The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-15


provements, and ara pushing their doctrines on
the subject to line Of meeting with Mr..
RHETT.
We have hitherto treated this question as
one in which the West and Northwest were
chiefly interested; but the bill, defsated BY the
combination of Democratic Senators, appropri-
ated $4,000 to Improvements in MIssouRI;
$40, 600 to Improvements in MARYLAHD; Sll7,-
500 to Improvements in NORTH CAROLINA
900 to improvements in GEORGIA; $50 600
to Improvements in DELAWARE; Sos, 900 TO
LOUISIANA; $4,000 to ALABAMA; 1000 to
VIRGINIA; $95,700 to TEXAS, and 81, 900 to
SOUTH CAROLINA. And the Senators from
several Of these States denounced thu bill as
corrupt, log rolling measure, though it was
most earnestly pressed by Senators from States
which were not benefciaries of the bill to the
amount Of asinglc dollar KEHrUcxY had no
local interest in the bill, and her Senators sus-
tanned it, and urged it on their brethren with
untiring ZEAL LOUISIANA was directly in
terestsd to the amount Of sos, 900; and Mr.
SoULE was SO Disguised with its corup-
ton" that he joined Mr.. CLEMENS in his in
teresting attempt to read the bill to death
on the last day Of the session. This was the
most disinterested log-rolling" on the part of
KENTUCKY that can well be imagined KEN
lucky desired, without an equivalent, TO clog
roll" $lO0, 600 into Texas and LOUISIANA, for
the benefit Of their rivers and harbors; and
the enlightened, patriotic Senators from those
States opposed the measure, on the ground
that it was "corrupting" to their constituents!
In this connection we would ask the attention
Of the anti River and Harbor Improvement
Democrats to letter that has just reached us
from Galveston, addressed by the DEMocRArrc
representative, Mr.. HowARD, to the Journal
Of that place, for the benefit Of his constituents
From this it will be seen that the southwest
ern Democracy are likely to be exercised lit
tie on this subject, as well as those who congre-
gate in the neighborhood of Chicago. Mr.. How
ARD approves the bill which Mr.. BuoHANAN
and the Union denounce, and which the Sena-
tors from Mr.. HowARD's State united with
Mr.. CLEMENS and Mr.. SoULE to defeat. Mr..
HowARD voted for the bill-promises to strug-
gle for additional Improvements for TExAs-
goes for all such appropriations as can be
got-and alleges that the bill Of the last
session was the same in principle with bills
which General JACKSON signed nearly every
year Of his administration. II these are
Mr.. HowARD's views, is it possible that
he will aid in the elevation Of men who are
pledged to oppose, defeat, and if need be ueto
such billa We copy from the letter of Mr..
HowARD SO much as relates to this question of
River and Harbor Improvements, and beg our
DEMocRATI contemporaries to reconcile his
doctrines with those of the worthy Senators
who sacrificed most important bill for the
sake of edging a little into democratic" po-
sition antagonist to Mr.. CLAY and the WHIcs,
and alongside Of Mr.. RHErr and the Abstrac-
tionists:
'My course on the subject of internal improve
ments cannot be mistaken, As it is fortified by my
votes. voted for the late bill which was defeated
in the Senate. 1t contained appropriations for
the Rcd river, Colorado, and Rio Grande, and
also an appropriation of $4,000 for drcdge and
snag- boats for the improvement of our harbors
and the mouths of our rivers. This amount would
have purchased boats sufficient to have decpened
several channels on our coast, which much re-
quire it, well for the removal of bars at the
mouths of our rivers.
"The bill contained no appropriations for the Trim
y, Brazos and Guadalupe, beyond that for the pur-
chase of dredge and drag-boa for our waters gem
orally Ashese rivers had not been surveyed by tho
United States officers, it impossible to get ap
preparations for them; but had surveys ordered
long since, and if in Congress again, shall strug
gle for appropriations for the improvement Of
their navigation. 1t has been recommended by
the Quartsrmaster's Department for the purpose
of transportation, as well on these rivers tho
Colorado, Rio Grande, and Red rivers. II ia
cedcd that the two last material in their char
acter. go for them ALL
sin relation to the general subject, when before
the people previously, took the jackson ground
as to internal Improvements. II 10 known that
during his administration about eleven millions
of dollars were appropriated TO the improvement
of the navigation of our harbors and rivers, and
similar objects. The late bill did not go in prin-
cipe beyond those signed by General jackson nearly
epery year Of his administration.
"You will find an abstract of these appropri-
atoms in note to speech Of mine, delivered
near the close of the last session of Congress. on
the army appropriations, which you will obIige
me by publishing"