Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-09-10
speech OF Mr. Durkee, on the River and
HarbOr Bill Ia the House of keprcsen-
tatfVes, July 20.

Mr.. DURKEE said Mr. Chairman, have
been greatly surprised while listening TO arpu-
ments made use of by gentlemen in opposing
the passage of this bill. | aude to remarks
made by honorable gentlemen representing i'm
portant Sections of the West TO me il appears
that in this matter some of my Western friends
have not exercised that sagacity and good jndg-
ment which usually mark their conduct They
complain lhat New York, Boston, and other Al
antc cities receive more than their share in this
appropriation; that great injustice is done to
western rivers, and that they will vote against
the BILL unless it be amended to meet their views.
Sir admit that these complaints are we'll foun.
ed, it does not follow that the interests of the
West require its Representatives to oppose the
bill. Appropriations that areactually needed for
the removal of distractions in the harbors of our
large importing cities, or the removal of obStruc-
tons IN the Hudson River, against which so much
has been said, are beneficial to the West as we'll
as to the East, The improvement of the Hud.
son River, and of all the harbors on the great
lakes, will certainly lessen the insurance and
freight on goods passing over this route. When
goods can be shipped from New York to Chica-
go for five dollars ton, instead of fifteen, they
will of course come that much cheaper to the
consumer and the value of produce shipped in
return, necessarily enhanced in Western mar.
I iNSN"' MS o'l'CAty bOo, iOiuS AuOu Ill TtSdTu
to appropriations for improving the mouth of the
Mississippi. The removal of these distractions
benefits all the states lying on this great river
andi its tributaries. hope, therefore, that gem
tIemen will pause and wei h the subject well be-
for they shall finally determine TO give their in
! tiuence against this measure, whether it may or
may not be so amended as to meet their views.
/ There are other objections, Mr. Chairman,
made against this bill. Gentlemen say they have
scruples about the power of Congress to make
such appropriations. Bat without entering up
on constitutional question, it strikes me as suf-
hcient for our present purpose, to know that the
/ General Government is in possession, and has
sole jurisdiction OF these harbors aud rivers :;
that Congress has deprived the States of all au-
! thorlty to raise revenue by way of tonnage du-
ty for their improvement, and is therefore bound
by the strongest possible obligations. to make
such improvements as are necessary for the safe
ty Of human life and the transportation of mer-
chandize.
Sir, there is no getting away from this concu-
sion for the General Government to held pos
session and do nothing itself, nor let the States,
is indeed acting the part of the dog in the man
gel" This has been the policy for several
years, at the sacrifice of valuable lives and an
immense loss of property Oar internal COM
merce amounts to SS00,000, 900 annually, and
yet is thus grossly neglected by the Govern
ment. One quarter per cent. on this large
amount, expended annually upon orr harbors
and rivers would, in a few years, put them in
good condition for refuge and navigation, where
as we lose much larger amount every year for
the want of these Improvements.
Sir, the people are beginning to inquire how
this this S50,0O0,00O is yearly expended-and
we'll they may Look at the immense sums
l;,l I,,(
appropriated Sl0,O0O,00O for the purchase Of
Texas scrip at a par valuation, when it was worth
only ten cents on the dollar. We have paid, du-
ring the last twenty years $4,000 900 to otfi-
GERS of the Navy, who have not been employed
on service. We have paid or agreed to pay,
about S20,000,OOO to Wall street spectators,
the effect of which is to sustain monopoly in
ocean steam navigation, thus depriving the peo-
pie of all the advantages that might otherwise
accrue from competition and cheap ocean post
age. Yet gentlemen that could vote to appro-
pirate public funds so literally for the benefit of
private corporations and individuals, have terri
bic mi>giyings about lending their support to a
small Iarbor till for the protection OF a com
mcrce OF such magnitude. Sir, this surely is
" sraining at gnats, and swallowing camels. y
If this gross neglect by the Government, Of the
lives and property of its people, and this profit
khlc AIGlultHf6 Ol puDiIC IUDIN, IS 10 C'll-
tnuc, and the great commercial interests Of the
| country finally abandoned, cannot see why the
people should not in their turn abandon and dS-
pense with such Government. For what is tn
possible advantage to them in paying $4,000
900 year. if they receive not the least eqnva
lent III return ?
Mr.. Chairman. it would be well for US to call
to mind, in this discussion, the origin and hsto-
ny of this Government. 1t was for the protoc-
ton of commerce, and the lives of those engaged
in it, that it was called into being. Great Brit
ain infringes on the laws of a Legitimate trade
in America; the States formed an alliance TO
resist these aggTessons this was the origin OF
the Federal Government. We had no other ne
cessity for its creation-We have no other for
its continuance. The State governments are
competent to protect and maintain all our civil
and political rights except those Involved in
commercial relations IT, then, the Federal
Government is to dsown all care and response
bility over four-fiiths of the whole commerce of
the country, and refuse to give mp its iursdic-
ton over harbors and rivers, to the States imme-
dately connected with these interests, it will be-
come necessary for the people to provide a rem
edy for such grievances, land let me tell gentle
men they will not fail to do it. Sir, let Con-
gress pass this bill, and cXtecd its fostering care
over this immense accumulation of American
industry, at least till some better method shall be
instituted for such protection.