Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-22

and not vote for the whole or general SYSTEM have
thought much upon this ec but protest against making
this experiment Of appropratng millions OF money this
year. before you have any ineligible plan as TO the manner
in which is to be applied am one Of those who do not
hesitate 10 that would prefer wedevised scheme Of
internal improvement Of general character for the whole
Union, any patchwork Of this kind, but which in effect
the thing Gentlemen will vote for millions for this
river or for that river for this road or that canal How
It that gentlemen will vote millions for this State or that
for local improvements and will say they have objection
10 them, whereas if you ask them If they in favor Of
general appropriation they will tell you they win not vote for
lit But they will 60 f this b which is the very worst
form in which be presented shall against the
whole bill, but will not stand to discuss It.
Messs. DOUGLAS, BORLAND, and DAWSON, here
seveay addressed the Senate When again caught the
thread Of the debate
Mr.. CAsS Mr. President as there not as much noise
and couason here found elsewhere upon certain msne
sbs 0essen The %ge.ssas snis bee
~ on ~ NV vis~s upon ~ eocsuicn. 10 not
tproposs 70 touch The capssipna question involving the
powers Of the General Government In rssnn ths objects
Of this BILL shall content myself with quoting authority
which expresses my sentiments upon the subject better than
could do 1t myself have been challenged by an Admin
sration journal in this city out with my real views
not by the National Inteigencer which is paper conducted
tercs which command the respect and regard Of all who
know them-but repeat have been challenged to disclose
my real views though had heretofore carefully concealed
them till this time. have never concealed them, sr either
by writing my far famed letter TO the Chicago Conven-
venton by declining into the discussion Of po
cal subjects at Cleveland. As to the letter, the comments
upon which constituted the smallest that ever played
by great party but little is necessary to be said was ask
ed to attend the Chicago Convention, and that all
asked. said should not 60, and that all said and
this direct and aconic has been made the foundation
thousand misrepresentation though refusal to attend
meeting the adverse expression OF my opinion upon
great constitutional question. Now, sir did not for
rsf because believed, and yet believe that
many, ALL indeed of those who concerned in this
scheme, got for the purpose Of nurng Mr. Polk and
the Democratic party and secondly because did not think
the assemblage Of politicians from large districts of country
devise plans for extensive improvements of this nature
where there responsibility and where result is too
often obtained by mutual arrangement and bargain do
any good And SO proved for who has the first bene
hcia consequence follow from that Convention So much
for my Chicago letter.
But sir am also accused Of disngenuousness, or some
thing worse, upon this subject, because Cleveland took
refuge behind the noise and coon, and withheld my opin
ions from the publc-and therefore again am enemy to
all river and habor improvements This is another not Of the
small things alone, but of the small faehoods to which i'm
poance attached during the presidential campaign and
which revived and reasseed whenever is thought there
is party object to be gained by it. Fasehoods travel
rapid WINGS and he who expects to overtake them must be
fleet indeed Mr. Jefferson said it better to live them
down than to write them down. This story has been received
with all the certainty of historical fact and destined to
survive all rentaon; and able Democratic member
of the House of Representatives (Mr MORSE in recent
discussion Of this subject in that body to have taken
for granted that this charge Of the conceament Of my views
and Of resort to unworthy suberfuge to avoid their
son, is not the "reminiscences of excited political
contest but ascertaned fact admitting any reasonable
doubt Had he not thought soand very natural he
should after the stsreoNped reports be had seenEe s too
honorable 10 have introduced upon that occasion. am
sure he will rejoice at this substitution Of truth for asehood
is WELL have been told here by high authority. TO vind
cate the truth of history and in the performance Of this duty
state here in my place. that there is word Of
truth in the story Very recently, Governor Wood of Ohio
man who adorns the high station he fills in letter, pub
shed in the Union, puts the seal Of epobaon upon it, by
giving it public and direct contradiction The story runs
that for answering the questions of Gov
erno Wood, then chairman Of committee respecting river
and habor improvements that there was too much noise and
confusion to do it. never gave such reason, nor any
thing like it, In my letter to Mr. Stevenson, accepting the
nomination of the Baltimore Convention, said should
swer questions upon political topics, leaving my opinions
to be sought in my speeches and and acons resou
ton almost indispensable under the circumstances, if did not
intend to make professions Of political faith to every nqusye
friend or foe throughout the Union
WE'LL sir, my return at more than place in New
York, various questions OF this nature were put to me- to
which gave the uniform reply that could not answer them
consistently with the had marked for myself AT
Cleveland asked my sentiments the subject Of river
and harbor improvements and the exciting topics connect
ed with slavery which then agated the public mind. TO
these inquiries returned similar and thus have
the history of the noise and which much disturb
ed the equanmy Of political opponents who sought
thing but the truth in all their now having
found utterly reject it, 1t is due to my friend Governor
Wood that when he put these questions to me he had
not my letter avowing the course meant to pursue.
Now, sir if there any public who above almost all
other could neither deny conceal their opinions upon this
whole subject may claim TO be Of them. During the
administration Of General Jackson the head of the
War Department. between five and years. and respon
sbe for all the estimates sent to Congress- and upon which
the several acts Of for river and harbor improve
based and for the sessions Of the Senate
since have been MEMBER during which bills have passed
for these Objects have advocated and voted for hem and
stated fully and repeatedly do now, the principles of
action Whobu the verest tool Of party, and for the worst
purpose, could represent me- under these circumstances
endeavorng conceal my views deceive the country
hides its heal in the sand and strives thus eude observa
ton would be the very emblem of wisdom, when compared
with the efforts thus chartably attributed TO me.
Now, sir what my views And to this plain question
shall give equally plain They are to be found
in the paper hold In my hand being extract from the an
nua message General Jackson Of 1884 was at that time
member Of his Cabinet, and consulted by him in rela
ton this exposition Of his opinions and concued in them
then, d have preserved my feal,y till this day:
There is another class Of appropriations for what be
called without improprety internal improvements which
from those which have referred aude such have
for their the Improvement Of harbors the removal
Of partial and temporary obstrucions In navigabe rivers
the facility and security of foreign The
grounds upon which distinguished appropriations OF this
character from others have been stated Congress. will
new Constitution, provided by law that all expenses
which should from and after the 18th day OF August