The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-03

steamboat landing al ST Louis, there was no reason
why they should not do the same thing al iu'ney
Alton, Cairo, Louisville, Cincinnati, and nun
dred other towns on the western rivers. Those
towns have all built their wharfs at their own eA'
pense, and were in the habit Of taxing STEAMBOATS,
from one to five dollars piece for landing at mem
If you expend half million Of dollars TO rem
der the St. Louis wharf accessible 10 STEAMBOATS,,
still they will have to pay this tax for landing al H.
Mr.. ID. repeated that he had no hostility 10 d
Louis; on the contrary he felt proud of her as
the most hourishing clty IN the west lie woulu
do anything IN his power consistent with duly 10
promote her interests. But he not willing to
sacrifice the whole river interest by approprlaung
the money to building up towns, which ought to be
applied to the removal of snags and sand bars lie
WISHED TO see the money applied TO the protection
Of life and properly and 10 the removal OF obsruc-
tons to the navigation, and not to building up Few
towns at the expense Of all the others equally emit
tied to the protection Of government. For these
reasons he had opposed this item, and had gwen
reluctant support to the bill with it in.
Mr. McCLELLAND asked Mr.. DoUoLAss II he
aware that this sum for the ST Louis haroor
had been estimated for and approved by the War De
partment.
Mr. DOUGLASS said he aware Of that fact; and
for that very had less confidence in the other
estimates which have come from the same source.
Mr.. ID. said he had very little personal know-
edge Of the merits Of the various harbors on the
lakes and Atlantic which provided for in the
bill. He had taken them the credit Of the com
muee which reported the bill, and the reports and
estimates Of the officers having them in charge. II
had been the practice of the government, from the
administration of Washington down to encourage
and sanction these haTbOr appropriations. lie was
not prepared TO abandon that policy al this time
He did not understand the President IN his message
AS abandoning it, If he understood the reading OF
the message, the President was in favor Of appro-
priations for harbors, lighthouses, buoys, and oea-
! cons where they were necessary for the protection
oC our commerce and Shipping. There was some
thing said however about a distinction between our
foreign and internal commerce, TO which he could
not subscribe. He believed IN no such distinction
The power to regulate commerce with ioregn
countries and between the several States Is conferred
in the same clause in the constitution. lie
also repudisted the distinctions about improv-
ing rivers above and beloW ports Of en-
try. There was no reason for such distnc-
ION. II we have the right TO Improve the
river at ALL we do It above port OF entry or
delivery well below. lie also rejected the DIS
| tincton (which some gentlemen had attempted to
draw between salt and fresh water, and the ebbng
and flowing of the tide. All these distinctions came
from England, where they had no navigable waters
above the ebbng and flowing Of the tldej and be-
| cause the waters not nayIgabIe IN fact, they
| were not regarded so in law. IL the common law
had had its birth in this country, where we have
rivers and lakes thousands Of miles long, furnishing
| think that those rivers and lakes would not have
been regarded naylgable by law as we'll as IN fact
The law should always conform 70 the fact accord
ing to the goou old maxim that when the
reason Of the law ceases, the law itself ceases.
All distinctions between the right to protect
commerce on the rivers, lakes, and the ocean must
be repudiared. There il no reason for such dis
JUNCTION, and the very suggestion OF 1t Is odIous from
lls paIpabe injustice. We must meet the broad
question boldly, whether Congress has the right, on
constitution, 10 protect commerce on our nauiga-
Ole caierS' and If So 1t must apply TO all alike. The
vest will never submit to an odous and unjust dis
elimination, which avishes millions on the seaboard,
and excludes the lakes and rivers from all partlcpa-
ton They must all be placed on the same footing
and share alike in the fayors and burdens of govern
ment.
Mr.. D. said he had no desire to see extravagant
appropriations made He willing to con6ne
them within reasonable limits. He did not wish to
enlarge the power. of the federal government by
construction, nor to invade the rights Of the
States. He for the good old democratic
doctrine of strict construction. One OF the FIRST
| speeches he ever made in this hall was against the
right of the federal government TO prosecute sys-
TEN of roads and canals, and internal improv
in the States. He held to the same doctrine yet
hut he was not willing rush ou eAtreInes, u
deprive government of It's usefulness.
Mr.. ID. said he would like TO see the bill referred
to the Committee on Commerce, with the view o.
modifyngsi in such a shape as to obylae the Presi-
dents objections and receive his signature.
The SPEAKER said il would not be in order 10
amend the bill; that It must be passed or rejected as
It stood.
Mr.. DOUGL ass sad, then he should vote on
the bhI lie dad originally, not discovering any
thing in the message to change his opinions.
In the course of the remarks of Mr. DOUGLASS
Mr.. BOYD rose to point Of order. He dis
liked to interfere with the gentleman from Illinois
Mr.. DoUGLAss In the first place, he (Mr. B }
II IL. r
Virginia Mr. DRoMGooLE was now pending.
The SPEAKER, Mr.. HOPKINS, pro TEN J The
Chair understands the immediate question before the
House to be the motion of the gentleman from Vir-
gnia, Mr. DRoMGooLE, which is equivalent to a
motion to postpone until tomorrow.
Mr.. BOYD. | further inquire, whether on this
motion it will be in order to discuss the whole mer-
it's of the biI'
The SPEAKER said it was very difficult for the
Chair 70 limit the range of debate on a motion to
postpone.
Mr.. BOYD. | have no wish to disturb the pro-
rredlngs Of the House. But wish the gentleman
from Illinois, Mr. DOUGLASS would allow me to
make simple proposition, which do desire to
- -""h any remarks. 1t is that the gen.
tIemnn from Virginia, y" w.. oHoMoooLE,] would so
modify his motion MS to provide 49, Inc mes-
sage should be printed; and that the House
should agree to take 1t up tomorrow and consider
Mr.. DRONGOOLE modified his motion so as to
add "and that in The meantime the objections Of the
President against the same becoming law be print
ed"
Mr.. WENTWORTH moved to amend the mo-
ton as modified 80 to direct the printing Of the
estimates from the War Department, recommending
these very works now vetoed
Mr.. DOUGLASS here resumed and concluded
his remarks (as aboyc)
Mr. JAMES THOMPSON said he had heard
with astonshment the gentleman from Virginia
[Mr DRoMGooLE speak of the thrill Of pleasure he
xperenced hearing the reading of the veto mes
sage. Mr.. Il. said he could not understand the
moral constitution Of the man who could thus feel
who could experience thrill Of delight TO hear de
MED the great principles Of policy established by
the founders Of the government, and sustained and
supported by our greatest and best men. For his
part he fell very different sentImen-he felt the
deepest regret The veto os he understood it, de-
| MED the whole power asserted by this bill-the
power to improve harbors on the lakes or to remove
| distractions in rivers. He would call upon the
west to oppose this veto, because, if Its doctrines be
sustained, it puts end, forever to all such meas
| urcs He would call upon gentlemen on this side