The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-22

Il was passed simple duty the part OF the govern
menl That bill was sent TO the House. Instead OF
leaving II TO stand its own footing, the House put
Siocoo ioI The purpose into the river anu haroor b
b b ners s Ser er b es b has
been done 10 Georgia by this bill You put in $40 600
instead Of $4,000 TO relieve yourselves OF duty which
is becoming apparent every day that you should
discharge. And now, when you are going by this
amendment TO take away from the general government
the power TO make these Improvements. you ask the
State oil South Carolina TO unite with US in levying>
tonnage duty which will be solely for the benefit o the
city oi Savannah.
OF what advantage will this tonnage duty be TO South
Carolina! The Carolina rice plantations on the north
side OF the river have plenty of water If the distractions
were teniod what they The river belongs TO Geor
ga is true, but aves the shores OF South Carolina,
and leaves them plenty Of wafer for the use OF lis cl
zens. For the purposes OF commerce, South Carolina
IN comparison with Georgia does not want bucket-full
OF water from the Savannah. From the city OF Savan,
nah TO Hamburg is about two hundred and fifty miles,
and from Hamburg, | repeat, there is a railroad TO
Charleston. -Four hfths-nay nne-tenths--of the cot
ton from Hamburg that descends The river goes to Sa
vannab, and not TO Chaeson; and, therefore, II would
be Tor the benefit Of South Carolina in general TO put
distractions in every foot OF that river do not say she
would do so if she had the power have great respect
for The generosity and character of the State OF Soah
Carona but why put in the condition of asking as
favor what entitled TO as right' Why put AS
upon principle OF comfy Why trench upon State
sovereignty Leave us, if you WILL to develop
resources at our own expense, but do not limit
troll these energies by making us suppans to any other
State. Do not place US in tue power OF any Leave
us alone.
The rule prescribed in the third section OF the amend
ment OF the senator from linas is manlfesty good
one-tha which where river runs between two States,
both OF which mutually interested in its commerce,
they should both unite IN evyng tonnage duty. But
here, when il is the interest ar be il from TO say il
is the desIre) of one State 10 destroy the and
the interest OF the other State 10 preserve for its very
life can be possible that Senate will hesitate to put
the proviso have offered into the amendment? II you
rejec, the proviso and adopt the amendment without it,
you will nlc serious injury upon the city OF Savan
nah, without reason aud without excuse.
have presented my views hastily and mperfectly, in
consequence OF the time that is pressing upon In
cuson, would ask my friend from South Carolina not TO
interpose any objection 10 my amendment trust sin
cereiy that senator will that this in which
Georgia holds the whole propr,tshp of the river that
she alone interested and that therefore her legislature
should govern this matter Congress has a, various
times vested this power in Georgia. and no consent has
ever been deemed necessary from South Carolina. J
hope, therefore, that my amendment will be adopted
Mr.. CASS | desire 10 ak the Senate il there could
be stronger Illustration OF the practical difficulties OF
adjusting this important matter Than now before us |!
Here already has commenced dspute between the rep
resentaves oil sovereign S,ates-South Carolina and
eoIgla Tespecively-as to the operation that must take
place under this amendment 1t is no, the commence
men OF the end ii is hardly the commencement of the
beginning. IL should caution US: Ii speaks in loud
tones that should not adopt the plan OF the
aor from Illinois There great many difficulties in the
way hch require TO be guardei against. Ii requires
many provisions 10 be inserted that the senator has
had time during this crowded session to attend TO- i
ould suggest 10 him 10 modify II in one parcular. IL
will be observed that there Is provision IN II which
enables be levied upon the people r,ugh the
whole extent OF The Union. Every e village will
have the right to levy lis tax IN the shape o tonnage
duties; the money To be applied and Now there
Is not single provision "a tue anendment-and am
honorable senators viii reflection, the ncces
shy OF providing Tor -hat there shall be any returns
To the government TO show how much is collected and
what Is done with il. There is check upon II at all
II extends thtoughout the whole Union. Taxes 10
be locally collected by the local authorities and no one
II. IN bnu mn and
much is expended.
/ Again | would suggest TO my honorable friend that
he should hmi, the duration OF The amendment Il is
now indefinite. think il would be better 10 provide
limited Time, say. hye years, or ten years or Eileen
years, so that We might whether Il would work we'll
But any rate, let not commit ourselves to il perpei
ually Let US. If you will, make the experiment.
tain the operation OF IT. and then, II necessary, We can
proiong the system
Mr.. BUTLER. I think there is no necessity of a lin
atlon, Tor we can repeal this act al any time II might
be prudent, perhaps, 10 cura this certain number
years; but we would then have to enlarge It.
MIR. DAWSON. II can be amended at any time.
MIR. BUTLER. Yes, sir we can amend the act al any
time, and it shoulI not work well can discontinue
IT, In regard to the amendment OF the honorable senator
from Georgia, would say that the last thing would de-
sire would be the neighbors upon the Savannah
river have even apparently, any difference at all IN the
Senate We are Identified IN many particulars; and l
declare before the Senate and the country that would
make sacrifices TO concillae and be good terms
with Georgia than almost any other State 10 the Union
at this time. would say 10 my friend from Georgia that
my OPINION " luit OF part oil
South Carolina very much interested in the navigation
of the Savannah river, and that has been The universal
opinion People who carry their cotton to Hamburg and
Augusta uniformly say that they two markets n.
stead OF | am very glad TO see that Savannah will
afford another market for competition with Charleston ;
and do not hesitate TO say II is 10 the advantage OF
the planter. Ii may not be altogether so advantageous 10
the commercial interests OF Charleston but II would be
OF great advantage 10 the planter.
Let me say 10 my colleague word with regard 10 the
difficulty he suggests II Savannah 10 proceed in the
nner which he has Indicated and call in vessels gong
round to Charleston and make them pay tonnage dutes
that would 20 there but the people would
send their goods by railroad Do you suppose Savannah
would be guilty OF such a suicidal acti Not at all am
afraid OF Savannah abusing this privilege. She could
not abuse IT. because she would only have the right TO
vessels going into her port, and not 10 tax vessels
passing by. Aud il she TO undertake 10 intercept
vessels passing by, they would and 90 another way,
would not the ver There Is not the least dam
ger OF any abuse Of this power Georgia had the pryi-
lege sixty years since OF imposing these taxes; and yet
the objection urged by my colleague has never arisen.
say deliberately here now that am interested IN the
navigation OF the Savannah river, notwithstanding the
strong expe sions OF my friend from Georgia. am de-
cdedly interested in IT, want 10 see that Lavgaon inn
proved and kept up. do not think that compsllon be-
tween Charleston and Savannah will niure either OF
them, but think the extension OF facilities 10 both will
benefit the commerce of the South | am willing that
both cities should be improved by IT, ! am sure that IL
any hostile attack should be made upon the Charleston
commerce passing Savannah, II would only turn out TO
operate TO the injury OF Savannah, But have not the
least idea that such policy would be adopted and there
fore have no particular objection to the amendment OF
the senator from Georgia
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