The daily union., 1852-08-31


The present session. that have foIbone TO include the
whole
from Tennessee that he would better in this case
conhne himself 10 what be advantageousy expended
during the present year Estimates have already been
made OF the amounts which be advantage
pended. II we all act IN that spirit this bill will be
placed in shape which will least render il obnox-
ons In that spirit have endeayoTe1 TO in the amend
ment which have offered will say to the honorable
from Tennessee that the Illinois river for which
have offered this amendment is nagigabe stream of
some eight hundred miles. There is not perhaps upon
this continent, upon any continent, waller communi
cation like that formed by the Mississippi and Illinois,
across our canal TO the lakes and thence down 10 the
Gulf of ST Lawrence. The Illinois river is link in the
chain OF one OF the largest water communications in the
world.
Now, my honorable friend from Massachusetts re
marked that II would be lmpIactcable TO make ship
canal there. Not We have already made ship
canal for great portion OF the way, and nothing but
the failure of the credit OF The State prevented US from
continuing the original plan 10 completion Our Stale
lost its credit and became deeply in debt But yet
hope 10 be able to accomplish the objec, future
| day ask only $4,000 in my amendment The est
mate of the department is $50 900. With that amount
The bill came in here at the last session of Congress
have examined the estimates before the Committee Of the
| other House, and have scaled this down in proportion
TO The residue OF the bill will add further that having
male contest in regard 10 this bill originally shall
do thpg good aih that can 10 place il in such
| position that il shall not be obnoxious.
| Mr. UNDERWOOD, rise TO say that entirely ap
prove OF the suggestions made by the gentleman from Hi
nos, and 10 stale him hat feel just as much concerned
~ the navigation OF the Illinois river he does Ii
muchmy nveras il is his and perhaps it is beneficial
10 the people whom represent IT possible, than is to
purpose OF stating fact When was recently out in
| Kentucky, went from Louisville to Bowling Green on
steamboat and while upon that boat met with three to-
bacco traders, who Informed that they had been try
ing experiments between the market at Louisville and
the market at New Orleans for the transportation of
their oaacco which is the principal staple Of my region
| ot country. And of them told that he had sci
on loot project to try the difference between the New
Orleans market and The New York market by running
New York through this very channel of communca-
ton and BY the channels OF communication through The
State OF Ohio. He had already carried two loads Of his
tobacco TO New Orleans, and was on his way back
between the town III which live--almost in The very
centre OF the continent-and the city of New York
through the interior OF the country know il to be
FACT that The manufactures oil tobacco which carried
on where live supply the region beyond my friend from
illinois, TO the north, and down lake Michigan, through
this very channel of communication of which he speaks
/ IL were now young man as was when first
came here should hope 10 live TO the day when the
government might convert the illinois canal--now used
for boats OF small character propelled by horse power
into canal through which steamboats, could pass, so
that when boats were laden with the great saple of
my region OF country, they might pass directly through
to Chicago and deliver their cagoes there TO The larger
boats on the lake, 90 with them through that
northern region, supplying i with the great product OF
my region OF the country Sir il is an object cherished
by my heart and therefore hope this appropriation may
be made II the senator's from Illinois would only offer
proposition TO have their canal surveyed with refer
ence 10 its conversion into canal for steamboat pur-
poses and have report upon that subject to the
OF the canal and the cost OF making The change would
likewise meet the appreciation OF my heart and my udg
menl
| Mr. DOUGLAS | must add word upon ,he subject
| OF the Illinois river We have good steamboat navga
ton IN high water from La Sale, which is at he term
nation OF our canal, by way OF the Illinois and Mis-
sissippi, 10 New Orleans In low water there is not
good navigation in the illinois river, there being some
bars that ntepose The river is very straight and very
| deep The navgable part OF it is two hundred and
thirteen miles long. The great difficulty to which its
navigation is subject is that there bars Termed
lis channel al points where the tributary streams nteect
it. From Chicago eastward, down the line Of the lakes,
there good navigation TO the for ships using the
Weland canal in Canada, and running down ihe St.
Lawrence. 1t is only one hundred miles from Lake
Michigan 10 the navgable waters OF the Illinois, and
over these one hundred miles the State of illinois has
made canal OF The largest class of the ordinary canals
Mr.. SHIELDS Did my colleague say that the length
OF the Illinois river was 2l3 miles'
II. Mr.. DOUGLAS. said the length OF the river from
the termination OF our canal at La Sale to where the H.
nois empes into the Missouri is about two hundred and
thirteen miles.
i Mr.. SHIELDS My colleague did not mean by that
statement The whole length OF the river.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. No, sir; If bad stated the whole
length should have confirmed the statement of my col
league. From The Illinois vessels pass to the gulf
with navigation OF l,400 miles, because the Mississippi
s navgabie The whole length: Then this canal connects
the Gull OF Mexico with the Gulf OF ST Lawrence. and is
OF great national Importance in this point OF view.
4 The Illinois river is, as remarked very straight
stream and very deep except where these few bars
nterpose Ii It's navigation unobstTucted it would
be OF the safest navgabe rivers the whole
try: IL forms great connecting link between the lakes
and the Mississippi valley and i any river in the Uni
ted States u natona 1t is that river. III the State OF IL
nos could have the privilege OF levying tonnage duties
IT, would never have asked for appropriations here
But as we have power TO do that without the consent
OF Congress- the Illinois river stands tho footing
as The Mississippi, and do not bow IL be OBJ
Jected to- II is 10 fact part OF the Mississippi. IL is
continuation OF it, They both form in fact the same body
| OF navgahle waller.
Mr. GEYER The Illinois river, under the compact
is free to the whole United States
Mr. DOUGLAS. 1t is under the compact with the fed
eral government stream that is puDc high way, not
within the jurisdiction OF the State, and do how
! you can refuse an appropriation for it,
would simply add, that am clearly OF opinion that
The Tennessee ver fairly within the principles which
/ the friends Of this bill advocate know of no other
limitation than this: II you have power all the
subject that power extends wherever the water is navl
gable, whether Il be fresh salt whether be tide
water or non.tidewater-no matter, wherever II rs, " u
be navgable IL comes within the principle upon which
ths bill rests
! Mr. SHIELDS. | desire 10 explain remark which
made 10 regard the Inois river meant to saw that
that river from its head waters to the Mississippi was
some eight hundred miles longno quite as long the
Red river. My colleague is stating the leng
TO which II Is navigable, which is up TO where il
meets with the canal spoke OF the length from the
headwates OF the river TO where empes the Mis-.
sisspp
Mr.. DOUGLAS. I will merely remark that did not
hear the statement Of my colleague II had heard it,
should certainly have dsng gushed between our state.
mehts to have made them agree with each other
The whole length OF the river is what he states.
spoke of the navgahe part OF IT, hope my friend from
Kentucky Mr.. USDsRwooDl will not embarrass with