Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-08-16

DF any WORK OF internal HHprOVemcl
. should be embraced in the Civil and Di
|. lomatic Appropriation bill
Z The gentleman from Virginia Mr.. IA,
LY) has asserted. with apparent confidence
that the history of the legislation Of Cor
gress may be searched in vain To find
single precedent for an appropriation
this character. contained in similar bill
] have not had time, Mr.. Speaker. sine
this debate was commenced. to make Il
extended search for presidents. but Iav
found at least one precedent, to which
will ask the attention OF the gcnilcma
from Virginia. In the Civil and Diplom a,
ic Appropriation bill of 1889. passed =
Congress when both branches were large
lv Democratic. will be found two apprO
priafons for works Of this character, on
for the removal OF a bar in the Connect
cut river. and another for .'decpeninc tn,
straight channel Of the east pass to Appa
lachic,lo. in FIorida''
| Besides. in this same bill are contained
appropriations for the improvement Of tn,
streets Of Washington city. which has a,
little relation to the general objects Of IN,
I bill as the appropriation for the Savan
nah river. But # the appropriation is. ir
itself. right and proper, it matters but lit
tic in what bill it may be passed. Tina,
il is so do not entertain a single doubt
The improvement for which the appropri.
alton is designed is one emnently deserv.
ing the attention Of the Government. and
I trust the House will not consent that il
shall be stricken from this bill.
The Savannah river is the naviyablc
communication witt, Savannah. the com.
mcrcial metropolis Of Georgia. and one
among the most important cities on our
Southern Atlantic scacoast. The naviga-
ton of the river is essential to the business
and prosperity Of the city and the sur
rounding country. For want of sufficient
appropriations to remove the distractions
placed in its channel. already large por-
ton Of the trade and commerce which
properly belongs to it has been diverted
to other points. to the great injury Of the
patriotic citizens of Georgia. But the
claims Of the people OF Georgia to an APP
preparation for this improvement do not
rest upon the obligations Of the General
Government to aid and facilitate the com
mcrce Of the country, by the improve
mcnt of its great channels and thorough
fares. upon the general principles which
apply io ordinary works Of internal i'm.
provcncnt. They stand upon higher and
broader ground. They are not presented
to us as the obligations oftl'c Government
to remove the natural distractions which.
in some degree, are found in all our navi-
gable streams.
These distractions in the channel Of tic
Savannah river consist Of huikS. or old
Vessels. Which were sunk during :hc Re-
evolutionary war I" prevent the approach
Of Il British fleet to tho city.
heard on yesterday. Mr.. Speaker. with
surprise. the distinguished gentleman
from Georgia. Mr.. iverson.) make the
declaration that these distractions were
placed in the river for a mere local object
for the benefit of Savannah alone: that
the defence of that city was an object Of
importance and interest only to its own
citizens. could not but be surprised at
such "A position. and still more at the fact
that it was urged by Il gentleman who is
himself a citizen and Il Representative of
Georgia II seemed to me, sir. as well as
to others here, extraordinary that that
gentleman should have siynalizcd his de-
bu, here, by an attack upon the interests
of his own State; that the first time his
voice was heard in this Hall. il should be
shed claims Of justice which the people of
his own State present to- the General Gov
crnmcnt. These Instructions were placed
in the river in aid of the war, in which the
whole country was engaged, and the
obligation is equally strong upon all sec
tons of the country to aid in removing
them The defence Of the city Of >avan-
nal, was no local or sectional object II
was not the blood of Georgia alone which
flowed in its defence. or which was after.
wards So freely shed in the attempt 10 recap
turc i, from the British. The people ofevery
State FASTENED To the point of danger.
wherever it might be. to rcpcl the advanc-
ing foe. or to wre>t from him the towns and
cities which he had sized. As well might
we say that the expulsion Of the British
from Boston, New York. aud Philadelphia
was mere local object. interesting to
those cities alone. as that the people Of
Savannah alone were Interested it its de-
fence. These distractions were placed
in the river as means of carrying on the
war of the country. They are now do
ing great injury TO that particular locali-
~; and II appears to me that the p,ainest
principles Of Justice require the country TO
remove them. As well might we refuse
to pension soldier who had been manned
in the defence OF Savannah. on the ground
that he was fighting for the benefit of that
city alone.
1t is urged again. as an objection to this
appropriation. that we have no power
under The Constitution to discharge obli-a-
IONS incurred by the Contederacv before
the adoption of the Constitution. This
argument of unconsti,u,ionality is one
which is generally resorted to when all
others fail. There is certain class of
constitutional eSpounders who call them
selves strict constructionists. They con.
tend.'hat this Government can do nothing
which the Constitution does not expressly
and in terms authorize il TO do. II an ap-
preparation is asked 10 improve the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers. or to render less
hazardous the navigation Of our great
Northern lakes. they will tell you that the
Constitution has conferred upon Congress