The daily union., 1852-08-19

ticnal domain would render il dfeut 10 Construct this
work by grants OF The public lands and al any rate would
much delay il and we have therefore been compelled 10
ask appropriation from the treasury, which the de.
iensve character OF the construction jushes Congress
in making
And 10 the proposed surrender to the Sate-hough
my colleague and myself have not asked tive shall not
oppose II and there at least two precedents upon
The statute book which show that such course under
simar circumstances has been deemed advisable. One
is the surrender OF the Cumberland road 10 the States
through which il passes. namely: Maryland. Virginia
Pennsylvania Ohio and Indiana 10 those States respect
vely provided for in the act for the continuation and
repair OF the Cumberland road, passed June a. 1884,
follows:
" Sro And be further enacted, That as soon as the
sum oy This act appropriated, much thereof is
cessay shall be expended in the repair Of said road
ably to the provisions OF this act the shall be
passes the United States shall moi hersater be sub
Ject to any expense Tor repairing said Had.'
Another cesson OF this nature the surrender 10 the
State OF Maine OF the Mars Hill military road. con-
frontier The following act contains the arrangement:
An act for the repair OF the Mars Hill military road in the
Stale OF Maine.
BE u enacfed. &c, That the of So 900 be, and the
military road, in the State Of Maine which sum shall be
prated the State Of Maine having by re esovespplpyed
the 9th day OF March. iS3iagreed the preser
vaon and repair from and after the Isl day of January
1882 on condition that the said road shall be put state
by The United States prior The lt day Of January
the properly oihe United States or any cannon or military
stores belonging % the United States any
Approved June 80, 1884
Both the expediency and the constituonaity of the
disposition proposed 10 be made OF this canal are pact-
cay asserted by these proceedings both of which were
approved by Andrew jackson.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. rise to congratulate The coun-
Try for the admirable speech which the gentleman from
Michigan Mr. CAssl has just delivered, and to thank
the gentleman himself most cordially for finding in the
constitution OF the country, in the war-power OF that
an ihnrIt fpfar aal
Sir, think he is right There is noise and confu
sion" here and well has he explained his position before
the e country . Again, say, thank him 70, it;
Mr. CASS Not foot Of it.
/. Mr.. UNDERWOOD. 1t goes through some part of it
think the Land Committee has investigated that matter
and will make my statement and then allow myself
stand corrected most cheerfuy if am wrong There is
town upon that strait and we have passed law for the
purpose OF appoprlang lot part OF that property, for
the use OF this canal If that is not SO, then under
a mistake and the senator from Michigan mir FELcHl
will inform me concerning the fact.
Mr.. FELCH. The senator from Kentucky is under a
mistake 10 the fact There is reservation of private
claims TO which he REFERS being claims OF the old French
settlers: They are founded, however, upon gra
iuity of Congress; and in the bill which gives them the
right there is reserved right of carrying canal across
these claims. | will state, in addition 10 that, that the
canal runs across portion of land most of which will
not be embraced in these claims II reservation on
the side OF the river to which these claims do not extend
Mr.. UNDERWOOD My understanding was that these
old French claims were founded in right, and that
ceded the claims TO them because they founded in
right and making that cesson, it of course became pr
vate property
Mr.. CASS. There was an express reservation by law
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. | think understand it. The
TO that is that in confirming these claims we
made reservations and did not acknowledge the con-
rmation as matter of right, but matter of grace
favor Now am not going TO take sides and TO arg gue
with my friends upon that subject but if il be matter
OF right, and this canal takes part of that property il
presents an idea TO which want to call public atten
i, for the of this canal for national purposes
Now, sir, go for i'll subscribe 10 it, think il proper
and legitimate the part of this government 10 make
this improvement and to do it, among other reasons for
military purposes. for which my friend has conlended
But let that pass, and say IT is all public property
still the military argument remains in full force and
my friend with his capacous intellect, looking
this broad continent seeing Canada one side and
Cuba on the other, comes out like and acknow-
edges that will give his heart pleasure see them both
embraced 10 this great coniederacy of ours WE'LL sir,
looking al this same map am not prepared much to dis
sent from it, sometimes think, in regard our reve-
nue. operations, that Davis's straits will furnish very
good ne and think, in regard TO commercial opera
ons, the possession OF Cuba would be great acqusi.
on to the country But, like the gentleman the
way, however might desire, in reference TO the great
interests OF commerce and the revenue TO possess these
countries, would not touch OF either OF them
not foot inch of themuness IL could be done
upon the highest principles of national morality And
not prepared, without further investigation 10 say
that the acquisition OF those countries reference
TO our internal concerns, will not produce such dissen-
sons among ourselves to endanger the breaking 10
pieces OF the confederacy by its weight All these
subjects should the arise deserve great con-
sideraton before we come TO determine upon them.
But, Mr. President, advert to these things for the pur
pose Of saying that while with view TO military opera
tons upon the northern frontier, canal around the Sau
ST. Marys may be legitimate, do not why you can
not take the snags out OF the Mississippi with view
the same operations in the southern portion OF the coun
try and If you cannot take the snags of the Msss
sppi with view TO military operations in the southern
portion of the country, want gentlemen TO discrimi
nate, and tell me where the difference military point
oi view between facilities given 10 military operations
through canal which is TO be constructed and military
operations by means o railroad or any other internal
artificial works which troops and munitions OF
are to be transported And when you contemplate ii in
that aspect want TO know why you cannot extend the
terminus of the Chicago and Cairo railroad from the
mouth OF the Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee down
to the Gulf of Mexico want these great principles to
be regarded by the whole OF this nation, and when get
the support OF the gentleman from Michigan Mr. CAssl
without calling the attention OF the country to the doc
trnes which believe to be sound-wbig doctrines for
ages, might almost say-coming from OF the most
II not the distinguished democrat
now living Sir, must harmonize upon these great
questions; we must anaigama,e platforms hereafter,
whether made at Baltimore or elsewhere, and all come
out in favor OF system OF internal improvements-one
which shall facilitate the military operations oil The
country, the post office operations of the country, the
power of the country, and every other
great power OF the constitution which IS 10 be ex'
ecuted by means Sir, il is nothing but means 10 an
end-noIbing else | was delighted 10 hear the gentle
man say that in that clause OF the constitution OF the
United States which provides for FORTS Tor arsenas and
for dock yards there not word said about the pur-
chase OF them Nor is there that ~ result of the
inserted as DEDUCTION from great powers given
me n q 70 fnr