The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-21

an discussing this question as an American senator
not which party il is that defeats our apfro-
priauons; the result is the same 10 us. II The ap,
preparation is defeated. and harbofs made and
wha, care wa who defeats us Why should gentlemen
bring in politics here 10 bear in relation 10 this question
am aware that il my proposition be defeated, VIII be
defeated solely upon political grounds, TO aheet The pres
Dental election. | aware of the drilling up thai has
been made here within the last few days, and OF the a
peas and Inducements held out TO men TO vote against their
Judgments in deprvng the States OF the West OF the priv
ege of improving their rivers and halbos. tell
the from Connecticut that our western people are
not going abandon their principles by having the
OF party put to them deprive them OF any improve
ments OF their rivers and harbors until they put wings IN
power You cannot seduce our proud and intelligent Peo-
pie 10 submission in that way on may bng The pres
to bear upon them from political motives, to carry
the election. but still these people will be true 10 their i'm
rovemens true 10 their duties TO themselves and 10 the
Mr.. BUTLER Cat ten minutes before fve) moved that
the Senate adjourn.
Mr.. HAMllN. should like TO address the Senate,
but will only deain the Senate for ten minutes
The mot,oq ", WAS H Hssecplsdmayes y, noes 80 ,h
Senate of the objections which will compel me 10
vote against the amendment offered by the senator from
Illinois, [Mr DOUGLAS and in doing will endeator
to confne myself strictly to the amendment, and 10 n-
duge nothing that does not pertain toit Before doing
however, beg leave TO call the attention OF he sem
ator from Illinois. who has offered the amendment,io 10
one mistake into which he has fallen He has spoken
very frequently OF the injustice which the present bill
does TO the great West think can say for every mem
ber of the Committee on Commcrce--.here those
upon from the great West there those upon il from
the North and there those upon il from the South
that there is not member upon that committee who
the Union in any bill which they should report. Such
at least, was their desire They wished to do justice TO
The NJ E!sce'H cHasE. Msis The grsa, centre
Mr. HAMLlN. Yes. sir take the correction OF my
friend In The progress which population has made IN
the West, the valley of the Mississippi is the great
ceaire Of the Union The into which ihe senator
from Illinois has fallen is this He has said that This bill
does not provide literally for tie great centIetor The
.llaun fha unHtn fha Ia
certainly has not examined it Had he given
nalon he would not have made lha, allegation. He
will fnd upon careful examination. that this bill pro-
vidcs for the Atlantic coastfor the whole coast and for
the rivers flowing into the Atantic-but $3.50 900; while
Tor the great rivers OF the West and the lakes OF the
West it approprates $,2l9,000-being nearly two dol
lars for interior commerce 10 one dollar Tor exterior
merce have no objection 10 t6e bill because Il appro
pirates literally for the western rivers and the lakes
have personal knowledge upon that matter; but from
The information have been able to gather, am inclined
to think that their wants are superior, and am very
cheerful and very glad TO aid in voting the appropriations
which are required by that section OF the Union. So
much for the error into which the senator from Illinois
has fallen.
A few words now in relation to his amendment. The
amendment is of general character il is 10 throw
over the whole country system OF tonnage duties.
am aware that in sixty seventy specific
the assent of the government has been granted TO the
States 10 tonnage duiies but in those sixty
seventy cases. when we have been asked TO grant that
power 10 the States, ii has been for specific purpose,
and at specific points named that Congress could judge
clearly and distinctly TO the propreiy OF making the
grant The difference between general system and
that which is specific in its character is obvious that
need not aude 10 it here. general system which
shall apply the lakes and to the harbos 10 the
way that 1t applies to the Atlantic coast might be very
unequal while that system which allows tonnage du-
ties Tor specific places may be the best method OF pro-
cedure. Now, The senator from Illinois asks II you
w refuse 10 the West the power OF assessing and col
ectng tonnage duties II the senator will make his spe
ciication; II be will fix the particular points a, which
he designs 10 and collect tonnage duties; and II
he will do has been done in other cases, present as
with the law OF the State 10 which those locations are
showing where the Improvements are 10 be made then
say 10 him with all cheeruness, will vote with him
grant tonnage duties in those specific and for
those particular points. But am opposed now grant
ing general system, and have il extend entirely over
the whee country, as II may be very unequal IN some
sections, while 1t may be very beneficial in Others.
There is another view OF this mattel will go with
the from Illinois, and will go with any senator
who will any general system that shall have the
principles OF equality in iha shall remove this vexed
question from the halls of Congress. That would be a
desderdtuIn and if there is any system which can be
adopted will be first and foremost with that SENATOR and
with every other senator, TO adopt IT, But let me ask II
the improvement of your rivers and your harbos there
is equity assessing the duties upon the tonnage alone
Is the commodity which is transported benefited more
than the tonnage! What the object OF securing either
barber OF OF refuge Is IL to protect
the navigation Is i not equally 10 protect The com
mefce, the freight, the commodity ITSELF ask ii, IN
adopting general system, there rs not equality and JUS
lice, and equity in imposing upon The cargo as wei! as
upon the vessel certain per cent 10 make the very i'm
pfovemens by which both the vessel and cargo viii be
benefited The senator's amendment does no, go far
and there IS not time al this late date day oil The session
perfect that system so as TO do justice TO every section
OF country which it extends. II such system can
be adopted, will most cheerfully concur in u but
think, in adopting that system, that the cargoes oi the
vessels should be made 10 contribute equally with the
vessels themselves Most assuredy the proposition OF
the from Illinois not Objectionable, imposing
an unnecessary burden upoa his constituents But the
system which be advocates is Objectionable TO my mind
because il does not go far enough lie would impose
the duty only upon the tonnage would impose II also
upon the cargo, because the cargo, well as the ton
mage is Observation-Disclosures IL be in harbof used for
commercial purposes strictly, whether it be in harbor
OF refuge
These, very briefly. some OF my objections TO the
amendment There many others 10 which | might
allude but will only mention one oi them. II is
this where river is the boundary between two States
and where the improvement of the river is TO be at one
given point II OF the States It's tonnage dn
ties and the other State does not HI TO do So the ves
sells would 90 10 the ports OF the State who nsgecs or
who refuses 10 tonnage duties; and vessels gong
into the ports OF thai State would reap all the benefits
that would be derived from the duties assessed 0y the adj
Joining State Ii is true this might be obvaied u The
the two States would act in concurrence
But repeat more. that to perfect system like
this needs time than my Trend from illinois has
been able TO devote TO H. II should be system which
would do Justice each and all parts OF the country.
And in maturing aud digesting this or any other sys
lem that will remove this yexed question from the halls
OF Congress- will most cbeerfully concur. | agree in
every word that has fallen from the honorable senator
Il q. + -~l~t.-~ ~