The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-23

Ter Is before u.s. Il win be necessary to postpone The
special orders OF the day. In order TO Jake up the unnh
THE CUMBERLAND DAM.
Mr. BELL Will the senator make that notion
Mr. KING then moved to postpone the special order OF
the day and take up the unfinished business being the
bin providing for the repair and Improvement OF the dam
al he head OF Cumberland island, in the Ohio river,
which motion was agreed to.
The Senate accordingly, as in committee oil the whole,
Mr. DAVIS. Of Mississippi When the bill was in
formally passed over yesterday, was submitting
statement to the Senate, which was then, as now.
the case. would simply suggest that II stands upon
peculiar footing, and think IS not subject 70 the
general exceptions which those who think with me
upon the general question would apply upon the
unconstitutiona,y Of general improvements hold
that the federal government, having put an obstruction
in the natural navigation of the river is bound to remove
broken, and the crest Of which has been swept away,
weare bound either to repair t. or 10 take away Inc rag
ments Of the dam. now IN the stream Inc question Question
me and al the least expense, remove the obstacle which
the federal government has thrown in the way Of the nat
ural navigation OF the river Ohio
AS stated yesterday, the larger proportion OF the dam
originally constructed stands entire; near the centre Of
the dam the crest has been swept away that requires TO
be increased IN height Lns end q the darn wncS con-
posing an artificial dam to change the natural current is
one Of the most dfcul because its consequences are re-
70 be formed where none existed before. This has
been the result with the present dam. The. shallow
channel which runs down the keniucky shore u almost
naly detected by the dam, and then sweeping around the
end Of Cumberland island. thus destroying the natural
navigation existing before ne dam was ou anS inas
would have been in its natural position The distance
from Dog island the end OF the DAM which is the
hundred feel more viii connect i with the Cumber-
land island; then the water will be turned down 70
the Kentucky shore, and will sweep The channel instead
OF striking the Cumberland island and there accumua
ting II would be necessary TO deepen the channel
is believed by the engineer that the dam being finished
and the crest sufficiently elevated when this passage is
dredged out it will constantly be kept clear BY the force
Of the current subsequently passing There seems then.
no other expense encounter than the repair OF the dam
in the centre and its extension TO the Cumberland
but it, on the other hand the Senate should determine to
remove the obstruction placed in the natural navigation,
it will only be at extrem low water that the work can
be prosecuted and there is mass OF stones OF great
SIZE some of them two three tons in weight, now y
ing mbedded in the sand they will have TO be broken
before they can be removed. The work WIN thus be
prolonged to two and perhaps three years before can
Il was under these circumstances that supportsda
similar bill at the last session Of Congress and tor these
Since as il has been remarked blythe honorable senator
from Tennessee, Mr. BELLl the lapse OF time will IN.
crease the length OF dam 70 be repaired hope will re-
ceive the early action OF the Senate Believing that
not to receive serious opposition will not enter further
into the merits Of the question 40 not believe that the
constitutional point is involved for the reasons have
Just stated Ii simple question OF engineering moth.
ing can be demonstrabe i 70 cheaper TO
repair the dam than to remove the debris Of III
hope that no further argument will be necessary.
No amendment having been offered, the bill was then
reported 10 the Senate ordered to be engrossed Tor third
reading, read third time by unanimous consent and
passed. es6ise
INDIANS In FLORIDA
On motion BY Mr. YULEE. the Senate, as in commit
OF the whole, proceeded TO the consideration OF The
bill provide for the adjustment and payment of ex
penses incurred and obligations contracted BY the State Of
Florida in providing for the safety OF that State during
the recent insurrection of the Seminole Indians:
No amendment having been offered, the bill was
ported to the Senate and ordered to be engrossed for
MI BRIGHT directing to the third reading at the
present time, the bill was passed over.
DEsERrT.
Mr.. DOUGLAS Mr. President. desire TO call up
the motion pending to refer the memorial and the cous
tuition a the provisional government OF Deseret to the ap
proprale committee was simply intending 70 postpone
mee aid moi happen 10 be present moved 10 refer
to the COMMITTEES on Territories; but the senator from
Florida mr. YuLrE suggested that il ought to go TO the
10 Tee sn ss
Mr. BUTLER am very DESTROYS, sir. that there
should be no conflict between the different committees
orass Missouri %
other bill introduced by my friend from mississippi,
mfr. FoorEl embracing essentially the principles that
men,s Of California Dsserst, and New McKee, have
been already referred TO the judicial committee do not
why this should be separated from the others on the
contrary. think they should all 90 to the commit
tee II this bill is TO be referred to the Committee on
Territories, il would seem that there Is to be conflict
between the two not in their reports
am not able TO say to that think that this bill
should 20 to the Judicial committee with the Others
have mentioned. see reason why the subject should
be taken out OF their jurisdiction and placed under the
jurisdiction Of the Committee on Territories. However
will leave the matter for the Senate to do as they
Mr. DOUGLAS. | desire now TO have this question
settled, the appropriate functions OF the COMMITTEES
on Territories and the Committee on the Judiciary
upon this question do not understand that the bill OF
the senator from Mississippi, [M FooTE,l providing ter
ritoria governments for California Deseret, and New
Mexico has yet been referred to the Judiciary Commit
nattee II the Judiciary Committee Is the appropriate
committee take charge Of the business OF the Commit
tee on Territories do not know what there s left for
the Committee Territories to do. do not know why
tee Territories created for the purpose Of taking
charge Of this territorial business II originated at rs
in the House of Representatives Prior TO the creation oil
that committee, the territorial bills went to the Judiciary
Committee. le4h#a4
When the House Of Representatives created separate
committee, those bills then went TO the Committee on
Territories All bills for the organization Of Territories
and bills for the admission oil States into the Union
formed out Of Territories, uniformly were referred 70,
and came from, the Committee Territories After the
duties Of the territorial committee separated from
those Of the Committee the Judiciary, and after that
practice had obtained in the HOUSE for many years. ter
ritoria committee was created here The question IS
now about the object OF this territorial committee
What are ia duties What subects were intended 10 be