Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-22
DEBATE In THE SENATE.
RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
SATURDAY, MARCH l, 1851

SATURDAY, MARCH l, 1851.
Mr. BADGER Mr.. President. move that tb . ssra.e
postpone the previous orders for the purpose Of proceed
ing the consideration of the river and habor bill
Mr. HUNTER. The river and hsrbor bill yaght DOT To
precede the appropriation bill it ID persist "a in must
call for the yeas and nays on that notion
The yeas and nays were ordered
Mr. FOOTE. Mr. President, for days Asa have been
very anxious to bring various matters to the attention Of the
Senate. have made many efforts for that purpose IF the
business the Senate had been conducted IN regular ORDER
should have had fair opportunity to take my turn, but
Senator'S have brought up matters out Of their regular COURSE
and cut Off Without intending to Indicate The ess. hos
t to this measure Isha vote agar shepoposon, con-
cevng it to be wholly irregular, and, under the circumstances
Of the case wholly the civil and diplomatic
appropriation bill ought to be taken up 6rs as it matter
in which the whole nation is rucd trust this psrcu
lar may be thrust up On us go and
pushed forward with such perth city to the neglect Of mat
tors affecting the most vital int rests Of the country SHALL
therefore, against it, ave now resolution which has
been lying upon my table for the last our days. which have
been very anxious oa resolution Of inquiry the in
Of Of the depart neus but although will not
occupy Eve minutes, am permitted offer It. Resou-
ons not called for terdsy morning, allowed to be
offered and during the 'hoie day was in hopes Of getting
opportunity Of attend ng the matter but in vain Be-
sides that have three important treaties attend in Ex
ecutve session, which, il ratified this session, will be-
come nully. Thes oil important matters, and can
understand why It, is that this be taken up
out Of regular cou and thrust upon to the enede
feat of the important legislation Of the country.
Mr.. HUNTER. Perhaps it my duty inform the SEN
ate that am auth orized say the opinion Of expert
enced members the House Of Representatives that unless
the civil and dip omatic appropriation bill gets down that
body this morning. there doubt to its passage Il
get that up could 60 through in hour or two
and then into Executive session the business referred to
by my friend from Mississippi Perhaps could better
ccmmodate all parties BY going work Immediately upon the
civil and diplomatic appropriation bill
Mr. RUSK Mr. President, shall vote against the pro-
position take up this bill, not with reference to the bill
ITSELF but because have report to make from the Commit
tee the Post Office and Post Roads, Of post-route bill
Unless get 1t acted to-day it will be lost. will not
occasion any discussion but the other bill will provoke dis
cussion is idle to suppose that we get vote upon it
without great deal of discussion.
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Massachusetts,. apprehend it will de-
pend upon those who oppose the bill whether there will be
much discussion upon it. It is true that is bill Of con-
siderable importance also that have but
of the session remaining and therefore bill be
taken up, shall have little hope Of it's being acted upon
At all 90 ss ss
many riding this hobby that they win break down. So far
as am concerned give notice that am not by any kind
Of duess, to be forced to vote upon the bill without dis
cussion.
MI FOoTE. Mr. President feel bound to say, in ad-
don what the honorable Senators have sad that although
the main features Of that bill proposed such may be
approved by majority Of the body there features in 1t
which, venture say, not satisfactory members Of
the Senate Il 10 certain therefore, that CONTROVERSY long
and extended controversy, will If the peculiar friends
Of the bill upon in its present shape, erroneous as
believe to be in many of its features, they must not expect
it to pass without material notifications.
While up wish 10 make a suggestion to the honorable
gentleman who moved TO take up this BILL which trust will
be acceded to- Let the morning business be disposed Of let
the civil and diplomatic appropriation bill be taken up and
disposed Of let the posroute bill be disposed of; then will
be perfectly willing, for one aid in taking up this bill and
see what we can do to put into proper shape for passage
there be any part Of it to which give assent
Mr.. TURNEY. MI. President, shall vote against this
notion because is Of time. There upon your table
several bills upon their third reading, of which have
been amended rendering it necessary that they should 60
back the House, and of great importance that
have been maured by this body will be lost greatly endan
gered by taking up this bill this particular uncture For
the purpose therefore, Of testing the OF the Senate,
and TO put the whole matter beyond debate upon the motion
to take up the BILL move lay that motion on the table,
Mr. BADGER called for the yeas and nays, they were
ordered, and, being taken, were as follows:
YEAs-Mesrs. Atchison, Borland, Bradbury, Butler,
Clarke, Clemens, Davis, Of Mississippi, Dawson, Downs
Gssn Hale Hamn Hunter King Mason
NAYS-Messrs Badger. Baldwin, Bell, Bright, Cs,s,
Chase Clay. Cooper Davsof Massachusetts Dayton. Dick
Fech Greene Jones' Miller Pearce, Pratt Rantosl seb.
tian, Seward Smith, Underwood, Wales Walker, aud Whit
comb-30
Mr.. BRADBURY. The chairman Of the Committee on
Finance (Mr HUErsR) has informed that If this bill 10
taken up to-day will endanger the passage of the appropa
ton bills. This bill be taken up Monday because if
should pass will not have be returned to the House
II is necessary however, that the other appropriation bills
and the bin is taken up, and by doing defeats the civil
and diplomatic appropriation BILL those who do it will be
sponsibe for that defeat. fl
Mr. BADGER Certainly; every man will have his own
responsibility to bear.
After some further debae the Senate proceeded in Com
mee OF the Whole the consideration of the bill making
propraons for the improvement Of certain habo and rivers
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Massachusetts. am requested by the
Committee on Commerce, which reported this bill, TO say
something in s support but in the present state OF business
and the extreme pressure Of tme do not feel at liberty
into the details of this with any particular expana
ton. If we had time and opportunity should DO with
great pleasure aud give the Senate all the information IN
my power. But can say, generally, that these apPopria
tons spread believe the entire country, and they
amount to about 000 This amoun TO be applied
the harbors the and the lakes, and to the
rivers Of the interiors and msy add, that BY far the great
majority Of them apply to works that have been long since
commenced by the Government and from time to time carried
forward by appropriations Many Of these works now
out Of repair and the country expects them to be put in
proper condition. With these remarks leave the subject TO
the Senate. .ag 4f ar
Mr. CLEMENS move to amend the bill by inserting
after the appropriation for the improvement Of the Illinois and
Tennessee rivers the following proviso:
rsrsded That the said Of $4,000, hereby aRpropr-
ed tor the improvement of the Tennessee river shall oe
eted to the Improvement of d river between the points
OF Chsttanooga, Tennessee, and Decatur, Alabama
Here Is an appropriation in the bill Of $4,000 for the
tennessee nver without specifying where that amounts TO
expended II will be utterly vaueess unless s restrict
eu between Decatur and Chattanooga II be restricted
twill enable the mails to be brought down that river and
VIII De ofsome benefit to West Tennessee North Mississippi,
and North Alabama
M. HAMLIN. 4 suppose il that amendment should be