The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-28

mo he Auahc coast except The great one that drains
the valley OF the Mississippi, there bat $22l 900
pfoposed-making an aggregate OF only $693,0o0 Tor
me Atlantic coast and the rivers empying into II :
while, upon The lakes that are drained by the 81
Lawrence, and the other lakes Of the West and the
Mississippi, and the other rivers in thai great valley
more than 5000 900 proposed TO be appropriated.
My friend from Illinois could moi, therefore, have ex
amined this bill, when be undertook denounce il be-
cause II gave nothing 10 the West Why. sir II gives TO
the West three fflhs OF all the appropriations which IT
contains But do not think that feature in il is an OBJ
Jecton 10 III nor do think II hardly appropriate for sem
ators 10 go into examination to every particular To-
caliy and raise bugbear because another lle locality
is not in this BILL certainly shall initiate their
ample How this bill is divided between the North and
the South do not know, nor do care.
In relation 10 this amendment. let cay TO The
tor from Michigan that application made TO the to.
biographical bureau the propety OF mskng specific
surveys in his State for Lake Michigan and Lake Supe
rior; and the application for specific survey
turned from the bureau, with the that il not
necessary, because the bill already appropriated $4,000
Tor specific surveys there. | afterwards learned IN
conversation with the senator, that that appropra-
tion was Tor coast survey of the lakes and not for
the specific survey OF harbos but that the nfoma.
ton communicated TO us from the bureau Ii there We're
to be $4,000 appropriated for the general purpose of those
lakes, we did not believe that specific appropriations were
necessary; and for that reason, we declined TO make
them in two cases. and only in TWO cases. and for that
From tne general knowledge OF the subject and OF the
10 ailies which have been communicated to by the
senator from Michigan-whch differs from that commu
ncated directly 10 the Senate by the proper department
shall concur with the senator in making appropriations
for those points which he has designated But shall the
appropriation be male general or specifc' think il is
OF very little importance either way II you make gen.
eral appropriations what is the result Applicants 90
your departments, and those who able get the spe
cihc surveys which they want from the general app.o
praton II all results, in fact the department pleases,
whether you make an appropriation general or specific
because il you take the specific Recommendation of the
departments here, and act upon them, the thing done
according to those recommendations. A nd il you vote
general fund.- and leave it to the department to select
the objects, they would, OF course select those which
they had recommended do not therefore, regard it Of
the slightest importance whether we make the appropTl-
alton for surveys general or specific
Mr. CASS. think the statement OF the senator is per-
ecy justified by the fact TO which he has referred The
appropriation of which he has sooSen is even ~, 900
more than he supposed il is $4,000.
Mr.. DAWSON. ask the attention Of the chairman
of the Committee on Commerce Tor few moments.
would ask him whether there any difference, con-
between appropriating money TO sur
igable and whether he recognises any difference be-
tween river running wholly within one Stae-a river
as small as the Rappahannock-and river running be-
tween two contiguous States In other words does he
maintain that the Congress of The United States has
power TO render navigabe the Rappahannock up TO Fred
erlcksbnrg'
no constitutional scrupes in the matter have no, the
least doubt in the world tina, the constitution grants to
power to make these improvements whenever and where
ever we please; and, IN my Judgment is simply lues
ton OF expedency whether or not we will make par
ticular Improvement when II is presented
Mr. DAWSON Then, do | understand the senator
TO say that Congress has unlimited power 10 appropriate
money for any internal Improvement, either upon land or
water?
Mr. HAMLIN No, sir.
Mr.. HALE. What about the platforms
Mr. DAWSON As understand the two platforms,
they very different thing; butbat is not the subjec,
about which wish 10 speak. would say to my friends
from Virginia, both of whom | know 10 be opposed to
this measure, that do not how these appropriations
for the Appomaox, and for the James river, and the
RapPahannock, have got into this bill II il be upon the
ground OF commercial advantages 10 the county, ask
the committee why they have forgotten the Stale OF Geor
gia fake the city OF Augusta, on one side, and the
city OF Hamburg in South Carolina, the other side o
the Savannah rver. Look al the immense commerce
of that nvef Three four hundred thousand bales OF
cotton annually sen, 10 the Atlantic By means OF that
river. Have not right TO APPROPRIATION for its
Improvement Certainly we have If Virginia has
right 10 an appropriation for her rivers. Then look at
bosom annually from $50 900 100000 bales OF cotton
That river entirely within the limits Of the State OF
Georgia. Ii commercial purposes be the reason for
appropriations for Virginia, why has not the Committee
on Commerce. in looking over The whole extent Of the
country, looked at the wants of the State OF Georgia
Bat, sir, il said that these appropriations have been
asked for rem the typographical bureau. Who asked
for them The sam Tor the Rappahannock river is an
amendment reported by the Committee on Commerce
Have either OF the senators from the State oi Virginia
asked that this appropriation should be placed in this bill
did they call upon the Typographical bureau for an es
mate! Neither OF them.
Mr. HAMLIN. Both OF them
Mr. DAWSON. Now, desire to know il the sena-
tors from Virginia both applied 10 the head OF the bureau
Tor The purpose Of getting an estimate for the surveys OF
these various rtyerst
Mr. HUNTER ! never had the slightest communi.
cation with the head OF the bureau IN relation to either Of
them.
Mr. DAWSON Then. il only shows bow badly in
formed the chairman OF the Committee Commerce is
on the subject
Mr. MASON | never had any communication with
the bureau on the subject had communication with
the gentleman who presdes the Committee on Com
merce and introduced him two or three gentlemen who
came here from the of Fredericksburg who desired
that this appropriation should be made
Mr.. DAWSON | merely wanted TO inquire into the
rodu operandi by which these things be procured.
MIR HAMLiN. II the senator from Georgia will al
low me desire TO inquire from the senator from Virginia
who sits me- IMr MAsos il this statement OF facts
be true The senator called upon and desired 70
introduce 10 respectable gentlemen O Virginia
who desirous OF obtaining this appropriation. lie
did so introduce them stated TO that senator stated
to both the senators from Virginia, for both made the
same application, that the rne OF the committee was 10
make no amendment which the department did not rec
ornmend suggested TO both OF them that they should
send their friends tbere,.and believe they gave them
letter OF introduction to that department The senator
from Virginia who sits me, [Mr. MAsoN,l when
that Recommendation came from the department. was the
individual who placed II in my hands
Mr. DAWSON Viii the chairman OF the Committee
on Commerce be kind enough to send me that recon-
nendaiion in order that may the in which
these things are done'
NMr HAMLIN. Itis in the possession OF the senator
rom Massachusetts, who has charge OF the bill.
MIR DAWSON. will state the why desire
10 know these things. II IL be intended TO have
Of the country let appropriations for those rivers
where that commerce which affords the largest proportion
OF exports demands the Improvement. | bave looked
anuh Of Virania 10 the cotton growing States 10