The daily union., 1852-08-20

those falls ii would be good policy to grant half mill
to render accessible and valuable hundred millions of
acres owned by The government above the falls am
prepared now TO maintain that grant OF land for that
purpose would be wise measure.
II was an individual case-f there any senator
mere owning all the public land upon the borders of Lake
superior and any person should come forward and make
hih an 0bel TO open this canal for grant OF 500 900
acres OF land he would instantly make the grant TO him.
"a order that he might have his lands made valuable and
saleable above the falls Upon that principle vnicated
ihe bill then am prepared vindicate the meas
ure, II the senators from Michigan will abandon the
money appropriation and accept the grant Of land which
has been proposed Sir far this bill justified the
appropriation asked for upon the ground OF military de-
fences, confess that the argument does not strike my
mind with very great force think that If there is any
one spot upon the face of the globe where the British
Will never be found of with thai nation, il
upon our northwestern frontier along The borders OF
Lake superior; and an army is ever found there in
hosle array you may rest assured that army will
be found anywhere else after that period of time So
lar from there being any necessity for cutting hpcanal
there Tor purposes do not how the British get
their vessels there We now have vessels there upon
our slde and there are none upon the other side What
ever vessels there may be upon those lakes there
purposes OF commerce, and will be American vessels
and they be easily used by thu government for pur-
poses OF war But do not wshto enter into an argu-
wish this canal constructed for commercial pu oses
and for commercial purposes alone. willing to do
whatever can properly do under the provisions of the
constitution, and in conformity with what conceive
be sound line OF public policy, if the opening OF this
canal be Tor the purposes OF commerce believe is
IL,
the lands are enhanced in value o greater extent than
tue value OF the lands granted Sir If by
me appropriations OF money from the national treasury
,or me construction OF canal threefourhs OF mile
long, IN the State OF Michigan, cost of half million
OF dollars where is that prncpet stop! 1t is true, the
canal is but lhree-quaers OF mile long; but, sir the
right to construct hree-quarters Of mile of canal may
go three hundred three thousand miles do not see
now we can refrain after constructing canal from the
treasury OF the United States around the Sau ST. Marie
from another appropriation to build canal around the
falls OF Niagara upon the American side canal may
lions OF dollars. That it would be useful your COM
merce certain that might be necessary for the pur-
pose OF military defence IN case OF with Great
Britain, also certan for Great Britain has canal upon
her sde and she could take her ships from Lake Huron
through the Weland canal to Lake Ere and that canal
wold be closed to us at the opening OF Yet sir.
do not deem 1t necessary military grounds TO
slruc canal around the falls of Niagara, for the simple
reason that would be easier for take possession of
the Weland canal and that in time OF war than ii
would be to make one OF our own. would therefore,
oppose the construction of canal for purposes
around the Niagara falls upon the principle upon
which oppose now the construction OF forts along
northwestern frontier 10 protect against the British
Why SIR IT is easier TO take possession OF the British
forts, when the war breaks out than il is to build them
upon our side The British building all the forts
want, and you can take them cheaper and quicker than
you could build them for your And she is also
building canals Tor there. She may say she is
building them for purposes; but we know that within
three weeks from the beginning OF any war; The Weand
canal. the Rdeau canal and all the other canals would
be in possession, and would be American canals du-
ring the residue OF the
SO lar as the war argument Is concerned therefore,
il has weight upon my mind But, sir, the commerce
upon these lakes is immense, and the entire nat is
deeply and vitality interested in that commerce My own
constituents have deep local interest in il, well
general interest would therefore be willing TO grant
land, or to exercise any other power which is clearly
conhded 10 us by the constitution, to aid in this great
commercial enterprise BY opening this line OF commerce
But do not agree with the senator from Kentucky,
Mr. UEDERwooD,l that IT is the legitimate province Of
this government TO commence and prosecute general
system Of internal mprov from the national treas
Of n
reason that | am too good inierna-mproveme
man; and, in my opinion, the most fatal step 10 the
construction OF the internal improvements of this
ton would be for the general government take pos
session OF them and thereby induce the States 10 look
to Congress for aid in constructing their railroads and
their canals instead OF exerng their own energies and
their for that purpose. Who believes that il
the railroad system of this country had been conducted
under the charge of the federal government instead Of
the State governments, there would now have been
10000 miles OF railroad completed IN America, and
10000 miles more N the process OF construction
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Will the gentleman permit me
10 make one word OF explanation | do not wish 10
make speech.
Mr. DOUGLAS Certainly
Mr. UNDERWOOD. | do not wish TO 20 into the
system of internal Improvements now, but rise merely
to say that the system which Mr. Monroe preferred and
under which commenced operation, was to allow the
government 10 take STOCK as in the Louisville canal
in the canal by the Potomac rver n the Chesapeake
and Delaware canal, as in the Dismal Swamp canal and
as in the Maysville road. That SIR, the system
which he proposed, and which he would advocate now,
because by you would take away that patronage from
the government oil The United States would avail
yourselves OF individual talent and enterprise, and you
would give the selection 10 the government OF taking
those works which wouldbe national in their character
do not wish to into the discussion, but thought il
necessary TO make this explanation to show to the SEN
ate what was my scheme.
| Mr.. DOUGLAS. The honorable senator's scheme is
worse than thought IL was. supposed that he was
only making speech in favor OF the government OF the
United States using this money through its agents. upon
works IL thought were necessary.
Mr. UNDERWOOD | am in favor OF both
Mr.. DOUGLAS. He says he is in favor OF both But
the he advocates and which especially oppose
is the partnership system between the federal
and individuals and States throughout the Unon in the
construction Of roads and canals He says that the adj
vantage of that would be that the government OF the
United States would prescribe the lines OF communica-
ton Why, sir, the lines OF communication would be
prescribed by the combinations that would be formed in
Congress in order to obtain the greatest amount of
money.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. The honorable senator is mis-.
taken. said il would give the government opportu-
nifty Of selecting from these lines those which il deemed
necessary.
MIR DOUGLAS. Well. am willing 10 take him upon
that ground. He would have the government of the
United States furnish the money, and the local auhori-
ties furnish the lines OF communication. Now, am not
aware that that would improve the system materially for
If this government is TO make works OF internal i'm
provement with its own funds, ] apprehend that we
ought 10 have the selection of the lines OF eomnu-
nlcaiion, in order that may determine what i'm
provemens would be valuable for war purposes or for
purposes OF commerce, carrying the mails or what
other objects the government might have in view
in this expenditure OF its money. And am opposed to