The republic., 1851-02-17

i Iowa, Downs, Foote, Twin, nale, Jones, Souie,
/ NAYS.-Alossrs Baldwin, Berrien, Chase, Clarke,
Davis of Massachusetts, Davis Of Mississippi, Daw-
son, Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge Of Wiscensin,
Pearce, Seward. Smith, Turney, Underwood, and
Walker-2l. . a
| And then motion
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
RIVER AND HARBoR BILL
The House met at eleven O'Clock, and went into
Committee Of the Whole on the state of the Union
on the bill making appropriations for rivers and
! hnrbors.
Mr.. BuxL was called to preside over the Com
| mittee
Mr.. FEATHERsTON said that he intended to
induce him to vote against the bill under consider
ation The circumstances under which it was
i thrust on the House were remarkable and unusual
at this late period, when the subject had passed
| from the minds OF the opponents of the measure,
and when there is not adequate time for debera-
| ton, and not time to pass good share OF the
cessary appropriation bills which propose expendi-
lures to the amount Of forty-eight fifty mil
lions Of dollars. There are not three weeks re-
naming of the session, but little more than two,
and within this short space the vexed and exciting
fore the House by the gentleman from Mary
| land (Mr. McLANE) and the friends of the mea-
sure. He asked why this snap judgment on the
bill, after debate Of only two days, while week
for cheap postage. What is the condition of the
treasury at this time, They were told last night
by member of the Committee of Ways and Means
by the Administration ior the next fiscal year
amount to upwards of fifty millions Of dollars, and
nearly that sum will be reported to the House by
the Committee Of Ways and Means in bills of ap
preparations. What Is the amount Of the public
debt? II cannot be estimated at less than one hum
dred millions Of dollars; and yet with appropria-
tions about to be made. between forty five and fifty
AIl~
(Mr. McLANE) and his friends press this bill, max
ing appropriations for work Of internal improve
ments. There were reasons against the system,
apart from its unconstitutionaIty- ground Of
expediency. General Jackson, in 1880, vetoed the
Maysville Road bill, when there was an embarrass
ment of the treasury and large public debt, it be-
ing an improper time to embark in system of in
ternal improvements He appealed TO the Demo-
cratic members, and asked them If they had no
spect for the examples and recommendations of
jackson and Polk in rejecting appropriations for
internal improvements under these circumstances.
He further opposed the bill, because he conceived
the system to be unconstitutional, unjust, iniqui-
tous, and oppressive, and one that ought, to be
scorned by the representatives of free people.
| The system commenced in 1885, pursue it, and, in
the space of twenty years, you will land the Amer
ican Government in national bankruptcy, from
| which time can never relieve it.
| Mr.. CLINGMAN did not rise to make what is
called speech; he intended, however, to notice
one or two topics which had been alluded to in the
running debate, and should be gratiied If the COM
before them, it was conceded, would require alarge
| expenditure of the public money, and the treasu-
| ry it is well known is not overfiowing. There
had been several propositions to change the reve-
nue. lave 10 bring moro money into the treasury;
and he had no doubt that if this bill and certain
others should be passed it might become necessary
to change the existing revenue laws. 1t would be
remembered that the gentleman from Ohio Mr..
| vISroN) introduced a which would
| have increased the duties on imports more than
hundred per cent. 1t was his (Mr. CLiNoMAS's)
/ I. ~cv~IT
he was accused of misrepresenting his constituents
Since that time the Legislature Of North Carolina,
with entire unanmity in one House, and with but
two dissentients in the other, passed resolutions
which sustained the position taken by his colleagues
and himself He said he understood that the friends
OF the Compromise measures desire no agitation,
and he had no disposition to disturb them but he
would state this-by the existing law slavery is ex
cluded from the Territories, and northern men
maintain that slaves excluded and this was
| the opinion Of large portion Of the South. He did
not say, however, that slavery might not go there
| it got into Indiana and Illinois; but that, accord
ing to the intention Of the majority, the South
excluded from the territory acquired from Mexico.
The South have just Ia ground ind Of complaint against
slavehoIding States have actually passed laws
obstructing its execution. He merely wished
| to say that there was nothing in the compromise
his constituents for the benefit of northern ma
nufacturers, which ought now to be able to tako
care Of themselves, after existence of forty
daries Of slavery would be increased. If any man
thought that wall could be built up around the
southern States, he was mistaken; the attempt
might az well be made to dam up the ocean II
the General Government should attempt to check
slavery, either or at any future day, the move
mcnt would result in revolution. there was no
superstitious reverence for the Union in the south
ern Statcs. The people look on the Government as
the work of their own hands, and the apprehension
that il will be changed is SO alarming that they
stand up to its maintenance az it was originally
formed. There has been wholesome change in
| the minds of the southern people. Let them rely
on themselves; let them feel that Providence has
given them power to take care Of themselves, and
that "the price Of liberty is eternal vigilance He
remembered reading of q traveller In South Amer
lea who said that, before he felt the shock OF an
earthquake, he had supposed that the earth was
firm. solid body; He thought that the southern
people had experienced the first shock OF the earth-
quake, and were determined to keep the Govern
| Inent in the proper track. II, however, the Gov.
ernment does justice, they will never be arrayed
| against it. He maintained that the system OF nm
| iting the powers Of the Government was the only
one on which it could stand. As to parties, his
course would depend on measures. He was willing
70 'ake up the subject Of the tariff, and investigate
~, mere was time He was willing to vote for
specihc duties in some cases, but he was not pre-
pareu 70 enter into the matter blindfod With re-
eaiu 70 the Dill under consideration, ne had no
, constitutional difficulties He looked upon the
abuses.
MIR. TOOMBs examined the system of internal
Improvements IN constitutional argument, and
proceeded to show that there were no settled pre.
cedcnts for the bill before tho House and pointed
out the difference in views entertained by former
Presidcnts-those who aspired to be republican
though he did not admit their exclusive claim
Mr.. Polk came nearer than any of them to the true
doctrine. He held that in the expenditure of mo.
ney there should be equality, and partiality cx
tended TO section over another. This great
system Of internal improvements was destined to
} swallow up millions Of dollars, and would ult-
mately bankrupt the Government; and he spoke Of
I, 1t in view Of its corrupting tendencies. He was
not prepared TO raise money for any such purpose;
and IL its friends attempted to put this and pro.
position for raising the pecunary means together,
he would strike them Both Admitting that the