The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-30
CON REss SIGNAL.
SPEECH OF Mr.. CONSTABLE,
on MARYLAND,

4 ment OF certain harbors and rivers.
The House being in Committee Of the Whole on
HE state Of the Or ion, and Mr.. CONSTABLE ent-
ed to the floor, he addressed the committee as fol-
OSs:
II Mr. CHAIRMAN | regret at this late period Of
he debate 10 trouble the committee with any re-
marks on the ball under consideration; and espe.
ally do distrust the attempt 10 follow In reply
he able ana eloquent gentleman from Alabama,
Mr.. YaScrr,l who last occupied the attention OF
he committee. Indeed, sir, when frat took o
eat IN this House, sincerely hoped that nothing
sould oesur, at least during the present session,
sndenng Il necessary for me TO depart from the
purpose then formed OF remaining silent member,
anedoned, as that resolution was, by the example
the distinguished gentlemen who have success
vsy represented my district in the Honse Of Rep
|ssentatiyeS for the last quarter Of a century.
But, MIR. Chairman, the subject before the com
llee is one involving interests Of such magnitude
E-connecung itself vitality and essentially with
he whole maritime commerce Of the country, part
II which floats on the head waters Of the Chesa-
cake bay and It's tributary rivers, within the dis
net have the honor 10 represent, that failure to
nike some effort to vindicate these great interests
gould Justly subject me to the imputation Of dere-
elton Of duty. Urged by such considerations, and
desire 10 do justice to the commercial wants OF
hose whom | represent this floor, It becomes my
uly to give nouce Of ny intention to offer at pro-
er ume--when in order-the amendment which
Old in my hand.
That s rtH Of $4,000 b. and hereby appropriated
ny e improvement If The '''''' Of Hare De Grace Mary
Il is not my purpose, sir, to participate in the gem
al range OF discussion TO which this bill has given
Sc; but to confne myself more particularly TO the
ubiect of the amendment ! have indicated and an
ANIMATION Of the constitutional power of Con-
rsss to make appropriations for the improvement Of
VI harbors.
or the srpedi,nsy Of the particular appropriations
ontuined IN this bill, do not propose to speak
They matters OF detail in regard to which shall
(,ly, in the absence Of other information upon the
be Committee on Commerce, who have faithfully
Examined and reported them IN the House. in con.
exon with the clear and satisfactory exposition
made by their distinguished chairman, MIR Nc
rlILLASp. And as to the invdious contrasts
nvn between different sections of the Union,
howng the relative advantages they will derive
nder the provisions of this BILL and the alleged
nequalities operated by the system, denounced 40
mounting tn injustice by the gentleman from New
York, tMr. GoRpos, and by the gentleman from
Georgia, tMr Com characterized on Yesterday as
public plumber" shall only make a passing re
nsrk, because they considerations looking to the
Expectancy Of the system, and not affecting the
kreat principle involved.
Sir, this government can exert scarcely any one Of
Us most ordinary nctions--none indeed authorizing
kn expenditure Of the public money-without produ
ling s&ch inequalities in greater or less degree /,
annot be- in the nature of things that the govern
4nent can be 90 administered to confer precsely
Die same advantages in its expenditures upon every
fzen every section Of the country. Each either
ban more share the direct benefits OF national ex-
Pendures required at places remote from his home
knd property, than he can the emoluments Of any
public Office in this city. The counterpoise mus
be found in other expenditures which the wants OF
hs country may require in their respective sections
in the increased resources, prosperity, and power
the Union, of which they are citizens
As to excuses, so much apprehended and depre-
gated by honorable gentlemen, to which the ex.
frclse Of the power to make these appropriations
Pnay lead, the same may be predicated Of any other
bublecr of appropriation within our constitutional
Competency. This bill, sir, like all others reported
the House, is subject to the action Of a majority
Congress- possessing all the light that can be OBJ
slned and acting under the influence of elevated and
patriotic motives. lfthese do not constitute snf
cent guarantee that the power will not be abused,
ask honorable me mbers what security there ia, or
ban there he, that shall not prostitute every pow
entrusted TO us by the constitution
Mr.. Chairman, that particular districts of the
mon may receive more beneft--tbat greater
emount may be appropriated by this bill north Of
Mason and Dixon's line, as pointed out a few days
nce by the honorable gentleman from Alabama,
Mr.. PAYNE. and less south of that line, does not
vary, in my apprehension, the aspect Of the ques-
growing out of the extended and prosperous mari
time commerce of the country, and, as SUCH ! care
no where the expenditures may be required--wheth.
Ter on the Atlantic seaboard--the Gulf coast--along
Sour great lakes, or upon the navigable rivers thar
enetrate the interior Of the country is to me Who'll
lmmateria Why, sir, without such enlarged
land liberal views, how can this great country ever
auain the high and commanding DESTINY which
awaits herr What disasters may not befall us IL
we cherish those sectional feelings, which do not
nd will not look beyond our own district, State, or
quarter Of the Union in voting appropriations
Sir, should this government unhappily become in
soved in a war, necessary for the maintenance of
is just rights, in vindicaton Of the national hon.
pr, it would be as unreasonable and unjnstihable to
refuse TO vote larger supplies for the military and
hava protection required by the exposed situation Of
Maryland, than for one Of the interior western States
comparatively invunerabe from her position, as are
my OBJECTIONS to the appropriations Of this bill,
ounded on geographical lines. In word, sir, the
commerce of the lakes requires harbors, and the
commerce OF the Atlantic, that its harbors shall be
ortihedi the agrculturists of the Great West want
safe navigation, upon which their immense produc-
ions may float to the Atlantic cities while the mer.
hans. who purchase and ship those productions,
want naval squadron TO convey them across the
pecan, or protect them in distant seas These
Fhen, some ofthe wants of the country demand
Png expang tures at points distant from each other
and in different sections of the Union and NAV suf-
tce to illustrate the fallacy Of all the objections to
these appropriations founded on the supposed inc
qualities of the system.
Mr. Chairman, it has been said that all the ap-
Preparations contained In the bill under consdera.
hon, with the exception Of that for the Portland and
louisville canal, have been recommended by the
War Department. while the amendment which de.
sire TO have engrafted upon il has no official sane
ton. In answer to this, beg leave to state, for the
nformation of the committee, that as early as 1896
this subject was brought to the attention of Con-
gress by resolutions, adopted by the legislature of
Maryland. BY the order Of this House, survey was
made of the harbor Of Hsvre de Grace, and a sufr-
Gent sum appropriated to defray the expense; in
ooedence to call Of this House, made in 1897 the
report Of that survey was communicated by Mr.
Butler, ad interim Secretary Of War; was ordered to
/ be printed, and referred TO the Committee on Com
mece in 1893 this document was reprinted by order
Of the House, with the chart that accompanied il.
have now in my hand one Of these documents, with
me chart snd make this statement from the record
From 1888, this subject laid over until the last Com
gross, when the sum Of $4,000, now proposed by
my amendment, for the Improvement Of the harbor
o. Havre de Grace, was included in the general APP
preparations for hsrbors, which passed both houses
ahu was vetoed by the Executives I ask, sir, that
NE clerk read mar, nf shn r>0ort AZ III,