The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-18

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tinued from day TO day until disposed Of. Objec-
ton made by Mr.. SrAsLy, when M. BArLY
moved suspension Of the rules
The SPEAKER stated, that the question upon
suspendng the rules would not then be IN order,
but that which was in order was the otion of the
gentleman from Maryland, (Mr. McLANE) to re-
consider the vote, closing debate upon the river
and harbor bill at clock on Saturday last.
Mr. McLANE moved to lay the motion on the
table. Agreed to.
The SPEAKER stated, that the next question
in order was the motion of the gentleman from
Georgia, to discharge the Committee ofthe Whole
from the consideration of the bill, authorizing the
payment Of interest to Georgia, for advances made
in suppressing hostitles of the Creek, Seminole
and Cherokee Indians in the years 1895, 1887 and
1898.
Mr. WELLBORN said, that he would waive
his motion for the present. IN view of the import
ance Of other business before the House, relying
upon the courtesy Of gentlemen to allow of its be-
ing taken up hereafter. Objection being made to
this arrangement, he moved suspension of the
rules And the question being put the motion
was disagreed to.
The SPEAKER stated, that the next question
in order was the motion Of Mr.. G. w. JONES, to
reconsider the vote allowing per dem to the end of
the session to thewidow of Hon. d. 8. KAUFmAN,
late member of the House from Texas. And
the question being put, the motion agreed to.
The resolution was then amended so as to al
low the per diem until the day Of his death. Agreed
to. The resolution as amended was then adopted.
The question recurring upon the motion Of MIR.
BAYLy above named,
MIR. G. w. JONES asked that the bills should
be specified, saying he would not vote to make
the fertilization bill special order.
Mr.. BAYLY said that his motion contemplated
action upon the bills in the order they were
reported
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Arkansas, asking if the
operation Of his vote would not operate to give
precedence to the general appropriation bills
that Of rivers and harbors, was answered in the
affirmative.
The question was then taken on the motion to
suspend the rules, and it was not agreed to.
Mr.. lNGE stated that some time since day
was set aside for the consideration of the business
ofthe District Of Columbia, which was overruled
by prior special order. HVmoved to suspend
the rules to enable him to introduce resolution
to make the business Of the District the special or
der for tomorrow. Disagreed to.
RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
On motion of Mr.. McLANE, 1.-The House went
into Committee of the W hole on the special or
der, which was the river and harbor bill.
Mr. MEADE in the Chair.
Mr.. McLANE rose and prefaced his speech by
replying TO the remarks Of Mr. Morse, which i'm
pugned his consistency, by reason of his vote at n
former period against resolutions coniravening the
grounds taken by Mr.. Polk in his veto message
in l848. The great statesmen, who supported
Mr.. Polk in his position, had committed them
selves in favor of kindred measures at a former
period. Messrs. Buchanan, McDuffie, Allen,
Cass and Calhoun, were named in this connec-
ton. Referring 10 the remark that river and har-
Dor improvements might be the doctrine of the
Maryland Democracy, Mr.. Mel. referred to Illus
trious Democratic statesmen Of Louisiana, who
had favored the measure. He then replied to re-
marks Of gentlemen impugning the Democracy Of
those supporting the measure before the commit
tee. Under this head, he complied with the re-
quest Of Mr.. HOLMES to define Democracy. 1t
was the right Of the people to govern themselves,
and right Misrepresentation based upon numbers.
Proceeding to make some structures upon the gov
eminent OF South Carolina,
Mr.. BURT rose and stated that every free man,
who had resided two years in South Carolina
could vote.
MIR. McLANE. That is not enough. | would
have a representative government based on popu-
lation. Replying to some questions asked by
Mr.. HOLMES, not heard by the reporter, he said
that thu government Of South Carolina was based
on population and numbers Proceeding in far
Their reply to questions of Mr.. HOLMES, he COM
pared Maryland with South Carolina in this re-
spect, when
| Mr.. BURT, interrupting, remarked that dis
| cussion of the institutions OF South Carolina
seemed to him to be in bad taste, as there was no
| opportunity for reply.
| Mr.. McLANE justified himself by referring to
Mr.. BURT. South Carolina ought not TO be
dragged into debate on account of grievances re-
ceived at the hands Of the gentleman referred to.
Mr. McLANE resumed, and contented that the
river and harbor bill before the committee came
under the principle recognized by the gentleman
| from Georgia, which was that the improvement
of rivers at points, where revenue might be col
lected, was constitutional He then went on to
state the course of Jefferson Madison, and jack
son, which he regarded as consistent with that
doctrine. MIR. Mel. concluded by justifyng the
expenditures contemplated by the bill, on the
ground that the revenues of the government for
the next fiscal year would reach fifty mine millions
| Mr. MORSE, by unanimous consent, replied
to what he called the miserable sophisms by
which the committee had been entertained for one
hour declaring that the doctrines of the gentle
man from Maryland were not Democratic, and
that that gentleman had failed to prove his consist
ency on the question under consideration.
| The question being upon an amendment pro-
posed by Mr. MCDONALD, appropriatng my
| thousand dollars for the improvement of the Wa
BASH he addressed the committee, asserting the
duty Of the government to improve rivers over
which it claimed exclusive jurisdiction. There
were in the bill appropriations for objects which
! he could not approve But since it did 50 provide,
he desired that The Wabash should be included.
| Mr. CARTIER referring to presidents, said that
| nothing but anarchy had been proved. lie did
not believe the government was the thing or the
nothing which fanaticsm attributed to it. He
claimed for the commerce Of the rivers and lakes
of the West, the benefit Of the constitution con-
| trolling this subject. There was not pier upon
| lake Erie that not submerged by every storm
that swept over it. He only wished that gentle
men opposing this bill were compelled to navigate
| that lake.
Mr.. MoDONALD'S amendment was negatived
| by a vote of 80 TO 33.
| Mr.. CLARK proposed an amendment for the
improvement of Sackeit's Harbor, and for the re-
mova Of national ship sunk there during the
| last war; He addressed the committee, stating
that the obstruction existed by the act of the gov
eminent, and it but right that 1t should be re-
moved. He enlarged upon the advantages of the
! position as a harbor. He hoped the execution OF
Justice was not unconstitutional in these days Of
political degeneracy.
Mr., BURT would pot enlarge upon the consti-
tutonal question. He would only say that the
government could not make improvements within
State jurisdictions except under the clause of the
| Constitution authorizing the establishment Of
dock yards, armories, ortihcatlons, &c. He rose
| simply TO show that no system OF internal Inn
| provement was practicable. The appropriations
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