The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEEGRR ned DEBATE,
MONDAY. MARCH 3. 1851.
IN cokTINuATIoN.l


/
SENATE
| RIVERS AND HARBnRs.
Mr. CASS. am opposed 10 the increase of the pub
70 otter an amendment which would enable TO vote
Tor the proposition BY misunderstanding tie state OF
the question have lost the opportunity, and desire
! repeat that | am in favor of the great principle of
keeping The expenditures within the receipts, and am
prepared TO support II The deficiency thrown equally
circumstances, agree that the authorized and usual
expenses OF the governmentthose sanctioned by exist.
ing laws-and The private claims. which have become
acknowledged debts BY our legislation, should be first
met We cannot avoid these without the most serious
injury, and without the palpable violation Of moral
duty. But cannot extend this immunity any further
than, our existing obligations. cannot consent that all
the excess should be thrown upon the river and harbor
appropriations. II is moi just There is vast variety Of
objects ior which are providing with railroad apidty.
and amid railroad noise and confusion, which far
interior IN real Importance and utility 10 many OF those
contemplated by this bill. Among them are appropria-
tons made anticipated for The Capitol. for nins,
custom houses, post othces steamboat lines, and books
no inconsnerable source OF expense-and many other
purposes, all OF which may be delayed. and many OF
which may be omitted without injury to the public ser
vice repeat sir it is unjust ag ianily soto throw all
The dehcencies upon the river and harbor BILL and leave
everything else TO 90 on none, or no money propose
to the senator from Maine accept amendment which
will carry out this view, and I win then for his
proposition. .t q. .ta. a U#aa5.a5 t# EtHI
The PRESIDENT. The amendment may be offered
Mr.. CASS But can't find a man to read il after |
have written it, | must find one to write it.
Nj BEkRlEN. While the senator from Michigan i.
preparing his amendment, il i ia not ready, desire 10
lake the sense Of the Senate upon another proposition
Mr. BERRIEN move TO strike ou, in the al2.h
and 18th lines these words: r# Vi. #n .@ # .F
" For removing the distractions in the Rio Grande river
Texas, $l5,70o" frI.
! desire simply to say that The boundary between
Rio Grande; that this appropriation is in terms an a
propriaoa OF money to De expended beyond the limits OF
the United Sales that IL nerferes with river which
the common property OF Mexico and the United States
with which tins government has right to interfere in
any whatever without The consent of tina, govern
ment do not make this proposition Use on this
OCCASION Tor the purpose OF consuming the time OF the
Senate; but, having stated the facts upon which the
amendment is founded, ask that The yeas and nays
may be taken upon 1t
| The yeas and nays were ordered.
blr. RuSK shall say but word. The expenditure
under hIs bill is under the control of the executive gov
eminent II any difficulty such as The senator from
Georgia apprehends shall occur in improving the Rio
GIande as matter OF course il will not be done There
will be some understanding with the Mexican govern
men in relation 10 j, or, If that be the course we
have half the nver, and they cannot prevent IRON i'm
proving thai halt II they could, the would
prevent our using II all II is one of the national fea
lures OF the bill Ii is the frontier beween us and Mex
leo, nav gable for some TOO 500 miles, and the mos,
important, commerce in all that secon OF the country is
Carried on IN H. amounting TO upwards Of five millions
this year. It is rapidly increasing.
| MIR. BERRlEN 4 he cone ideraons which have been
suggested by the senator from Texas would be very
proper were negotiating with the republic OF Mexi-
co in relation TO the Improvement Of this river That
which may be very desirable us-ihe improvement OF
the navigation OF this riyer. that may ascend 10 a
distance now mpaccable-may, IN the view OF the Mex
lean government. not be consistent with their interests
their wishes, or Their capnccs. They joint
with US 10 this nver They have hight 10 have it con
nue in its present state il they think proper; and that
should make appropriation which may involve an
interference with the rights Of Mexico, relying upon the
Executive take this shall not be done without
the previous consent OF Mexico is 10 delegate the power
which belongs to the Congress OF the United States 10
the executive government
The question being taken upon The amendment, il was
reJec,ed-ytas ~, nays 3l-as follows:
YEAs-Messr. A,cht,on, Berien, Borland, Bright,
Clemeus Davi. Of Mississippi Dawson. Deknson, Downs.
Ss Tssy s" sfT ad Se sA'
NAYs-hesst. B,dgss Baldwin, Bell, Chase, Clarke.
Dodge OF Iowa. Douglas. Ewing feicb, Greene. Hsls,
Houston, JSne, Mansnm, , Miller, , pfs, Ranou ku.s,
Uphsm, Wales, and Waker-3i.
Mr. DAVIS. of Mississippi, moved to amend the I52d
line by striking out repair" and inserting removal so
that the provision would read
" For the removal Of the dam the head Of
island, In he Ohio nyer, sboov0"
Mr. D. said Upon former OCCASION Mr. President
when an appropriation ask ed tor this purpose ad.
dressed some remarks TO the Senate in favor of appro
priaon such as this. Then now, believed that the
WotA winch hau oseh Hane Dy the government OF the
United States was an obstruction 10 the natural Davga
ton and constituted nuisance and an Infringement of
the rights oil persons to navigate the national highway
thai The duty OF the government abae the nuisance
and that II could be done more easily by repa,rnp
the dam than BY removing IT, and voted ior the appro
prlaton. Since that nme have had a favorable oppor
tuny 10 the obstruction and have become convinced
that II be easily removed than so repaired "a 10
answer the purpose known you and many others
here that this dam constructed across the better of
two DsvIgable channels. with view to throw the wafer
upon the Kentucky side, as 10 down by the mouth
Of the Cumberland river. think there has been a
change IN the bearing oil The current and do not be-
beve that II any engineer were TO go upon the
ground to determine the question whether distractions
should be thrown that channel not single one
oil all the engineers OF the country could be ousd pro
pose 10 shut up that channel with dam therefore
take Tor gianed that the circumstances were very diff
erent when the work was commenced The channel
which was proposed 10 render navgable by the con-
sructon Of this dam has been filling up ever since and
boats are Aow compelled 10 go over breach that has
been made about the centre OF the dam AT low water
they do with great difficulty and at some hazard the
shock being ercepube and sensible to those on the
boat Going up, the difficulty is sii greater. The
water now hears hard upon the right bank sweeping
along the side Of the dam and pouring over il ,binf
the true mode would be TO remove some portion of the
right end OF the dsm,s which would not affect the pool
above It, but give an open passage the stream below
The river below is now beyond our reach and there
fore ssy nothing about IT, addressing mysef solely TO the
amendment. HAsi.tE 7 n
The question being taken upon the amendment /, wa.
rejected
Mr.. DODGE, Of Iowa | beg leave to offer The fol-
lowing amendment To strike $50 900 for the inn
provemen OF the Ms-ssippi rver, and insert Sioo 900
am induced TO offer because of the great favor with
anxiety OF the S~nsre vote dowa any nj that
NAV he offered | w not even nak the ,aa. and oavs