Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-08-12

not exceed thousand Ind propiael further That any
non-commissoned officer private in the regiment
cation honorable discharge the service OF the
United States and that the number discharged shall be
placed at the discretion OF the President"
The bill then ordered be engrossed and being en-
crossed, read third time.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. THOMPSON, Of Indiana, moved to reconsider the
vote by which the bill engossed He had two unsuc-
cesul attempts graft upon this bill appropriation for the
improvement Of the Mississippi Ohio, and Missouri rivers On
looking into the records Of the proceedings Of the House,
would be found that appropriation for these had always
been inserted in the army appropriation bill but now for
the first time, discovered that place there was out
Of order The entire Democratic party had opposed the at
tempt introduce it into this bill Mr. r. said he had made
the motion in good faith though he candor confess he
had not had much faith that it would pass When great
and powerful political party just the of Presidential
election set itself against all of the kind pro-
claimed TO the world article of their faith that Congress
had power to make appropriations for hem was hardly
TO be hoped that such motion would prevail against
mdabe array But he must confess that he had been
Psed to find the opposition suddenly swelling itself such
degree as to obtain clear majority against it.
GENTRY said he of those who had voted in
favor Of sustaining the Chair when decided the motion Of the
gentleman from Indiana 10 be of ORDER He had had
time to look into the precedens and fully satisfied
that the decision had been erroneous and that the
had been perfectly in order.
Mr.. THOMPSON was very sorry the gentleman had not
made that discovery little He had been asked wheth
er this item for the Mississippi and Ohio be found in
the army bill Of 1912 He answered that there appeared
though that bill had been under the special of the
ngdy constitutional and economical gentleman from North
Carolina, (Mr McKAr) The gentleman and his political
friends were ne knew rreconceaby opposed all approp
atoms of this description He had moved it in good faith
and ne well knew that, If il obtained ALL il
be put in of the appropriation bills for whenever
connected with the river and harbor bill to en-
counter the Presidential veto.
Mr. COBB inquired whether there were not separate bills
now reported containing appropriations for these river i'm
provements by themselves
Mr. THOMPSON replied there was item for them in
the river and harbor bill But the gentleman from Georgia
need not be told that such bill be vetoed by Mr.
Polk not indeed, because contained appropriations for
these FINLAND seas they had been called but because
contained appropriations for the Improvement of the habors
Of the country.
Mr. COBB said that appropriations for these great rivers
were in bill by themselves, and not connected with any
harbors.
Mr.. THOMPSON said he knew there was one bill appro-
pria,ng for the Mississippi alone
There great deal of shufing and lodging this
subject OF internal improvements The people of the West
felt deep interest in the subject and they expected get
appropriations for works of this kind All Mr. T. desired by
the present movement was to bring those gentlemen who
from the valley Of the Mississippi and who dare vote d.
recty against such appropriations, make their mark this
question He wanted the people Of the West be i'm
posed upon, but know who for and who against
appropang the public money for works of internal improve
ment Gentlemen at home always loudly in favor fit
here they uniformly acted against it. He wanted get them
fairly on the record, that the West might know who
for them and who against them. For hmse he hadno
concealmens about the matter any other subject of
legislation
He said that this item connected with the river and
harbor bill it would encounter the constitutional objections Of
the President he wanted it put in the appropriation BILL
where il would be free from dangerous associations II had
never before failed to be placed in the army bill and that
its appropriate place, because money appropriated
always expended under the direction of the Secretary of War
These appropriations part and parcel Of the expend
lures OF the War Department They expended under
the supernendence of the Engineers who belonged that
Department and received their orders from it, They
uied part of the defences of the country Had
not more than eight of the whole force which
Mexico In the late been transported these
reach their destination Yet Notwithstanding party
west OF the mountains dare themselves openly OPP
posed to these appropriations Notwithstanding these rivers
furnished the great highway by which the great of
Western produce annually reached its market and potwh
standing they wateed the fertile and prosperous regions
IN the globe, yet all appropriations for removing from them
the most dangerous distractions steadily and sysema
caly refused. He wanted that put ON record with
every name attached to it, that the people Of the
West whose vital interests involved, might know not
who talked well for these things home while soliciting their
votes, but who voted for them here.
He candidly avowed that his view, in moving reconsde
ration Of the BILL to get in amendment for the improve
ment Of the Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri rivers.
Mr.. McCLELLAND said, If there a that floor
who had made honest and efforts TO obtain appro
paons for the improvement Of the rivers and harbors Of the
West, he that man.
Mr.. THOMPSON said he fully exonerated the gentleman
from Michigan personally He knew, and took pleasure in
bearing witness that had been
ing friend TO internal improvements than that gentleman
his party not himself that he made the charge
Mr.. McCLELLAND said that wherever attempt bad
been made to introduce appropriations for and harbos
into the general appropriation bills contrary the rules Of
the House, he had uniformly opposed it. II it permit
ted could oresee the abuse which might lead
Subjects Of this nature, and all others which proper for
legislative action, should be well considered and matued be-
fore they finally acted upon and every here knew
the importance Of keeping up proper distinction the
character Of the items introduced bills for such purpose
Each should stand fall its own merits. His
such questions bad been invariably the But il
amusing to the change which had taken place in
the pursued by his friends the other side of the
House upon this very point few short years ago APP
preparation inserted in Of the general appropriation
bills for the improvement Of the hsrbor Boston, and al
though IFS friends argued that absolutely necessary
for the defence Of that city, and part and parcel Of the
military works there, yet opposed by the gentleman
from North Carolina (Mr McKAr) and myself for the very
before given, and stricken from the bill by large
ory, composed Of Wings and Democrats The Speaker Of
this House Chen the Aoo) had if his recollection
correct made strong and eloquent appeal to the House to
reinsae it. and Notwithstanding his power and influence
which was deservedy great with both parties he most signal
y failed.
Old members would ecoect another remarkable instance Of
the determination ofhe House make any nvdous dis
nctions to this kind Of appropriations. bill for the inn
provement Of the navigation Of the rivers Ohio Mississippi
Missouri and Arkansas introduced into the Senate by
CT beeve) the Senator from Kentucky Mr. CarrrEspKS,)
vyh hv nd 10