The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-27

10 one un you have finished H. and Then 10 anohef and
go on through The list Why not appropriate enough TO
accomplish the completion OF particular object Sim
ply because no one point can combine strength enough
10 pass It's object by itself and also because there Is not
money enough IN the treasury and your revenue
VIII not yield you enough TO enable you 10 make all me
works OF Improvement which really essential 10 the
protection 81 The great navigating interests Of ihs county
But while am anxious 10 see whether we can So
Deef system Than this or not or rather 70 see whee
we cannot adopt system for haTbor improvements
which will be efectua yet unlIl can see 'nat sueh
a system can be adopted, must adhere TO The pres
ent system IN order 10 put STOP as lar as poss'oe
TO that frighful and appalling destruction Oh ille anu
property. instances OF which we know are happening
now upon our western waters and northern lakes anu
upon our coast, almost every day. And while we are
going with this bill, do feel under Obligations, when
see that eight objects are specified IN II
by small appropriations for surveys with reference TO Ia
tue expenditures for improvements 10 insist that we
shall extend these surveys 10 those other points where
my constituents vitality interested or else that we
have the appropriations for surveys IN general terms so
that may al least have some chance OF having our
coast examined. well as these other objects. | am
willing 10 have the examination OF our coasts lett IN
general lump with the others but | am not willing
that you should omit our objects in the bill. and then
specify other objects about which you have no inioma
ioD and also In your very law exclude the topograph
zeal corps from making Investigations in reference TO the
necessity Of these works upon the lakes therefore
make olrspechcaons so general as give fairness ana
equality any rate 10 expenditure OF money IN this
Mr.. DAVIS / rise simply to state TO the Senate the
principle which govern in regard TO surveys.
There bat two modes which have been adopted
within my know ledge the is the mode proposed by
the senator from Michigan, Mr. CAss.l which strikes
the mind obviously being very convenient mode TO
begin with; the other mode Is by Congress speclfyng the
places 20 be surveyed Ii was formerly the practice OF
the War Department TO recommend some $500 annu
ally for the prosecution OF surveys The mode then was,
applied to the War Department. and that department
formed an opinion as to whether II was expedient to
make that survey not. II the judgment was favorable
The survey made if unfavorable. then survey
| remember well that that excited a
great deal OF feeling in Congress II was thought that
there was some paalily in the exercise oil thus power,
because parties who applied were more viglanl
than Others and therefore some were successful and 9th
unsuccessful. The exercise OF this power by
the War Department became offensive and the result
that Congress refused 10 make this annual appropra
on and SAID let ourselves consider in each house,
when place presented for survey, whether is ex
pedent to make il or not And that practice has been
followed from that time down 10 this.
Now, the honorable senator from Michigan MIR. CAssl
suggests very correctly that those who most vgant
in making applications and pressing their claims and
their objects OF improvement, most likely TO get
provision inserted in the bill But ii the Senate will look
for moment 10 the nature OF these transactions, they
will that il amounts to but very little, as profess
siona thing upon the part OF the typographical engineers
Here comes application for the survey OF the river
now under consideration the Rappahannock 10 Virginia
The very object OF the survey TO enlighen Congress
The very object of il is TO bring the requisite information
here in regard to this stream Perhaps all that the opo
graphical department know about the stream 49, that 4 Is
a navgable stream, and that has long been entered by
going vessels and other craft But there is reason
10 suppose that they have any more knowledge about Its
distractions than Congress has. Then why submit the
question OF its survey 10 them al all Why send ii to
them al all For the very obvious reason that the
knowledge to be obtained BY them may be very useful
10 Congress- and because they better judges and bel
Ter competent TO make surveys than men who have no
experience in such matters Then, the matter comes
down 10 this the object is 10 get the judgment OF men OF
practical knowledge and experience about this point As
10 the rest, il is matter OF geographical knowledge II
being the business OF these gentlemen 10 look into these
Subjects they may be better acquainted with these streams
Than And ali , t,l
present itself TO the sober judgment OF the Senate and
is put IN here with the expectation that the Senate will
exercise its own Judgment upon the subject as TO whether
merits that degree of attention and examination which
them as to The lasi point That comes up with the view
OF my friend from Texas (Mr RUsKl As l understand
it, he thinks that Congress had better pass upon the mat
ter rather than the department The old practice
changed for that express purpose
Now, what does my honorable friend from Illinois
mir DouGLAsl sayi He says, Now, be cautious gentle
men, what SORT OF surveys you make entering
the wedge TO Improvement SO we are that all true
enough. But there is nothing very scary in ihat-noh
ing very alarming in that the very that when
we come here with measure OF improvement and pre-
sent i TO The Senate, the hrst question asked is Has
there been survey has there been examination p
has the typographical department made the necessary
qury into this ihngl No; we have come here without
all that. Then you may walk out OF that door; have
nothing 10 do with matters that have not undergone this
Investigation; we take up matters that have not been
submitted 10 the department, where the instruments have
not been applied and the regular charts made out, so
that understand the character OF The difficulties TO
be removed and overcome Now, that is pretty reason
abeso reasonable principle that II is not often
ed in either house oil Congress How them shall the in
vestgatioa begin? That is the point II you begin with
a survey the objection comes up that applies the be-
ginning OF these matersis the hrst step the other will
be TO follow up with improvements Thea, you to
do nothing at all
Mr. DOUGLAS. The honorable senator misappre.
hends the point made II you put special provision
In The bill that you shall survey any particular point,
then the department consider that that is designated
proper place Tor Improvement, and they estimate for
accordingly But you put IN the round oil $40 900
yGu put all the places upon equality before the de-
psriment, and they have 10 select from them.
Mr.. DAVIS. expressly discaim any such inference
say that the matter here for consideration as TO
whether not Congress will direct the inquiry 10 be
made The decision whether IL is worthy Of future ap-
propraioDs s served until that ques
ton CONES up. This settles nothing the proprieiy
OF undertaking The work OF improvement; il can settle
the survey Is returned here then the question arises and
that question u.s. whether not you will 20 further and
improve under that survey
Now, the senator from Illinois Mr. DoUeLAsl saws
that the appropriated very inadequate Tor the
public exgences That is very trse; they are very in
adequate for the public exgercies These exgencies are
pretty numerous in that portion OF the country 10 which
The honorable senator has aivered and have sometimes
concuired with him in the opinion tina, perhaps more
that any particular improvement that have in my
mind 10 not useful TO the public but that IL would have
been wiser 10 have limited the number OF improvements
10 a smaller number than was undertaken. But that
question settled by Congress- they determined that
each and all OF these works should be commenced The
senator says that you limit these to small
amount that the storms OF the winter carry away the
49, L.