The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-06

From the Carroll us.) watchmAn.
The RivsE and H~sSox Ban
Though system OF internal Improvement by the gen
ea government has always been regarded by the demo-
cratic party unconstitutional and mpolitic yet there
are few great national works which the state
matter OF what paTtys willing 70 encourage and support
convenient opportunities to put in all OF petty
amendments additions, &c. which they Judge will be
tolerated and supported BY the friends Of those great
Among ,hs objects which would meet the appreciation
Of the people Of all sections OF the country know OF
The Improvement Of the Mississippi river, being all
must consider IT, work OF great national import. and one
which may be properly considered as coming under that
clause OF the constitution which confers Congress the
power OF regulating between the States But,
Judging from the nose and confusion which the differ
wing .'ogans" manifest, and the exclusive paalty
with which they devote their columns certain hobby
entitled the "rver and harbor bill would reasonably
conjecture that rivers and harbos the only subjects
which the great national legislature took under consdera
ton at the last session The bill reported by the commit
the twelfth hour oil the day. deliberate attempt
TO fraud the government and people,
by pushing il through without that discussion which
should attend the passage OF important bills all legis
a,ve bodies The appropriations enumerated and asked
Tor in the rejected bill lar exceeded those which were
demanded BY the heads OF the departments as necessary
il such be the case. then may be easily OWNED why
demanded such velocity Of passage. Numerous appro
priaons asked for in the bill without any proper
data by which to ascertain the amount necessary Tor
Them should they have been considered practicable
and the committee Iesored to mere guesswork in sub
hitting the different clauses in regard to the amount OF
money demanded for the objects intended 10 be accom-
plished by them. passing ,anay sis OF the bill would
show how deficient in all explanatory reasons for
the different sums asked, and how utterly it sets at
naught the established policy OF the government Look
at the bill, so tar under the estimate Of
department The regular estimate Of that department,
which the Senate acted during the presentation Of
ing been acted on, il was referred to in the report OF
1850 as then presenting the views of the department
The amount thus asked for in the annual report Of the
The amount included in the bill before the ~'''''
Senate IL 2,337,0O0
Being excess beyond the demands Of the de-
And how was this excess created
ls By the addition Of various sums to the several OBJ
ects recommended by the department, which had stated
the amount it needed and to which additions are made
by the action OF the committee their response
bity, varying from $4,000 in to smaller sums
in other but producing aggregate OF 1924 900.
I'd. By increasing the number Of the Objects without
previously consulting the department. Tar the doc
uments show, in any case, and without consulting il al
all IN other important the amount OF $97S,O0
The number of various objects of appropriation esti-
mated Tor and asked BY the department. including dredge
| boats, is Al
The number added by the committee is so
%
An improvement in Florida, left out /
Making the whole number e5
| But nothing can place in more striking light the
dangerous tendency OF this procedure than some OF the
made upon the bill by the CHIEF OF the topo
graphical corps OF engineers
He states that there are three OF the objects of which
he knows nothing
OF one that the precise plan and objects are unknown
but that the amount 2o oO probably adequate for the
fiscal year.
OF another. that the department is not aware OF the
plan authority; but that the amount in the bill $780,,
0o0) adequate to the accomplishment OF much work,
and would do il well.
OF another. that, as question OF harbor improvement
is unknown sull the appropriation 3.O00) Is care
fully preserved.
In another. $4,000 are appropriated for the work,
through the bureau, contemplated at the next session TO
present connected system and regularly dgested
plan &c.
or another that. # the tcork is as formerly contem.
plated Showing how vaguely the matter is left) the
amount 1913 O00) is adequate but that most careful
preliminary examination should be made before any other
work commenced
Oh another that, presuming -whence the presumption
comes is not sated-ths be continuation of former
works, the amount (Sl6 oo0) is sufficient for the year
OF another that the bureau is informed on the sub
ect. The plans and estimates, whatever they may be,
not the result OF operations there Notwithstanding.
the appropriation 0,Oo0) is yet in the bill
Oh another, that the surveys are an essential to any
preliminary measure.
That OF another, no survey has been made since
1880.
The amount OF the wsrk to be thus provided for,
without the shadow OF authority or responsibility, with
out surveys plans estimates and without the least
knowledge OF their true condition, 90 far as we know,
is S4s5, 900.
Such beng to say the least the fraudulent character
OF this celebrated bover the defeat OF which such
general wall has gone through the wing camp--we
think that instead OF censure the democrats OF the SEN
ate richly deserve the laudatons OF the whole country
for breaking up such nQuous scheme OF plumber and
pecnaiion We do hope tina, will see no more dema
gogical essays in praise OF such rotten measure.
However the absence Of any other cause pretext
wherein base their caumnes regarding the course of
the democratic party and it's prominent supporters,
the tools OF the wing party Tor nduging 30
voracousy that peculiar style OF epthet which belongs
to politicians OF that k and which APPLY suits their
tastes in regard the defeat of the river and harbor bill
by the democrats OF the Senate.
But take philosophical view Of this question of in
ternsl improvements by the general government it's un-
consutionality the abuses which would suffer
il made the policyo our government, and reasonable
person Of any party would approve the adoption OF such
policy, unless blinded by interest prompted by insane
party bgotry No rational man deduce the power
right OF the adoption OF the system by Congress from
power be found in that great guide TO our egsa
tors neither expressed implied, TO pass certain acts
that party and those who honestly the fact
and accordingly to be abused calumnlaied and sg
matzed because their vision will not embrace within it's
focus that which has existence except in the fertile
OF mendacous political demagogues composed OF the
odds and ends OF all the factions and parties which have
had evanescent existence since the organization of
the republic, who these latter day have assumed the
name OF whig thereby TO conceal their true character,
and seduce the unwaryi The power TO carry this
be found and ther efore all legislation the
subject belongs to the separate States and 10 the people
Then IL that power is not discovered in the constitution
however popular might be, II ought not TO be assumed
by Congress and every member OF that body must
stretch his conscience when he for such appropra
those embraced in the defeated BILL which calls