The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-24

raj internal Improvement BILL or local internal improve
men bill because some gentlemen say il 1t 10 OF gene
raj character they will for it, and Others il is not
OF local character, they viii not vote for H. Some are
very particular about these works being OF naliopa
character cannot understand these lines OF distinction
Some say there is nothing in the world they reco from
much general system OF internal Improvement
want 10 know whether this - general system because
s take for granted that great many must neces-
sarily reco from so horrible system oil policy can
not tell whether these objects local or NATIONAL be-
cause there is no explanation And u were % select
the senator from Massachusetts Mr.. DAyIs.l He
would do il clearly acdly, and properly But believe
would be difficult task Tor anybody to discriminate
between what is local and what is national would
like TO have some exact measure to determine which
river big enough 10 be NATIONAL and which is TOO small
suppose must go according to the maxim de miamis
ter-we must leave ont the small and TAX
the great ones.
This subject is full OF difficulties independent OF the
question OF constL,ionaly and shall have to vote
upon this bill upon the broad ground Of faith in the i'm.
provements which have been TO be commenced,
and to exercise no vigilance at ALL will say one
over another ss
this kind should be worth single cent every clause ought
bs discussed by ITSELF and members vote ntegeny
would not carry this bill We have 10 take il find
it, bound together II by this combination OF interest
that bill OF this kind win always pass, because il will
that they are improperly combined, but there is such
thing avoiding temptation to combination for thing
of this kind, and when am told that am to take it
~
fear Of eopardng il, it dscloses the whole character OF
legislation in regard 10 subjects of this kind II we are
to have bill appropating money Tor internal improve,
matred, looking to all the interests OF this country
do say that this bill is unequal but cannot under
take to vote for il, nor single clause OF IT, IT am 70
take upon faith and not to have information. would
give preference 10 measure over another and have
doubt would give it decidedly; but should be de-
barred that privilege because on al hands the friends
to let us see the character OF the BILL Vigilance You
may invoke legislative vigilance in vain upon matter
which must 60 through because you are blind rather
than because you Yes sir we are required to take
il upon faith and TO look at it, That is The way such
bills will always 80 through this body.
MI. MASON. The question before the Senate, | IN
destand up order the first question present
ed upon the bill, being the first amendment proposed by
the committee to whom it was referred Ia that way.
the y hw Ss
on Commerce. 70 strike out portion OF one clause and
substitute what is printed in italics, and the question
is the first amendment presented by the committee
the bill And gentlemen who have called the yeas and
nays upon this amendment, understand them, say,
the Senate vote upon TINS as test cues
Senate to amend the bill at all" They address to the
majority this Argument lf you amend the bill at ALL il
will insure the defeat of it, because when goes the
other House there will not be time TO pass upon the
amendments"
MIR CASS. And there is danger Of overlooking the
Mr.. MASON. The senator from Michigan suggests
that the bill will be overloaded 10 sink it, sup
pose, by it's specific gravity How overloaded What
does the from Michigan mean by overlooking il
Why, if be Means anything il is ths-ihat you will in
graft appropriations upon fer much money for
such unworthy objects to destroy the bi for be says
in certain event he may vote against it. Why sir this
would present the subject us in sort OF general
scramble The doors OF the treasury have been opened
by the House of Representatives passing the bill in the
form which they sent tito US; and the agument adj
dressed to the majority of the Senate is Take what the
House will give you do not 60 into this scramble be-
you do you will bring the subject into such dis
Iepue that you will compel majority of US TO go against
it." And that argument is addressed TO the American
people, constituents in expenditure OF public
money 10 the amount OF millions
have been led into these remarks by the suggestion OF
the honorable senator from Michigan that danger TO be
apprehended il you 70 INTO amendments at ALL OF
loading the bill, and thus destroying it, What wanted
people of the country who will look here proceed
Ings. this The first amendment offered by the Commit
lee Commerce is 10 be presented 10 this Senate
bill at all Now, what is that saying TO the majority OF
tins Senate 1t is areques Of the majority OF this Sen
ate not 10 inquire into the propIiety OF amendmenisno
10 inquire whether amendment Is wise aud Just
exclude all that from your deliberations. and say be
IL wise unwse. Just UNJUST reject because II you
do not reject shall lose the b In other words,
the bill comes before under such circumstances 10
preclude deliberaon, and the recommendation of gen.
temen is, exercise judgment or discretion upon II
take as be good or be II bad, because, if you do
not il will be in the power OF The other House TO defeat
ii aog ether Now want 10 look at these amendments
little. inquire before tbe Senate whether
amendment is wise or unwise Gee. am going 10 vote
against the BILL for satisfied il cannot be presented
in such shape that vote for 1t 10 any But
would like 10 say TO the majority OF the Senate strike
out anything that ~ mischevous amend II IN such
form TO reduce the mischief with which think on
our side the whole 10 Taught
Ia the bill as IT from the House OF Repre-.
senlayes there is proposition 10 appropriate SIS 900 for
opening shipchanne Tough the most convenient pass
leading from the Mississippi rver 10 the Gulf of Mex.
co-an appropriation of $4,000 to make ship channel
from the mouth OF the Mississippi into the Gulf OF Mex
co Now, IL there any senator here who believes that
this $4,000 will accomplish that work.
Mr. HUNTER. Oh, no that is very small part.
Dir. MASON. am told by the chairman of the n
mit,ss whoireported the bill. "0h, mo- it is very small
600 "lo open ship channel of sufficient capacity
commodae The wants OF commerce, through the most
convenient pass leading from the river Mississippi 10
the Coll Of Mexico" Well, what is the amendment
proposed by the Committee on Commerce, which gentle.
men present here test question in order to deter
mine whether we will make any amendment or not :
The most important feature in this amendment is, that
the engineers who 10 conduct this work under the
appropriate department shall report TO the next Congress
what amount OF money il will require TO do this work
And gentlemen say "No, strike out that do not admit
that" Why, in the ordinary prudent conduct OF affairs
in private life would say with that strict propfIeiy
which becomes those who administer a trust--and we
10 administer a trust for the governmeni-we should
entertain work OF this magnude-at least without
knowing what il 10 to cost But here you enter upon
this work which the treasury OF the people is to be
COMMUNICATION when you once begin there IL commit
fa-and refuse amendment TO il which inquiries what
the work will cost The senator from Michigan, and
those who with him, tell edo not ask what
do will daft ha hpIo