The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-24

believe compact between six or niue States to DO
constitutional, nor, constitutional he did not be-
lieve il expedent. In the cases where Congress
had granted the right to State TO levy tonnage
duties, the States had egisaed previous to the as
sent OF Congress being asked. In this case Con-
No State had asked for this right; there had been
no legislation by any State showing The object to
be accomplished. liz all for ner cases the State le
gslation had been precedent to the action or as
MIR. DOUGLAS said there had been cases where
the assent Of Congress had preceded the State le-
gslation.
MIR. SMITH said there might possibly be such
case, but the legislation OF the States had always
been precedent to that of Congress.
Mr.. DOUGLAS said if the Senator would allow
him he would show a case.
Mr.. SMITH said, that as the Senator had ex-
pressed himself fully he had better keep his seat
The CHAIR asked il the Senator yielded the
flour.
Mr. SMITH said he did not.
The CHAIR said the Senator from Illinois was
out Of order.
Mr.. DOUGLAS eaid he could show that what
the Senator had said false.
The CHAIR called the Senator to order. II was
not in order for any Senator to cay that state
ment by another Senator was false.
MIR. DOUGLAS asked what was the rule where
one Senator made a mlsstatencnt aud refused 10
allow himself to be corrected; what was the other
Senator to do in such a case!
The CHAIR said the Senator was to keep his
seat till the other Senator had concluded.
Mr.. SMITH repeated his objections to the amend
ment. He pointed cut the difficulty Of collecting
these tonnage duties; and asked whether forts were
TO be erected to command vessels on the rivera.
He would like to the Senator acting as com
mander-n chief in such fort. The Senator had
lately been endeavoring to be made commander
IL chief, but had been upped at Baltimore
He had been somewhat anticipated in his obJec-
ton to this scheme by the Senator from Michigan,
who knew what he was about, which was not al
ways the case with Senators. He then proceeded
to show that The whole tax involved in the levying
of these tonnage duties would fall on the necks OF
the far mers. The Senator'S scheme was 10 lay the
hand OF unprecedented taxation on the pre-emp-
TONERS and log cabin boys Of illinois and the other
Western States.
He then pointed out the injuries to trade to result
from the adoption Of this syslem, and suggested to
the Senator from Illinois to study less the laws OF
more.
He said that while this scheme of the Senator'S
visits the farmers and log cabin men Of the whole
Wet with heavy taxation, it relieved the million
aires and men of extensive fortunes from their
share of the cost Of these improvements. He then
pointed out that the large citics Of New York. Bos-
ton, &c, where were consumed the most of the
Injuries upon which high duties were paid, and
Government, now paid a large proportion Of the
cost of improving the western rivers; and that, II
this scheme were successful, these would be re-
ieved. and the whole tax transferred to the shout
lie examined the bill vetoed by Mr.. Polk, and
the one practically vetoed by the majority at the
last session, and showed that they were mainly ap
preparations for the lakes, western and south vest
ern rivers. Who were responsible for the defeat
Of these bills? The party which elected Mr. Polk.
| and the party having the majority in Congress. II
| this bill Was unjust TO the West, Northwest, and
Southwest, who was responsible for il! The sena'
tors own party we're in majority In both Houses
and had control Of the committees.
Mr.. DOUGLAS replied, stating that he had no
fears Of the Senator'S exercising any influence to
his political disadvantage in Illinois: he referred
his secret circulars to Indiana in lS4S; to his
boxes Of documents daily arriving at the Capitol,
TO be folded at the public expense &c, &c; and
said the Senator's threats cause terror to him.
He intlnated that the Senator had no right to re-
present the western people; that interest in the
| mines Of Lake Superior, or an agency for tho
| stockjob6ing speculators OF Wall street, did not
give the Senator right to speak for those people.
lie would desire no better advocate than ior the
Senator 10 60 to Illinois as the special representa-
| tive OF the Wing party II the Senator did that,
be would not find Wings enough in lllinois to
make milc-s'ones along the highways He then
proceeded to show the advantages to the people Of
illinois to result for the adoption Of the system pro-
pused in his amendment.
| Mr.. BUTLER, it being now five O'Clock, moved
Messrs HAMLIN, BELL, and GEYER con.in.
ued the debate, opposing the amendment; and
Msssrs. MASON. BoRLaND, BROOKE, DAW.
| SUN, ana bU LEn supported IT,
Several Intellectual motions to adjourn were
made.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD ssid that if time allowed he
thought he could demonstrate that, if Congress had
and harbors, it was an admission Of the power OF
Congress t. do it itself. II Congress had not the
power, then it could not delegate that power an
other.
Mr.. CHARLTON moved an amendment to the
amendment, reserving the right Of Georgia to levy
tonnage duties on the Savannah river, whether
South Carolina, who owned the opposite shore, con-
sentcd to the same or not
Mr.. CASS called attention to the difficulty at.
tending the first attempt to put this scheme into
operation.
The amendment was debated at length.
After some remarks by Messrs. CASS, DAW-
SON, BUTLER, and SOULE, as to the proprie.y
of postponing the subject embraced in the amend.
ment till next session
Mr.. DOUGLAS withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. ATCHISON renewed it, embody ing in it
that proposed by Mr.. CHARLTON.
The debate was renewed. Messrs. BUTLER,
MASON. CHARLTON. BROOKE, and HALE,
suepo5ting il; and -; Msssrs GWlN, PRArT,
opposing 1t.
The amendment was then rejected-yeas II,
nays 25-as follows:
1EAs..Messr.. Atchison. Borland. Brodhead,
Dodge OF Iowa. Douglas, Hale, Hunter, Jones OF
Iowa. King, Mallory, Mason, and Soule-l7.
NAYS.-hlcssrs: Bayard, Bell, Bradbury,
brght, Sass, CIarke, cooper, DAVIS, felcp, + COT,
Geyer, Hainlin, Houston, Merriwether, Morton,
Pcarce, Pratt, Rusk, Seward, Smith. Spruance,
Sumner, Underwood, Upham, and Wade-25.
Mr. SEWARD moved to amend the bill by ap.
propriating 100000 for the construction of levee
across the mouth OF the San Diego river, to di vert
its waters into False bay and after debate it was
agreed to-yeas "a, nays II.
During these proceedings several motions to ad-
journ were rejected. 1t was now half past I, and
motion to adjourn was lost-ayes l6, noes IL.
Mr.. BROOKE proposed an amendment appro-
priating for survey OF the Yazoo, Pearl and Tom
bigbee rivers, in Mississippi, 5000 each. After
considerable debate this was rejected-ayes Is,
noes 49,
Mr.. DAWSON moved an amendment directing
the Secretary Of War to cause a survey of the Sa-
vannah, Ocmulgce, Flint and Chattahoochee rivers,
in Georgia TO the height Of steamboat navigation,
and appropriatng for the same $4,000; after de.
bate it was agreed to.
Mr.. BORLAND moved to strike out $50, 900
and insert 100. 900 for the removal of Red river
raft: debated and agreed to-aycs %, noes 20.
Mr.. HALE, at quarter past eight, moved an
adjournment; which was lost-ayes Is, noes not
counted.
Mr.. BROOKE moved an appropriation of 8 l3 500
for a survey Of the Yazoo, Tombigbee, and Pearl
viv