Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-22

principles upon which we Democrats stand to introduce il
into this BILL Thus instructed by those who must know the
geography Of he State feel bound 10 cooperate with those
who desire TO strike out from this bill and in doing
wish to include of other rivers that are not more
ably circumstanced than that stream.
MIR. UNDERWOOD. rise to make few remarks upon
the WORD : estimate believe in Congressional sense
there are two sorts of estimates One of them is the est
mate which department makes as 10 the amount of money
can expend before the session of Congress the other
Is an estimate OF the entire of thing which to be
done. NOW, should like to know from my friend from
Maine IN which Of these senses he uses the word Does he
want an estimate OIL the amount of money which the depart
ment can conveniently expend before meet again does
ne want an estimate of the entire cost of the thing We
nave nad sumo curious matters anspng heretofore in
gaa 20 !nese estimates We have bad estimates applicable
70 my friends section of the country. We have had et
mates about And we have had estimates of
the hst character 10 the that department could
exPend. beginning perhaps with $4,000, and going on
amer $780, OO0 and hundreds of thousands after
nuao,eds o. thousands until custom-house, originally es
mated, in the latter sense, $780, OOO has cost nearly
million. know good deal about these "es,mates" as
they are called and in their application to that class Of sub
lecs know they are not worth the cracking of my finger
your estimate 70 nothing Your estimate Of the original
Of building is nothing. You overgo it. The estimate Of
what you can expend year after year with convenience the
department Is worth nothing, because constitutes no imi-
taton upon your expenditure
Now, TO talk about estimates for these Western rivers
perhaps OF all things in this world the most useless An es
innate, in the latter sense Of the term as have explained il
as to what an Improvement in the Mississippi river clean
ing out the snag will costa work which is continue as
long AZ there are banks upon that producing timber
large enough to constitute snag-who can make it /?
What VIII you estimate the amount Of money which
can be conveniently expended in working that river
What good will td9i II you appropriate hundreds Of mil
lions which cannot be conveniently expended it will do
harm. II will remain ia the treasury. dollar Of it will
not be taken The only thing that you have regard
in making these appropriations that you do appropriate
such large that their abstraction will operate det
mentally to the public service Of the cunty That is the
only limitation make these remarks because think them
applicable to my friends motion, and his ntimaton that he
intended to to strike out of this bill every thing for
which there had been no estimate.
Mr.. President do not intend enter upon the constu-
tiona argument. system which has been in operation
from the commencement of the Government down to the
present Time beginning with the founders Of the institutions
under which live, and reiterated year after year, if
cannot be regarded settled at this day nothing be-
believe the unsettled state Of public opinion in regard po
tica questions is notorious in the mouths Of the political
individuals of this country. Nothing 10 be settled
for one, act upon precedent great When first
into Congress, remember in the year 1887 upon the
motion Of gentleman standing high in his party, General
Mckay, Of North Carolina, an appropriation put into
bill for the Improvement Of the channel of little river in
that State called New river, and when it was mentioned at
the time my geographical knowledge did extend to the
precise location of the stream got map and hunted up
what New river was and where it located and found it
to be little stream about twenty five thirty miles long
made to improve that little Upon that occasion
contrasted that little North Carolina river with the rivers
upon which live, and the mighty waters Of the West
Sir if had time would go into the whole Of this subject
from the beginning to the end IA.
SEVERAL SENATOR'S. Time enough 60 on.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Time enough for the enemies Of
the BILL but none for its friends. II had the time would
like to into from the beginning the end, and contrast
sentiments and opinions which have prevailed at various
times. would like u address myself to distinguished
Senator that have in my eye, and prove to him that if you
make internal improvements for the purpose Of benetng
foreign commerce, according to argument have heard
from his lips you equally do it to benefit internal
merce-commerce between the Staes-domesic
can find, in my readings of the constitution, difference
between foreign and domestic commerce But have said
will not 60 into this subject It is subject which would
consume days and months, especially if to read be
ally from speeches heretofore delivered has been done.
Mr.. FOOTE. wish simply to state that am inclined
to sustain the proposition before the Senate prnc
pie but that principle will drag other rivers which
not included in this amendment. shall insist others
sharing the fate this amendment shall prevail for
should be perfectly fair in regard this intend to
against every feature of this bill which may deem
harmonious With the constitution, and shall finally vote
against the bill sef yet, in it's progress if the Senate will
permit such appropriations be made, with strict regard
principles of JUSTICE and with view of securing equal
division Of the spos if this system of spos be carried
into execution shall feel to be my duty to for add
onal Of money for the purpose of improving the MIS-
souri, the Tennessee and other rivers If this system is to
60 on, the Western country entitled to larger share than
it has received. No is anxious than to
every important river in the West receive large boun
ty from this Government be constutonally bestowed
upon it. shall be compelled, too to insist that the
valley Of the Mississippi shall have its share. Such is the
which shall pursue and having advertised the Senate
Of the shall pursue, am have vote upon
the amendment
Mr.. DOUGLAS. If the Chairman of the Committee
Commerce mr.. HAMLIS) wishes bring this bill down
the estimates submitted by the departments be would
accomplish his object better by making the motion at once
that might directly to the point not willing
to off branch at time, and the risk of cutting
off that and retaining the Others which not provided
for Ia the estimates. would be doing injustice TO of
the important works in the bill rise for the purpose
Of saying word in this connexion in regard to the Illinois
river. If there is any work which is national in coanexon
with the Mississippi river Il is the Illinois river. The av
cation in the perfect that in the Mississippi 1t
is true there are few obstructons in it. It is better nav
gable stream by than the Ohio 1t remains navigabe
large portion of the year. and be improved at much
less expense than the Others has the character Of nation
atty attached to it, from the fact that it the connecting link
between the great line Of lakes and the Mississippi river, and
between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Gulf of Mexico
is the link which these great and makes
the most Of the Of this Union island Vesseshave
sailed through the Illinois river into the Gulf Of Mexico, and
then into the open for foreign countries within the last
year. Thus there great connecting link between these
inland seas aud II there Is any work that is entirely national
in its character il the Illinois river which forms that con-
nexo trust therefore that il will not be stricken from the
bill II the bill is pass, this large work. which has ssch
strong claims upon Congress national work. ought be
included And here would remark that shall give vote
for purpose Of embarrassing this BILL My people are too
much interested in the improvements to be made for TO
give Of that kind. II is sufficient for me to give the
bill fair chance, and try give proper shape. If
fail in that shall vote against the entire BILL bot will not
L. A. 49, ---L.. Il L..