The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-09

and but little frequented landings, il becomes the duty
OF this House to inquire whether il were not better to
leave TO the several States to resident citizens, the
task OF founding and identifying towns villages, and
cities, and of opening and maintaining the roads and
canals, and all other avenues OF approach to them,
rather than to embarrass the government and the
people with burden not legitmately their own IL,
upon this day. citizens residing upon the beautiful
shores of the Chesapeake and Others upon the banks OF
the majestic La Ike Superior. and others still upon the
Gulf coast, resolve TO lay and build up villages or
cities, is their right to here, in time OF war TO de-
mand OF this body appropriation to construct for their
use and for the use OF such as may desire to trade with
to justify in the eyes OF the people of this country IN
granting their request at the known risk Of derangng the
markets and OF depreciang the prices OF all the property
in this country' But, if those cinzens, thus Tar removed
from each other, and located where cities may well be
expected to arise had commenced nsead OF to-day one
year ago. ten, twenty, hundred years, and had
actually erected many buildings, could 1t be SAID
that mandatory the provisions of the constitution
we must at the peril of rendering money scarce. and labor
cheap and property unsuitable but at deprecated rates
borrow large of money at large rates of interest
and increase the taxes OF the people to pay it, IN order
to build the asked for road, canal. or harbor
If the constitution does thus order to make such
pendues for the benefit of isolated individuals or OF To-
cal communities and at the expense of all the rest OF the
people, in times OF and of peace of prosperity and OF
adversely at all hazards and in defiance OF all the max
inns of commercial experience, have failed to read IT
Alright II the constitution does not positively order us to
borrow money, in time OF war; 10 clear out rivers con-
struci harbors, build roads, dig canals, drain swamps
build observaories, and establish universities then
ought to abstain from these things, if the doing of them
will be injurious TO the credit OF the government and
ruinous to many of the interests of the citizens; for all
good governments were instituted for the good OF the
governed and their acts, general and singular should
ever be in harmony with this, the principle upon which
they founded
cannot vote, in time of war, to borrow money to
gage in general system OF internal improvements.
cannot vote to borrow money to be expended to please
few towns, when, by SO doing, know that am placing
all the property OF all the citizens OF this great country
imminent danger OF depreciation The interests OF the
many should not be made depend upon the schemes
and the wishes of the few with hope of beneting
few persons, few villages, few cities or even sew
era important States should the property OF all the c
zens be exposed to probable loss
But, in the next place. if we were not engaged in war
if were not in the money market forcing weaker par
ties to pay higher rates OF interest in consequence OF our
unwecome ntruson-has not the past legislative action
of Congress been such, towards certain cities, to
der the adoption of such system act of injustice to
those cites' think it has, and WILL with the permis
sion of the House, submit few reasons in support OF
this opinion
Several cities and towns have had their harbors i'm
proved wholly created at the expense Of the treasury
of the United Satesto some, the appropriations have
been complete; to Others partial But the greater num-
ber the principal part of the habors of the United States,
have never been the subjects of government attention
II improved at all they have been improved By those who
have interest therein.
Baltimore is of the most important cities OF the re-
public and has been from the period when this gov
eminent organized AS it is important to the argu
ment which propose to submit to be able to prove this
have obtained from the Treasury Department state
ment showing the amount of revenue cole cted at the
port OF Baltimore from the year 1889 to 1917 both years
inclusive; also statement showing the amount of rev.
enue collected at all the ports OF the United States du
ring the same period.
Statement of the annual nett revenue received from
toms at all the ports the United States. discriminating
thai received at the port of Baltimore, from 4h March,
1859, to 3oM June. 1917.