The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-17
Observation-Disclosures
MoSpAY. August l6. isS2.
SENATE.
.tRST ESSlOS,

SENATE,
The CHAIR presented the me mo iai Of wo. kineu
on the extension Of the Capitol, praying that pro.
rision may be made for their better compensation.
MARY =. d. BLANEv.
On motion of MIR. BRIGHT. the vote by which
the bill for the relief Of Mary E. ID. Blaney was re-
j.cied wac reconsdered.
Mr.. PRATT explained that Major Blaney had
come thousand dollars in bank to his private
O., redt, which was taken by the United States Off.
GERS on the plea that be was indebted to the CO.
rernment. This was denied, and after some twelve
the Supreme c. urt decided that he was not ndcbt-
I'd TO the Government. The bill simply provided
to pay the widow interest the sum thus retained
by the United States.
The bill was then passed
PEasoNAL ExPLASArioH.
Mr.. DOWNS made personal explanation with
respect To his agency in reporting the third section
q! The at suppiemc ntal To the Census and Appor.
ii nnent act; which secC-s referred to the salary
ui the experimenting clerk OF the census.
Tx. ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL
Was received from the House; and. ON motion,
VAS referred to the Committee on Finance.
MIR SEWARD presented thu. Eesou tions Of the
Chamber oil Commerce, OF New prk, praying an
appropriation for the improvement OF Hurl gate.
saiP CANAL AROUND THE FALLS OF eAuLT STE.
hARIE.
On motion of Mr.. CASS, the Senate proceeded
10 consider the bill granting land to Michigan to
ad in the construction of a ship canal around tbs
fas If Sault Ste. Marie.
MIR. G. addressed the Senate Tor sumo time il,
support OF the R:i. He showed its importance,
and particularly .dweis upon its necessity as a
tnc"as oil defence in case Of war. lie showed Ina,
at present, in case OF war, two naval forces would
be requiccd on the lakes; il this canal were CON
structud, the lake. would be united that the ma.
val iorCes on one lake could readily be changed
the others. In the of his remarks, ia refer.
Pin tn adj he aaiA kp S,,Co Obi
ton to the annexation Of Canada OK the acquisition
Of Cuba, but would no, desire war TO obtain
them. While he would not go 70 war for their
acquisition, he would have no objection, in
war occurred that their annexation should be
result.
MIR. UNDERWOOD referred TO the remarks OF
MIR. Z as ~ the power of Congress to appropriate
money Tor the construction OF roads and canals
ana other later nal improv emeuts, when pecus-ery
.or the defence Of the country, and argued that
under the power claimed by the Senator those
works Of great national improvement go long adj
vocated by the Wing party could be accomplished
He Icjuiccd to have euch doctrines coming from So
Distinguished a member Of the Democ ratio party.
Mir. BUTLER said that an appropr's ion for ths
work might be JustIfable a war measure, but
upon no other ground 1t could only be consider
ed war measure, or as a measure for the dei.nces
OF the country, when there existed probability Of
war. No ~as now anticip ed in tina, MAR
ter. Ii could not be intended a means vi defence
in war with Great Bri,aie, FOR the last point
where Great Britain would venture TO attack the
CnlIed s:atss would he in the northwest territory
England knew this very well; and the Senator, ky
one of his Sempronius speeches, could ropec the
people VI that region to sch point that uey
"oo'u not hesitate TO charge the British fleet ON
horseback Great Britain would never attack the
Chited States in the gcntlemans neighborhoou
II would lie attacking the lion in his den.
He contenaed thai this canal could hav. no
other oil cCt than to develop the Ut Mich
90 doing this by appropriations from the United
States Treasury. He' could have objection 10
the development Or the resources of Michigan. or
oI any other part Of the country, when was done
the expense and cost OF those " no were to be
ocn-ti.ed Uy Il
lie regarded this bill as the pioneer ui a system
OF bills having for their object local improvements
70 be u.ade by money appropriated from the tres
would Infinitely prefer u general system of inter
nal improvements. He would prefer TO SCI. t.,,
public money expended for the obstruction Q! "a
road from here 10 New Orleans, and from here 10
Buffalo, and in the efnent Of the Misssslppi
river. A system Of internal improvements OF
ioca! character would be most dangerous; il would
convert the business OF legislation into dis,titu.
ton OF tho public money for local purposes; it
would lead to all measure OF temptation, and a
general desire, by representatives, to have some
ror'ion OF the public money applied to the local..
ties In which they were particularly Interested
The only limit would be the want o, money; and
go long as any money was in the treasury the an.
propr atoms would be made. He thought it would
DC better Tor the county II there were less money
IN the treasury TO be thus disposed Of.
he thought that there would be less probability
oi abuse 1t no money were in the treasury bu,
what was de- ived irom direct taxation IN such
case hen the citizen was called unon E,r h,s ,,x
anu no eskcd %nat was for, and told it was Tor
digging a canal in Michigan, he would probably
Bay that he had never heard OF the place. When
tho people were thus called upon directly To pay
tor Improvements Of a local character, the iikeIl
hood would be that u more responsb BILE reprrs, nta
lion uld follow
II he saw any prosp.ct Of war he v oud perhsps
vote tor the bill as measure Of defence, but it
clearly work TO benefit the commerce OF Mrhi-
gan. lie objected 70 the asking of n thing in the
name Ut EAU when the benefits Of it were to go to
Jacob.
ME- MASON said t,,r amendment rropo.eJ BY
the Senator from Connecticut did not remove tie.
objection to the bill
ihe amendment ptoposcd by Mr.. TovceY va.
then agreed to-
cunsidcr aun some time ago he objected that this
work should be pressed forward, while others o,
equal importance were neglected. he saw nothing
N this work to ent,le 1t to the preference. II MAS
no more n war measure than many others which
CongEts did hot lcglsiaie for. He though! il bot
proper thai this bill ehould be postponed till tl,"
River and Harbor bill was taken up and acted
upon. He old not know but that he might cuts, nj
~ have this work provided Tor in that bill
Mr. CAsS said that the River and Ilarbor till
~ou! d certainly pass. il reasonable one. He ,,ld
not know but that he would vote for il if i, W, re
not essentially changed.
Mr.. BELL repeated his objccti to the con
alteration Of this bill in advance Of the River and
HaIbor bill, and moved tsat It be postponed til
Tuesday next.
Mr. IOUCEY said that this appropriation was
indefensible on the ground Of aiding commerce, or
as measure TO iactste the transportation q
troops and munitions Of war. Every road and
canal could be applied to such purposes But nc
placed his support to the measure On the ground
that it would enable the United States to trans port
its vessvls Of war from lake to another anu h.
treated it os analogous to the appropriations for
docks and railways
Mr.. BELL asked, if it were put on that groun,'
alone, Why did the Senator propose 10 turn it
10 the State Of Michigan ~hcn comple,ed' lie also
inquii ed Of whntvllue the canal oud be in time
OF war for the purpose Indicated when the guns %;
the British forts on the oppo.e bank could
nand tho Cdl.G!I
Mr.. DOUGLAS hoped that before To. bill was
postponed, the Senate would decide whether ;he
appropriation was to be in money. or land On
that point rested his support If the bill.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD supported the money ap
preparation lie did not agree " it'll Sena tors a.
t" tho Corruptng reeu!ts 20 follow the adoption OF
system OF internal improvements. He thought
the System OF office. seeking, the revard,ng OF
political friends, sc, and in the innttc- II ott.in.
Ing contracts, SC OF which the select committee
recently reported would Fave something t. say