The southern press., 1850-08-31
oNG GREssToN AL
IN SENATE.
FRlDAr. Aug. 80, 1850

IN SENATE.
.FRIDAY, Aug. 80, 1850
During the business Of the morning hour,
j Mr.. PRATT presented pstiiion from the citi-
7 zens of Hartford county. Md. praying the most
stringent laws against the border kidnappers,
whose practice il is, on every opportunity to run
of the slaves from the adjoining State Of Mary
land The petitioners represent that free negro's
house over the Pennsylvania border is the rendez-
vous Of their fugitive slave; and that a neighbor-
ing postmaster Of the name Of Brown, is an agent
OF the Abslitionists in this business. The petit
TONERS pray that the said Brown may be looked
after by the Government. Petition referred to
the Judiciary Committee.
SHIP CANAL AROUND rHE sAuLr STE. MARIE.
On motion Of Mr.. Cas- the Senate took up the
bill providing for grant of 100000 acres of the
public lands within the State Of Michigan to that
State, for the purpose of aiding in the construc-
ton Of ship canal around the Sault Ste Marie,
(falls Of ST. Mary,) in the straits connecting the
waters of Lake Superior above with the waters
below, Of Lake Huron, Lake Erie, &c. These
falls of ST. Mary descend for the space Of half a
mile about 81 feet, rendering them an obstruction
limpassable to steam boats. The plan is to con-
struct ship canal Of three quarters of mile in
length around these falls, and the grant proposed
OF 100000 acres is to aid in the work The bill
proposes as an indemni6cation that the canal
shall be free to the General Government transport
tation.
Mr.. DICKINSON inquired if there was any
provision in the bill securing the citizens of the
several States against exhorbitant tolsi
Mr.. FELCH said that MS this matter had been
suggested to him by several senators, in order to
obvate the difficulty, he proposed an amendment
have been reimbursed from the canal from the
cost thereof, the rate of tolls shall be no higher
than shall be necessary to meet the current ex-
penses Of keeping the canal in operation and re-
pair; and that annual report ofthe receipts and
expenses from the beginning shall be made to the
Department of the Interior
Mr.. DAWSON raised the question of the Con-
stitutional power Of the Government to enter into
such plan of internal improvement as this.
How many acres do Government grant SOC, 900
acres, believe.
Mr.. CASS upon the Constitutional question said
the Government did not make this improvement.
1t grants the land to the State Of Michigan to be
used for the purpose. Mr.. CAss then explained
the great advantages that would accrue to the
| Federal Government by this Improvement, open
ing the great expanse of Lake Superior to steam
boat communication with the lower lakes, would
open the vast mineral lands Of Lake Superior,
and the vast body of other public lands around
that great lake to market, and in the event of war,
a single military marine, with this canal, would
be sufficient for the defence Of the whole line Of
the great lakes, whereas, without it, separate ma
val defences would be required for Lake Superior
and the Lakes below. So important in military
| point Of view was this work regarded when a
war was apprehended on the Oregon question,
that the Secretary of War was in favor of the
lconstructon Of the canal by the Government,
simply as military work.
/ Mr.. DAWSON declared his opposition to the
granting away Of the public lands, which belong to
all the States to any one State, unless there was
corresponding advantage to the Government in
the enhancement Of the remaining public lands in
such State. This bill did not seem to meet that
consideration. The old States, by such appro-
priations as these, were in fair way Of losing
all right title, and interest in the public lands
The safest and best plan he thought would be to
divide the proceeds Of the public lands among all
the States.
Mr.. CASS said that where the Government,
under it's own jurisdiction, undertakes an internal
Improvement, it involves constitutional ques-
ton; but an appropriation to aid State in such
Improvement is different thing. He further en-
larged upon the immense advantages which would
accrue teAe Government from the opening of its
vast mineral and landed region on Lake Superior,
| to continuous water route communication with
the East by means Of this canal.
| Mr.. BUTLER took some exceptions TO the
amendment, as allowing too large discretion in
the matter Of tolls to the State Of Michigan, and
upon the constitutional question he desired TO
know what was the di9meOce, in point of fact,
between appropriating the land, and the appro-
/ priation Of so much money towards this, or any
other internal improvement The senator from
Michigan is opposed to appropriating money to
a system of internal improvements.
| Mr.. CASS explained substantially that this
principle Of granting the public lands to works of
internal improvement, the result of which was to
enhance the value of the residue Of the public
domain contiguous 70 such rules could hardly be
regarded as either impolitic or unconstitutional.
| Mr.. BUTLER, Does the senator regard the
| appropriation Of money out of the Treasury TO
local improvements as unconstitutional
| Mr.. CASS. We can speak Of that when the
| time comes 65ttgg5
Mr. BUTLER resumed, and thought that the
Senate had departed from the principle of safety,
in granting large bodies Of the public domain to
aid in the prosecution of internal improvements,
on this principle Of the enhancement Of the lands
reserved to the Government.
A discussion next ensued between Mr.. JOHN
DAVIS against the principle involved in the bill,
and by Mr.. DOUGLAS in its defence, contending
operated benefcally; and that this measure was
calculated to be Of the greatest benefit to the Gov
ernment in opening the Lake Superior country to
emigration, and to ready communication with
the Eastern Market
Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS advocated the
grant proposed, on the ground Of the Importance
Of this canal for the military defence of our
Northern frontiers.
Mr.. SMITH supported the views of Mr.. JET
FERsoM DAVIS, and also the doctrine Of internal
improvements out-and-out. He would vote for
similar military canal round the Falls of Niagara,
and to all works Of public utility, as internal i'm
provements, he was ready to give his support.
He considered the plan of appropriating the pro-
ceeds of the public among the several States
by gone system, and utterly impracticable at this
day.
Messrs. DAWSON, FELCI, and UNDER
WOOD, continued the debate upon the amend
ments.
The amendment OF Mr.. FELCH was agreed
to, and some other incidental notifications Of the
bill was made.
| Mr.. DAWSON asked what is the estimated
cost of this canal three-quarters of mile long.
Mr.. FELCH, from report Of an officer Of the
Typographical Engineers, said the canal was
| timated to cost $464;000.
Mr.. DAWSON What then becomes OF the
balance If this grant of 500 900 acres should sell
for million of dollars.
Mr. CASS. Don't be afraid. That's all pro-
vided for.
The bill was ordered TO a third reading.
| The Senate then went into Executive session,
and after some time speat therein, adjourned over