Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-29

should be continued to be appropriated from year to year.
what would be- compared the expenditure for the sup
port of foreign commerce II would be ptisnce-a
fraction Of what annually voted for protection and Ia
cilities 10 foreign trade.
have already stated that this bill has its defects There
are items in which would be glad to out Of it, yet
of which be fairly excluded Of utility or importance
As far have been able to consider il the objects proposed
Be improved useful to the trade Of not only one State
but Of many States i3e
or what use is asked are all these harbo the lakes
These lakes by their natural formation, have great nden
tsons nle bays no islands headlands, no shei.
The commerce upon them exposed to storms and Gil
the other pers Of navigation and greater pers
These lakes extraordinary in that respect remember
some twenty years ago. have passed down Lake Erie on
steamboat from Sanduky City, which had been compelled 70
carry passengers from Buffalo to Detroit and thence back
again. who had been taken board for Dunkmk and Ere
The reason was although the weather not 30 bois
ferrous as TO prevent running Of the steamer they could
not safely make landing either Of those points lreme
Der that exposed for twenty hours TO some peril
because there neighbong harbor place refuge
All these harbors are NATIONAL and very necessary
of refuge in stormy weather. though there may pc put
little trade directly connected with some Of them non
orabe Senators remember that Of those VINO nave
been supporting this bill have been more dgspt e ascertain
and be satisfied Of the utility Of these works than they have
II is Of the greatest importance that these appropriations %
made and though there objects Of inferior import
ance embraced in the BILL many others which are eIclod
ed that ground willing TO see the bill voted oow
and those great objects which loudly call Tor the ad o. 'ne
Government left altogether unprovided for. HI .g
Now, wish to my friends the other SIDE o. me
chamber Of what will be the consequences this Dill ials'
and il may fail. s . n, @
Mr. BELL The honorable Senator says i certainly will
fail Perhaps il will and be certainly is better informed
to its probable fate than will not argue the consnu-
onal question. think that has long been settled BY nu-
presidents and by many Of uninterrupted Pac
.ce was member Of the House for many years, and
believe never voted for Of these river and harbor bills
because held the appropriations but be-
cause all the bills that presented had some objects
or items Of appropriation which thought Objectionable
haps as have grown older, some Senators may say that
have grown less mindful Of principle. consider that have
grown wiser, and that sensible man now than
then. the hey day Of Gen. Jacksons popularity
and power and during part Of the time was the supporter
q bis administration Then voted against bills which some
times contained appropriation Of half million, sometimes
Of Million and sometimes Of million and half Of dollars;
and though Gen. Jackson approved them, voted against
them on The ground that did not like g Big Sodus and
sLle sodns" and other objects which knew but little
about Of which bad personal knowledge and did
not believe they were any national general importance
objects only cared for by members for the benefit Of the local
expenditure. could never get bill which approved In all
its item of which within my definition Of
national and proper subject object of Government patron
age have learned since to have respect for the opn
ions Of other gentlemen and not quite much confidence IN
my own-to know that member Of this body, or of any
my opinions upon questions Of expediency but de-
fer more to the opinions Of others who had better Of
judging. speak only Of myself and not meaning to affirm
any thing Of Others would say that obstinate adherence
to opinions in opposition to that Of every body else
would in be evidence Of undue conce Of my own in
faibity am not 90 bgoted to do do not impute
any such npopey honorable Senator's when they avow
that they have constitutional and other objections to this bill
But think that if they had lively perception have
Of the necessity Of these appropriations for the great Interior
they would not be CRITICAL they would not be SO over
fined in their process Of arriving conclusion. as to what
particular object or was not constitutional or national
do that Senator ought to waive his
scrups and consent those appropriations which he thinks
have right make, either under the power to regulate
commerce. thewar powell under the postal power any
Senator has constitutional doubts of authority under any
Of these powers to appropriate money to improve the great
channels Of internal communication, which hundreds OF
millions Of internal products transported from place place.
to find profitable and convenient Market while be admits
the authority expend millions for the security and protec-
ton Of foreign ade he is perfectly right in not asserting to
this bill.
Honorable Senators complain that this bill got up by
such combination, putting together Of objects, to
majority Of votes in both Houses Of Congress Upon
that point must say that have not had the slightest know
ledge of any of action in the Senate, OF
sulaion between MEMBERS whether of the House Of the
Senate between the members of the House and those Of
the Senate. am ,here has been such combination
in the Senate. .s
Il is common device for gentlemen when they do not
wish commit themselves the principles of measure, to
pick flaw in some Of its Details and raise hue and cry of
unfarness and combination Every body knows that all
Of this kind gotten up upon calculation of
curing the assent Of majority Of MEMBERSHIP objects in
consulted and provided for must be distributed be-
sections; multiplied to do equal justice, if posse
be to ALL Yet it rarely happens that justice done to all
This is when the most honest intentions exist But s
suppose it to be true in fact that this bill and all its predeces
have been gotten up by such management and combna
tons individual members, respect to many OF sitems
consult local rather than general interests and include
objects not otherwise important than to majority of
and this said be the character of this b be
true what is the Of what the temptation to such
proceeding It s that minority Of members in both Houses
Of Congress continue oppose all appropriations Of this
tue dsregang all former presidents standing out on
suona grounds in opposition to the opinions and practice
both parties Others again. who do not profess consitu-
ona difficulty, hold that is nexpediept to make such APP
propraion and that the policy will necessarily lead to extra
vag and corruption This is the prime cause and source
any Of those improper combinations which charged to
exist Let the minority show themselves practical statesmen
Let them yield to the force of and well esab-
shed preceden and be content follow in the footsteps of
most Of the great intellectual lights Of the country let them
unite with the majority in Congress, and with the general
sentiment Of the county, and instead Of warning against these
appropriations, lend their aid in dgesng system Of river
and harbor improvement which will take away the temptation
and put Of the power of individual members Of Congress
to thrust in their petty local objects the exclusion Of others
which Of real magnitude and importance Let them do
this and we shall hear Of these combinations and
corruptons freely charged calupon Southern gen
temen especially those who are vehement In their OPP
position to this BILL to consider whether they not really
responsible for whatever mperfecons may belong to it. Will
they allow weight to the opinions Of such Mad
Monroe Adams Jackson, and Calhoun say nothing
Of the doctrines Of living statesmen During Gen. Jacksons