The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-27

object Thus State might act, If the exclusive u
risdicdon remain in her. Thus would your dag b,
refused entrance, and your commerce be taken away
and there would be no right TO complain. This Is
the legitimate tendency OF the argument against the
power u appropriate, by the general government
money TO improve harbors for the benefit Of com.
merce.
Mr.. Chairman, we claim that these harbors are
not only necessary in the regulation Of commerce
but are lmportsntas means obedience. The CONNER.
cia marine on the lakes will always be their best
defence. In proof Of this, a very distinguished Of
hcer OF the government, examining the lakes with d
view 10 their defences last summer, told that In
his opinion, no Notifications were reeded; all that
was necessary was TO deposte arms and munitions Of
war at the various harbors around the coast. He
said he had list Of thirty steamers, each ofwhich
were capable OF carrying ten guns, two Of which
might be paixhan. The list, am persuaded, might
have been greatly extended, for there IN all
about seventy steamers; in addition TO this there are
over three hundred sail-era all Of which might be
armed, If required, for the defence Of the lakes
allude in these estimates to lakes Erie Huron, and
Michigan. Now, sir 10 keep up this commercial
marine, you must provide for It's safety make con-
yenent and ample harbors. IL is increasing rapidly
under your fostering In 1919 the first steam
err commenced navigating the lakes; in 1894 the i'm
proyement Of the harbors was began by the ma
tional government, and we have now about seventy
steamers. The aai-eraft has increased with equal
| .
100000 tons. No doubt can exist that this great
increase Of tonnage is owing to your harbor improve
ments.
But objected that you cannot improve harbors in
cIdenta 10 the power 10 regulate commerce notwith-
standing we may be able TO show that in doing so the
measures employed, result in important measures Of
defence. The right TO erect defsnees is not denied;
hut It must be defences, strictly so. II you can
completely defend your coast by your commercial
marine, and that Is raised up result of your safe
navigation, why may you not appropriate money
to insure this result by peaceful means as well as by
the arts Of war; You may erect Notifications 10 pro-
tect your coast, bu, you cannot create harbors to
have the same efect-this is the argument. You
may stud your entire shores with fro vnng fortress-
es-with temples to the grim god of war"-but you
cannot consttutonally arrive at the same results by
peaceful appliances. To this doctrine cannot sub
scribe The spirit Of our institutions are best Sub-
served in the advancement Of peace. II was the
instinct Of safety that provided for the citizen SOL
der instead Of standing army; and we best consult
our own interests by perpetuating this sentiment
think that when our Interests, as well security,
are better promoted by the measures proposed, we
ought not to hesitate to adopt them provided that
the constitution lends its sanction TO the end pro-
posed, which feel convinced il does in relation TO
this measure.
Now, let us see, Mr.. chairman, how we stand on
authority in this matter, shall read first from Mr.
Monroes message OF 1894. He goes much further
than we contend for, or than would be willing to
90. In relation TO portion Of the improvements con-
tanned in the present BILL he says:
The provision in the several acts Of Congress OF
the last session, for the improvement Of the naviga
ton Of the Mississippi and tho Ohio OF the hsrbor
Of Pressure Isle on Lake Erie, and the repairs Of
Plymouth beach, in a course OF regular execu-
tion and there IL to hope that the appropr-
alton in each instance win be adequate to the OBJ
ject To carry these provisions fully into effect the
superintendence ofthem has been assigned officers
..F al. II
ferred to were $4,000 TO the Ohio and Mississippi
900 for the harbor Of Presque I,le and $4,000
for the repair Of Plymouth beach. In his message
Of 1925, Mr. Monroe also expresses his opinion 10
favor Of those works amongst others enumerated.
General jackson, while on the subject OF light
houses, and harbor and river improvements says:
H not the less that hr public good and the nature
Of political institutions require that individual differ
"nces should yield 10 well sred scquiescence Of the
peope and conederated authorities in particular
ions on doubtful pointsr-day 30, 1880.
In speaking of appropriations from the treasury
he also holds the following language:
Light houses beacons, buoys, public piers and the
ncnts in the mari gable rivers and haros which we're en-
Lraced in the marine districts from to time established
by law were authorized pom the same and the
ense betrayed in the same manner"Message eth Decem.
Der, 1890
Further, he says:
"Thcge is another class Of appropriations for what may
ne called without mProprisy, Internal improvements
which have ar1ys been regarded standing upon
eat grounds from those to which have referred aluhe
such have for their object the IMPROVEMENT Of oUR
ARBoRs the removal of partial and temporary obsruc.
tons in our nasnb 'or' for the facility and security Of
for similar objects have been continued from that time
7Ie to the present without interruption "Jscksons
sage, Dec. ., 1894.
Pres dent Jackson signed bills making appro.
priatons for most of the objects contained in this
dill every year during his administration amount
ing to over five millions Of dollars.
Mr.. Van Buren,, in his letter to Sherrod VIII.
ams in 1896, speaking of Gen. Jackson 3 views in
relation to the appropriation of money for improve
ment purposes, says:
mo one, believe contends that the President ought to
have arrested all appropriations Of this character could
rc hs onss p S os 20 s ne should
Of character altogether different from those which have
been prosecuted by grants from the federal treasury
the commencement oIthe federal government"
Mr.. Van Buren, signed bills making appropra-
tons to most of the objects contained in this bill
during two years of his term, and never refused
his assent to any bill for such purposes.
We who are the advocates of this measure have
been called p!underers. Well, sir, if we are we
have had great examples set before us: Monroe
Jackson, and Van Buren--President Jackson was
the greatest of plunderers In such company
have no great fears Of doing violence to the consti-
tuition. When such men approve, shall be re.
uctant to condemn. ..F''
The gentleman from Tennessee, [Mr. JOHNSON
in his opposition to'the bill, and, presume, with
some view Of affecting it thereby complained of the
Speaker--of his arrangement Of committees. | do
not know that the Speaker will be obliged to me
10 appear in his defence, that he needs il; but
[ cannot forbear saving something on the subject
The gentleman complained that Tennessee had not
single chairman Of any committee This is SO,
presume. But there those who think that Ten
nessee is not badly off in the way of official power
in the Offices OF the Unionnot altogether neglect
ed-if not in this House, at least out of it. She has
only President OF the United States, postmaster
general and n few smaller mnttera M m, n in tbis