Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-03-06
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
CLOSING seen Els.
OEN n Il.
MONDAY. March 3. 1851.
SENATE.
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL,

SENATE.
| MONDAY, March 3, 1851
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL
Mr.. Clay moved that the Senate take up the River
ard Habor bill. He said that it must be obvious to
all that there decided majority of the Senate in
favor fihe bill and he appealed to the and dgni
OF the minority to say whether they would defeat the
bill by resort to the which in their pow
er. He thought such contrary to the spirit
and genius OF our Constitution. He thought the NJ
nority should not resort TO such defeat the
| clearly expressed will Of the majority. IT, however
such was their intention and they would declare it
he would move to lay the bill on the table.
MIR. Hunter hoped the molten would not prevail =
1t well known that this bill could not be passed
without full and proracted debate. The appropra-
ton bills still were 10 be acted upon, and should be ia
ken up and disposed Of There such great i'm
proprety in the opponents of this bill resisting pas
sage as was supposed by the Senator from Kentucky
The bill was forced upon them, and they called
upon to vote for without time tor consideration and
without the privilege OF amendment. 1t had been
forced upon them at the great hazard of defeating
| the appropriation bills The Finance Committee had
done its duty every thing that possible expedite
the public measures they had done and, if these
defeated and extra session required
the responsibility would be the friends of the Ad-
minstraton.
Mr. Foote had repeatedly reminded the Senate of the
great danger OF pressing this bill; not only the
appropriation bills to be acted upon but there were
three important treaties with foreign governments,
which, unless ratified at this session, would become
utilities. He justified at length the opponents of the
bill in resisting its passage by every means He was
opposed to nasty legisation its tendency corrupt
and couuptlng.
Mr. Pearce urged that action should be had on this
bill, and the appropriation bills would be reached in
time to leeisate upon Them If however this bill was
not to be disposed Of and the appropriation bills should
be postponed till too late to consider them, he would
60 with the friends OF the River and Harbor bill TO et
ecits passage.
Messrs. Rusk and Gwn continued the debate
Mr.. Turney thought that If the friends OF the bill in
tended to nlmidae its enemies, by keeping it in front
| OF the appropriation bills, they would he mistaken.
Mr. Bradbury stated that the friends of the bill had
fully debated it, and iii; were taken up, he would
press his views upon it.
The question then put, and the bill was taken up
yeas 80, nays 25-as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Atchison. Badger, Baldwin, Bell,
BorIand Bright, Cass, Chase, Clay Cooper Davis OF
Massachusetts,, Dickinson, Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge
OF Iowa, Ewing, Fech, Greene, Jones, Mangum, Mil
Ter, Pratt, Seward, Shields, Smith, Spruance, Under
wood Upham, Wales, Walker and Whitcomb-5O
NAYs-Messrs. Berrien, Bradbury, Butler, Clarke,
Clemens, Davis of Mississippi, Dawson, Downs Foote,
Gwin, Hale, Hamln, Houston, Hunter, King, Mason,
Morton, Norris, Pearce. Rhet, Rusk Soule Sturgeon,
Turney and Yuee-25.
Several motions to amend the bill having failed,
Mr.. Berrien said that was now evident that no APP
preparation in the bill, matter how improper, would
be stricken OUT nothing however proper proposed
to be inserted would be allowed. However Justice to
his constituents required that he should submit an
amendment approprlatng $500U0 tor the imp royement
of the Savannah river
After debate, the amendment reected-yeas IL,
nays 3.
MIR. Bradbury moved. to amend the bill by adding
thereto provision that these appropriations shall only
be carried into effect when there shall be surplus in
the treasury after paying all other appropriat ons
He addressed The Senate at length the subject of
the public debt and the want OF provision for its paw
ment. Also upon the justice of forcing the bill upon
the minority without any amendment at this late hour
Mr.. Hunter move ed that the bill DO laid on the table
for the purpose OF taking up the Civil and Diplomatic
The question taken, and the Senate refused to
lay the bill on the table-yeas 23,snays 80.
Mr.. Foote said that unless somebody would give him
positive assurance that the President would convene
feel to be his duty 10 move to postpone this bill that
there might be Executive session. for the purpose of
ratifying Ihree treaties. He made the motion.
The question was taken, and the Senate-yeas 49,
nays 32-refused to postpone the bill.
The question was then taken the amendment of
Mr.. Bradbury. and it was rejeced-yeas 81, nays go
MIR. Cass renewed the amendment in a modified form;
but withdrew 1t temporarily.
Mr.. Rusk asked the unanimous consent of the Senate
to take up the Postage bill, to concur in the amend
ments.
Mr.. Clay and others objected
Mr.. Hale asked the unanimous consent Of the Sc
nate to lay aside this bill TO enable him present
tain resolutions adopted in New Hampshire sustaining
the recent Compromise
Objection was made
Mr.. Dawson moved to amend the bill by providing
that all the appropriations Tor the improvements OF NV
ers above Underwater shall be drawn by the President
from the sums of money deposited by the United States
in the several States respectively where the appropra
ton is to be expended.
MIR. Douglas moved to strike out the words "above
Underwater" He knew no difference between rivers
above or below tide-wa He knew no difference be-
tween fresh water and salt wacrn this respect Though
he intended to vote against the whole bill, he preferred
these amendments to be put in proper shape.
Mr.. Dawson accepted the amendment. His reason
for putting these words in was, that he thought the
stitutionat objections OF some gentlemen went above
tide water.
The amendment was then reiected-yeas Is, nays 80.
Mr. Bradbury renewed the amendment temporarily
Withdrawn by Mr.. Cass:
"And it is hereby expressly provided that the appo-
pratons in this bill contained, and all other appropria
tions made by this Congress shall take effect upon and
authorize the expenditure of only such surplus excess
as shall remain in the treasury of the United States, at
ter deduciing the expenditures OF the Government ae
cording to appropriations which have been by existing
laws, or which shall be made by Congress from the
| public revenues"
| Mr.. Ewing raised the point Of order, whether this
amendment was in order, 1t being the in substance
as tho one rejected earlier in the day. offered by Mr.
| Bradbury.
After the debate the Chair was Of opinion that the
| question was one to be decided by the Senate. The
| question was then put 10 the Senate, whether the
amendment should be received or not and twas de-
cided in the Acknowledgements 25, nays "a.
| Mr. Ewing considered the amendment as the mort
moeniousy devised plan to effectuay defeat this bill;
He pointed out the mode by which it would operate,
as defeat Of the bill. He considered that this was