The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-28
Mr. CASS. That is what [ want.

Mr.. CASS That is what want.
/ Mr. SHIELDS. understand that the amendment Of
the senator from Michigan will apply 10 the onslua Dill
as well as 10 the amendment OF the committee.
| Mr. CASS That & my object,
/ The PRESIDING OFFICER II win not be in order
to strike any part OF The original bill until after the
amendments OF the committee are acted upon.
! Mr. GASS. That can be done afterwards,
] Mr. BELL, wish 10 state 10 the Senate the reason
why shall not vote for striking the amendment OF
the committee have listened to the discussion today
upon the supposed limitations upon the power OF the
government what shall constitute national gem
era obect-one that the whole Union is interested in.
Now, no gentleman pretends 10 be able TO define what
the power OF the government is, how excnsive il shall
be- how long the river that is TO be improved be-
whether il shall run through more States. Now,
wish TO aade to question which the Senate ought
10 be advised Of and which was raised long ago
upon this subject. Everybody saw very early, who
became an advocate OF this system, that i was liable
10 great abuses; that lis operation would be likely TO
run into thousand different improvements creeks
and rivers that navigabe Tor but mile or so--
unless it was confined within some bounds. Now, ii
was estimated that the naggable waters OF The Msss-
spp river and its branches alone would amount 10 10000
miles, And gentlemen must sew what a siapendons
operation Il would be to keep these streams annually
open These gentlemen who turned their attention very
early TO this subject, saw that there was necessity for
some Limitation be placed upon the system applied
the smaller creeks and rivers Well, sir. after long
tme-and appeal to honorable senators who remember
the discussions years ago TO bear me wness-ii was
generally conceded al time that very saluary limit
alton upon the whole stem OF improving rivers would
be- that the general government, whether had the power
OF any stream whose navigable waters were excu
sivey confined within the borders OF single State. And
il was upon that idea that grounded some my re,
marks yesterday. IL was then thought 10 be good
ground OF distinction 10 say that When a river ran
through two States, and no Slte had the exclusive
right 10 improve II, there was then some necessity lor
their calling upon the general government TO improve It's
Mr.. CASS. ! do not think any such principle was
adopted here The honorable senator will recoect that
that the idea started by Mr. Calhoun in his report 10
The Memphis convention, but do not think the pin-
cps Ne was Rt syfr adopted here H., .,. nonns
adopted here; and the misfortune 10 be that we
cannot adopt any principle 70 apply to this system, and
therefore il must riot 10 abuses II for that
that applied 10 the senators here yesterday, who
opposed to this general system, to unite together
and adopt some principle of Limitation that should gov
hereafter The honorable gentleman says that no
such principle was adopted here Does he say that
net discussed and considered and over again'
/ Mr. CASS Not that know of.
Mr. BELL Will the honorable senator tell me that it
was never strongly urged here J, was recommended in
reference TO the Mississippi river because there were SO
many States interested in II. and was work requiring
such vast that States could combine IN refer
ence TO improving it, And with the OHIO there a!e
four five States interested in the navigation OF The
Ohio but yon ge, them to unite. cscuif you fur
nish The funds in IFS application Some would say, We
must have wing -dams-ohers would say. must have
canas-some thing and some another; and they would
mite on nothing And SO 40 regard 10 lhe NJ sslsspp,
above the mouth OF the Ohio and 10 Iegad to other
streams And the question has also arisen whether the
Hudson river which could with propriety i'm
prove, IL might perhaps be considered being
State only believe, however, twas decided iha New
Jersey bordercd upon that river thus bringing il within
The rule requiring river be within or between two
States to entite TO receive appropriations for i'm
proyenent That was considered as The great principle
in the discussion upon the general system, and a
piled 10 that great inland MIR. Calhoun called the
Mississippi The States could not improve that river,
but the genera government must do it. Here great
commercial necessity which led great many gentle
men TO adopt this system, who otherwise, perhaps would
not have thought OF ii; they adopted this system, the
States could not make the improvements. Bat when
river confined 10 single State in the OF the
Kentucky river, for example they lett il 10 the Stale
improvei The idea was that because river ran through
two Safes j, acquired additional Importance. Now, if
the honorable senator from Michigan Mr.. CAssl means
say that that principle never settled, agreed
upon definitely, agree with hun, But II took 1t out OF
the class of localities.
Now here for example, is this river Rappabannock It
may be said that everybody who sails along the coast has
right TO run his vessel up this stream yet adopt
this principle, Virginia will be excluded from get
ting any appropriation al all IN this bill Why, SIR Vlr
GINA is as much interested in the break water at the
mouth OF Delaware bay as any other State; and 50
in regard TO any other improvement upon the Atlantic
coastevery State il interested 10 them But mean 10
say that this principle OF confning appropriations TO
rivers that through more than Stale, if we
Ito conhne this system within definite limits would be
one nn ds s do nS' or limited by s ony Of
reasonable limitation 10 the system OF improving
rivers will not vote TO strike out this amendment IN
regard TO the Rappabannock rver now, for there
many other provisions OF similar character in the bill
But II before this bill is passed the Senate will
an understanding that il is important 10 conne hs sys-
TEN by general rule and appropriate only for rivers
that through two or more States, or dividing
lines between two States-if that is adopted then viii
vote strike this out because know now before any
survey is made that is entirely within the limits of
one State
/ Mr. GWlN l shall vote for the amendment OF the
honorable senator from Michigan, mir CAss because
10 have it said that by implication this bill will
have some bearing the State that | represent.
Neither the State OF California the Pacific coast is
mentioned in this bill; there is no appropriation for any
norton OF that coast and there is portion OF the United
States which is in need of IT, Now, by this general
clause, ordering surveys TO be made 10 The extent of
thirty thousand dollars at least have the benefits
of this bill extended to my STATE Therefore, shall vote
Tor the amendment 10 the amendment, and hope ii will
pass.
RECESS FROM TO O'CLOCK, PM
! Mr. JONES, OF Iowa Would il be in order for me
now to move that the Senate shall from and after day.
take recess each day from o'clock in the afternoon
till o'clock in the evening If 1t s in order, wish TO
make that motion, in order that gentlemen who take
great delight in debating this question may have Or
porunity do from O'Clock in the evening till IL
O'Clock at night until IL o'clock the next day, il they
please.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. That motion cannot be
received there is another subject uner consideration
! Mr. JONES, of Iowa II can be received BY unani
nous consent. suppose.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. II can only be re-
ceved by unanimous consent at this lime
| Mr. CHASE. hope the question will be taken upon
this amendment, and that we may at least make
progress with this bill The motion OF the honorable
senator from Iowa Mr. JosEsl is not In order at this
/ Tou 4 fosL Al,