Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-15

tracts and also from other documents sustain the poson
which he had taken that the President had not ruthy
presented the origin OF this claim The honorable gentleman
also proceeded 10 conrover another of the Pre
sdents message which forth that during Mr. Adamss adj
mnistraon many appropriations made embracine roads,
rivers, harbors, and canals.
The idea conveyed by this was that doctrine
esapished by Mr. Adams's administration, which not
the iac No appropriations made during that Admin
saon Tor the construction Of roads, except such had been
provided Tor from the beginning of the Government The
ROADS Tor which appropriations made those of the
territories, for which the Government had always and does
still provide. The honorable gentleman here read from
report statement OF appropriations made and
the objects which they were devoted 10 show that thew
were for roads lying in Wisconsin, Michigan Arkansas and
Florida There was, however, bill signed by Mr. Adams
for road in Maine. In explanation of this and 10 show
that Gen. jackson signed bills Of similar character the ho-
norable gentleman read extract from work. the title
and contents OF which distinctly heard the Reporters
desk He then proceeded show that the accusation that
Mr. Adams approved and signed bills for making and mpro-
wing canals not true. BY voumnous documentary evil
dence, he proceeded sustain the Administration Of Mr.
Adams and to show that had been srepresenied by the
President and with that view referred to the pursued
and the appropriations made during the Administrations of
Gen. jackson, Mr.. Van Buren, and Mr.. Tyler.
lie further read that part of the message which states that
prior 10 1870 there had been made appropriations for the
Improvement OF navigable rivers This statement he sad
was also erroneous lnS24 act passed appropang
sIoOO0 for the Improvement OF the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers IN 1928 Tor removing Instructions from the
mouth OF the Gond river and this in the very face of the
upon being the time Mr. Adams came into power there
was no appropriation for the improvement OF any navigabe
rivers Here was another gross mssatemen of facts But
he had not intended to go oil at length into this subject
There was one other contained in this message which
appeared rather from the reading Of it from beginning 10 end
than from any particular clause that was that Gen. Jackson
checked and arrested the system of internal improvements
bat he had found tin very prosperous condition. pungng
the country into bankruptcy and immense expenditure and
that by his timely interference this system DESTROYED
hat was totally untrue. There gross mis-
statement. What the facts BY referring to the
report which he held in his hand which gave the de-
tails OF every single of this character it would be
found that prior 1926, between 1906 and 1924 the an
preparations OF this character for roads $685. H.
From this report appeared that the whole amount appro
prated during Mr. Adamss administration for roads, habors
rivers, and every thing of that character 26
and during Gen. Jackson's administration, which it was
claimed had checked this whole SYSTEM what did they sup
pose the whole these appropriation Why
10 5S2 900 and odd doasmoe than four times as much as
was appropriated during Mr.. Adamss administration And
during Mr. Van Burens administration, after this system had
been killed, as was claimed when il entirely Dead the
amount OF bills Of the character approved by him was
900 and odd dollars. In the year Of Mr. Van Bu-
rem administration ST. 000 900 Of this appropriated so
that these appropriations, in year Of Mr. Van Buens
administrations after this muchboasted execution Of this whole
system by Gen. Jackson amounted to much within very
small sum as the whole amount appropriated during Mr.
Adamss entire administration It further appeared from this
report that the whole appropriated for works of
internal improvement Sl7 1885, 223 Of which they had
seen that more than ten and half millions for bills APP
proved by Gen. Jackson.
Now, he persuaded that upon this subject the coun-
try at large all of the facts, and from
the reading of this message impression conveyed
tally adverse and directly opposed the real he had
shown them to exist But said that these
of different character from those works which were
signed during Mr. Adamss administration Such was not
the TACT With regard to the appropriations embraced in
the bill which vetoed by Mr. Polk the last session,
very large part Of them for the very same works
which commenced during Gen Jackson administration.
Now, it appeared to him. view of these well known facts
that the statement made by the President of the history
this system grossly and deceptive and unworthy
Of chief magistrate ought to have known the truth
concerning this matter be ought have been informed in
relation tot II so, he should have sent forth document
intended to convey false impression If he ignorant of
the facts heought to have informed himself before making
statement upon the subject. Whatever might be the case
the calculated produce entirely erroneous
impression upon the country.
In relation TO the superintendent these appropriations
among the drentsectons of the country he had word to
say He had said that the whole Of appropriations of
this character madewas about From these
his section Of the country his State had never been parcu-
larry benefited, although upon the Atlantic seaboard and
very largely interested in foreign and domestic Of
this amount Of $1,000 000 the New England States had
received in round numbers 81, O0O the Middle States
including Virginia, SIS, 900 the South and Southwest
exclusive of Virginia, 81 1895, 900; and Indiana Illinois,
Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa. s5,To,OOO.
His honorable friend from South Carolina him r.
HoLME wanted he should how had been expended
in South Carolina He would endeavor to obce the gentle
man. he could, by ascertanng the amount He referred
nasn, to the proposed appropriation for Charleston harbor
which was last session struck out in the House, and remark
ed that was struck out probably against the genemans
Mr.. COBB inquired if il not understood that il was
stricken out because gentleman from South Carolina
would vote for the bill
Mr.. ROCKWELL replied that he could not undertake to
say what the understanding The House. II was sug-
gested by those around him that not put in because
his friend from South Carolina behind the Speakers
chair and did vote.
Mr.. HOLMES. voted directly against it.
Mr.. ROCKWELL. Against the bill J But how did the
gentleman vote upon the particular item for this harbor
Mr.. HOLINESS reply was not heard by the Reporter.
Mr.. ROCKWELL concluded by remarkng that the sub
ect Of great national importance and not confined
merely 10 local interest And portion of the country re-
ceived little his did, only in proportion to the num-
Der Of vessels engaged in commerce. both foreign and domes
tic but in proportion the number Of harbors which needed
TO be improved, and TO the entire population.
The following is an extract of letter from an
officer in the army, now in the city of Mexico one
(says the New York Express) who has been through
the whole campaign, and is Judge of the state Of
affairs connected with our Mexican neighbors:
"MExIco, DECEMBER 2 Is4s.
"There is nothing here since my last. Troops are
daily arriving but enough effect much All those that
the way here ought to have been the ground before
the last battles We ought to have seventy thousand
to-day and proceed at take Of the