The republic., 1851-02-15

hs1ong 20 thst class. He was any thing but that.
He went for the substance; he could not be brought
| to the altar % commune with gentlemen VINO hold
principles which formerly divided parties are gone;
others agitate the country. No party ties or
pressure could constrain him TO advocate those
measures which he did not approve. He was
Wing, Free -soiler, or any thing else he did not
belong to any such class as that ne had defined
Laughter
assert that he hostile to the perpetuity Of this
Union. No man had a warmer or more devoted
attachment to il than he had. His motives were
not to be questioned, when his ancestors were two
hundred years in this country. He was for the
Union under the Constitution, and protected by the
Constitution, and he was for no Union which over
rode and broke down State rights; for no Union Of
which internal improvements are part, which is
worse than tho slavery question. His ancestors
went for the union of common welfare and COM
mon defence. Whenever it shall be used by the
majority for purposes OF oppression, he was op-
posed to 1t. No party ties would ever make him
say to the contrary. AS measure calculated
to produce disunion, and array brother against
BROTHER this monstrous system Of bribery and cor
ruphon is more dangerous than any other. Men
who would scorn bribes OF office could be pur
chased by this system. He condemned this sys-
TEN Of Jumping objects Of expenditure BY i'm
proving miserable stream, where craft can
never 60, II an appropriation OF thousand dol
By this system of corruption, the Government
might be continued in corrupt hands forever.
He was not only opposed to appropriations for
rivers, and harbors, and light houses on the
lakes. but he was opposed to them on the seaboard
The bill contained appropriations to the extent Of
million and half Of dollars, and before II should
get out Of the House il would be loaded with addi-
tiona items. Was it right, when the expenditures
exceed the revenue, to contract obligations with
out the means Of meeting thems Is il proper, at
the close of the session, to bring in bill which de-
mands full investigation and research, at the i'm
minent danger of losing the general appropriation
la HA LrI uyhA ot MT a 10 " thA
was to be forced through without an opportunity of
discussing it,
Mr.. FITCH said it seemed that the gentleman
from Louisiana (Mr. MoRsE) thought that the
friends Of this bill intended to force it through with
indecent haste. The gentleman must be Oblivious,
or he would not have indulged in such course of
remarks. This bill was reported during the first
session Of the present Congress; and if the gentle
man is not familiar with its details, having
tire year in which to become acquainted with them,
who is to blame? The friends Of the bill had given
notice time after time, and week after week, that
they would make the attempt to call 1t up II he
did not choose to square his professions by those
who opposed to the bill, they may construct their
political bedstead to suit themselves; he not to
be cut off because he was too long, or stretched out
because he was too short. He then briefly alluded
to the acts and opinions of eminent men, (Madi-
son, jefferson, jackson, and Polk,) whose names
had been dragged into the discussion, with refer
ence to the subject now under consideration; and
he referred to what was said yesterday by Mr..
McLANE, who answered the question Of Mr..
HOLMES, !" What is Democracy" by saying
that, in 1874, it was Polk and Dallas" and,
in lS4S, "Cass and Butler" As to the answer,
if the gentleman from Maryland meant that these
were catchwords, and the Democratic party went
into tho contest with them, he was perfectly COR
rect; but If it was intended that the Democratic
party went for men, and not for principles,
it was wide remove from the truth. The Wings
appended to their hooks, as gudgcon bats, F" Zip
and Ty,'' and "Rough and Ready - and he asked
now whether the Wings know what their princi-
Tbo~x ,,,,I ,cko H. I-,y
and "Silver Grays," with principles as wide apart
as the poles. Who the Simon Pures3 Then,
it became not any one of them to ask what De-
mocracy is. They must pluck the beam out of
their own eyes before they discover the mote in
their brothers..
This bill is one of character which contem-
plates benefit to the whole country, and should be
sustained by men OF all parties; and the only won-
Of the House could denounce those who support it
as dcscrters from their political party. He then
read from the journal of the Senate the names of
Democratic members of that body who voted for
the River and Harbor bill, and said that he wanted
no better hackers.
Mr.. GORMAN said that Senator Dix introduced
thirtytw different bills for river and harbor inn
provements, and the vote read by his colleague was
taken on one of them only. Ifthe chairman of the
Committee on Commerce would introduce sepa-
rate bills here he (Mr. g. would vote for some Of
them.
Mr.. FITCH Whether the bills were reported
separately or altogether the principle was sill the
same. 1t was the difference between "tweedle
dun and tweededee."
Mr. McLANE said that there were no such bills
reported There was the strongest possible mis-
apprehension of the Journal The vote was on the
River and Harbor bills.
MIR. FITCH. so suppose.
Mr.. GORMAN. know that Mr.. Dix introduced
thirty-t two different bills.
Mr.. McLANE. That is the vote on the River
and Harbor bill; and the items in it constitute
three fourths Of those in the bill now before the
committee.
Mr.. FITCH resumed his remarks and said that
the Democratic members Of the Indiana State Con.
vention adopted resolution in favor of reasonable
expenditures for rivers and harbors. He gave rea-
sons why western members should support the bill
The West have no splendid navy yards. nor mints,
nor magnificent custom. houses, &c. They should
not be despoiled Of their rights. II we submit, he
said to this sPoliation, we not only deserve to be
robbed, but to stand aside, while section bet
ter united claims the lions share, and to be taunt-
ed with cowardly weakness, which division ever be-
gets.
Mr.. SPALDING proceeded to show that this sys-
tenn commenced with the organization of the Gov
ernment, and been continued to the present time,
under all the Presidents. He contended that Con-
gress has the power, under the Constitution, and
will continue to exercise it for the benefit of the
country This was not party measure, although,
it was true, Issues had been made upon it. Instead
OF destroying the Union, as the gentleman from
Louisiana Mr. MoRsE) apprehended, it was cal
culated to strengthen and pcrpetuate the Union
He was opposed to internal improvements by the
General Government in States, local in their char
acter, though he would vote for improvements in
States which would benefit the country at large
He maintained, in conclusion, that great advan
tage would accrue to the country by making
an annual appropriation Of three millions of dollars
for ten years.
Mr.. JONES, at twenty minutes to four o'clock,
suggested that the committee take recess until
seven o'clock, in order to give gentlemen an op
portunity of expressing their views the subject
under consideration.
The committee then took recess until seven
o'clock, p. m.
EVENING ESsIoN.
THE PLEDGE, AND THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
The CHAIRMAN Of the Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Union called to order at half
past seven o'clock. There were few members pre-
sent.
The question stated as being on the River
and Harbor bill.
Mr.. CLINGMAS was entitled to the floor, but he
did not speak, being absent in consequence Of in
| disposition.