Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-09-03
THIRTY CONGRESS-,
II8ST SESSION
WAsnINaToN, Aug. %, 1852.
SENATE.

SENATE.
The Chair presented message from the
President, communicating the correspondence
relative to the lobus Islands. Referred and
ordered to be printed.
The River and IIarbor bill was then taken
up. The amendment pending was on appro-
prloting $4,000 for the purchase of snag boats,
dredging machine, boats, &c. This was, after
further debate agreed to.
Mr.. Douglass offered an amendment author
izng States to levy duties on vessels, &c. He
cnterod into an elaborate speech in support of
the amendment Since I770, numerous cases
had occurred where Congress mad given its as
sent to States, for particular purposes, to levy
tonnage. lie considered that this system would
soon become general, and instead of the occa-
sional and almost inoiicc,u,l appropriation 8
made by Congress, there would be permanent
fund always raising for that purpose. The nine
States Of the Mississippi could each choose II
commissioner and the nine would constitute Il
/ board, who could administer the fund 50 raised
and apply 1t most properly to the objects con-
tcmpatcd. The steamboat captains and pilots,
who had practical acquaintance with those
rlvorS, understood where Improvements mgIt
be made with advantage, far better than the l.,
5. Engineers. The present unequal appro-
priations of River and llarbor bills. would be
unnecessary. No River and IIarbor bill had
yet passed without arranging it so by ITS part-
cular items that 1t could command sufficient
votes to pass it,
Mr., Cass thought the subject was too lmpor-
tlnt to be acted upon at this late stage of the
session. 1t ought to be laid over. There was
one objection which suggested itself to hls
nind 1t was that these tonnage duties at n w
York, Albany Buffalo. an! on to Milwaukee,
&c, would all be added to the cost OF the lncr-
chandlsc to be carried there, aud would, in fact,
have to be paid by the agr,cul ura ,nsun er
Mr. Smlth desired to call attention to tins
proposition introduced in extraordinary Il
manner by the Senator from Illinois. lie de-
sired to net the people of the Wet know what
the Senator had Introduced respecting them
how he introduced Il bill to tax tneu to i'm
prove their rivers and lmrbors.
Mr.. Doug lass supposed the Senator intend
cd to reply to the speech he made the other duy
Oh the circular.
Mr.. Smith said the Senator intended to ad-
dress the people OF - States. lie thought he
could give the Senator enough to do in Illinois.
lie pointed out many constitutional objections
to the amendment, and said that III the several
cases in winch Congress had given its consent
to lcvylng such duties, that consent was given
where the States had lcIislatcd before such as
sent was asked. This amendment gavc the as
sent without the legislation of the State, while
heretofore the legislation ol the State preceded
that oi Congress.
Mr. Douglass said in some cases Congress
had lrgIsiacd first.
Mr. Smnh-Sucn case may have slipped |
through Congress, but legislation of the States
had always preceded the assent of Congress.
Mr. Doug Ass said that was not so.
Mr.. Smith SAID that as the senator from H. |
linois had expressed himself fully, he had bet
ter now keep his seat.
Congrc,s did not -
The Chair asked if the Senator from Con- |
ncctcut yielded the floor.
Mr.. Smith SAID he did not.
The Chalr-Tnc Senator from Illinois is out
of order
Mr.. Douglass The Senator has stated what
is taso. (Ordcr, orler.)
The G. AR sand that the Senator from Illinois
was out of order. 1t was out of order To say
that IL statement made by the Senator wa, false
Mr.. Douglass asked If, when one Senator
made a ml,-statcucnt, and he rose conrtcotlsly
To set him Ilght, and the Senator persisted IN
stating what was not true, what was me to do
The Chair sad 1t WAS his duty to take his
seat until the Senator, who gave way, had con-
Cludcd.
Mr.. Smith resumed and entered into an cx-
animation ui the details OF the working Of the
new system. lie asked how Kentucky and
Missouri were to collect duties ON the vessels
passing down the river, between them. Were
they to have cutters or were they to erect forts
to compel vessels TO come to. He would like to
see the Senator as COuulandcr-ln-C Chief IN such
place, ior the Senator some time since. was
cndcavornL to become Commander m-Chicf
bat was tnppcd up at Bnltimorc. lie sad he
had been somewhat anticipated by the Senator
from Michigan, who was Il Senator who knew
what he was about, which was not the case
with all Senators. The whole 'thcse tonnage
duties would be laid on the necks of the farm
ers Of the West The Senator from Illinois,
h. desired the people of the West to know, had
proposed Il scheme carrying heavy hand Of I
unprecedented taxation upon the precnpton-
crS and the cabin boys of the West, North and
Southwest lie would also suggest to the Sen I
ator to study the laws OF Presidential numnn-
ton less, and The laws o the trade more. The I
Senator'S scheme while it visited the North
western farmers and log cabin men, relieved |
the mllIonaircs Of New York and Atlantic cit
les from the taxation, of which they now bore {
so great part These cities contributed the
greater plrt OF the revenues of the country and r
under the blll before the Senate, the appropr {
atlonS were made ont of the national rev cnucs Il
lie showed that Illinois had but two hubors,
whose lImits would derive, perhaps, much ben G
ei from this proposal lie explained the River :
and llarbor bill, vetoed by Mr., Polk, and the t
one rejected at the last session, and showed C
that they we're mainly for the benefit OF the +
West; the Democratic party were responsible Il
for the defeat the bill. v
After some further debate, Mr.. Douglass v
Withdrew his amendment, intending to bring it t
forward at the next session.
Mr.. Altchlson renewed the amendment, and Il
MeSsrs. Mason, Charlton, and Brooke support ii
ed it,
MIR. Pratt contendcd that duties thus levied l
would amount as n tax on imports.
McSsrs Gwin, Bradbury and Underwood op- Il
posed 1t. Mr.. Hale supported 1t. C