The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-04

self may be considered Huspendeu asi MOI ehs sDa
distinguished leaders Of party pni 's pacnce Of the
government from its organization Inc naeTa o. ,hs con
suton gave TO Il their sanction and every President has
only conceded the right but recommended NE exercise
OF the power
1.-THE rigid construction Of the gentleman from
South Carolina be correct, where does he derive
the power 10 construct this magnificent Capitol
Where the power 10 pass the bill which yesterday
received the sanction Of this House 10 present books
10 the minister of Justice Of France To send an
exploring execution into the Pacific ocean, 10
struct lighthouses or marine hospitals or TO sup
port them when constructeh might WIN pro.
priety inquire of the gentleman how he would be
able 10 administer the government at all under the
rules he prescribss. IL would be impossible. for
him 20 enforce the laws pass u such rigid con-
struction Ia given 10 the constitution
more by THE REPoRTER.-ln this connexion
Mr.. Nee LELAND had intended, II ume had permit
ted TO have called the attention OF the committee 10
paragraph contained in the letter Of Mr.. Donel-
son, our late charge d'aifaires TO Texas, dated
March 81, ls45, addressed. 10 the Hgn. r. Allen,
the attorney general Of that tepobiio. Mr ID. WAS
at that time urging on Texas the expectancy OF
adopting our resolutions and becoming an integral
part of the Union. The paragraph is in the follow
ing words:
lit is objected that Texas in surrenderns her
revenue from customs, parts with the ability 10 put
into efficient organization her State government.
This objection must result from undue sxamin-
on the other hand will make in the many improve
ments necessary on the seacoaSt Of Texas, TO pro-
ct and facilitate her commerce, in the REMOVAL of
obstructlnns in her numerous bays and MYERS, and
n the military organization necessary TO guard her
extensive frontier against the inroads Of foreign
enpmy."l
But, Mr.. Chairman, had hoped that when that
voice which has heretofore had such potent in
huence in the South had been heard through the
medium of the Memphis convention, this conslltu-
toua objection would never again have hren heard
in this hall. What other construction than one
favorable to our views can be put upon die speech
OF the senator 10 whom | aliudsl ] can say 10
my fri,nd from the South that he never yet
made a speech which difused more Joy
sted more thrilling interest in the minds Cfthe west
ern people than the one he made on that occasion.
They to the conclusion at once that our south
ern friends had become convinced that these appro
prIations were necessary, and that hereafter we
would obtain for them their undivided support. |
yet hope and believe that that distinguished man
distinguished less for his talents than for his yr
tuos-will demonstrate that the speech he made
that occasion was something more than a mere ad
cdptdnduin effort.
Mr.. Chairman, the bill which passed at the last
session ofCongress contained almost every item that
10 found in this; and far as democracy concern
ed, If we pay regard TO the leading men in this
House, let us look the the other end ofthe
Capitol, and how distinguished leaders
list of mingled wings and democrats) ia the affirm
alive vote:
Mcssrs Allen Ashley, Atchison. Barrow, Bhyard Ben
ton, Buchanan, Choate Crttenden Dayton, Dickinson
Dix E%sr s SSn: HSnnsssn nSGOG Johnson Mil
Upham, White, and Woodbridge.
And what is the mes ative vote
MessrS Atherton Bagby, Bcrrien Evans Fairfield Hu-
ger Jarnagin Lewis, icDuhie, Niles, and Woodbury..
So that, with one or two exceptions, every
al for fl. lx.n a, 4
several southern men, all of whom, I pre-
sumo, possess much political intelligence
and integrity the members of this House.
Their opinions certainly should have great weight
endorse, and with all their experieSee sanction the
opinions this subject Of the first organizers ofour
government and party.
But, Mr. Chairman, it strikes me that the proyi.
SONS OF the constitution on which We base such
appropriations, are simple aud 40 plain that we
cannot misunderstood them. We rely for their
support on both the provisions relating to the COM
mon offences Of the country, and our foreign COM
merCe and commerce between the States.
Ofthe one have already spoken; and now pro.
coed to remark briefly on the other. or this task
have been in part relieved by the remarks of my
friend from Ohio, Mr.. BRINEERHoFF.l A CONNER
ciaI marine has been built on the lakes which will
obviate the necessity ofappropratng single dollar
| for constructing navy there; and every one con-
versant with the subject prefers harbors to fortfca-
tons or government dcences. They believe that,
| in time OF war, harbor improvements are vastly
more important lf gentlemen will look into the
report of the Secretary of War, they will find he
urges the improvement of our harbor upon this
ground. This view is not peculiar to the present
Secretary but has been sanctioned by former secre-
taries, and is most fully approved of by the author-
ties on the other side Of the lakes Let me read
dian Parliament, made in December 1914, what one
of the British naval commanders stated;
Very little need be said the necessity of forming
ports on this great extent OF coast exposed as is to the
tina, blows down or towards the shore of the lake.
Remarkng on this, and other observations of the
same officer, the board say:
This lass oil works s admitted by the naval comman
der be indispensable to enable her sesys vessels
keep the lakes
This shows the strong concurrence OF opinion
with all those who know anything Of our wants,
ournecessies and these great waters. But if these
harbors are not considered part of the common
defenccs of the country, why do we find them
stantly creeping into our naval and military bls'
Why did the gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr
Parmenter) not now a member, engraft upon the
naval bills appropriation for the Boston harbor9
Why was it struck out of that bill in the last Con-
gress' On the ground that the other harbors were
as well entitled to be incorporated in that bill, and
not because OF It's want of military importance.
The gentleman from North Carolina, Mr.. McKAY,]
believe, moved to strike it out some such ground
as. this, and sustained his notion | believed then
that he was right; believe SO still. How often
has the Savannah river, by the kind Of legisa-
tion been inserted in such bsa And can, such pre-
visions be defended, if the works not part of
our military defencesi or what use ia navy in
time of war on the lakes, if you have no safe har-
bors to shelter theml Suppose the vessels are shat
tered in storm, or in battle, or are compelled to
fly from the superior force Of an enemy: of what
value would good and aafe places of refuge be to
them
Mr.. RArHpuS here alluded to Pery's fleet at
| Enc.
Mr.. McCLEILASp said the gentleman is correct
and az my remarks in 1874 have escaped the recol-
lection Of the members, they will excuse me for
again relating the difficulties Commodore Perry had
TO encounter
Fora considerable tune the British had the entire con
troll oil Lake Erie and annoyed citizens rsvaged the
country destroyed our property and retarded the progress
@the American arms Capt Perry cited up feet in the
hnrbo Of Elie for the purpose Of checking the enemy and
recovering the command OF the lake. The British hee
der the command OF Capt Barclay was on the alert and
Kept constant witch on his movement There bar
some distance outside Of the hprbor which prevented