The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-08
REMARKS OF

III w EEhLIs
WEEKLY, w
REMARKS OF
Hon ISAAC r.. MORSE. Of Louisiana,
D,lipered in The House Of Representatives., FEB.
Ia and Is, 1851,
ON THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
The House being in Committee of.the Whole
ON the state of the Union, and having under
consideration the river and harbor BILL
Mr.. MORSE obtained the floor, and said
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: The decided vote by which
the necessary appropriation bills for the pur-
pose of carrying on this government were laid
aside, indicates forgone determination to pass
this bill without giving to its opponents the
poor opportunity of being heard against some
of the ipiquities apparent upon the face of it, |
regret that the little time which has elapsed be-
tween the introduction of this bill and the mo-
ment ut which have the honor to address the
d0mmittec, has not enabled me to prepare my
self as fully az had hoped, TO speak upon the
general merits of the bill. But before enter
upon that subject, desire to reply very briefly
to some of the remarks made by the gentleman
from Maryland who has just taken his seat,
Mr.. McLAHE, at the commencement of his
speech. ! should not feel myself bound to-
make any reply to the gentlemans definition Of
Democracy, or his ideas of the Madisonan
view in relation to internal improvements, if
his position as chairman Of one OF the most
important committees Of this House, had not
invested his words with force and effect which,
perhaps, from an individual member, they would
not have had.
The gentleman told US very frankly to-day,
that when called upon, by some gentleman near
him, to define Democracy, he had right nc
cording to Paley's system of ethics either to
tell the truth, or to define it in some other man.
ner. What that other manner is, know not
But hope it was the reverse of the truth For
one, desire to say, once for ALL that if the SEN
timents put forth by the chairman of the Com
mttee on Commerce be Democracy, do not
belong to any such class of politics. If that be
Democracy, nm something else, entirely anita
gonistical to it. 1t may be Free-soilism" it
never has given a Democratic vote since its or
ganization; and the reason of that may be, that
the leaders of the Democratic party in that State
have entertained such notions Of Democracy us
the gentleman from Maryland Mr. McLANE
advances. The gentleman from Maryland, in
the course of his remarks in reply to the gentle
man from South Carolina, Mr.. HoLmEs,l took
occasion to advise him to keep within the old
adage that "people who reside in glass houses
should not throw stones" Now, sir, we-heard
the gentleman undertake to tell us that General
Jackson, Jefferson, Monroe, and all the lights of
Democracy on this subject, were found with
him. Well, sir, they were with him short
time. But desire to call the attention of the
committee to the gentleman's opinions during
the session of l848. Sir, at that time, Mr.
Petit, of Indiana, offered the following resolu-
tons:
sResolred, That if in the judgment of Con-
gress it be necessary to improve the navigation
Of a river, to expedite and render secure the
movements of our army, and save from delay
and loss our arms and munitions of war, then
Congress has the power to improve such river
"Resoiped Ii it be necessary for the preserva-
ton Of the lives of our seamen, repairs, safety
or maintenance of our vessels Of war, to improve
harbor OF inlet, either on the Atlantic or Lake
coast, Congress has the power to make such APP
preparations"
"The said resolutions were read when Mr.
Petit moved the previous question.
"Mr. SIMS moved that the said resolutions
be laid on the table.
"The vote was taken and decided in the mega
tiye-yeas 10, nays la"
That was one of the ingenious clap-trap.
which are frequently seen upon this floor. II
was an endeavor TO place gentlemen who oppose
this system of corruption, this miserable bribery
of the members Of this House, through means
of their constituencies was for the purpose,
say, Of making those gentlemen seem to vote
against supplying the necessary means of carry
ing on the war Well, there were some veal
Democrats at that time afraid to vote against tn,
principle. But after some discussion, Mr.. Sim
moved that these resolutions be laid upon tn
table. Where, then, was the chairman of TIN
Committee on Commemorate who undertake
TO tell US that this system has been sanctioned
and has met the appreciation of Jefferson, Jack
son, Monroe, and Madison? Why, sir, the vot
upon the motion tolay npon the table was yea
10, to 1874 nays. And amoog those seventy
find myself, in company with the honorable
ROBERT NJ. McLASE, of Maryland, the presen
chairman of the Committee on Commerce, ant
now the special advocate Of this system of in
ternal improvements, with all its enormities.
Mr. McLANE. ! should give the same vote
upon the same resolutions now.
Mr. MORSE. Well, then, Mr.. WENTWORTH
Of Illinois, who was the putative father of this
system Of internal improvements, introduced the
following resolution:
"Resoired, That the general government ha,
lne power 10 cOnstruct sucn narDors ana Improve
such rivers as are necessary and proper for the
protection of our navy ard of our commerce
and also for the defences of our country"
Not for the purpose of trade, not for the pur
pose Of carrying down the commerce upon ou
inland seas in times Of peace, but, sir, for the
purpose Of defending the country against foreign
invasion, under the clause of the Constitution
which permits us to make war and establish nj
army, and with it, as it h@ been frequently con
tended, all the necessary and proper powers
Very well, sir:
"1'he said resolution was read when
"Mr. WENTWORTH m owed the previous
question, which was seconded and the main
question was ordered to be put, viz will the
House agree to the said resolution
"The question being put, was decided in the
affirmative-years 1873, nays 81"
1873 voted aye. and poor corporal's guard Of s.
were found in the negative
am happy to see that was one Of that small
body, and my friend, the chairman of the Com
mttee on Commerce, was one of u.s. Not fo
the purpose Of saving the munitions of war-no