The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-29

ternai improvements LII not, then should like TO know
what would be called general system OF internal ln'
pfovement.
1t may be the object OF the committee to repudate the
democratic platform altogether and in that this If
not an essential point with Them. But il they do not re-
pudiae that principle. and they consider the Rappahan
mock and these other small embraced in this
general system, then ! would ask them, how small an
Improvement they would consider does within This
SYSTEM This seems TO be very general system indeed
involving large amount OF improvements OF much less
importance than the Rappahannock.
| MIR. SHIELDS. Will the hoaorable senator permit me
10 ask him Il he goes for the original bill
| Mr.. DOWNS. Yes, sir
Mr.. SHIELDS do not Think SIR that there rs single
among all the amendments proposed by the committee
that is half obnoxious OF the appropriations
that be pointed out in the original BILL for the State
Mr.. DOWNS. Will the gentleman. point out one Of
| them
! Mr.. SHIELDS. Yes. sir; will ask the gentleman If
he thinks the appropriation for survey in reference 10
the removal OF distractions 10 the navigation OF Bayou
La Fouchr is for work of national character
Mr. DOWNS. will explain that, sir The gentleman
has not caught me quite fast as he supposes, and
would suggest that perhaps he had better ask question
with regard to something else. The language of the ap
preparation for the Bayou La Fouche is somewhat pecu
lar II s in reference TO The removal OF obstrucuons
and not TO improve the navigation The fact ths These
distinctions in the Foucbe were put there by the United
States in time OF war, to keep the enemy OUT and we
only ask that the government will remove the obslruc
lions which they themselves put there.
| Mr.. SHIELDS As understand the honorable sena.
tor the appropriation is for the removal OF distractions to
| the navigation of that bayou.
| MIR. DOWNS Distractions that the government
placed there. will state the facts, Mr.. President, as
understand them. derive the information from men,
Der OF The House, for have not examined the matter
myself During the OF 1914 and 1875 the authorizes
OF the United States IN order to prevent the British from
attacking New Orleans by coming on the city from the
river above. directed the navigation OF the Bayou Man.
chot, the Bayou La Fouche, and perhaps some 9TH
ers, to be obsTucled know il was done with regard
Ito the Bayou Mancho and has remained stopped up
ever since, and eyee has been extended over it, That
is the fact as il related TO yesterday by member
OF The Committee on Commerce in the House. His at
tention to the subject from the fact that the
thing existed to the obstruction OF the Fouche
Now. the Improvement here is 10 remove an obstruction
placed n the bayou by the United States and we lake
il for granted that when the United States the
OF her great power has placed an obstruction TO
gaon OF that kind, il il be OF local nature, they
may probably be called upon 10 remove IL and TO replace
the stream IN the situation they found before
the obstruction placed in it, That is the fact
am told to the Bayou La Fouche. But If the Com
mitee on Commerce have documents to show that such
is the case, let them produce them, aud will 10
strike out the appropriation because Il does not
within the limits OF national works. | think that the
gentleman has not made much by putting the question
about the Fouche for The principle does not apply that
there is necessity for the appropriation being made.
| Mr.. ATCHlS0N Mr. President, concur with my
friend from Louisiana IN the ground he has taken.
am perfectly willing TO vote for many OF the aPpropa-
tons contained in this bill II you will strike from the
bill such objects admits or believes OF
tional importance, then can vote Tor The bill that will
remove the greatest objection in my mind 10 H. The
senator says that be is perfectly willing 10 operate
Win strlklng out sucn appropriations Uidt
the Fouche improvement, and also such appropriations
that for the construction OF harbor or lake Pon,char
tran near the city of New Orleans, S25 900, If they 90
not the ground which he has put them. There
is now no harbor upon Lake Pontchartran and this
preparation is for the purpose OF constructing in that
respect II stands alone among all the appropriations In
this bill There other appropriations Tor the potec
ton and Improvement OF harbors, but none excepting
this for digging out and constructing harbor Now,
the senator from Louisiana. and Others who take bis
view OF this subject, will place themselves upon the
tonal democratic platform, understand H. and he has
portrayed II, will all agree we will pass this bill
and. sir, we will all stand upon the same platform
Strike out these appropriations Tor local Improvements
these appropriations for improvements that political
doctors however learned they may be- can ascertain TO
have anything OF national character IN them-sirike
them all from the bill, and we will all 20 for 1t.
Now, sir, as 10 this Rsppahannock Tiver IL rs very
ancient river, daughters and sir, Il is very important
river II Is also very euphonious IN lis pronunciation
the Rappabannock. Renewed laugher.1 presume this
s river OF much national importance, and bears as
much commerce upon IL, as the Appomattox-a stream
which told Is naygable for some twelve or fourteen
miles before entering into the James river below Rich
mond Above that suppose II is not navigabe.
i Mr. MASON We have boats upon il above that
/ Mr. ATCHlSON. What kind OF boats!
l Mr. MASON Flat boats, &c.
| A SENATOR. Scows [Laugher.l
Mr. ATCHlSON. Yes, sir, 6at-b boats. But. sir, here
is an appropriation OF $4,000 for the Improvement oil
the James and Appomatox rivers below the cities Of
Richmond and Petersburg. suppose that the fact Of
the Improvements being limited bslow the cities Of
Richmond and Petersburg renders them national 10 ther
character | wish, Mr. President, TO enter my protest
against this doctrine upon which many OF the appropa-
tons in this bill basedthat the small streams upon
tide waters and upon this small Atlantic bench-ior il
IS small bench, and very email, when compared with
the great West and the other portions OF the United
Staies-are, because OF that fact national and that any
improvements on them within the power OF Con-
gress and within the democratic PLATFORM laid down
prsctsed and advocated from one end OF this Union 10
the other, since the great democratic party has been
formed, and ever since the resolutions Of the days o
1898 and 1892
Mr.. BADGER. | think, sir. that my friend is right
IN all he has SAID, except when he said the democratic
platform bad been acted upon. That s a mistake.
Mt ATCHS0N. Very well, sir we have at least
laid II down, whether have acted upon il or not
But sir, these little sireamsif they are streams-would
not make good mill streams in the great West
j SENATOR What sireamsi
MIR. ATCHlSON. The Appomatox and the Kappa
hammock
Mr.. SHIELDS. I caa mention some other streams
on page IL Tor instance, the Mosquito Lagoon for one
4 Mr.. AfCHlS0N. Now, MIR President, there IL,
venture TO say more commerce, AT least as much
commerce, floating upon the Illinois river and the Cum.
berlsnd river
MIR. MASON. If the senator will allow me To inter.
rupt him, will state the facts, for know he wants "a
have the exact information about these rivers This
Appomaltox is old and venerable ryer-not, as Il
Is called mere stream. II s very old and venerable
nverold 10 proportion to the age OF Virginia which IL
one of the Oldest Conmonwealths in America II IL
navgabe for large vessels from it's mouth where IL emp
ties into the James river, TO the city OF Petersburg which
is situated the alls--making about twelve miles
IL Is navigabe river then below that city, for some
twelve miles TO where II becomes continent with this
James trust that hereafter the honorable senator will
recollect the character OF the Appomattox river
Now, then, as TO the James river. II is OF the