The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBAT--.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1852.
[c1KCLUDED.
IClKCLUDED
SENATE.
RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.


The Senate having under consideration the bill making
for the Improvement OF certain rivers and
barbors and the pending question being upon the follow
ing amendment: For the survey OF the Rappahannock
Mr. HUNTER SAID: Mr. President the senator from
Michigan Mr. CAss] objects TO these appropriations for
surveys because, he says, they unequal He wishes
to make Humping appropriation" in gross, so as TO
leave the matter 10 the discretion of the Typographical
bureau II 10 that he does not escape the diff
cuy-he only postpones it. II this typographical bu-
reau would mol provide. and would attempt pro-
vde for the surveys OF all the various points, they would
be quite apt to do Injustice and TO make partial and
States Al least am inclined TO think this would be as
safe tribunal that If The argunen, is good relation
to surveys good little further IT. in order 10 prevent
this inequality the part OF the Senate. ought
isaye 10 the Typographical bureau The selection Of the
places 10 be surveyed why not leave il TO the executive
10 make the improvements Why not appropriate the
ann in gross and place the Disposal of the President
10 improve such places he shall choose to select and
leave il entirely his discrelionl We do choose
repose that amount OF discretion in him. We think that
we ought 10 have something TO say in relation 10 what
noins are TO be selected We choose select points in
relation to improvements; and why not do The in
relation surveys! The reason, II seems 10 me,
good in The one case in the other As 10 these
qualities have never bill that did contain them
and never expect to bill that does not. That is
one OF my objections 70 the system.
MIR SHIELDS. Will the honorable senator from Vir
eiua--who think is well calculated to do What is
lust and equal in case OF this kind any oneno agree
10 his Refer This matter TO the Typographical bureau
reasons why they OF the first Importance No Civ
ing the why they are OF the second importance
and SO with No B. &c. Would il not be wiser Tor Us
10 have the information before us Than TO 60 blndy
as we are gong now? We are not bound to accept it
and act upon it, Bat think we should get the that
are appointed for that special purpose to give The bene
fiji of their time and the benefit of their talents is like
drawing up an army in battle array. What intelligent
officer ask would not appoint engineers 10 reconnoe
country before he would take hs army there Engineers
the same argument would apply here. Here you have
department to collect this kind OF information You
collect the talent OF the country Tor this specific purpose
They paid by the government AMI they are edu-
Gated for this purpose All you have to do is TO egls
late and put them 10 work and ! know OF no way
in which we establish anything likes uniform
system, until appoint men who will select and cas-
sfy these points, as we have generally done IN relation
to the national defencesgive US class one and class
two, &c.-and then we shall be able TO proceed with
something like system This system. There sys-
TEN TO il What we get for our portion OF the country by
these bills have 10 scramble for. Sir. say that this
mode of procedure must break the system down No
ton can sustain such state OF legislation have only
witnessed il twicelhis time and the last time bill of
this kind came up. recolec the scene in the Senate al
the last session Ii 10 reenact these scenes
session upon bills OF tins kind. and all scramble TO
who will have the largest appropriation, and 10 see
whose points shall be inserted IN the BILL must say
that for one, am satisfied that the whole system will
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. President. the honorable senator
from Illinois is mistaken ii he supposes that said the
typographical engineers not h 10 make the surveys
They the very persons to make surveys. But the
queslion is by whom they 10 be ordered TO make
theml He says may select the points 10 be improved
after they have made the surveys; but you will observe
that there is rule in relation to this matter You do not
appropriate money except in cases where the surveys have
been made According TO this propostlon they are 10
ec the places be surveyed and therefore they 10
select the places for which you TO appropriate money
II you commence by aprropatIng IN THIS manner the
su in gross for the surveys they are TO distribute this
sum they please, and survey such places as they
choose.
Now, do not suppose il the matter is regulated by
~ ~ nat thaua Ia ha
out the lights OF the Typographical bureau any other
engineering department take IT Tor granted that these
committees do call upon those bureaus Tor information
when they desire il They do at any time and can
obtain information beforehand, which will enable them 10
decide with much justice, with as much certainty, and
nreaon TO what ough, TO be made, the topo
graphical bureau cond decide because they woum have
all the light which the bureau bad we'll their own
Judgment exercise in relation TO the matter II seems
10 me therefore, that il would be qIe fair and quite
as expeden, to the mode here proposed as 10
wait until the surveys made and the objects selected
by the executive The honorable senator from Massa.
chusetts tMr. DAvsl says that in this way we shall
overload the h and break down and the senator from
Illinois MT SHELDsl says II you resort 10 this system
You will break iidown,
il will break down II is system that will break down
by its abuses; will fall TO pieces OF lis very weight
for II is easy TO 10 what i will lead You cannot
prevent il from breaking down; and am inclined 10
think II will be just well 10 let go on this way as
il will the other know have no right 10 say much
about this matter, or TO obtrude my advice am against
in it's benefits by my votes upon amendments as can
will make the bill perfect and as fair as can, beliey-
ing all time that after the best exerions that may e
used, no bill be framed TO pass through here which
will not be liable 10 the objections which have TO the
whole system.
Mr.. BUTLER rise to detain tho Senate only a
short time
Mr. MANGUM MIR. President, believe have the
floor.
The PRESIDENT The senator from South Carolina
[Mr BurLsRl first aldfessed the Chair
MIR. BUTLER | yield to the senator from North
Carolina
Mr. MANGUM. Mr. President, have listened TO
this Discussion with great deal OF interest feel very
strongly impressed with OF the remarks that have
fallen from the honorable senator IRON Virginia, and
also feel very strongly impressed with some OF the re-
have fallen from the honorable senator from ~
inos who has last spoken This system ought be made
uniform as far az uniformity is at,anabe. Take care
though 10 fall little short OF making general; tor that
understand will not do. Uniformity, II II be attaina
bic il eminently desrable and hoping that gentlemen
will be able by tomorrow to introduce amendments 70
give this uniformity, falling a little short OF general
system move TO postpone the further consideration OF
The bill until 10 morrow with view of following up
il ha, motion shall prevail with motion TO go into ex-
eeuuve session, which is very much needed Tor many
purposes
Mr BoRLAND Mr.. President, hope that motion
Will not prevail The senator says there is some very
necessary business 10 be done In executive session for
my part | conceive none be as pressing upon The
county or as necessary, the business embraced IN
Mr. DAVIS I hope this subject will not be post
poneo' hope to get through with The bill tomorrow
MT BUILER, Tin his seat) You viii not get through