The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-16

paled fo the Of the Tennessee dyer shall
restricted 10 Ihc Of the said rses between
tue points u Chattanoosa Tennessee, and Decstar Ala.
bsma."
There is an appropriation OF $50 900 for the improve
m.nt OF Tennessee river without specifying wherr thai
augmentation is 10 be expended and il utterly value
lees unlsrs restricted 10 limited point, as that
between Decatur and Chattanooga.
Mr. HAMLlN | suppose that II this amend
en is adopted will then be in order 10 move 10 strike
out the whole that relates to the Tennessee riyer
The pREsIDENT. twill be in order
Mr.. FOOTE With some Familiarity with this por-
ton Of the country. having once resided there mus,
my friend from Alabama And shall isel bound upon
ask the yeas and nays. My reason for invoking the
yeas aud nays 49, that do consider this important
matter and, from what understand OF the proposition,
10 intended TO make The appropriation more national N
Mr.. BORLAND. What! to resircth'
mr. FOTE. Yes, TO restrict i TO It's proper limits. J
always thought that this appropriation extended over 100
wide surface, and embraced portion OF that river that
was not national in its character.
The question being taken upon the call Tor Inc yeas
and nays they ordered
Mr. BELL. That is the Appropriation which concerns
the section OF country OF which have some knowetg
and in which feel some interest did not hear the re.
marks distinctly OF the senator from Alabama, Mr.
CLEMENs,1 who offered this amendment did not hear
his for the necessity OF restricting this apRopra
MIR CLEMENS. will state the reasons We have
had appropriation OF 100000 acres OF land for the
provement OF the Tennessee river and il all wasted
upon the Muscle shoals, and never did particle OF
good want this appropriation 10 be expended some.
where where il will do good The $4,000 may as well
be thrown into the river as to attempt 10 expend them
upon the improvement OF the Muscle shoals
Mr.. BELL. Now, agree exactly with the senator
from Alabama the Muscle shoals; but is il oper
to impose restriction in this bill' Where shall we
end in imposing resretonsi If you take the river Ohio,
You will have to make some restrictions and limitations,
and say that the money shall be expended only in GER
tain parts OF the river, and then we shall finally never
aurAn nuOnI pypul IN regal a "A as
10 where this appropriation ought to be expended,
cur with the senator from Alabama, know hat 500 900
OF land were appropriated; butt far as can recol
lect. the lands were given to Alabama.
Mr.. CLEMENS The land laid in Alabama.
Mr.. BELL As understand. the appropriation was
the State Of Alabama. think it specifically fol
the improvement OF the Muscle shoals Now, | think
that in this case we must rely upon The judgment AM
of the $50 ,OOO-f this bill should passo those por
tons OF the river where it would produce the creates
amount of public good, and be OF The most effective
vice in opening that channel OF communication The
senator from Mississippi Mr. FooTEl need be afraid
OF the character OF this river II drains portion of three
Staes-I may say four States for the upper waters OF
this river dram part OF the Stale OF Virgnia-at all
events, may include Alabama. Tennessee, and part
of the State of Kentucky think the from Ala
bama would do well il he desires that this approplia
ton should pass, really, Tor The purpose of improving
the navigation OF the Tennessee RIVER not to attempt
restrict it, That part OF the river has been surveyed by
officers Of the government The necessity Of i'm
provemen at this period Of time is particularly great in
that part OF the river, which very obvious the PEG
pie who reside in that section OF the Union, and 10 thu
good and observation OF the department
and Typographical bureau The government would un
dOubtedly in my opinion apply this amount TO the very
portion OF the river indicated by the from Ala
bama. do not think il important at this time TX,
theee distinctions in regard 10 the particular parts OF thu
river proposed to be appropriated Tor Ii We do, W,
shall get none. Although agree that the improvement
ought TO be made there yet for the reasons have sta
ted shall vote agains, the proposition OF the senator
Mr. FOoTE. The state of things which ioresaw
this morning is now realized. The honorable senator
from Tennessee, notwithstanding his views of the pro-
prety Of the amendment, in ITSELF concurrng entirely with
those expressed by the senator from Alabama, yet
.ders the exgency such as to prevent his voting io
Mr.. BELL. Cnterposing.) No. sir; the senator doe,
not understand me. | said that upon occasion would
vote TO restrict the appropriation for within
tain limits We must leave that to the judgment OF th
officers who have the execution of the work took TO
an example the Ohio
Mi FOOTE Well, sir. think the objection is still
stronger, for the honorable senator did not state il
clearly at first. In other words we must lesislae a
hap.hazard; must make large appropriations OF III,
public money and place the responsibility in the execu
tive branch OF the government My principles are yer,
different. sir feel that am responsible here Tor al
my acts; nor will vote for any appropriation of th'
public money without securing by all efficient Leg
this important control over the judIcous and proper
penditure of that money do say that IN my opinion
we act not only unwisely but unusily, unless we con
troll the great interests we are sent here to preserve
take Of The honorable senator agrees in the view
OF this subject stated by the senator from Alabama
yet be in not willing TO act upon his own judgment IL
10 not willing, Legislator, to imbody IN this law
view which he has matuely considered. and which
he most cordially enertains My opinion Is that wher
members OF this body, entertaining any views sound
judicous in regard TO any legislation whatever thos
views should be acted upon. We sent here act thu
part OF independent men; are sent here because
judgments relied upon sent TO consider du,
the grave and serious questions before us, and
peeled TO act upon those views and TO
proper responsibility and TO act with expectation
hdently entertained by that will be held response
BILE Tor all the consequences that flow from acts
we make this appropriation, and the money appropr
ale shall be wasted consequence OF neglect upon
part Of those safeguards which it is in power
provide. we SHALL in my opinion, be be responsible tc
the country The very instance cited by the honorable
senator from Tennessee, as you well recoect, is
stance in point Five hundred thou and OF land
TO be given the State of Alabama for the purpose
OF improving the Tennessee river, and they expended il
all upon the Muscle shoals of that river happened 10
be living near there at the time The whole proceeds oil
the lands were wasted in abortve attempt to estab
sh steamboat canal from the upper to the lower por.
non OF those shoals. never knew instance of more
unwse and improvident legislation than that. more
reckless expenditure of the public money Of the pro-
ceeds OF the public lands, a injudicious expert
ment Oh internal Improvement, have never known 10
take place. For will leg slate away the pub.
lie money without, knowing how the money to be ex
pended and whether in lis expenditure, the great public
interests OF the county 10 be advanced Never will
undertake TO neglect to perform my own duty,
upon my own views and my own responsibility with the
hope OF throwing upon Others that responsibility which
am Justly bound 10 assume.
repeat, that il we to legisate in the loose
manner in which the bill proposes that shall legls.
late. and the money were TO be njudciousy expended
we ourselves would be chiefly responsible for the expend-
hure ~ we deliberately consider this whole matter,