lose confidence IN
her present representatives and fail 10 select Others 10
represent her interests Congress- she might possi-
bly, call upon the honorable gentleman TO protect her
interests upon this floor. But until this does happen
until ntnation be given that his services are ac-
tually needed by the South he hoped the gentleman
from Ohio would spare himself the trouble and re-
sponsibity his relation would inevitably incur.
H. however, il the fixed Discrimination OF the ad-
vocatos of internal improvement TO revive The
and permanently fasten It upon the country, he
/ admitted all sections OF the Union should partci-
pate in its blessings. He doubted the sincerity OF
lgonlemen who express the dissemination To i'm
/ prove our southern rivers whether we desire II or
| not He found the rivers Of the West had been
nouecd in this bl-put OIL with trihe true, but
yet noticed. II genuemen really wished 10 embrace
southern rivers, also, why were some OF the largest
southern tributaries Of these western rivers totally
| overookedi Was not the patriotism of the gentle
man who reported this bill sufficiently expansive
TO embrace theml Or are they too Insignificant TO
be denominated "inland seas" Take the Tennes-
soc river as an example VIII it not compare ia
vosably with others embraced in the blR II flows
through the States Of Kentucky, Mississippi, Ala
bama, West and East Tennessse, and pierces the
nsoun,ains Of Virginia. What 10 tho character OF the
country through which IL passes 80 far az he knew
rieh s.a psodaetss from u fountain IL soafeqef
tho Tennessee valley, in Alabama, he could speak
with certainty; possibly he might sPosk Of IL with
the ardor Of early impressions, and with an attach
ment he should carry 10 his gnye. But he had
travelled large portion OF the Unioni he had
seen the rich and productive countries east, west,
and SOUTH and yet he had seen country equalling
in beauty and advantages that part Of north alabama
known as the Tennessee valley. There the rnagnlh-
cence Of mountain scenery beautifully with
the level plain spread out before you; the saubrity
Of the climate and fertility OF the soil render IT the
delightful abode of fertilization, Of science and Of en-
terpnse. The Tennessee river IN its onward course
to the gulf, sometimes sweeping the base Of tower
ing mountains and then rolling far into the plain
below, "lends enchantment 10 the scene" Those
LOFTY mountains filled TO their submits with val
liable ores, which need only 10 be used greatly to
augment the resources Of the State. At convenient
points, medicinal waters gurgle from these mystic
rious but healing fountains; and TO them the pilgrims
OF disease pay their annual visits IN search OF res
toratlon OF health. Thus, IN that favored region,
nature has combined all that s useful and valuable,
with all that is enchanting and beautiful.
BY whom is this country inhabIted3 BY brave,
generous, and enterpnsing race; by men devoted TO
liberty, and who, IL reused from their slumbers by
the tap of the drum, would spring TO their feet with
the rife in hand and the batto-axe IN the other.
Wherever the standard Of their country Hoated there
would they be also. Should an opportunity be offer
ed, or the honor of the country require II, (Which
Heaven forbid,) they would perform deeds Of heroic
valor which would add to the renewn of Saxon
arms, and reflect new cory upon the distant isle
from which they sprung.
Is il not sIngularIy remarkable that so noble
river flowing through the country he had described
and inhabited by such a race, should have been
deemed of little importance 10 be provided for
in this billl Was it because the navigation Of that
river needs no improvement Far from II. No
river needed improvement more than the Tennes-
see, and no people under the suffered more for
the want Of navigation. He had already stated that
he believed the constitution conferred no power
upon Congress to improve the navigation Of in
terror rivers. He would therefore vote no appro-
priation for the purpose; but he must say, If the
policy should be adopted, the Tennessee river
should DO among the irst to which the attention of
the general government ought 70 be directed.
He could name other rivers in his own State
the Alabama, Tombigby, and Black Warrior--aro
all important pavigable streams, greatly heading
improvement to protect and secure the thirty millions
Of property which annually per up apd down
then,; but here rversAre stu further south, and
he feared the political existence othe gentleman, IL
coextensive with his life, who reported tins bill,
would be too short to enable his patriotism to ex-
pant sufficiently to embrace them. He should
therefore end he had begun, by declaring this
bill to be more clearly violave Of the constitution
pronigate in proposed expenditure Of the peoples
money partial and sectional in character, than any
upon which he had ever been called upon to act;
and for these reasons he should resist it at every
step in its progress through this body.