The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-24

Mr. cAsS. Only $4,000 fof The whole coast Of
Lake Michigan, and Lake St Clair. Forty seven thou
sand dollars is The whoe amount OF The appropriation
The senator from Texas says that unwilling 10
send the bill back 10 the House OF Representative for
fear that body will reject IT, That is question OF
expedency; but there is another consideration which,
with me. has still greater weight--tbe danger OF over
loading the bill. that shall be compelled 10 vote
against it, II the appropriations be increased 10 be-
come enormous and unjust. shall be compelled TO vote
against the bill and want to avoid that SO lar as un-
dersland the bill without going into the items, as we
shall be obliged TO do il these amendments persisted
IN, am favorable TO it, think that il was sent from
ne House OF Representatives II is moderate and reasona
ble The honorable senator from Missouri MIR. ATcHi-
SON says that the bill being unequal in It's distributions.
az matter of course, should 20 against IT, Why. sir,
when will You get bill which is equal in its disr
buttons is utterly impossible that you have any
such bill You will have every little stream that man
may step across lugged into it great highway, and
every little ndenaon coast made out TO be sla
bile place for harbor. And yet The senator from Mis-
sour would lead us to believe that unless this bill pro-
ceedson the general principles OF equality OF distribution
| be will vote against IL!
Mr. ATCHISON The senatorfrom Michigan misun-
derstands me- He misrepresenis the position which |
take.
! Mr.. CASS Oh. no; not at ALL
| Mr.. ATCHISON. | said that in this bill and in bills
OF similar character the effort 10 make appropra
tons for congressional districts and thereby carry the
bill, whether its provisions were right or wrong did
not say that the bill should be framed to distribute
the money equally throughout the United States What
said was that attempts would be made to effect an equal
distribution, at least so far as to carry the bill
/ Mr.. CASS. Upon that point il is obvious that the
senator speaks about the improperly OF merely local
distributions bat ask whether is not in human ma
ture for each asking for appropriation for his
particular district to suppose that it is important
than an appropriation for some other district with
which he is unacquained You may find one great
improvement necessary to be made that will be more
important than any other and all others. But do you
suppose you get vote In such body as
this to put the whole internal Improvement opralon
on such work The thing is imposslbeSl do not
pretend say that every congressional district should
have equal division but from the very principles OF
human nature you must in such case as this have rel
erence, more or less 10 local considerations You must
look what your work is TO be in the first place. apd
then act upon that in connexion with other considera
tons, and unless you do that you will get no favorable
vote. The thing is obvious. IL is simply question OF
expediency and, let say, that since this discussion
commenced, members of the other House, both OF
whom are favorable 10 the bill, and voted for II there,
have said TO me, their decided impression, that the
bill is back overloaded with amendments it will
break down. They both voted for it, although they be-
lleyed their sections OF the country had injustice done
them but they believe that under the circumstances
is the best bill that can be got through Congress- be-
| lieve that they right.
believe there is no principle OF morality or justice or
injustice involved in the bill believe that il is not 80
grossly unjust but that every maa may vote for II. No
State in the Union will less by it, in proportion
its extent of coast than the State OF Michigan. repeal
what said short time ago, that Michigan, with lake
coast OF eight nine hundred miles, will receive only
$4,000; while Ohio, with two hundred miles OF coast
lis TO receive $4,000 and the committee propose to add
for her 1877 900. For Wisconsin, with four ave hun
dred miles OF coast, $685. 900 appropriated; for New
York, with coast Lakes Ontario and Eoe of three
hundred and fifty miles, Sl44ooo do no, say that
dollar Of this money is Improperly appropriated do
say that there is single work contemplated by il which
ought be provided for merely mention these fact
to show the inequality OF this distribution Do 20,
will and you will yet find that after you have loaded th
bill down you will have every member OF the Senate AM
House OF Representatives, complaining that his disc
has not received enough.
| Mr. SEWARD II appears TO me, Mr. President. tha
instead OF attending TO the practical question before us
we discussing the metaphysics OF legislation. d.
not intend TO 20 into the question OF internal improve
menls the present OCCASION but desire TO call IN
attention OF the Senate 10 the nature OF the present ques
lion We already afoat in debate on question
whether shall increase the amount oil the appropra
tons proposed TO be made by this BILL while this amend
ment does not propose increase them by single dollar
but merely perfecls the phraseoogy OF the bill, as it
designed 10 show the intention o Congress hope Ina
such amendment will not be made occasion for
test question upon changing the character OF the bill
The committee recommend this amendment merely 70
The purpose Of guarding the public interests, supposin
that both the friends and opponents OF the bill wou
agree 10 IT, because It does not change It's characte
at all
Mr. BUTLER | do not rise to discuss this bill on IL
general merits, its particular provisions, but 10 ask on
or two questions. Mr.. President have read this ball
and know nothing about II than II had not read u
Why $4,000 should be appropriated for one thing, $50.
600 for another and 900 So 900 should be appro
priaied for a third, do not know We have 40 iDioma
lion the subject. II you were appropriating public
ordinary report wosld be laid before giving b,
reasons for voting this and that. Snch bill rs ih
should have been accompanied by report, showing the
reasons why should vote the money and the neces
sty for doing and such other information as nigh
be necessary enable me- member OF the Senate e
Judge OF the proprieiy oil the without depending
on the oral explanations OF individual senator's Now,
ask the who reported this measure MIR. DAVIS
how originated and how its trainers arrived a, the
cuson that necessary to these exact amounts
shall be told, no doubt, that we commencing
sysieu1, and that must commence II thu
other. find that not very particular L
the mode. Bat ask how this bill originated. ant
why are to vote on 1t without having any inioTma
ton I
Mr. DAVIS. shall certainly have no objection TO
py 10 the senator from South Carolina, allhoogh beev,
that after the response is made shall not obtain his vote
believe that he, far the whole matter Is concerned
perhaps would be exirrmely troubled, without look
ing at the BILL TO know how TO vote in the end but still
have objection 10 say what know on this subject
The fret remark have to make is that the bill originate,
passed by that body II is framed in accordance with h
principles which usually govern in making similar ap
propriatons and nearly all the items in this bill vii
not all, because am not quite certain with respect
1.-The whole OF tbem-are founded estimates for publ
works long since begun and carried by the govern
ment BY appropriations from year year, IRON Tim,
time, bills being passed appropratng such sums az
supposed could be properly expended within The cur
rent year. Those are the data upon which the topo
graphical bureau determined that the various sums men
toned in the bill necessary Those sums are merci,
already begun There may possibly be one or two ex
cepons this rule, but say positively that sucl
10 the The greater proportion OF hese items
lounded long since made, a. have alread