The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-24

praetlsed upon them.
MIR. CRoZlER moved TO amend the bill in the
9Th and 9oth lines, by adding the following words
For the continuation OF the canal around the Muscle
shoals In the Tennessee river and removing ohSuctOns
in said river above said hns $4,000 10 be expended
der the direction VI the War Department
MIR. C. sustained this proposition at considerable
length. Discaiming any offensive intention towards
the committee who reported il, he thought the bill
DID great injustice 10 the several sections Of the
Union, and that nothing like a comprehensive OF
statesmanke view of the subject had been taken oil
Il. He examined the construction OF the committee
IN 6onnexion with the provisions OF the bull, to
show the partial and exclusive character Of the lat.
ter he adyered the history Of this object of APP
preparation, and in so doing alluded to a former
donation Of 400, 900 acres TO the State Of Alabama
for this purpose, conending that that fund had been
so applied to fail to accomplish the object for
which n was intended.
This called up, in repeeted explanations, Messrs
MCCONNELL, G. S. HOUSTON, and CHAP.
MAN.
Mr.. CRoZlER replied to an objection which
might be urged against the amendment-the proba-
6illty that it might bring down veto on the bill
SO far from il, he contended that it'would be a
means OF bosterlng up many weaker objects Of APP
preparation. He proceeded to argue the importance
OF the canal, national work, link of inter.
communication, and to demonstrate its agency in
drawing mOF< closely the bands Of the Union. The
some appropriations II was true, for western rivers.
Amongst the latter, however, were these rivers
only which emptied directly into the Mississippi
Hence Il might be assumed that Congress had pow
or to maxi sS~opriatiens for the removal OF OBJ
structions msceh wesern rivers only might
empty into the Mississippi Ii any gentleman en-
tertaned such an idea, Mr. C. thong ht closer in
yestgatlon Of the subject would induce him to aban-
don IT, Such an idea could not be regarded an the
conception OF the judgment, but as the mere off.
spring Of a lean and hungry fancy. II the Com
mttee on Commerce had desired 10 report a bill
which would be satisfactory to the House and to
the Executive, It their duty to have looked over
the entire length and breadth Of the land, and to
make appropriations for the works in each one OF
the States Of tho Union. Not having done this, he
thought they had fallen short Of tho discharge Of
their duty
Mr.. r. CHAPMAN, in relation to remark.
made by Mr.. McCosSELL and other gentlemen, en-
tered into on explanation in defence Of his State
against the charges made upon her, and in mainto-
nance (by detailed statement Of the facts in the
ease) Of the position that the 400 900 Of land
appropriated by the general government to the State
Of Alabama IN 1928 trust fund for the improve
ment Of the Muscle shoals, had been faithfully and
judeiously applied, although II had failed fully
10 accomplish the object OF the uppropraton;) and
also IN yindieation Of the President OF the United
States for the vote then given by him in favor OF that
appropriation.
In reference to the amendment under considern-
ton, Mr.. g. said he concurred with the gentleman
from Tennessee, Mr.. CRoEER that that noble
river, stretching through the States of Kentucky,
Tennessee and Alabama, and running into Geor-
ga, North Carolina and Virginia was as important
IN any among oil the objects of Appropriation con-
tanned IN this M and he should vote for this amend
ment. He had last year been asked by gentle
man from Kentucky, when he had offered similar
amendment, whether, # the amendment were adopt
ed, he would vote for the bill. The main question
of the bill was not now under consideration. When
that came up, he would take occasion, If he said
anything, to say, land he would do as he said }
whether he should vote for this bill He chose not
to crafty the gentleman by answering this question
now, lest 1t should influence his vote upon the
amendment, which, if it prevailed, he wished to
prevail on Its Vn merits and lest it should give
any counenance tn that system Of rolling which
he totally detested.
In the course of his remarks, Mr. C. gave way, for
purposes Of inquiry and explanation, to Mr.. WENT
WORTH and Mr.. CRozIER.
Mr.. MCCONNELL made a. brief reoinder in
which he repeated the declarations he had made rea-
tive TO the manner in which this appropriation was
expended, and again declared most emphaucally
whGM il eRanated, that this bin from the beginning
Of Heuesisyo the terminus of Revelations, was the
most isdiscriminate bundle OF plumber, robbery,
log -rolluig-dsgraceful to American legislation
that had ever been presented to this House. II
James X. Polk Che saId) was the man contemplated
and anticipated by the laboring classes throug hout
this mighty republic, in o6e this bill passed, he
In the name of his constituency, he protested against
such system Of legislation and although he seldom
consumed the time Of the House; he so taught and
indoctrinated his constituents, that they would not
have representative here who would be guilty OF
such an act of baseness to vote for this bill.
l. Lr.l.- al.
Of the gentleman from Tennessee; and he was none
the less induced to go for it because it not in
corporated in the bill as presented to this House
from the committee.
He was proceeding to speak of the vngueness of
the Term "inland seas' used by the President in
hid hesssge;.when
CROZlER nterposed with the remark, tina,
tplSterm originated at the Memphis convention.
where 1t was used to indicate the Mississippi Ar
kansas, Red, Ohio and Tennessee rivers. The
President, he presumed, intended to apply it to
these rivers.
Mr.. SCHENCK, resumng, said that the Com
mittee on Commerce, this House, and the Congress
of the United States, were now for the first time
placed in the unpleasant position of being compelled
to legisate upon subject of this kind without any
light, information, suggestion Of WISH, or ref
erence To this public policy the part Of the Presi
dent Of the United States If anything was to be
gathered upon 1t from any communication from the
departments Of the government it entirely IN
sanctioned by any recommendations from the Ex-
ecutive. ~.
Mr.. WENTWORTH (Mr. s. yielding for
explanatory said he took it for granted that the
President of the United States would allow no mem
Der Of his cabinet to send recommendation to this
House which ne did not approve of. Gov Marcy
recommended all these works; and if Mr.. Polk did
not approve Of this recommendation let him turn
him out Of his cabinet -..
Mr.. SCHENCK Understood perfectly well where
the shoe pinched. We had i'm rovement and nom
improvement democrats; and it was necessary that
there should be recommendation from the Secre-
taryof War to bolster up the first set, and the Presi-
dent not be involved in it.
Hcyps further repeating his views of the message
whctrA-
Mr. WENTWORTH, with Mr.. SIS leave,
sent 10 clerk, by whom it was read, the follow
ma ~ ~'s, --rafs=~.sH-s-- ts-' o.,
81 refer yen the accompanying report ofthe Secretary
Of War or Information respecting the present situation
the army and It's operations during the past years the
OF deiencss the condition Of the public works. and our
relations with the various Indian tribes within limits
upon borders. invite your attention to the suFQes
tons contained in that report in relation TO these
objects OF rational INTEREST,"
Mr. SCHENCK read other extracts in connection