Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-22
IN. Then have NO objection to the amend

ios JoeS Anu upon as OF very important
character call for them because conceive the object Of
the anne ndment is to mako the bill national in its cha
The aaendmen, is Of ges. importance In this point
of vi ~.
he yeas and nays ordered.
Mr. BELL. The part Of the sill which it is proposed
70 sacad contains appropriation which concerns section
country Of which have knowledge and in which
avc interest did hear the remarks of the Sena
tor from Alabama distinctly when he made his motion do
know upon what ground he bases the necessity for having
fnis appropriation restricted.
Mr.. CLEMENS. IwM state that we had sppropria-
on Of Eve hundred thousand Of land for the improve
ment Of the Tennessee river but all wasted away upon
the nuscle shoals, and did particle Of good want
this appropriation be expended where il win do good The
thousand dollars might well put into the river Be
expended on the muscle shoals. eta ~
bamas b s proper 70 mpuss aresuicAon in this han :
Where shall we end we begin to impose restrictions Take
river Ohio Should We make any restrictions and mita
ons where the appropriation for that river should be
pendedi II we did should get through with il,
we should never agree with regard any river
decidedly with the Senator from Alabama to the points
where this appropriation ought to be expended know five
hundred thousand acres of land appropriated, but in
sst they were givento the State Of Alabama.
The PRESIDENT. The lands lay in Alabama. (.
Mr.. BELL. think that appropriation was made to the
State Of Alabama specifically for the Improvement Of the
muscle shoals You remember, sir, that think
in this rely the discretion and judgment of
the department. making the application Of the fund, the
bill should pass They will apply these fifty thousand dollars
amount good and do the effective service opening
channel Of communication.
The Senator from Mississippi need be afraid of appro
prating for the improvement Of this river It drains pos
ers drain part Of the State Of Mississippi At all events
may include Tennessee Alabama, and portion Of Ken
lucky think the honorable Senator from Alabama, he
really desires this appropriation for improving the navigation
the Tennessee river ought to attempt to restrict it.
That part Of the which he proposes to restrict has
been surveyed by the officers Of the Government and the
cessy of improvement at this time, in that portion, is
obvious the people who reside in that section Of the Union,
and to the good Of the typographical bureau Of the Go
vernmen They would, have Doubt apply this appro
praon the very portion Of the river indicated by the Sena
tor But think it is not proper at this time to make these
restrictions with regard to different parts OF the rver we
do we shall get nothing Though with the Sena
from Alabama that this is the portion of the river which
ought 10 be improved for the reasons stated must vote
against his amendment.
Mr. FOOTE. The state of things is realized which
has distinctly announced that he perfectly in
the views Of the Senator from Alabama in relation to the
amendment offered and yet he says the eKgency such
that he dare not act upon bis own views.
| Mr. BELL. said that occasion would vote to
restrict appropriations in the bill to particular parts Of
river Iinstanced the Ohio river and willing trust the
officers Of the Government.
Mr.. HAMLIN. regret extremely that deem it to be my
duty this unpropious occupy short portion Of
the time Of the Senate Still must do and, in doing
think shall incur responsibility, which has been al
uded to- for the defeat Of the appropriation bills because,
either Of those bills be defeated the responsibility win not be
with this body hold it 70 be solemn moekery of legisa
ou when This body compelled TO during the last two
days of the session all the material appropriation bills
We have yet 70 act upon and diplomatic, the army,
and the navy appropriation bills which appropriate their
Of millions Of dollars One Of these bills has yet been
ported by Committee Finance and has yet
from the House If then, any Of these bills should fail
the fault is not with this body Let rest where belongs.
As Of the minority of the committee which the bill
under consideration referred beg leave to present to the
Senate facts, figures and which in
duced be Of that minority. In the first place, beg
leave state that draw line Of distinction between inn
povemens great rivers and lakes and the Atlantic
coast If the work be national in its character, and worthy
of the fostering Of the Government think there
sound distinction which be drawn between such work
upon Of great rivers lakes and similar work upon
the But this bill. it US has features in it
which to mind Objectionable, and Objectionable to such
degree that must vote agana the bill in its present shape
seems to that those who favor the bill should not only
be ready and willing, but should work cheery with those
opposed to the bill to strip Of its Objectionable features
The whole amount appropriated by this bill is millions
three hundred and ortyone thousand three hundred and
seventy six dollars, little less than oand ahaf millions.
Of that there hundred and nine thousand dollars
appropriated for the Atlantic coast and million six hun
dred and thirty thousand three hundred and sevenyx
dollars for the lakes and Western vefncuding the rivers
Of Texas Thus the bill approprates than dollars
upon the lakes and rivers to dollar upon the Atlantic
coast. This is serious objection to my mind although
upon principles Of equity and fairness, different proportion
might have existed in the bill The true wants OF the Gov
ernment limited within the rule which have laid down,
should be only guide to whether the amount of appo
palon should be greater for section of the country than
for another.
The next fact which CLEAN from the bill is that it con-
ans in all separate and distinct items Of appo
priatlon, OF which at least twenty for new works
Five hundred and fyfve thousand dollars, little
than half million, are appropriated for the commencement
Of new works; million hundred and eighty-six
thousand three hundred and seventy dollars appropa
| ted for the prosecution Of old works asf . gaNq.
In the bill, a. stands, there appropriated for works
lying within the State of Mane thousand dollars;
within the State Of Vermont, fifteen thousand dollars within
the State of New York. three hundred and fifty five thousand
five thousand doars within the State Of Ohio hundred
and twenty thousand dollars within the State Of Michigan
hundred and sixty thousand dollars within the Stale Of
Illinois, twenty thousand hundred and seventy
dollars within the State of Wisconsin, thousand
doas within the State of Iowa, twenty thousand dollars
within the State Of Missouri fifty thousand dollars within
the State Of Maryland forty thousand dollars within the
State Of Massachusetts, thousand Eve hundred dol
lars within the State Of North Carolina one hundred and
seventeen thousand Eve hundred dollars within the Stale Of
Connecticut twenyone thousand dollars; within the State
Of Gegia fifty thousand dollars within the State Of Rhode
Island Eve thousand dollars within the State Of Delaware
ninety thousand dollars within the State of New Jersey
fifteen houssnd dollars within the State Of Louisiana one
hundred and thousand dollars within the State of Ala
bama fy thousand dollars within the State of Virginia.
twenty thousand dollars; within the State of Texas ninety
five thousand seven hundred dollars within the State Of
South Carolins twenty-five thousand dolasthe total
being one million hundred and twenty thousand three
hundred and seventy six dollars.
There is another class Of miscellaneous items which affect
different States in greater less degree. The FIRST is for
/ 4 - - u.rx L~l.