The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-23

House had adopted resolution suspending The srieen,h
JOINT rule OF the two houses 10 authorize the send
ing the Senate of House bill No 463 10 authorize
regiment o infantry 10 be converted into an additional
regiment OF mounted men.
Mr.. RUSk desire 10 say few words, and will not
consume much OF The time OF the Senate in doing So
do not enter into the constitutional question and the
pies OF some gentlemen in regard TO the power OF tho gen
eral government 10 make internal improvements OF a
national character But will say that is dangerous
power-one that is dangerous 10 the existence OF this
government and TO faiTer legislation than perhaps any
oher power vested in the Congress of the United States
The important bearing that bill for internal improve
mens might exercise upon wha seems to me TO be the
most important OF all political operaonsthe election
OF President oil the United Sisss-is too well known TO
need 10 be advered to now The experience of the past
IA putting in particular localities ior the purpose of com
mandlns votes IS also too well known to need anmad-
version mere II ms money is appropriated, il should be
Try, ana should be under Such rules and regulations as
VIII not be favotsm TO particular sections for any
one State that can furnish larger number of votes,
while another that cannot give many is neglected. i
should be upon some plan TO the object which
proessed to be nended-ihe Improvements OF our rivers
and hafboIs, etc, for the extension OF commerce
Now. sir. IN this bill the entire expenditure OF the
money falls into the hands OF the executive officers OF the
government and you give TO the government in addition
to the immense patronage that they will possess, an i'm
mease power which will enable them to control all the
sections OF The country for sa fact that appropriation
after appropriation has been made for locality. and
has been expended there, and after the lapse of
two or three years il has fallen back into the treasury
Now, under such circumstances it is matter of import
that there should be some division Of responsibility;
and you turn over the appropriations for the different
States 10 the boards of public works that may be in
sponsbihty between The officers Of the government,
and in the next place you throw it into the hands Of per-
sons who, from their local knowledge, must be better
qualified 10 Judge what improvements should be made
man the executive officers who have thousand matters
ot other business TO attend to- hope the amendment
Nj MIR. BoRLAND. There is a view of this matter
which deem Of great Importance to the Senate. Upon
The general principle laid down by the senator from
Texas. tMr RusK,l | agree with him; ! agree with
him in general character OF his remarks But in the
practical operation of hs amendment, cannot agree with
him that il will operate benehcally and properly. II will
exclude some Of the States from the benefit Of this bin
do know how many of the States have these boards
of public works. know that in my own State there is
no such board Our legislature meets but once in two
years, ard it has just adjourned The consequence will
be, if this amendment is adopted ,ha, my State will be
entirely excluded for the next two years from the benefits
OF this bill. a /.
Mr. BERRlEN asked for the reading OF the amend
ment; and II was read oa
The question was then taken upon the amendment by
yeas and nays, and it rejected-yeas 49, nays 3d.
as follows:
yEAs-Messrs Bradbury, cemens, D.yi, of Miss..
sipp Dawson, Dcknson, Foote, Hamlin, Houston. Hun
ter King, Morton, Norris, Rhe Rusk, Souic, Sturgeon,
NaYS-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Baldwin, Bel Ber- \
.sn, Borand Bright Cas Chase Clarke Clay. Davis Of
Ewing e Ass one Ras
Miller Pearce Pratt, Ranou Sebastian, Seward Shields
smith, sprnanee Underwood. Upham, Wales, and Whit
Mr.. BRADBURY. have the following amendment
which ! desire TO ofer- TO come in at the end OF the
bill
"And it is hereby expressly provided that the appropra-
thorizs the expenditure OF only surplus
shall remain the treasury OF the United States do
appropriations that shall be made by Con.
gress iom The public revenues"
Mr. B. said desire TO present distinct ISSUE whether
we are 10 commence career OF running ia debt for inn
uroy IL O | an ans Hunent
which authorizes the expenditure OF any surplus of money
that have may have, and 10 withhold the appro-
pratons until treasury shall be in such situation
that we shall have something to expend. want that
distinct issue to be made and wan, that TO go out 10 the
country issue, whether we will run in debt for
penses OF this kind, and mortgage the farms OF the
try for mprov OF this character wish people to
understand what is proposed that instead OF appropria
ting from an overiowng treasury moneys which we
have proposed by this bill that shall
mence system OF borrowing There are but three re-
souces-increase OF duties, direct taxation, borrow
ing. The duties now imposed upon large number Of
articles large that II IS doubtful whether we shall
increase the by increasing the duties Certain
il is we undertake TO the duties, with the view
OF keeping pace with the expenses which will be in
yolved IN the system 10 be commenced by this bill for
eign must sink under the burden. IL will be
in vain 10 attempt, by duties upon imports, TO obtain
revenue adequate meet the wants OF the treasury if the
system proposed by tins bill be commenced. We then
must meet the of the treasury by direct taxation,
or the other mode which | have mentioned Are the
friends OF this bill prepared to say that they willing
10 impose direct taxation the people of this country
apprehend not Then IL comes down TO this, that
are 10 commence a system of borrowing which to lay
the foundation OF great public debt When
nay il If we commence IL This is a time of peace,
when there should be no unusual expenditure; il in a
time prosperity throughout the country. Most OF the
interests of the country at the present time -four
shng and healthy condition. and il expenditure cannot
such time be reduced to come within
nues, pray tell me when pay such debt If we
caanot this tne' Will any friend OF the bill point
a time when may expect that revenues will ex-
ceed our expendituresi Will il be next yeari What
warrant have for saying that the revenues will be
greater then than or that the expenditures will be
less Will il be the year following II is looking for
ward to indefinite period for payment II u in fact
commencing the foundation OF great public debt, never
to be paid This is what is proposed
We are this time, at the close OF the session,
called upon enter upon new career. We are called
upon TO commence the foundation of great national
debt-a debt TO be paid and which il ID not
emplacd will ever be paid. | want the country to un.
destand that this is ordinary measure-tha this is
scheme 10 appropriate surplus the treasury, but
il i. TO lay the foundation of great national deba debt
for which the property Of the country is 10 be taxed
willing make this issue, and 20 and inquire
of the farmers the immediate vicinity of these improve
menls If they willing, if they desire their representa-
ves to mortgage their property for works OF the doubtful
character of which considerable portion OF the items Of
this bill composed wish to see If they desire that
we shall enter upon this career, which will involve
in debt that will swell TO magnitude equal to that
which Expresses the laborng classes OF England IT
proposed to begin tins system for It is idle TO tak
of time for payment, when, in time OF prosperity ana
peace, greatly swell expenditure beyona our
income. - !,
The amendment which | propose will authorize tho
expenditure this year. next year. or the ioiowng year.
whenever we have anything to apaopr,aie ana pro,
.luII