Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-07
CON GRESS.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 80, 1850.
IN SENATE.

IN SENATE. "a II
IN oon of Mr. CASS the Senate proceeded to the con-
d.son OF Senate bill No. 81, being the bill granting the
State Of Michigan the right of way and donation Of public
land for the construction of ship canal around the falls of
ST. Mays, IN said State.
tted amendments gil the blanks in the FIRST section so
that the provso would read foowsthe words in italics
being the proposed amendments
end provided further That said canal shall be at least
one hundred feet WIDE with depth of water Of easf fye
feet and the locks shall be at least hundred feet long
fifty feet wide. !" 'st1 $40
Thus amended the first section win be in these words:
Be IL enacted By the Senate and House of Representatives.
of the United STATES Of america in Congress assembled
That there be and il hereby granted said State the right Of
locating canal through the public lands: known as the milf
and that four hundred feet Of land width extending along
the line Of such canal be and the hereby granted
be used by said State under the authority thereof for
constructions and convenience Of such canal
thereto and the thereof is hereby vested 10 said
State forever for the purposes aforesaid Provided That in
locating the said line Of sad canal through said military
servaon tho same shall be located on the line Of the survey
heretofore made for such other route
above and below said falls under the approval
the Secretary Of War may be selected find proIed fur
the That the said canal shall be at least hundred
WIDE with depth of of least FIVE feet and the locks
shall be least two hundred feet long and fifty feet wide"
Mr.. DICKINSON. would like to have Of the SEN
ators from Michigan explain the operation OF this bill and
form whether the tolls which will be charged will be equal
upon the citizens Of the several States
from New York There provision the bill as it now
stands with reference tolls It merely gives Michigan
the amount Of land which supposed to be sufficient to
the work The object Of the work to connect the
of Lake Superior with those Of Lake Huron and The
other lakes and the It has been suggested from
era quarters that amendment should be made which will
all the citizens who may navigate the lakes the
right of passing through the canal without exorbant toll
With that fully sgree The bill leaves that matter to the
Legislature. We supposed that would be all that
cessay as we thought would be for the interest Of Mch
make the tolls such would be reasonable and not
oppressive. Of course only wsh to obtain the privilege
Of constructing the canal which will be for the public inter-
Michigan has interest in it than the other States
bordering the lakes. But to make it entirely acceptable
to all will make amendment as to accomplish the OBJ
ect suggested BY the Senator from New York.
The PRESIDENT. It will not be in order to offer the
amendment till the amendments submitted BY the committee
have been seted upon
Mr.. FELCH. propose to amend the bill by adding
section, to come in before the last, section fifth.
The section proposed to be added is as follows:
Sec And be further enacted That the Legislature of
said State shall to be kept accurate account OF the
es and nett proceeds of the lands hereby granted and Of all
the construction repairs and operating Of said
canal and Of the earnings thereof and shall return state
Of the annually the Secretary of the Interior
and whenever said State shall be fully reimbursed for all adj
made for the construction REPAIRS and operating Of
said canal with legal interest all advances until the rem
bursement the payment by the United States
Of balance Of such advances such receipts from said
lands and canal with such interest the said State shall be
lowed for the of said canal only such tolls shall
be to all necessary for the care CHARGE
and repairs Of the same
Mr. DAWSON. I wish to submit the question whether
this is internal improvement, without any lmiaton
for particular purposes whether not giving power to the
State Government and then requiring the State 10 take upon
herself to keep current between that State and the
General Government should be glad also 10 know how
many Of land proposed to be appropriated by this
bill
The PRESIDENT. The amount of land is half mil
Mr.. CAsS replied Mr. Dawson The copy of the first
few Of his remarks however, has been lost lowing
fault of this o) and the loss not discovered in
time to have it supplied In the copy have he appears
be speaking Of Lake Superior and Lake Huron, OF which ne
says:
The former Is elevated about tuenty-one feet above the
latter and the communicating between them interrupted
by the falls Of St. Mary which vessels OF burden neither
ascend descend All the articles passing from lake
the other must be landed and transported the por
tage, and then nanshipped another vessel This is
serious impeachment the growing commerce OF that impor
liant region have in my hand statement, contained in
the Lake Superior Journal published the Saul Ste Marie
the outlet Of Lake Superior which shows the Importance
of this trade, and the impediments it meets with,
Here Mr.. CAss read article describing the immense
masses of "copper" being many of them TONS which
brought down Lake Superior and transported by land
the portage great additional trouble delay, and expense
Now, Mr.. President, the United States the whole
country upon Lake Superior, with the exception Of few
Of mineral lands which have been purchased by ndv
duas BY opening this communication you will facilitate
the operations of trade the ngess and egress to and from
the country for all the purposes of improvement and settle
ment It is most important district, rich in its mineral
treasures, of which speak from my personal obser-
vation having twice avesed from extreme to the other
Public attention is directed it, and industry and enterprise,
and capital combining develop its value and to realize
il The Government is the great andhoder, and such an
improvement this take place. without enhancing the
value Of the property and returning many times the value Of
the tract required for the expenditure.
The Senator from Georgia made another objection to this
BILL the point of which, must confess do not comprehend
He in it improper interference with State authority
because require the State of Michigan to keep and render
to the United of the product and app
cation of this fund.- Mr. President such interference
We make offer Michigan which she is fully competent
accept reject We here which
willing TO convey to you, provided you will apply
them to canal around the Falls of St Mary, and render
statement from time time, its proceeds and as soon as
you reimburse your advances you have made any,
the canal is become free oil the citizens Of the United
States with the exception of such tolls may be necessary
keep the canal in repair and operation Now sir IT this
offer accepted it becomes mutual arrangement imposing
nothing upon the State but what she imposes upon herself
and common in principle oil similar grants. This propo-
sion, therefore, brings up question Of jurisdiction re-
spectng internal improvements bat the right only OF the Cen
era Government apply portion OF the public land toase
the value of the remainder.
When this subject before the Senate, days snce
alluded to the importance of this communication in mill
tary point of view and will add that time du
ring our difficulties with England, growing out Of the Oregon
controversy, within the contemplation OF the Secretary
of the Navy recommend Congress- consequences of
resolution from the Senate the construction OF this canal
means of defence The project not pursued conse
auence of the amcabe adjustment Of the dispute In the