The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-08

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Mr.. Wood~ard arose-but gave way, TO heal
the Presidents veto on the River and Harbol
Blu read. The message is long one; ingenious
plausible, and decided. In addition TO the old
arguments, IL asserts, II the River and Harbol
Bill had been carried out, that, In consequence Of
the war, the appropriation proposed would have
added largely TO our expenditures, and thai
"while all the means and credit Of the Govern
ment are needed" to bring that war 10 an hon
orahe close, IL would never do "to impair the
one and endanger the other" by adopting a sys-
tenn Of Internal improvements, sufficient to swal-
low up, the revenues not only Of our country,
bat Of the civilized world.
Mr.. Wentworth (Of H. moved the reference
of the message to the Committee Of Commerce;
Mr.. VintOn TO special cOmmittse--"Let the
message and the answer 60 forth together"
Mr.. Vinton rose to remark upon one point.
The message asserted that, If the system Of in
ternal improvements had not been arrested, by a
former President, the country would have been
involved in debt Of two hundred millions Of
dollars, or more This is not true. At no
time did he or his friends propose to involve the
country in one dollar Of debt. No bill was ever
reported here which rendered that necessary.
The appropriations we're alw ays limited Oithin
the residuum remaining in the Treasury after
meeting the other expenses of Government.
Ia the 18th Congress-when we were all, mol
Eada
passed the internal improvement bill. Mr.. Mon
roe appointed corps Of engineers, at the head
Of which was Gen. Bernard. Al this time, our
debt'was one hundred millions, and, while this
debt was being paid, ten millions being set aside
for this purpose. appropriations were made out
Of the rssduum in the treasury. The revenue
Of the country ives ample, and 1t was thought
better to devote part Of ito devote the sink
ing fund Of ten millions when the war-debt OF
1914 was paid--to our industry, and the internal
improvements Of the country, rather than apply
il TO naval or military account. The revenue il
was evident would not fall off. This amount
would be spent somewhere. The great men
Of that day-and We have not their equals
nOw--determined 10 pay out this sum to the
people of the country for labor and materials
necessary for great public works.
twas at this time-when the war debt Of IL
was paid off, and the country best able to carry
out system of internal Improvement, that the
system itself was arrested. The first result was
to ell the expenditures and extravaganza of the
Government itself The next was to lock NJ
some forty millions in the Treasury, in the
course of two or three years. This was loaned
out all over the country, initiating and expand
ing iis currency and swelling its business; what
followed all know. Now suppose, instead Of
this. that it had been paid out legitimately to
the "toiing millions" engaged in public works
who does not see that the country would have
been saved from CONFUSION, the Treasury from
embarrassment, and trade from huetuation'
This would have been the effect II the system
had taken Its course. IL was not allowed to d,
so, and the consequences has been, a wsstefu
expenditure on the part of government, and con
vulsions and embarrassment on the part Of th'
eOuntry.
81 say them" said Mr.. Vinton, "thsre 10 not
there never was party in this house, who con
tomplated carrying out a system Of internal i'm
PrOyements BY borrowing money and plunginl
| the country in debt. l am friend of the sys
TEN. know those She are so. Yet neve
saw the day when would have done this
and never knew party that dreamed of such
thing. Its all an error, a delusion The Presiden
has been led astray; he cannot have given TO tn
history Ct this matter that investigation which
truth required, or justice demanded. Let tn
facts then be fully set forth, and let the peopl
know these facts. Let the message and the an
swer 60 out together.
Mr.. HarGlson of Ca, and Mr.. Bayly Of Va
replied briefly. The latter said the President
| figures were below the mark. But once begi
with the resduum in the Treasury, and ther
will be no stop to the system, or the sxpenditur
1t would involve. Hewould reserve his remark
| for another occasion.
| Mr.. Sisloart Of Pa. Stop internal improve
ments, and how would the interior receive an
benefit! How are returns Of the public monte
to be made, if the power to make them were de
stroyed1
The great West might pour out its money lik
its rivers to the Atlantic, but destroy this powe
and they would destroy the means which slon
could carry it back again and diffnse IL, like tn
fertilizing showers, ever the whole country. Gu
navy, with its ship yards, were on the a-board
our forts and Notifications and lighthouses ar
all on the board; and all other sources Of e1
penditure by this Government were now in Men
leo and other foreign lands; and, according {
this message, the interior of the country was I
be seversd from the benefits of all national dis
bursements, now and forever. He wished gen
tlemen from the West to tell him how any pal
of the money collected by this Government ca
be expended in the interior, If ths power of in
ternal Improvement is not possessed by this Gov
eminent
/ The dsbate was continued, but we must stoE
as we have no report Of the other spsechs
made.