The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-20
and n accordance with them shall give my vote on

and in aecordsnce with them shall give my vote OF
this occasion.
from Mssissippi Mr. DAvfsl which characterized the
power claimed for this government over works OF this
hs ssnsor from Ohio, MIR EwINo he said thai sena
,or had succeeded at last IN locating this vagran pow
er am disposed 10 delract from the credit which
may he awarded 10 any senator Bat, with all respect
Tor the senator from Ohlo (and have great respect of
him. cannot agree that this belongs 10 him. that
location OF this power has been made now 10 the br~t
time. So Tar as am informed IL has always been main
y and substantially located IN the clause OF the eonsu
lion, 80 regulate commerce" But, TO go no further
back than is47, may assert with confidence that Il
there located and fixed upon foundation mmoveable by
the late llustrous senator IRON South Carolina, Mr.
CALHOUN in his celebrated report upon the memorial Of
the Memphis Convention There have always consid-
cred its locaon" be conceded, and to be and there
feel sure il will stand, until hand strong that
OF the giant who placed it there shall remove the facts
and arguments which composed It's adamaniine iounda
ton.
MIR. DAVIS, of Mississippi | am sorry my friend
from Arkansas should have found so much objection TO
my remarks. As stated to him, | will repeat that
have no wish to charge him with want OF democracy, or
10 read him out OF the democratic party | assume
such prerogatves | will detan the Senate by fol-
lowing through all the remarks of the from Ar
kansas, but will conhne myself TO the last point
The senator quotes the authority OF Mr. Calhoun. He
quotes II in van-que in vain-ior such bill this
Though that distinguished statesman entertained opin
IONS more attudlnous than my upon this particular
subject although never adopted his idea of inland
and the consequences OF it, yet be went 10 the
extent OF approving such bill as ths-never Nor, SIR
do think The power TO make such Improvements has been
located yet know how often il has been attempted TO
refer il to the grant of power to regulate commerce
What is il to regulate commerce. Is II 70 furnish me
means of commerce. If TO improve rivers, II 10 make
canals and roads, be to regulate commerce. you miaht
with greater propriety say that you VIII hnd ships,
wagons and rail cars part OF the power To regulate
commerce To regulate is to make rules not to furnish
the means of II was yagrant power located
sometimes place and sometimes IN another-for-
merly upon the expression OF general welfare recently
commerce,
course between States--somemes confined TO the army
power-sometimes to the power OF maintaining navy
wandering in every direction, located nowhere. The
gentleman mas not found located He cannot locate IT.
because there is no ground upon which il can stand: He
may attempt to place it here or there; II will stand no.
where | referred more payfuy than seriously 10 the
remark of the senator from Ohio, which he informed me
argument designed TO locate the power, but
assuming it intended to show that the inherited pre-
ludces of our countrymen had led them to deny the
power of men who have grown up under con-
stuton of specific grants and whose fathers gave them
standard to measure the power OF the government, he
supposes to have inherited preudices against certain
power from their insular ancestors. IL to that was
replying did not believe the senator from Ohio enter
tanned the idea that he was proving the existence OF the
power. could not do because he actually interrupt
ed me to say that he addressing himself 10 those
who admitted the power and not 10 those who denied
It, The senator was misak ten in my argument
Mr.. HUNTER. 1t must be obvious that this bill will
lead to great deal discussion before 1t be pass
ed rise 10 ask the Senate, by general con-
sent, to lay aside this bill and take up the civil and dpo
are concluded we can again take up this bill and go
with it. The civil and diplomatic appropriation bill
ought to be passed TO night,
Mr.. FOOTE. If there is motion Of that kind, have
not word to say. know II will be hopeless to move
to lay upon the table.
Mr.. CLAY objected.
Mr. FOOTE Then will make a motion granted by
the rule about TO read The foundation of the
motion Is this rule:
"On motion made and seconded to shut the doors Of
the senate on the OF any business which may in
"a o. me nres The Prpst
shall direct the gallery to be cleared and during the discus
sion OF such motion the doors shall remain shut"
Now, sir, move-and know shall be seconded
that the doors OF the Senate be closed for the purpose of
going into the discussion OF business which my opinion
requires secrecyto wit, three treaties and during the
discussion OF this motion wish the doors to remain shut
am seconded by the from Georgia me-
tNr. BERRIEN, and therefore insist upon this motion.
The PRESIDENT. Does the senator state that he has
communication 10 make TO the Senate which requires
Mr.. 'FooTE |, is for the purpose of di.posing of
business.
The PRESIDENT That is a different question.
Nr. FOOTE This is the rule
On motion made and seconded shut the doors Of the
Senate the discussion OF business which IN the
opinion OF membe require secrecy. The pteslden, shall
OF such motion The doors shal remain shut
Now. sir there is business which in my opinion re-
quires secrecy, and which wish 10 have considered by
The PRESIDENT. The Chair is of opinion that the
motion is not in order unless IL is privileged question
Mr.. hAMLiN. move 10 amend The bill by striking
out, from the i4sth 10 the l5oth line, the following
And for the improvement OF the Illinois and Tennessee
rivers, $50, 900 each"
Mr.. BELL The honorable senator said TO day that
he intended 10 move TO strike out the appropriation for
The Tennessee because there had been no survey OF
that river Now, does the meanl inquire with
candorto move to strike out the appropriation for the
Mississippi riveri And il he does not, is he ready 10
state that there has been survey of that river
Or does he suppose that it will be surveyed or that
II - necessary that IT should be- SO with the river
Ohio. ! will not conhne myself 10 the Mississippi river
Has that ever been surveyed mention this in order
TO show the grounds upon which these motions and these
arguments addressed-no think, TO the enlightened
understanding OF the country in regard to the character
OF this measure wish to state again, IN this
ion that The rlver Tennessee only little II al all infe
nor, both in the volume of and in the length of it,
10 The Ohio Does the senator To sinke out
he ONO riverP The Tennessee drains three States
Tennessee Alabama, and Kentucky.
Mr.. HAMLlN. II the senator will allow me a word
desire TO test the Senate upon this proposition whether
they VIII retain the items in this bill for which either
no surveys or estimates have been made This Is one
oil them When get the OF the Senate upon this
amendment, II II shall be adverse 10 the notion have
no other motion 10 make because IL is only TO test the
sense OF the Senate II the Senate shall strike out the
Senate Will understand whaother motions shall make
Mr. FOOTE ! perfectly concur in the views stated
BY the senator who has just ceased address the Senate
think that these estimates necessary; and, in add
non 10 them beg leave to state that. my opinion the
tennessee always was very respectable stream but
ior certain reasons, well known 10 those who have lived
upon The hanks OF that river have, and those who
are familiar with the geography OF the Tennessee river
ano the country adjoining IT., your colleague mir
Sa"hssJ ala not recognise II exactly az a national
~ isct " - very respectable little inland stream
ne ssauon o. which Is quite important, but exceed
,h a ne ryer, IN ITS progress, although