The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-21
CONGRESSIONAL.
DESCRIBED DEBATE.
SAT U RDAY, MARCH /, 1851
LEyERIkG SESSION os--coHTIkUED.l
sENAEk.
RIVERS AND HAKBoRs.


! Mr. DOWNS; Mr. President, shall vote for this
amendment, and ! shall vote for many others that are
proposed TO tins bill regret very much the circum-
stapces under which this measure is brought forward
They seem TO me to be extraordinary. have voted two
or three times to lay this bill the table aud voted
against taking 1t up, not because had any objection 10
me discussion or 10 taking up the subject but because
had strong obleclons TO paris OF The bill, and did
think il right and proper take il up under crcum
stances which rendered impossible 10 go INTO full and
fair consideration OF The subject in all its parts Why,
Mr.. President, this course adopted Why this
bill brought here at this last hour of the session Re-
ally, II would seem that the circumstances under which
II brought forward extraordinary, and the poba
hity OF lis success so remote that II was brought Tor
ward by IFS advocates with the expeclatQno OF lis
defeat than OF It's success entertain no uitd yiaMs
upon this subject There are many things IN the bill
which would approve Of most cordially but am not
disposed TO take the whole OF it, to have forced upon
me under these extraordinary circumstances.
Mr. President, this subject has been pressed upon the
Senate TO day in way which, must say, have never
before witnessed, and which, | think, the country will
look upon with astonishsent We are now in the last
day but one OF the session, We commenced this morn
ing IN the midst Of the civil and diplomatic appropriation
bll,he great bill OF the session When was il before
that Difference was not paid III The last days OF the ses
sion to the chairman OF the Committee on Finance I
When he proposed the Senate take up the general
appropriation bill matter of urgent necessity, he was
overued and not only that bill but all the other al pro-
priaon bills aside for this river and harbor Dill.
do consider that this is both extraordinary and
unparalleled. And what is more extraordinary is, that
this is brought forward, pressed, and insisted
naturally suppose, would feel interest in having the
Appropriation bills passed, and who would sustain great
responsibility they should be defeated mean the
friends OF the Administrations, What will be the condi-
ton of the government these appropriation bills de-
eaed Whose fault will it be 1t canno. be said that
or those with whom act are the cause OF IT, twill
be the fault OF those who have brought this measure
forward, and pressed in the extraordinary that
we now see II pressed
There many measures this bill. as said before
that would be perfectly willing TO vote for; but |
have no idea Ct voting for bill containing much
evil with the good this bill contains. II gentlemen
want proper system OF internal improvements, let them
make the subjects Of this bill, il proposed
years ago by The senator from New York, and make
separate and distinct bill for each particular one, and
bring them forward at time when we can have full
opportunity to discuss and examine them each one
It's merits. Then would very cheerfully go into
examination OF the subject But now, under the cir.
cumsances in which this bill is brought forward, though
there much that approve OF in the bill It is impossi-
Bile 10 consider in all lis paris at Therefore, let
us begin with The greatest measures hrs about which
there can be little or no doubt. Let us commence with
The great waters the great lakes and the great rivers
about hich there can be doubt, and when we have
done what necessary 10 he done there, then ii will be
time enough 10 look to other aud minor objects, and 10
those OF more doubtful character
Mr. President IT this question were new one, started
or the hrs, time believe The doubts expressed by the
senator from Mississippi [Mr. DAvIsl about the power
OF this government TO make these improvements would
be strong TO be almost insurmounabe. think the
argument OF the honorable senator strikes one at first as
strong and irresistible, that this power does not exist
under the constitution But, Mr. President the practice
of the government in regard 10 the Improvement OF bar
bors upon the seacoast, making lighthouses and other
great works OF impfoveme such embraced IN
this bill. has been so long continued, and there has been
much public money expended upon objects OF that kind
The seaeoas that consider The policy OF the govern
inert has been committed and that the practice has been
tar adopted and The precedent so lar established that
will be impossible TO stop now We could not do that
times and in all cases. alter having expended such large
sums OF money one quarter on the Atlantic, we should
STOP and these improvements shall not be extended 10
The great lakes and oil the West. | do not con-
sider therefore, that go back beyond the practice
OF the government which has been adopted for so long
time Bntlet us keep to the established course, and let
US take first the most important measures and those
about which there can be doubt, and after have
adopted them, then take up the others.
The opinion OF the late distinguished gentleman from
New York, now no more, Mr.. Nrghi,l has been par.
tcuary referred TO- Ii has always occurred 10 me that
this difficult subject, about which there is much
doubt, his IDEAS and his views worthy to be
followed than those OF almost any other man IN the conn
Try aude 10 his letter TO the Chicago convention. do
pretend recollsc the whole OF H. but there
point IN that letter which struck me as very important
in the consideration OF this subject; and that
this: Although might make improvements TO facili-
tate commerce-the practice OF the government having
gone far that II was perhaps TOO late to go backyet
there principle which he thought might be APP
piled TO doubtful and that was, that though
might make these improvements 10 facilitate commerce,
we could not make them TO create commerce-tha where
we hnd, or instance, port with large commerce and
interest, the case
the great lakes. there proper to make provision
Tor the Improvement OF harbors but not to 20 along
The whole seacoas and wherever speculaor wished TO
build up a little town upon bay IN which there was,
pefhaps never ship entered only very few, there
to make Improvement for the benefit OF none, haps
hut the Speculation himself certainly never could APP
prove of a course OF that kind
Now, what is The character OF this bill | have no
hostility 10 any section or any quarter am willing TO be
Just liberal to the other. But, IN regard 10
the great lakes perfectly agree with the senator from
Ohio Mr. EwisG] that the western fresh waters are
just as much entitled TO appropriations as The salt waer
and that the rivers OF the West stand upon the foot
ing those in which the salt water ebbs and flows But
does not this bill go great deal further, and do more
Tor them than or those the seacoas Look al he num-
Der OF appropriations made here for the different lakes
Many OF the places have heard OF before, and
| members of this Senate until they found in this
bill Here we find big Sodus harbor, and Little So.
dus barbor, and Green river and "Black nver," and
"BIack lake" tLanghter Why sir, shall require TO
have my knowledge OF geography greatly improved be-
fore learn where to hnd "Bg Sodus and Little Sodus
lake. are situated Sir, we might well pour every
cent of money ont OF the treasury, and give 1t TO
everybody who wants TO build up place 10 appropr
ate Ii for the benefit of Big Sodus or "Lile Sodus and
"Back ver, and other places that nobody ever heard
OF before. DO gentlemen suppose that we are going to
sacrifice the appropriation bills, and every other import
ant bill that il necessary for to pass, lust Tor the
sake OF building up "Lllte Sodus' and "Big Sodus'
harborl taughen1 No. SIR; il is out Of the question
it will not pe the case
Now, sir. do oppose this bill in any factious dis.
position was perfectly willing II the bill had come for
ward month sooner 10 have given II careful consid
eraiion Or, If the friends of the bill will leave II and
bring il up at the commencement of next session, am
perfectly willing tha, should receive careful consider
alton Bat do choose TO be forced inte the passage