The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-20


in my opinions that they be induced 10 vote for
me any account. But, sir, claim 10 be not only
democrat, and especially so in my present position OF
support this bill, but 10 be also in democratic com
pany--the very highest and best democratic company
rha, this appeal TO the record For proof of il beg
the Senate TO refer with me for moment to the egsa
tive annals oi this body few Years back turn TO the
Congressional Globe of March 3. ls47. Among the pro
ceedings OF the Senate OF that day find The following
'IN SENATE March 3. Is7,-Rioo and Harbor BW.
'Mr DAVIS moved that The Senate proceed to consider
the b making appropriations or the improvement OF Ger
:" Mr.. ID, explained that il bin from the House APP
propnng about s6oooo for the Improvements OF rivers ia
the West; bud for certain ha,bors
"Mr. BAoBY understood the object of The bill But he
hoped would nor be taken II would lead to dis.
cussinn which wonld consume much Time would
prejudice other bills OF greater importance.
" Mr. DAVIS replied that whether here any discus
son wop depend on ,he senator from Alabama and his
iriemls lie (Mr did not intend TO dlscuss il.
~ EAony said he would oppose the b,ll item by item.
Mr. DIX stated that he had Introduced th. bin He had
doubt Of the constutionay Of the appropriations
the objects which were specified and he hoped The bill
The yeas and nsys were ordered on The motion to take
up the bill and the question being taken, i! was decided
'.YEAs-Mrssrs Allen, Ashley Achson. Badger, Bree.e
Cameron, Cass, C,ey, John Clayton, Corwin, Cren
den. Davis; Dickinson, DIX. Evans, Greene, Hannegan
Houston, huntington Jarnagin, Johnson OF Maryland,
johnson OF Lousiana Mangnnl, Miller Morehead, Niles,
Pearce, Summons, Soue, Upham, Webster, and Wood
brdge-32
NAYS--Messrs
Chalmers, Mason, Tuney, and Yuiee-9
The bi was then taken up in committee Of The whole
" Mr. BAGBY would not delay the business OF the Senae
by opposing bill item by item, he had promised.
would simply himself with moving ques-
provemeni of the river below the falls Louisville; and
that qnes' he should ask the yeas and nays without
further remark, ....r.. .H#a&W
The question taken. and decided in the negative
"YFAs-Messrs B,gby, Buter, Mason, Niles, Turney,
"Nays-Messrs. Allen, Ashley. A,chsoa, Badger, Ben
CIey, John NJ Clayton, corwin Crt.snden. Dickinson.
Dix, Evans, Fairfield, Greene, Hannegan, Honston. Hun
Mangum, Miller, Motehesd. Pearee, Phelps, Rssk
slmmons ,v sonle Surgeon opham' Webster "s'oo'
The bin then read a third time, and passed"
Thus upon the question (Which understood to be
tes there stood for il twenty democrats and eighteen
whgs and only SIX democrats agdinstit
Now, what the question tested by this vote Why
sir, the which before as-the constitutional
power of this government 10 improve our rivers and
harbor leaving the exercise OF that power to the sound
discretion OF Congress. That was the question. And,
as we have seen II was answered in the Affirmative
emphalically answered in the Automatically demo-
cratic Senate and that too. by vote as nearly unan.
it is easy to find upon any mooed question OF
like Importance And among the twenty democrats who
then affirmed this power and the proprety OF its exer
cse there stand out in bold relief the name OF the dis
ting ushed senator from Michigan lDlr CAss,l our dem
ocralic leader IN 1913, and that OF the late usrious
senator from South Carolina, MIR. CALHoUS,l every
where recognised the leader par excellence OF those
who give strict construction to the constitution. H.
them have LETT the democratic platform, have done so
in company with the leader who was given US by the
Baltimore Convention in lsis-and that too after he
had given the have cited. And if have Departed
from construction OF the constitution, have done
40 in company with him whom we all regarded as the
very impersonaton oil strict construction But SIR, M
SIS, that neither OF us has left the patiomihat neither
has stretched the provisions OF the constitution
inch beyond It's true meaning and legitimate purpose. In
my present position them claim occupy the true and
well-esiablished platform OF the democratic party
known and promulgated before my tme--ceralnly long
before had The honor of seat within this chamber
Nor, Mr. President do assume this position, make
an ayowal OF these views, for the first time Ever
since have taken part IN the politics OF the country,
have occupied substantially the same position and made
public my opinions more than one occasion. | under
stood the senator from Mississippi Mr. DAvIsl this morn
ing to read from Of his remarks IN the Senate
former occasion 10 show what his views had here
Mir DAVIS, of Mississippi | read from some remarks
had made in the House o Representatives bill sim.
liar to this and read further from the veto message OF
President Polk. ! read nothing else.
Mr. BOliLAND. intended merely TO allude 10 the
fact that The senator had read from remarks OF his
former occasion TO ylndcate the consistency OF his
present with his former position, and to say that for
similar purpose, IN regard to myself should ioiow his
example
ecutive appointment, in the Senate, introduced bill
which considered OF great Importance TO my State. !
allude to the bill granting the swamp lands for the pur-
pose of their reclamation which an happy TO say, has
since become a law At frs, few of my constituents,
whose minds were acute than discriminating, ques-
toned the proprety of what had proposed this regard,
upon the ground OF ts want oil constiuonaty For the
purpose u satisfying all that had not departed IRON the
true constitutional democratic platform, addressed let
ter 10 one of my friends, which was pablisbed IN pam
nh let form and circulated all over my State From that
letter propose read short passage on the power OF
tins government the subject oil internal improve
nents from which will be seen that entertained the
"a ne views and occupied the position then
The then expressed were approved by the people
of my State consideration OF them entered largely into
the canvass which resulted IN my election 10 in this
body by the Of every democrat in the Legislature,
except OF two three personal enemies. Indeed,
my enemies said | had made oapHdi ont of IT, At any
rate II universally there considered good democ
racy-so good indeed that legislature three fourhs
ol whom democrats 1t contributed materially TO my
election even IL did not determine IT, But TO the pas
sage question Speaking of the power TO make inter
nal improvements, | said:
But as n Of propriey, this drtot age~et Of the
general government In works Ol Improvement withn "A
St.ta even when the constitutional power u nnfispued,
has m any opponensnyseli among hcm-and iot the ol
lowing reasons With al statesmen who set any value
on he rights aud pendenee Of the several States and
e,tre to restrict the general government within the safe
and alunry bounds designed Tor u nj the lime o ats
on ID 4 very fmpoua and desirable avoid much
As possible any immediate contact between the general
government aud the individual citizen, and, FAR
practicable, let the people know aud feel their
ations the general government only through the
madnm Of the State governments This has ever been
held be the doctrine Of republic nism. The
extension territory aud the progress OF in.
give daily increase To the value OF this doc
trnc-proyr, indeed the nfcsssuy OF maintaining it
Except therefore, where individual enterp OF
Sate authority combination OF the two, Is whOUf IN
com peen accomplish public work (on account OF US
extent) but which IS yet necessary 20 the public Ron ne
drtci dgrueg Of the general government should heVo ~
nor permiued. Such works ~ mere stoeP
those Involved relation wtih lofslgh uo'oos,
he of