The daily union., 1852-08-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
MONDAY. AUGUST l6, 1852.
[coHcLUDED.
SENATE.


The Senate having under consideration the bill grant
ing 10 the Stale Of Michigan the right OF way and do
nation OF public lands for the construction OF ship
canal around the falls OF St Marys. in said State and
MIR. ToucEYs amendment having been adopted
Mr.. BELL said | made some remarks upon this sub.
ject the other day, and concluded by saying that
thought il was very proper for the friends OF either
general system OF internal Improvement, or OF the I'M
provemeDt OF rivers and harbors, TO inquire why il was
that this bill should have The start OF all other measures
OF similar characters and il struck me that there was
design OF precpltaDg the passage OF this bill, and
secure at all events. particularly as seemed 10 be
very doubtful whether the river and harbor bill would
pass This body AHs asaded TO the action Of the sen,
TO for the removal of the obstruction caused by The
dam at the head Of Cumberland island, in the Ohio river;
and observed that upon one or two occasions when
an effort had been made to pass that separate meas
ure the Senate refused to pass upon The ground that
ii ought share the general fate of all such measures
upon the ground that if the liver and harbor bill should
pass then the Cumberland dam bill should pass and if
The river and harbor bill should not pass then the other
bill should moi pass. very much doubt whether the
strength Of the river and harbor bill would not be dimn-
ished; whether the zeal OF those honorable senators
from the Northwest, who take interest in this
ure would be considerably slackened in relation 10
the river and habor BILL if they the friends OF
that bill now should this bill be permitted 10 pass by il
self. And suggested that II no other senator would
propose il, would myself move 10 postpone this bill.
lay upon the table until we should see what was to be
the fate of the river and harbo bill in the Senate and
still think that would be measure OF proper precautlon
the part of the friends of the river and harbor bill
And then took occasion TO state that could not dis
crmina,e between the principle OF this proposition and
the to cut canal around the falls OF Ohio around
the Muscle shoals in The Tennessee river,
the shmns OF Florida, or one across the neck OF land
which divides the Delaware and Chesapeake bays. Nor
could discriminate between the principle of this prop
osition and the power 10 construct great railroad,
any other kind OF road from Buffalo 10 New Oreans or
from New ORLEANS TO the mouth OF the Ohio because they
could all be very clearly shown 10 contribute TO the bring
ing forth the Of the country in time of
The principle is the same in all OF these cases. And
81, III ha
sanctioned then general system OF internal improve
might be said TO be authorized by the precedent
established in this case; and also took occasion, in my
remark upon this subject al that time, say that stood
utterly opposed to any such system | agree with the
honorable senator from South Carolina MR. BUTLER
that the proposition 10 make this canal stands more
upon the wsrmakng power than does any other OF these
internal Improvements that there is no real pretex for
the asking OF this canal because OF the prospect OF col
lison with Great Britain upon Lake Superior | will
not repeat the remarks which made the other day
upon that subject 1t be obvious every gentle
man that the real objects of this work commercial
local and unless il can be assimated in principle TO
the opening OF great rivers, and the making harbors
upon great lakes for the security Of, and as places
oi refuge for, trading vessesunless il be assim
Hated in principle TO these works, must oppose IT.
do not agree with the honorable senator from South
Carolina, [Mr BUTLER that general system of internal
improvements would be preferable even 10 the opening
oi the rivers and the construction OF harbors upon the
great lakes That had trial more than twenty years
in attempt 10 locate The great arteries between the
North and the South. the lakes and the Gulf, and it
seemed TO be totally impraccable TO carry out to the
satisfaction of the country the location OF one line OF
communication. II would take many lines as there
districts upon the route between Buffalo and New
Orleans Before you could establish such lines as these
there would be needed almost inexhausble amount
OF wealth. and there would be such degree Of corruption
profgacy, and extravaganza that 1t could not be carried
believe from the exravagance that attended such sys
TEN then that such would be the case Why, believe
that at one time they had roads chalked to the
OF three or four hundred millions OF dollars and that
was but commencement Of i; do not agree with The
senator from Kentucky, [Mr UsDERwooD,l have never
agreed, and have never given decision by my vote
upon the question: that there power in this govern
men under the power, under the commercial power
under the post-oce power, to construct these great
roads and canals through the country But. whether we
have the power or not, am opposed to exercising
upon the ground OF nexpedency because should have
serious extent that could atlct the country as JUS
lice could be equally distributed all the Union
And the principles laid down by the senator from Mich
igan mt CAssl reach very far These war purposes
from the foundation OF this government down TO the
present time Aud you cannot stop there repeat, you
CO. under this power for there is not canal
railroad river that does not contribute 10 the
development Of the resources of this country It's
means OF navigation and communication increased
And let this come up and be decided when il may, shall
be opposed 10 il upon that ground, and shall against
H. unless can be convinced by the arguments of
that II is based upon the principle as our great
internal Improvements genersy-our great channels OF
communication throughout The country.
But rose for the purpose Of saying that think we
ought 10 postpone the decision OF this question and
therefore move TO lay this bill upon the table, because IL
there be a ma ority in favor OF IL. when shall have
seen what will be done with the river and harbor BILL
they take il up iten and pass It Or will move TO
postpone il t day next week, the last OF this
week-say Tbursday-and then have il decided by the
river and harbor bill.
Mr. CASS. / hope the honorable senator will allow
the vote be taken upon this bill II will not af
feet the river and harbor BILL which, II is well maured
Gill be sure TO pass As | understand the provisions
OF that bill, il will receive my vote.
Mr. BELL We can put this in il, II 1t be a proper
bill.
Mr. CASS why postpone il il il is well ma,uredi
Mr. BELL. I think shall vote against incorporating
II in that bill do not know shall support The river
and hsbor BILL see propnety and expediency. not
10 say necessity, OF making appropriations for our great
rvers in the Interior with regard TO the Improvement OF
which we find IL impraccable to get the States TO form
compacts owing the interests OF being much larger
in proportion than another And there too many oi
them, and conflicting views and opinions TO
get them 10 join in any practicable scheme oil improve,
ment; and II we would, could not always depend
upon their furnishing their respective quotas oil money
Then, in regard TO the improvement of the great lakes
that stands upon higher principle than these roads and
canals the construction OF proper habors there
hey stand upon much higher principle OF expediency
anu lne commercial power then come IN TO support
mem bu, general system would be rulnoss and in
gun the treasury entirely, and create dissatisfaction IN
ns county as great any that we have perhaps ever
tslt upon any other subject AS for this measure, ac-
cooins 70 NY understanding of IT, shall vote to lay
upon 'ne ane, and also 10 reject u when n comes up
Tor hna action, unless shall be convinced that il comes
wnhin 'he principle OF river and harbor improvements
Hthere oe majority in the Senate ready 10 pass IT, It
VIII be passed When staken up from the table think