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


ports necessary than would otherwise be required But
is and with all the improvements which have taken place.
the statistics Of the lake commerce for 1850 exhibit most
.Rsn'able1ass Of Life aR properly, ashs<0wng abstract
Loss OF property. S55s, 900
|, Number OF vessels lost. az
The value Of the property and number of persons running
this risk stated as follows
Value Of the commerce ............ Sl9l, O0O 600
RasssQghs. 355, 600
hineoaA ohnase. ..ioi,ooV
Here sir is an exhibit Of danger great enough awaken
the soictude and to command the active attention Of the
most careless Legislature. surrender principle
which enables the Government to discharge sacred duty
dear to all my constituents and should ahlessy discharge
my obligations them, and those obligations many and
great did not all my efforts TO have this trust fulfilled
by the General Government SO far as can consistently
with the constitution and the true principles of sound egs
alton.
Habors of and Of refuge are not only
but harbors also indispensable for the purposes Of
fact that occurred in 1919 should teach TO be povaent in
The feet commanded by Commodore Perry, which
gained the glorious naval battle recorded in annals
constructed at Erie in Pennsylvania At that time the
waters Of the Lake low and the bar at the mouth of the
harbor could not be passed. without lighting the vessels
The British fleet off the Shore blockading ours which
could not go out while the enemy there, because the
could not be mounted they would have occaoned
TOO great draught of water. violent storm arose, which
compelled the hostile squadron leave the coast and, by
great energy and activity, Commodore Perry enabled to
get his vessels the bar and TO embark his guns and fol-
low the enemy and thus to gain that splendid victory, which
be fought with Spartan courage and reported Spartan
brevity, when NIT THE ESIMr, THEr WERE OURS.
Anxiousy did look for tidngs Of the result for the
booming had told that the contest had on and
finished and joyfuy did open the despatch Of the
gallant commander, for il my fortune to receive in the
absence Of Gen. Harrison and the shouts of the express
he rode through the camp quarters prepared US for the
intelligence he brought but what felt when read the glo-
rious letter tongue pen tell record II opened
TO US the road to the conquest OF western Canada and to
the recovery and security of northwestern frontier.
The British would otherwise have retained the command Of
the lake. and whole operations would have ended in
less and enormously expensive efforts invade the hostile
possessions by land
But sir anxious as am that our harbos should be i'm
proved still there very Objectionable features in this bill
which desire 10 changed Both the Senator from Ken
lucky (Mr CLAr) and the Senator from Ohio Mr EwIss
concede this have heard single member who does not
coincide in this opinion No doubt it. But the dis
ngushed Senator from Kentucky while acknowledging this
refuses to admit any amendment because he says, the
House would agree it. and thus the bill would be lost
No BILL he remarks perfect and must take the good
with the bad, for better for worse his own language
takes bis wife, This, sir very strange view OF
duties, and entirely repudiate Must we take to
wife the first meet Must take the first bill
which is sent to u.s. Must take the bad without ef
fort to make good Do sit here merely register the
edcts of the House This view of our duty would make
legislative cpbers contemplate, sdeed, than the
Council of Ancens under the Conuls Imperial Govern
of France which possessed the right upon pub
lie measures but discuss them. We should have the
useless right talk but the useful right do not
thus understand duties believe it imperative upon
to make every bill perfect not indeed to adj
here SO tenacousy to opinions to refuse meet
House in proper spirit of concession in Of difference,
but never to surrender opinions upon the presumption
that the House will not concur and thus abandon share
OF legislative duty and responsibility. this be and we
must bills just they because the House de-
MES US practically any participation in legsaon the sooner
this is known the better, that constituents may apply the
by o ~
their political organization. As the Senator from Georgia
(Mr. DAwsoS) well said, dot an t.
because the House will not permit this attack upon their au
thority.
The honorable Senator from Kentucky tells us substan
tally Take this take nothing. Surrender your rights and
duties to the House, and record their decrees will hold
you responsible to the country For sir, yield 10 no
such injunctons take my full share Of the responsibility
OF striving to look into the principles and facts this BILL and
to make in conformity with the constitution and with the
demands Of just and wholesome legislation would not hold
seat here for one hour upon any other terms
This bill, important in its amount and still more impor-
tant IN the principles involves taken up yesterday,
when but three days Of the session remained and with the
authoritative annunciaon of the Senator from Kentucky tina,
we must take it. and take il it is For myself, acquiesce
in no such proposition. will thus surrender the rights
and duties of this body, and into chamber
for registering the DEGREES Of the House. But what has
the honorable Senator declare that the House will reject
every amendment and with such certainty to leave no
alternative between the surrender of duty and the loss of
the bill No, sir; man has the right to urge this ground
OF action, rather inacon, upon the American Senate Let
US amend the bill wherever may think requires amend
ment and then lei leave the House the discharge Of its
own duty, upon its responsibility.
But sir, amendments necessary have already said
that has denied this believe it is universally adj
mtted and admitted not shall proceed briefly to
demonstrate it,
In the first place. think the appropriated is much
too large far larger than before assigned similar
objects in year and after making all Just allowance for
the length Of time which has elapsed since the last appropra
ton made believe the in this bill far exceeds what
is necessary, and that the be udcousy ex
pended within the season. and in the right place. even all
the objects clearly constitutional and necessary. The
state OF the Treasury, and the great demands already auho
zed and the still greater anticipated should warn US to
keep expenditures within reasonable limits possible
Many The members experimenting empty eIcheque
and think within day two have heard report read
there is already alarming falling off in the receipts Of
the year. calling for great caution expenditures did
not hear the document distinctly bot the chairman Of the
Committee Finance, (Mr HusTER) who discharges so
honoraby for himself and ably for the public the
bic functions which devove upon him, can tell us am
right in this impression.
Mr. HUNTER. The Senator from Michigan asks me if
the Secretary Of the Treasury did state in communca-
ton which has been read here that the receipts from
customs beginning to decne The Senator right
his understanding of that letter. The Secretary did state
and founded upon it. in part recommendation for autho
~ to issue FIVE millions of stock Treasury notes.
Mr.. CASS. So, sir it seems that, do the best we can,
in danger Of having expenses exceed income
situation in which this country should be placed but
in time of Members hardly wish either increase the
debt or to levy additional taxes and the only remedy is
curtail till our ougongs and incomngs balance each
nth