The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST IS, 1852.
[coKcLUDED

RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.

SENATE.
RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
The Senate having under consideration the bill from
the House OF Representatives making appropriations for
certain rivers aud harbors,
Mr. HALE said great deal has been said in the
the particular framing OF this bill 10 particular
local nleress, 10 get majority of the Senate 10
favor H. Now, wish, far as il is necessary TO vim
dcae one humble individual, who will vote for this bill
from being influenced by any such considerations There
IS a State in this Union by the Of New Hampshire,
which we should know nothing OF it we did not read or
hear the doings OF political conventions, IaugbteT1
least far the legislation OF this country concerned
III regard TO appropriations fer internal Improvement
believe that from the commencement OF the general gov
enment 10 the present day there has been but
single appropriation for any internal Improvement in the
State OF New Hampshire, and that the small OF
$4,000 in the year 1887, which applied TO ncreas
ing the facilities for the circulation OF small democratic
newspaper, and for the removal Of any distractions
in any river harbor That has been the history of in
ternal Improvement far The State which have
the honor in part TO represent is concerned. And you
have been for years collecting more money annually
from the factory girls and factory operatives there in the
shape OF postage-more money annually by direct taxa
ton upon that class OF czens-han you have ap
propriaed to that State for any OF Improvement from
the adoption OF the present constitution 10 the present
ment
II is said that in arrangements of this Sort it will
do TO appropriate all the of money to be
pended at particular point That is true; have no
doubt that is correct But have found that there
OF which is that class whose population is rather
small and growing comparatively less. A State which
has but four representatives in the present Congress-
and will have but three in the next, is in need OF
works OF internal improvement State with but three
representatives will WELD but little influence and there
fore is manifest TO everybody that is not OF much
importance 10 have improvements there. But, sir, in
reference to Stale which has two three representa-
ves in The present Congress- and expecting TO have
in the next, it is manifest TO everybody that
the navigation must be improved there. | make some
nf hat here
anything corrupt in this measure because that Is not
senatorial. But think some suggestions of this
may be useful in afording some clue to the consdera
lions which very powerful in getting up bills of this
character Nevertheless, shall give my vote for this
bill, Notwithstanding unfortunately situated as
live in State which has but four representatives in
this Congress- and which will have but three in the
And shall 20 az ainst this amendment for this
that is entirely mmaieral II does not qualify the bill
at all leaves the sum appropriated exactly the same
original bill requires the Secretary OF War TO report the
progress of The work the amendment does the same
The original bill requires an estimate OF the annual cost
keep the channel open the amendment does the
But the amendment proposes what the original bill does
requires estimate, and further provision that
contract shall be made unless limited 10 the amount
hereby appropriated Well take il, ii il is possible
frame law. have more Than statute upon the
statute book which does tha-which prohibits the head
oi department from making any contract for larger
sum than is named in The bill making be appropriation.
Think The gentlemen who have been Interested in getting
up the California floating dock will understand what the
settled construction oil tbe tnat
action OF the department. when, upon the advice OF the
Attorney General the application OF that appropriation
delayed twelve months because the department could
make contract for the work within The appropriation
maae The work delayed twelve months, be-
cause that the law Ii understood by the de-
partment. and so il was settled Then, this amendment 10
that respect is entirely immateral, All the amendment
requires annual estimate Of the actual OF keep
my the channel open. IL would be very idle for 10
make provision OF that sort by law, 10 make annual
exhibit OF the estimate 10 keep The channel open, when
~
estimates made and presented We have not found
necessary thus far 10 make law 10 require estimates,
but, the contrary, the estimates come in great deal
faster than the appropriations are made 10 meet them
do not think for that reason that il is necessary TO make
any appropriation OF this sort.
But, sir. there is difficulty in my mind confess in
voting for this bill and regret that there not
gentlemen in the Senate that used TO be here who
more conversant with the dictionary than am, that
might have the meaning given 10 us oil what const
tues general system OF internal improvements You
know Mr. President, that we democrats all opposed
to general system and anything that comes short OF that
is democratic. Well, now, what makes general sys-
tenn That is the thing that abors 10 my mind The
constitutional question is entirely cear have not heard
any old fogy in the Senate that talks OF referring 10 the
constitution now is entirely superseded by platforms
And wish that some gentleman conversant with plat
forms and dictionaries boih-and very lew men are (;
men that understand most about platforms know less
about dictionaries-l wish that somebody conversan
with platforms and dictionaries boih-and say Il with
sincere desire for lghtwould inform upon this sub
ect; for light in order TO square my conduct by
the platforms want TO know, and want the gentle
men who advocate this bill To know, IN voting for IT
we are not in great danger OF coming up TO general
system General" is the indefinite term which ap-
ply TO systems and candidates The latter almost
all generals But, sir while the people in favor OF
generals for candidates they are opposed 10 generals for
systems; they opposed 10 general system. They
are in favor OF General Scott and General PIERCE but
opposed to general system Now, think II we take
generals al all we might well take general system.
But The difficulty is 10 finding what constitutes general
system ask for light. II strikes me that the common
experience and observation OF mankind this subject is
reversed, and the system which the minority is in favor
OF is general system, and The system which the
jority in favor OF is not general system. One would
think that exactly the would be true-that the
system which combined the greatest number and CON-
manded majority would he agenera system. But that
does not seem 10 be the fact general system
not TO mean what the majority meant but system that
general is that which is sought for by the minority
But, sir, do not know how 10 understand this, and
confess have been embarrassed. have been bothered
TO know how TO get along trust, however, that am
making due progress in this age OF progress and that
shall, II have not already got TO that pitch, soon
rive at IT, in which will platforms with respect and
the constitution with contempt, because that seems TO
me 10 be The tendency OF things to that the
constitution has got 10 be obsolete idea and have
been looking, and hope by another session to in.
stead OF resolution which requires the constitution TO
be printed with rules and distributed TO senators and
members, mod dhcation OF that resolution by which
that document may be dispensed with, thrown away and
deposited among the archives oil some antiquarian
ciey and that in place OF il may have the platforms
printed with the rules accompanied by some definitions,
by which those OF who wish TO keep within the pale
o the true faith may understand what the meaning OF
general and what particular is, when applied the
legislation which we about TO vote upon in our ca