The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-18
$4,000

but producing an aggregate OF $4,000
I'D. By increasing the number Of The objects,
without previously consulting The depart
nent, so far the documents show, IN
any case, and without consulting IL al all
ia other important cases. TO the Nnounto sTo.eoo
The number OF the various objects OF appropriation estl
mated for and asked by the department, including
rs S.s ss,ss soa added ), the committee is =
%
An Improvement in Florida left out
Taking the whole number in the bill 95I
In September, $780, the Committee OF Commerce OF lae
House. alter preparing their bill sent copy OF II TO the
War Department and received the remarks OF The colo
mel Of Typographical engineers upon the various items II
contained most OF which he approves, aud thinks The
proposed additional sums be properly expended II
is not little remarkable, however, that We have not
word from the Secretary OF War upon The subject his
letter. he wrote one Is not gwen his sanction mol
here The responsibility OF the administration Tor these
changed appropriations we have not received
Nor Is il less remarkable that single change was
made in the bill, so far appears TO accommodate II TO
the report OF the chie engineer in those where he
disavows all know edge Of the work, and in others
where he speaks with much doubt, either to the work
ITSELF or the amount proposed, presunitng instead OF
estimating, well AS where he considers preliminary |
surveys necessary II does not appear that his remarks
caused the slightest change But nothing can place in
more striking light the dangerous tendency OF this pro,
cedure than OF the observations made upon the bill
He states that there are three of the objects of which
he knows nothing
OF one that the precise plan and objects unknown
but that the amount, $40 900, is probably adequate for
| the fiscal year.
OF another, that the department is not aware of the
plan authority but that the amount IN the bill, $50,
900, is adequate 10 the accomplishment OF much work,
and would do II well
OF another, that as question OF harbor Improvement 1t
is unknown STILL THE appropriation, 23 600, IS care
fully preserved.
In another $25 900 appropriated for work, though
the bureau contemplated at the next session 10 present
connected system. and regularly digesed plan,
SC.
OF another that If the ,oork is as formerly conempla
/ al ahn,u hntuU fha maj ~ he
amount, $4,000, adequate. but that most careful
preliminary examination should be made before any other
work commenced.
OF another, that presuming (whence the presumption
is stately his to be in continuation of former
works, the amount, $4,000. is sufficient for the year
OF another that the bureau s not Informed on the sub
ecl The plans and estimates whatever they may be- are
the result Of operations there notwithstanding, the
appropriation, $4,000, is yet IN the bill
OF another, that the surveys essential TO any
/ lmlnary measure
That OF another survey has been made since 1880.
But the most dangerous innovation upon our system
remains yet TO be noticed There are nine objects APP
propaled Tor in this bill for which we have not single
word from the War Department.
The amount of the work to be thus provided for with
out The shadow Of authority responsibility without
surveys plans, estimates and without the least knowl-
edge OF their true condition, so lar as we know. Is
$3s5,oo0.
Nothing exhibits the uncertainty of all this bet
ter than the reference of the chief engineer 10 lines l42
IA, l4S, $780, applied TO the bill before TINS bill
came from the House, and with il we have the re-
marks OF the chief engineer, with which we have been
comparing it, He refers to thu objects OF the bill by the
number OF lines, and among these are the following:
The improvement OF the Ohio river above the
The impcovens at Of the Mississippi river below
the rapids The Ouio below the falls Louis
4 vile, and ihe Missouri and Arkansas rivers 100000
And or the Illinois and Tennessee rivers,
Tue improvement of the Red river $1,000
Now sir who would dare even to conjecture that
OF the important objects these inesihe Improvement OF
the Tennessee and OF the llnois-were not there when
the engineer made his report and 10 which OF course he
had not the slightest reference!
And ye so it u.s. The report made in reference to
the hrs bill OF the House, for which that before us
and thus the engineer 10 sanction what
he had not seen and 10 speak OF two OF the works those
for the Improvement OF the Tennessee and OF the illinois,
as old and Del known subjects" though not dollar
had been expended upon either under the authority
OF the general government And well, therefore. may
the senator from Ohio Mr.. CHAsEl have corrected what
he supposed when it said that these two
objects had not been sanctioned by the department he
turned TO this part OF the report in support OF his views
but after all he was wrong and yet with all these
proofs and sources OF error required 10 push this
bill through unchanged and Instantly
The above anal sis hastily prepared, and its cal
culaons may not be accurate, though they enough
for the support OF the general conclusions Mr. CAss
ehas been told the that there
papers before The Committee on Commerce oil the House.
and reported back their Clerk where they yet remain
the most distant aluson was made to them, and what
may be their contents they could not influence the
action OF the Senate OF the House The abstract is
prepared from the official papers, and the Of both
, branches must be Judged by them.
Now, sir, would not have it supposed for a
that any OF these remarks intend to cast the slightest
censure upon The colonel of the topogr aphcal corps
know him well, and intelligent able, faithful
officer tins government, has not IN It's service say OF
hun what know of him HIS report 10 the committee
hastily prepared and consists not OF his otig
nal views, but of comments IN upon theirs
to guide them in their actions IN OF which they had
assumed the responsibility. But this exposition
necessary TO show the tendency OF this system
which reverses the natural order of things by taking
possession OF the object first and seeking for IL
Afterwards And the chairman OF the committee, whom
' have known from his youth, and known only 10
spect and esteem, and who has hereditary claim my
regard the Of of my valued friends, pos
sessng The nobest attributes of American statesman
had difficult and laborous task in recommending these
appropriations after they had been suspended for
years, and when the pressure for their introduction
greater than was, aud the true facts difficult
to obtain. Difficulties, under such circumstances,
, not only to be anticipated, but unavodab BILE
The reported circumstances attending the introduction
OF some of these objects into the bull worthy OF consd
GRAFTON ascertanng the causes of its progress and
success. Two OF them for the improvement, OF the
Tennessee and of the Illinois the former, OF
the great streams OF our country, watering most ex.
tensve region and the latter a very important
avenue of commercial and from its position
destined long rival the Hudson itself in value
OF n,ecourse-amos equally valuable TO the East
and 10 the West Well, sir, when and how did these
objects get the bill II has been said here that il
was upon the OF its passage, and when we have
heard stated, could not pass without calling for addi
tonai aid, which was obtained by the introduction OF
these and some six other Kindred objects
Now sr do not TO decide that these items,
any of them, proper in themselves when brought
forw ward proper and with the usual checks and