The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-25

be put on its third reading. lie would, hove
iTst ask that letter from the chief Justice VII"
would explain the whole matter, should be read
4 But motion TO that effect having been mad. al
agreed to, the resolution was referred to the Co.. II
miIIee Of the Whole on the state Of the Union
And then the House resolved itself into Conn.
lee Of the Whole on the state Of the Union. Il'I
THoNAs SMTH, Of indiana, in the ehair)
After an Intellectual effort by Mr.. BRODHPLh NJ
10 take up the joint resolution above referred Ia
The committee resumed the consideration NJ
business Of yesterday-belng IN.
making appropriations for the improvement Of 81
tain
HARBoRs And RYERs
Mr.. PAYNE said one Of his colleagues, M
had yesterday characterized this
in very strong terms, and had condemned n y,
He thought that character and NJ
were Just. Look AT this bill in Al J
aspects examine il in all its details, and he lbos
such ball had never before been presented 10
American Congress. In the better days Of IN, n
public, 1t was believed by some Of the most d,o'y
guished statesmen Of the country, that this goy,,
ment has no power TO make appropriations 70, |.
Iernal Improvements lie Was bot too sensib, A.
It would be useless for him 10 make eonstuuo.
Argument upon the subject now before the HO0.
Genlemens' opinions were made up; they had AL
we'd al their own conclusions from interest or %,
considerations, and you might as well attempt ,Ot
solve the pillars which surround this hall as TO sls.
10 change their opinions as 10 the poWers Of N
government To make appropriations Of this ch.n
ter. But even at this day he should be K.S ]
know where geniemen-where the chairman Of u
committee who reported this bill-deriyed Ii. 81
slitutional power TO make such appropriation n
supposed it was attempted to justify il under y
power OF Congress to regulate commeros with "a
eign nations. Mr.. p. briefly gave his views On y
constitutional question, and held that this Il.
simply gave the power 10 regulate the term. \
which barter and Intercourse with foreign nalO,
should be carried on.
He was opposed TO the new doctrine stared
late, that the great finland seas" furnished mba
upon which they were authorized TO male spory
priaiioBs. The constitution Of tho Uniled S.,.l
was precisely the same in its operation upon tA,.
great "inlaDd seas" as il was upon the mersst r,v
that sparkles down the mountains side. wh,A.
il was great finland sea" or a merely nsus,s
stream, the constitutional question as To the po,-
Of Congress to appropriate for II was precisely n
SAME. This government was established with N
view Of regulating our external concerns, leaVihx
internal matters 10 be regulated by the States, "a
the providing u way for commerce did not COZ.
within the puryiew Of those matters over vhriI
Congress had jurisdiction.
He objected TO the ball on another ground M
considered II the twn-sster and Of the esseuta
elements Of the protective policy. II was d. q
gentlemen TO tell him that they were opposed 10 a
iTaysgant taxes upon the people, while 4
same time they went for this system Of protlu
expenditures for internal improvement
But he had special objections TO the ball. Has
ferred to the inequalities Of appropriation il nas
for the different sections Of the country. lie vk.
amount Of appropriations independent OF the nal
mite appropriation for the Louisville and Poraa
canal was 81 ,349, 450i Of this s545, 900, nearly O
half Of the whole amount was TO be appropriate
upon the lakes; on the northeast, 1924 $50; and a
the northwest Exclusive Of the lakes) Sl5S0Gy
500 $50, then, TO DC appropriated 10 the Morn
Including the northeast and the northwest neafyI
the tehoL, amount Of the bill. YET that region ID
not one third OF the whole area Of the country. I'd
appropriation for the southern valley, between Loud
vile and the mouth Of the Red river including II
Mississippi, Ohio, Arkansas and Red rivers, was Otv
s320, 900. And still more striking inequality M
injustice for the southern coast, commencing at b
tmore, and running to the mouth ofthe Mississippi Y
nay, To the mouth Of the Rio Grande-what va, n
Including $4,000 for Baltimore it amounted only Z
SOS, 900 mere mockery Of appropriation for ID,
vast range Of sea-coast. But the most extraonInsI
ry appropriation in the whole bill was for |
little ditch near Louisville, called the Louisville cam
which the President was authorized TO purehss
without any limitation.
MIR. p. read this clause, and said il passed |
was matter Of serious doubt with him Whether N
President would not be bound, should the us
scribers ask 100000 or $4,000, 900, TO tax, l
and saddle the government with the expense.
Mr.. p. commented on these inequalities Of dislnbs
ton, and pronounced the bill legislative monss
marked with the most distinct features Of injusir
and inquity. He advocated the propriey Of I'D
pending amendment, in case this system were d
be gone into, and urged the superior importance 4
of the improvement of the Tennessee river to that n
many items provided for. These, and many OIhs|
reasons, (some Of which lie mentioned, were sud
as, he fattered himself would secure the unqualified
condemnation of the bill.
Mr.. BRINKERHoFF briefly replied. This
(he said) had been characterized and stigmatirsd d
sectional in its character. II that charge was just
then other bills involving large expenditures, md
which were passed without objection, were equally
liza bic TO IT. The fortifcation bill which had pass,
the House a few days ago without amendment, eI-
cept an addition Of $500 900 for armament Of iotA
hcations, provided for Ohio, although frontier SuhI
looking out across one Of our inland upon lAs
enemy's country-not one cent. They had ne'a
asked cent, and they did not now. But for h.
southern country, commencing with Baltimore, 4
the gentleman pleased, and running down to hi
Rio Grande, it appropriated the nice little sum N
S590,500i They Of Ohio asked not one soll'nv
cent for Notifications. Why! Because this system
of improvement Of lake harbors superseded The mel
cessIty Of Notifications, inasmuch as it went %
build up system Of commercial marine, which a.
ready out-numbered that Of the British the Other
side thirty or forty 10 one. In case of war, all w
had to do was to knock off the upper decks Of ihes
steamers, (Which could be done 10 few weeks and
they became efficient war.steamers Hence they
wanted no forufcaiions and no naval approPrf
tons. They wanted the proper supplies and arms
ments when called into service; but nothing es
Mr.. B. referred to some Of the appropriations fo'
improvements heretofore made in his section Of The
country, to the vast benefits already realized from
them in the extension Of commerce, &c, and 10 DC
fact that Of these some were still incomplete, al
required further appropriations, or else they wou1
go to decay and all be lost
Mr.. PAYNE inquired Of Mr.. BRNKERHoH
with reference to previous portion Of his r
marks) on which side Of Mason's and Dixons lH'
the largest amount Of appropriations was MADE
the foru6cation bill which had passed.
Mr.. BRlNKERHOFF replied on the south adr
and so 1t had been for a series of years He had
no objection to IT, He supposed that l'Igi
amount was required there; but he merely app'ea
this tactic the genteman's Argument, that this was
partial and sectional bill, TO show that il it was, n'
South had been equally provided for IN part al and NC
tional fortfcalion bills. But they Of Ohio asktI
nothing for Notifications. Give them harbos an
a commercial marine, and they would defend them
They were an efficient substitute for forhcaton'
They were worth more than Notifications. Reu'
to make appropriations for the completion OF WORN