The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-03-12
The Senate Debate on the River and
HarbOr Bill.

The senate Debate the River and
HarbOr Bill.
We select from condensed report OF the debate,
the opinions of Mr.. Cass and other distinguished
Senators. Gen. Cass refers to the message of Gen.
Jackson in 1884, containing his opinions on the
subject. On turning to that, we find the President
in favor Of improving the harbors and rivers below
ports Of entry. During his administration, appro-
priaons for such works exceeded those of all the
preceding administrations put together. Gen Cass
is in favor of improving the rivers and harbors ot
the West.
The bill was read Joh1 Davis explained the
bill. 1t contained appropriations spread over all
parts OF the country, and amounting to over
$4,000, 900. 1t contained appropriations Tor I'M
provements the coast and lakes and most
OF them applied to works already commenced and
out of repair.
Mr.. Clemens moved an amendment, restricting
appropriation for the improvement OF Tennessee
River.
M, Fo0te advocated the amendment. 1t i'm
proved the nationality OF the bill
M. Clemens said money might as well be thrown
into the river to apply it to the removal OF the
Muscle Shoals.
Mesrs. Foote and Bell continued the debate on
Muscle Shoals.
Mr.. Bright said there were now in the bill seve-
raj appropriations for works of national charac-
ter but whose object was to enhance the value OF
private property-unless these stricken out
he would not vote ior the Dill. IL any apprOpTld-
tion in it for improving Tennessee, Arkansas
and Illinois Rivers, however much he might feel
disposed to vote for such improvements, still there
principle which would govern his vote.
There estimate for survey OF many OF the
items on the bill and unless the bill narrowed
down to national work and confined to such esti-
mates as had been sent in, he would move to lay it
on the table.
Mr HamAn said if any bills were lost for want
of time, responsibility would not be on the Senate.
t1rtag ,catar rypr, gla tn boon
the appropriation bills from the Senate till the last
moments of the session. The Civil and Diplomatic
Bill reached the Senate day or two ago. The
Navy Bill in the House yet, and the Army Bill
just laid the table. He was in the minority
the committee on this bill. He had tried to have
II amended in committee but failed. The bill IN
its present shape had Objectionable features which,
if not changed he would be compelled to vote
against the bill 1t appropriated nearly 81, 100000,
of which S709,00 was for the Atlantic coast 1t
contained eightye items, twenty-nine OF which
for works, many OF which were never
surveyed and for which no estimates were fur
nished nor appropriations asked by Government
He would not vote for the bill if these were
tanned in it. He would at proper time, move to
strike out the appropriations for Tennessee Illinois
and Arkansas and Rio Grande Rivers.
Mr., Clay said there we're different ways to de-
feat the bill-to vote it down, or to amend il
to make it Objectionable to its own friends. He
called on all friends OF the bill to stand firm and
with him vote down all amendments. he examined
the question Of nationality in such works. and main
tanned that the improvement OF the great Western
waters was the greatest national work conceivable,
The West il denied more, would insist, and by her
own power will take these improvements.
M Butler supposed the bill was to pass, and
Mr.. Clay aware of it, by count or some other
means. He asked what had been done for the
valley of the Mssissippi-answered Everything.
The Nile was worshpped god, because OF the
fertility it gave the soil The Mississippi itself
was an advantage to the States upon it. There
4 Il. al. lioI
upon to vote land by millions Of acres to the States,
for railroads and canals. These States and the
Mississippi valley had received the whole bulk OF
the public lands of value. He then at length op-
posed the bill.
Mr.. Douglas would vote for the bill if its ap.
prations were reduced to those works for which
estimates had been furnished by the Department,
r,d the Improvements OF the Ohio and its natural
tributaries. There should be responsibility
for the appropriations. The Administration asked
for little million, and this bill appropriated
over two and halt millions. If these appropria'
tons not stricken from the bill he would vote
against it.
W. B2rland followed, quoting Gen. jackson
and M Calhoun authorities for works OF interim
improvements not one OF which were more natlona
than those in the bill
Mr. Da,ySon detailed the condition of the trea
sury and said that at the end of the present fsca
wear the debt of the United States would be one
hundred millions of dollars. At this late day, an
appropriation bill which had been dead since 1914
is TO be galvanized in an hour. He alluded to the
singular confusion of parties on this question. He
cited several items in the bill as going far beyont
any thing known understood whig doctrine
The democratic party always opposed such appro
priatons. He considered the why this ap
preparation bill was received now with such favor
was that the Presidential campaign was coming on
Mr. Cass, Mr. President, there is not as mucl
noise and confusion on this occasion, as ther
was on another memorable one, Qaughter.) But
hope to be better understood now, than | was then
lie had been challenged by an administration pa
per in this city, TO express his views this sub
iect in terms which implied that these views ha
been concealed. He would be fool to attemp
10 conceal his opinions on this subject for six years
He was Secretary of War under Gen. Jackson
and was responsible for all the estimates for in
ternal improvements submitted to Congress durin
that lime and in the session of 1916 and lS4l
he had voted for the River and Harbor bill. II
did not attend the Chicago Convention, and thi
was considered another evidence OF concea
ment. He was asked to go TO the Convention
and nothing else. He did not go, and that wa
all He was not asked for his opinions, and
did not give them. The reason he did not go
Chicago was that he considered it whg schen
to break down Polk and his administration. A
to the charge of |" noise and confusion" there ws
not one word of truth in it. As to his views Q
this subject they were stated in the message
Gen. Jackson in 1884. He was opposed to roat
y and canals Improvements of harbors was ma
Ter within the discretion of the Lsgislature-ar
no rivers ought 10 be improved above port
lie commented upon Mr.. Calhoun's poi
cy and pointed out its errors. He stood now,
he always had done, on the Baltimore Patforl
1t was well known that those resolutions were pr
pared by Silas Wright-and yet Sias Wright hr
voted repeatedly for the River and Harhor bi
lie would vote for reducing the appropriations
the bill to the estimates furnished by the depaf
ments, and for such works as had been survey
and recommended.
The bill was taken up--but all further deba
at the time cut off by the arrival OF the ia
bath.
1t was now II o'clock. Mr.. Cass said he wou
move to adourn--i was not proper to sit longer
il was the Sabbath,
Mr.. Bel asked, d" How do you know! p"
Mr.. Cass replied " How do | know!" Ill
do | know that yesterday yesterday, and
morrow wili be tomorrow. You will know it
and by. tIaughter,l | ask for the yeas and nay
Mr.. Clemens" Ii it is the Sabbath you ca
vote" Laughter
The Senate then, at ten mnntes past IL,
yeas %, nays 25, adjourned.
lTALY.-The revolutionary spirit in Italy is
no means suppressed Late letters from that gu
ter state that the famous Mazzinian Commit
,. continues to display much activity. It is said t
the largest amount of subscriptions in aid of
revolutionary cause, has been collected at Gen
1t is added that Piedmont has supplied 627,
lire the Roman States, $50 ,722 lire; the Ki
dom of the Two SiCilies, ,3il lire Lomba
and Venice, sig, ,364 lire and the minor Ial
States, 29l ,5ll lire. The headquarters of the
lian movement is IN London.