The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-07
[Ses first pags.]
Defeat OF tho River and H.rbor Bill.


Defeat. OF the River and Harbor Bill.
The editorial comments which follow on the
defeat of the River and Harbor bill, we copy
from the Union newspaper of Wednesday, the
9Th of March:
"The Thirty first Congress adjourned Yesterday
at IL o'clock The scenes of the three last days in
the Senate were full Of interest and excitement.
The great subject on the tapis was the River and
Harbor bill. II had originated in the House of
Representatives, and it destined to affect, in
great degree, the fate of several other measures
before Congress On Friday and Saturday it had
8 called forth moro vehement struggle between
its friends and opponents in the Senate than it
had previously produced in the House. Early on
Monday this bill was taken up, on Mr.. Clay's mo-
ton, in preference to several other bills and it
continued to shed its influence through greater
portion OF the night, to the exclusion of the ap-
preparation bills, until about O'Clock, when il
was laid temporarily the table, To give an op-
portunity of passing the necessary appropriation
: bills. But it was not taken up again.
at 10 subject Of considerable regret that this
bill presented at oil at the close Of the short
session of Congress. The question of internal
improvement by the General Government has
long been one Of the most stirring and debatable
matters in our institutions. During Mr.. Folks
administration il was, apparently, put to sleep by
his able and manly veto; and it has not entered
since into the controversies Of politicians 1t
might have been expected, therefore, that. when
it was revived. it should not have been agitated
at the close of a short session, but would have
been resumed, after long and previous discus.
sion before the people, at Tho .ons aession when
ample time would have been allowed 10 discuss
it in all its bearings, in its principle and in its
Details and when sufficient time would have been
afforded to the'minority TO prepare their amend
ments, and to shape the system in form that
was least cxceptionable to the opposition All these
characteristics omitted on the present occa-
sion. There not sufficient time to examine the
principles or the details of the measure. II was
precipitatcd upon Congress at short session. and
almost at the conclusion of it. II was not suf-
fcisntly discussed; and the majority of the SEN
ate, who were friendly tot, bore themselves with
30 little respect to the scruples Of the minority as
to cut off almost every opportunity Of amending
its provisions, and Of making them more accept
able to the minority. This system, too, has been
at all times arraigned on constitutional grounds
by some of the most distinguished politicians of
9 the country, and as apt to degenerate, from the
very seductive character Of internal improve
mcnts, into great excuses as well as abuses The
present bill appropriated more than two millions
of dollars to harbors and rivers. Who could ar
9 rest its extension? Who could say that during
the next Congress fifty or even a hundred mil
lions of dollars would not be asked and appropri-
ated to rivers and harbors, to roads and canals?
: 1t is the rolling SNOWFALL, gathering in volume
as it goes, until it might fall like avalanche
upon the resources Of the people. The power
that cxpends is intimately connected with the
power to raise money; and thus the internal i'm
provement and the protective tariff become united
. in interest and in Legislation.
"The present bill was also attacked with great
vchemence and acuteness in the Senate, in con-
sequence Of its sectional bearings. No wonder,
them that the minority Of the Senate fought it at
every stage Of the discussion, until il became OBJ
vious that, if interval allowed for action,
the appropriation bills would be brought into
danger. 1t was then that the River and Hnrbor
: bill was laid upon the table, where It slept until
midday OH the 4th of March; and the appropria-
ton bills were run especially the Civil
and Diplomatic appropriation, the Military ap-
preparation, and the Naval appropriation. We
shall leave to our reporters TO fill up this hasty
aketch with all the details of the proceedings"
The Union may well say that the River and
Harbor bill was the "great subject on the
tapis" during the last days of the session. We
propose, therefore, to consider some of the rea-
sons which induce the Union to regret that
this great subject should have been urged at the
close of short session.
AS to this measure being 'sprecipitared" upon
Congress, Mr.. JOHN WENTWORTH gave notice
Of his intention to introduce the bill in the early
days Of the first session Of the late Congress.
1t is true that if Mr.. WENTWORTH had pursued
the subject with 1.-THE of the zeal with which
he has sought to wreak personal vengeance on
Mr.. RTcHIE--if he had devoted small por-
ton of the time which he has employed in the
persecution of his old party friend and ASSOC
ciate 10 the interests Of his constituents and
of the great northwest-the bill might have
been long since brought before the Senate, and
ample time given for Its discussion in all its
details. But Mr.. WENTWORTH satisfied him
self with giving notice of his intention to in
troduce the billion the 9th of December,
1S49-and, though we find in the index Of the
Globe $50 references TO Mr.. WENTwoRrH's
subsequent appearances in the House, we do
not perceive that he said drivers and harbors'
again during the whole session. He was too
busy on the Investigating COMMITTEES" too
anxious TO concilate Free soil by the sacrifice
Of Mr.. RrcHTr--too infinitely prying into long
numbers and short numbers, and per centages,
TO think much about the millions Of prop
erty and the thousands Of lives that were