Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-02-23

that its further consideration be postponed until Mon
day next.
ca order for Monday propose that this be postponed
Ill Tuesday.
The motion to postpone until Tuesday was agreed to.
TUESDAY,, FEBRuARY 10, 1850.
DRAINAGE OF THE VALLEY OF MEXICO.
Mr. BORLAND, from the Committee on Printing, to
which referred the motion to print the report of the Sec
rotary Of War; communicating Lieut. L. M Smiths report
upon the improvement and damage Of the valley Of Mexico
reported in favor Of pntngthe report, with the add
ona number ordered Of the map Of the officer
Mr.. KING. should lie to know from my friend from
Arkansas (r BonLAsD) What object be accomplished
by the printing Of that repo and map should like very
much know what ha~ TO do with the draining Of the
valley of Mexico What to be accomplished by the print
ing Of these papers Are 70 enter into scheme Of drain
age the neighboring STATES Are give our labor
time and money drain any portion Of the valley
Of Mexico If NOT, should like to know what OBJ
ect should accomplish, what good we should do by
printing considerable expense, documents relating to
subject which lave control should like to
hear from my friend wha he proposes to accomplish by
Mr. BORLAND. Mr.. President, will state the views
with which have made this report During the
cupaon Of the valley Of Mexico by army the officers Of
the Typographical corps directed make very careful
survey of that valley They prepared with great labor very
excellent map Of the city and valley Of Mexico This map
was deemed to be of sufficient value by the Senate to order
being engraved and the printing Of large number Of
the report of Lieut. Smith, who in part made that map This
report itself with the map and it is very necessary,
in order render the information derived from the map in
telgible, the map itself inelgibe that it should
be printed and accompany the map Upon this ground has
been proposed print small number of copies OF this report
As to the policy Of the printing of matters connected with
other countries have but little to that is matter for
the acon Of the Senate II cannot be denied however
this report may be highly useful matter Of public infor
nation Whether have present any direct and imme-
diae interest in the topography of the valley Of Mexico am
not prepared to say but hope the time will come, and
hope that shall live to it, when shall have great
interest in the valley of Mexico.
Mr.. HALE. would inquire Of the honorable Senator
from Arkansas il this report looks the re-occupon of
the territory daughter.
Mr. BORL AND. will state 10 the Senator from New
Hampshire that the committee did not take that point into
consideration have already stated the grounds which
they made this report The views suggested in relation
the future reoccupaton Of Mexico my own.
81 Mr.. DOUGLAS introduced the resolution calling
the War Department for this report During the occupation
of Mexico by the army Of the United States deemed
wise to keep the engineering corps engaged When they
had other work in making explorations that would
tribute science and the knowledge Of the country, and
not presume with reference any reoccupaon Of the ter
Iitory, they contributing to the knowledge Of the
country mparEg useful and valuable information which,
If unfortunately should have another collision with
the country, would be of immense value besides being
valuable contribution geographical knowledge and science
With this view, explorations made upon all the differ
lines which the army marched and reports have been
made and expensive maps have been ordered In this
map has been ordered, which will be very valuable and
very costly and believe large portion Of the expense
has already been incurred the simple question is whether
the report accompanying the map shall be printed ALSO The
cost Of printing the report will be very e and yet en-
bodies all the information deneaed in the map, and pub
sh the map expense and then suppress the report,
which will but tre, it strikes would be rather
alb urd.
Mr. KING. strikes me that of late years we have
been pursuing Of printing maps and documents of
this which is not appropriate for We are incung
expense by printing maps Of countries in which we have no
interest and which have practical utility whatever In
answer to my question they say have done-what We
have ordered thirty five hundred copies Of the map to
be printed and engraved What kind of map is It's
map showing that we can Dram with acy the lakes anu
valleys of Mexico
Mr. BORLAND. The map is not Of that character. II
is general map but very minute Of the city and val
lev Of Mexico This report the report Of the engineer
the subject of drainage.
Mr.. KING am well aware Of that; the map has, how
ever been ordered and the proof sheets already here
understand Why shall add TO the expenses already
incurred as unnecessarily Because lift
cessary for any purpose connected with this Government
should have remained in the War Department where they
might had any number printed which deemed
cessary general map of the country for the purpose
Of occupation hope shall have none for such pur
pose We have already had difficulties enough from such
cause am not disposed accumulate them any shape
rs there Senator who believes that any individual will be
benefited by the printing Of these maps, excepting the Off
who prepared the report and who VIII De grained by
gle citizen that will be benefited by knowing in what patcu
lar the lakes and valleys Of Mexico can be drained
There must necessarily be great expense incurred for the
printing Even the expense moderate, is which
we ought not to incur know how all these expenses in
crease and am opposed to the whole matter.
Mr.. BUTLER. know that amap Of this kind may
tribute to The knowledge Of geography and doubtless may be
interesting the general readers but do not know at all
what Congress has do with that. seems to atiery
have become much the practice here to make books
for when any book made only appears to be
necessary give the character for public document and
then make motion in this house that it should be printed
the public expense But rise to object to this motion
higher considerations These maps and reports may
trophies Of the victories acquired by army
Mexico; but in that respect would not have them printed
to mory the people whose country have ovenun
much less with any indication that il may hereafter be
purpose them for any prospective advantage The last
thing that we should do is To moTtiy people whom we
have conquered and still les that should do any thing to
Indicate ultimate purpose 10 take their territory In any
point of seriously Of opinion that national decacy
requires that should not print these papers
Mr. BORLAND. would simply observe, for the inior-
nation Of The Senator from South Caroline, (M BurLEn)
that this map report prepared EXPIRE. sly by the desire
OF the Mexican authorities during occupaon OF the city
Of Mexico. This map and papers prepared the
press application Of the Ayunamiento and the pubica
ton Of IT, therefore, Tar from being disagreeabe TO the
Mexican people authorities will the committee have every
reason to believe, be highly gratifying to them
After some further remarks by Messrs. BUTLER, HAM
LIN, and BORLAND-
The question taken concurns in the report Of the
Commttceon Printing which Division, was nesa'tved
Ayes Is, moss Is.