The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-25
appropriation may be Two instead Of one hundred thou

should ike 10 ASCERTAIN from the chairman OF Tue
Committee Finance whether there is not still some
mistake 10 relation TO this matter The senator from
Louisiana has alluded TO the fact which is well known.
that the granite OF which this house al New Or
leans to be built is be furnished by the Quincy quar-
res in Massachusetts, II is the same, believe, as
used in the construction of the Bunker Hill monument
and il affords fresh illustration OF what once said
BY distinguished senator from South Carolina, that the
principal exports OF New England were ice and granite
The company who TO furnish this granite Of
take interest in this appropriation considerable
part OF il already due to them. They inform that
the sum asked by the Secretary OF the Treasury for the
purpose 100000 Indeed, have in my hand a
letter from the commissioner OF customswhich will
not trouble the Senate to readfrom which would
that the Recommendation Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
Mr.. DICKINSON We have already appropriated d
portion Of that amount about 100000, in the deficiency
bill 90 that this amount agrees with that asked for
Mr. WINTHROP. That sets the matter right.
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. SOULE. beg leave 10 offer the following amend,
mcnt:
.For the typographical and photographed survey Of the
lead determine the practicable plan OF securing
from nundston and the best mode q 50 deepening the
fssl draushl 70 enter the same, $5OOoo"
MI. SOULE. Only q word. Mr.. President. The ca
lanities which Louisiana has suffered OF late years in
consequences OF the frequent and extensive foundations,
occaaioned BY the overhows OF the Mississippi have at
last aroused the public attention throughout the country.
and provoked considerable inquiry the best means Of
preventing the OF disasters which, renewed
would inevitably ruin and destroy her Many schemes
have been devised and suggested to arrest the fearful
evil has been able TO concilaie that appreciation
and to command that support which mig h have rendered
an experiment under il acceptable, or even possible Yet
vast amount OF information has been collected under
the action OF joint committee OF the Legislature OF that
State which will have no doubt, be Of great service
hereafter, it will throw much light on the geological
and hydrogaphica history OF the regions waered BY the
mighty river, and furnish body OF observations from
which the survey 10 be effected may derive most interest
ing and valuable data But until thorough investiga
ton has been made Of the whole delta BY commission
al nd
such implements will enable them to carry il out
successfully, it impossible that anything ike
unity be obtained the part OF those who have de-
voted or may hereafter devote their time and labor to the
research Of the great desderatum. bringing forth some
measure that may be likely the attainment Of
Bssss he ss0s Sus referred
there il another object Of vast moment, and almost
equally worthy OF the serious consideration OF the SEN
Of The Mississippi And this not only that
tcuar section of country which il made the special
point Of survey but the whole Union and indeed The
civilized world The Mississippi is the main outlet
through which have to pass the uncountable millions Of
produce raised in the gorgeous valley which battles 10 its
waters to be thence distributed TO all parts OF the inhab
Il 4 known, Mr. President, that later than fifteen
twenty years ago. there were passes at the entrance
Ct i deep enough to admit vessels drawing u2wa arr
posites Of the river, have gradually filed so that they
scarcely afford depth OF more than twelve feet
The shipping and mercantile interests Of the country have
bssn much injured BY, and still suffer heavily from, the
obstruciions mus accumulated At the entrance Of that
southwestern inland and both require that immediate
steps be taken them. The survey which this
appropriation contemplates to institute will. in all prob
ability, lead 10 the adoption OF scheme through which
an end shall be put TO hindIance which, not provided
against, must soon close all ingess 10 and egress from
the river to all but the poorest kind OF craft and to hshng
mn. DICKINSON. ask to have the amendment Of
the senator from Louisiana read.
The amendment was read.
Mr. DICKINSON. That matter was submitted some
time since in memorial which referred to the
Committee Finance and although they thought it not
within their province portion of The memorial the part
which related to the survey, was given IN charge to
9 report upon the subject | believe he has re-
ported should dislike 10 interfere with the matter,
important TO that portion OF the country and will only say
that greatly prefer that ii should be kept out OF this
bill However that is matter for the Senate to dispose
Of I: they see a. ..u
the same principle Of the amendment offered by the
senator from Kentucky; Now, when this matter was
FIRST mentioned to me BY the gentleman from Misss-
pp ! ae en inclined % 90 hs o' SI %
the senator from Kentucky far satisfied Of the i'm.
proprety Of the thing, connected with this bill that
own section Of the country Consequently shall vote
sgainst this proposition, which is remotely connect
ed with my own sectional interest," though al the same
Tina. believe il TO be OF the utmost mpor
MI DAWSON. ! merely rise to make one obserya.
survey upon The head waters Of the ohio river
Immediately the question Of internal Improvement Thai
does not In this amendment al alE Here is an ap
preparation TO be made which is to subserve the interests
Of almost one-haf the people Of this country. We all
know that the mouth OF the Mississippi river, in the
ncighb0rhood Of New Orleans, there 10 delta, which il
IL very essential TO the of the country should
be thoroughly understood ALI that can be known oil
it, nature and Of the obstruction which affords TO the
waters of the Mississippi should be ascertsned Il s
which Is not local in its character at all, but
extends to all portions Of the United States that have any
thing TO do with the mississippi river.
Mr. EWING. hope this amendment will be adopted
look upon the work contemplated as one OF the mos
important thar has ever been undertaken by man be-
lieve il to be practicable and requires all the bes
scient6c aainens OF the country TO be brought TO beai
upon H. II il work Of immediate necessity, and hope
II may be performed.
Mr DAVIS, Of mississippi. All that has been done
heretofore in relation this particular matter has beer
local. and has been done upon partial authority, with
out any extended view and without any just comprehen
sion Of all the great elements involved In IT, The
qusnce has been, that while the evil at particular To-
caity avoided, perhaps postponed for lew years
the great evil has gone accommodating and the de
v1siation OF the lower mississippi has been result
not Of combination, formerly of all the streams
above but OF few In order avoid this is proposed
thar we should have and survey OF the
delta made by persons OF scientific aainmens and with
necessary Instruments In order that lines Of quckes
dsocant nsy be determined being those places where tn,
fvsr y 10 Be tapped and where the pracncabty OF
how many waste ways will be required These prob
lens which will require much examination Of science Il
dstsrnne These works for survey will not, here
sofore be directed each 10 local interests. and each
srnedby the caprice, you please Of the owners OF LIANT
upon thu banks the vcr, bur they will be directed b.