The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-28

Of some particular locality rather than the country
al large.
Mr.. Chairman, have not the vanity 10 believe
that this bin is entirely perfect. There were a
great many embarrassments ia framing such a
bl arising out of the want of that information
which, had the system OF making these improve
ments for our harbors and rivers been kept up for
the last fifteen years, we should have been sup
Piled with. We have looked back 10 the data of
former years. We have been obliged TO refer,
continually, TO the Typographical Bureau for fur
Their estimates. In some instances have OBJ
tanned them, and IN others we have been COM
PEELED 10 rely upon such information we could
get from reports which have heretofore been made
upon these subjects, and we present appropria-
tons based upon them as the best information we
could obtain. t
When we consider The amount which il is pro-
posed appropriate by this BILL IL seems perfectly
apparent that il would be better 10 adopt 1t than
by imposing various amendments, 80 to enlarge
the amount as to subject the bill to the objections
which have been made against other bills Of this
nature. The amount in this bill is a Little over
Il 500 900; and that IS small when compared
with the extent Of our country the number Of our
rivers and harbors which have, for long time,
needed Improvement, and which still need il, and
the value of the commerce exposed to the dangers
sgainst which this bill Is intended to guard. do
not intend TO 60 into statistical detail of the dis
asters which have bsen attended with loss of prop
our western waters and our northwestern lakes.
| will merely state that the Committee ON Com
merce have before them statistical information,
showing that, III one year--the year lS5l-the
amount Of property lost upon our northwestern
lakes, in consequences of a lack of proper harbors
of refuge, has been far greater than the whole
amount appropriated in this bill. Yes, sir; up
wards of Il, 900 000 and more than five hundred
lives, have been lost during the last year upon
northwestern lakes, mainly for the want of
those very works of improvement which this bill
seeks 10 construct.
1t would be impossible for me- upon this
sion, to give any adequate view of the magnitude
of the commerce which is to be subserved by
these appropriations. Since the last appropria.
lions to these objects, il has largely increased In
the year lS47, convention held at Chicago,
where much valuable and authentic statistical IN
formation bearing upon this point was collected.
Since that time | am not aware that there has
been any regular and Observation-Disclosures infor
nation communicated 10 Congress upon this sub
jsct. We have been obliged to CLEAN what in
formation we could from the newspapers of the
day, and from the various periodical publications
which have treated of our commercial interests.
But we may safely assume that this commerce,
so great fourteen years ago as to astonish the
country by its magnitude, if we are to be guided
in our estimate of It's present volume by the in
formation given TO the public by the Chicago
convention, has, within this period, increased
threefold.
Why sir, when we look at the improvements
that are going on under the guidance Of individual
enterprise and by the aid OF private capital IN the
construction of railroads throughout the country,
for the increase and accommodation of Its internal
trade, cannot fail 10 see the almost incalculabe
surplus products by which II is sustained. There
is not State In the Union which is not
aroused upon this subject, and diligently con-
strucing her railroads upon which 10 transport
- ~ fbe 1ftahl 10 nd 10
the harbors and ports Of the East for domestic
consumption transhipmenI abroad. Look at
New York. spanned by three parallel railroads,
connecting the commerce Of the western lakes
with the populous marts Of the East, besides the
main artery of her inland trade, the Erie canal
and al, sustained By the demands for tranrporta-
ton. | was surprised by the statements Of COM
miitee which came before the Committee on Com
merce, from the State of North Carolina State
which, until recently, had not imbibed the spirit
Of Improvement, nor entered with much zeal upon
the development OF her resources by the con-
struction Of railroads and other works Of internal
improvement But, sir, that State is now direct.
ing its energies with much ardor and efficiency
as any other State IN this Union, towards this
great object by the construction OF railroads and
other improvements And she, too, seeks by
these means not only TO lay open her own agri-
cultural and mineral wealth, but also TO reach the
trade and commerce Of the great western valley
through the neighboring State OF Tennessee. The
bill under consideration proposes 10 and her enter
prise by the improvement Of those harbors on her
coast to which this trade Is being directed.
Sir, you find the State Of South Carolina, too,
very deeply interested at the present time in the
subject OF railroads. connecting with similar lines
Of communication in the western States; and pro-
vision has been made 10 this bill for the improve
ment Of the harbor Of Charleston, the point to-
wards which those lines OF railroads directed.
The general design should be so to reach the trade
and com nerce OF the West that II may find an
easy transit 10 all those points on the sesboard,
north and south, where Il Will meet our foreign
trade. The spirit Of enterprise, beginning with
the Northern and central parts, has extended TO
every portion Of the Union. The railroads 10 the
West have poured incalculabIe wealth into the
eastern States and they are destined so to do for
a lopg period to come.
Nov. invite gentlemen who have hitherto en-
tcrtained prejudices against this system, to look
nj this bin ar IT has been drawn, limited and
fully guarded in every point, and see whether IT
be not better 10 Join with the rest OF their fellow
citizens in this work, restricted within consfitu-
tionsl limits, and thus develop our own resources
by the improvement Of our rivers and haroors
By so dong, while We are developing the great
and cver-grow wing West, We shsll also add wealth
to the seaports Of the East. | know there are
difficulties | know there are dangers, attending
this as well as every other subject Of legislation
II has been said that this system leads to corrup-
ton and extravagsnce, and that Il will bankrupt
the Treasury. Sir, what subject Of legislation Is
not obnoxious TO the same obiectoni Will not
the Navy and the Army, il you vote profuse and
oxtravagant expenditure, m the spirit which has
been charged upon the friends OF the Improve
ment Of rivers and harbors, lead to corruption I
Would not those systems lead TO extravaganza
Would they not be apt also to bankrupt the Treas
| uryi Why are they not objected 70, because
they may lead to that result Il is because all
trust in the good sense OF Congress, and In the
good sense OF the people who sent Us here to make
such appropriations we ought to make, and no
other.
! know we might 20 into general scramble,
and make up bill, as some, believe, have been
made up ~ former days, for the very purpose OF
| dividing out the public funds. ! would deprecaie
such a course. Il should be repDdiatcd by every
| honest legislator, 10 whatever party he may be-
long. Such a policy viii find no favor with me.
Sir, believe upoa this subject, as upon all other
subjects within the pale OF the Constitution, that
Congress have the purity, integrity, honesty, and
frmness to meet questions Of this character upon
principle, and to decide them upon their merits.
When the day comes III n ever does thnt the