The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-18

on the ground that il The former the State iise 10
competent To improve them, without any ohei ae'on 'na
s own and IN The latter case that two States Interested
may with the sanction OF Congress en- o. iso
ton for their Improvement put mar ls 81 ~, nnr
more Than 40 States cannot be impfo ed by JOINT aco
AZ there are no obtain II under Inc CONSTITUTIONS
and mus, be improved by the general government Is oo
yous In this rule has relation 10 The size or Importance
III The liver but TO political considerations wholly indie
pendent of lis magnitude or value places IN the same
category the Connecticut and me MISSISSIPPI "hhe ~
xalndes other rivers vastly exceeding the former in
every utliaran point of view, OF which among
The greatest of our commercial arteries Without pur-
suing this view, however, | will content myself with
king that the error of this construction
me be this: that assumes that the Improvement OF
must take place. and that where cannot be ei
ected by the States themselves, IL may and must be
done by the United States 1t strikes that such
view is ueconcabe with the fundamental principles
of our government II woald make the general govern
ment kind OF residuary legaee, having reversonary
right to all power not otherwise disposed Of Inc re-
verse; take it, is the true and settled dacrne--that to
the States and the people belong all the powers no,
there however necessary il may be, Il cannot De as
sumed by Congress- Were there no authority 10 declare
could not be done. whatever pressing emergency mighl
arise. till the necessary authority were granted re-
peat. that il is some time since looked over 'hs DOC
ument with care and therefore only Stale the gen.
eral impression il left upon my mind
Now sir the honorable senator from South Carolina
Mr.. BuTLEsl has referred, rather Iumpnanuy,
suppose that their faithful observance would
prevent those Of us who acknowledge Their obligations
for one see neither difficulty in the case nor inconsis
tency in the course. This resolution disayowng the
right to establish general system OF internal improve
men,sor that is the doctrine repoved-was first pre-
scented TO the democratic party by that able and ncorup
BILE statesman, Sllas Wright, whose memory is embalmed
in the heart Of every true democrat Well SIR he, It's &C
knowledged father held at the time he urged it, and con-
nued to hold till his lamened dealh the same opinions
upon this subject which sanctioned by the dem
for certain national objects Can doub, upon the
mind of any tary disposed respecting the construc-
ton he put upon his own declaration What he meant
and what the democratic party mean to repudate IS the
power to spread great system OF public works through
the whole country embracing roads, canals rivers, and
harbors, and ponds too for aught know-a system by
which the Union to be covered with roads and canals
as by network, and whose consequences, as well
financially, in the expenditures it would en-
tail, morally and politically, by The corruptions 1t
| would lead to. no seriously contemplate without
alarm Why. sir, fact which has just been stated by
an honorable member, Mr. DowEsl that at the time OF
the May sville veto, there propositions before
m,tees of Congress for lines OF roads to the OF
Sl05 900 900, understood him. for have not time 10
refer to the documents, places in striking light the
dangers exposed 10, and from which escaped
by the frmDess and wisdom Of Andrew Jackson; and
the adherence OF the democratic party to the principles
of this great act, We are yet safe from this peril They
taken roads and canals from the grasp OF the gene
raj government and all the rivers except few, which
be considered national in their character by the
contributions they furnish 10 the commerce OF the coun
| try. great system OF internal improvements is ex-
poded, and the powers of the government confined
within their legitimate boundaes-,he right to regulate
commerce. and 10 improve natural reservoirs ar4 some
of the principal natural avenues OF communication.
Look, sir at the votes IN the Senate in lSi7 the last
bill upon this subject passed, and bat year before
the meeting of the Baltimore Convention. You will find
that test vote, announced by the mover, {Mr.
BagbyD to strike out the OF $l36,OO0 for the i'm
provement Of the Ohio river below the alls there
80 nays and but yeas. My name recorded among the
former; and far greater than mine is there, too
the name OF Calhoun.
With respec, 10 haIbor improvements upon the great
lakes in which my constituents feel deep interest
|
the exercise OF power essential to the prosperity OF the
county, and necessary TO prevent podga waste OF hui
man life When first removed TO that region there
but natural harbor free from bar between the mouth
of the Detroit and Black Rock the whole extent OF
this great defect 10 be remeded a subject of
inquiry for almost every day demonstrated both
the danger and the difficulty OF The navigation have
never been exposed to peril than at Cleveland,
where was driven ashore. and narrowly escaped with
my lie, the mouth OF The river being entirely closed AT
length the plan OF building piers was suggested and
adopted, by which the current OF the rivers being
fined within linits they thus enabled,
when high, to sweep away the bars and create and
preserve navigable channels Experience in
aid oil the system, and II IS now found eectua for its OBJ
Ject IL must be recolected that storms violently
and suddenly upon those grea, fresh water and
there is not sea room sailors say to work vessel off,
she must often perish, with and crew. unless there
is harbor in which she take refuge and these
circumstances render greater number OF ports necessary
than would otherwise be required But as is, and with
all the improvements which have taken place. the stas.
lies of the lake for 1850 exhibit lament
able loss OF life and property, as the following abstract
will show:
/ Loss of lf, s95
/ Loss Of property S55s.0W
Number Of vessels lost 80
The value OF the property and number OF persons
ming this risk are stated as follows:
Value Of the commerce Slsl, 0o0.0o0
Passengers 3jo,000
American tonnage 10000
Here, SIR is exhibit OF danger great enough to
awaken the solcude and command the active
4 AZ
der principle which enables the government to dis.
charge sacred duty dear TO all my constituents, and
should a,hessy discharge my obligations 10 them, land
those obligations are many and grealo II did not use
all my efforts to have this trust fulfilled by the general
government, so Tar as can consistently with the
sttuon and the true principles OF sound legislation
Harbors OF commerce and OF refuge are not only neces
but harbors also indispensable for the purposes
of war fact that occurred IN 1913 should teach
be provident in The feet commanded by Com
modore Perry, which gained the most glorious naval bat
lie recorded in annals constructed al Erie,
Penasy Al that time the waters Of the lake wefe
low and the bar al the mouth OF the habor could not be
passed without lighting the vessels. The British fleet
was of the shore, bockadng which could not go
out while the enemy there, because the guns could
not be mounted they would have occasoned too grea
draught OF water. violent storm arose. which
PEELED the hostile squadron to leave the coast, and, by
great energy activity Commodore Perry enabled
to get his vessels the bar, and 10 embark his guns
and follow the enemy, and thus gain that splendid VIC
with Spartan brevity, when he ENEMY, AND
THEY WERE OURS.
Anxously did look out for tdings OF the result for
the booming had told that the had gone
and finished and loyiully did open the despatch Of
the gallant commander, il fortune receive
In a,fE ~ ug