The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-25


Il will go-o that particular object II 4 had been m
tended to appropriate than this, the bill would sure
say and perhaps would not be proper for me TO say II
knew what was the intention oi the House OF Repre-
senayes IN using this particular phraseoogy but can
well suppose what consideration might have governed
them IN using IT, We know very well that. with The
best explorations and examinations could have made
by he engineers OF army and other scientific persons
employed Tor the purpose, have been unable 10
tain certainly what amount OF money would be neces-
| sary Tor the whole work. What is proposed. ii
understand il. regarded from the beginning only
an experiment Even the plan OF the work. beyond an
experimental trial, has not been determined upon. And
apprehend that with this small amount Of money-less
than any OF the engineers who have examined the matter
have declared 10 be sufficient even to make expert
menno executive department charged with carrying out
such views would for moment think OF making con.
tract embracing the whole work. and involving amount
| larger than that appropriated.
| Some engineers, who have been employed to exam
Inc and report upon proper ral. and ias PROBABLE
cost of It's execution, have, ihink. gone high
100000 in their estimates for the experiment 10 test
practicabty upon The plan proposed by them Another
one understand has estimated for the same at 100000.
| II recoec rightly, the report made BY Mr. Elle
distinguished civil engineer, who was engaged year
or two ago in examining and estimating Tor this work,
sets down the cost upon peculiar, and Thought sim
Pile and feasible, plan of his own, at something like
100000 open the channel, with regular annual
Of perhaps $4,000 to follow Thsis my recollection of
1t. Does any one suppose that $4,000 Will be sufficient
by those who desire the work to be commenced speedily
and prosecuted with success that less than Sl50000 will
not do TO begin with; and doubt not. ii this amend
ment be made, that this last-named sun Will be
moved. Why, sir, doubt whether the whole work
contemplated be done for less than from half MIL
lion 10 million OF dollars, or within shorter time
than two or three years. These considerations must
be present to the mind OF any Secretary; and the
words Of the law and its obvious intention staring him
in the face he wonld be bold man, indeed, ii he
ceeded the amount of the appropriation. II he did, ne
would deserve impeachment
Senators have complained that they have opportu
nifty 10 anime the bill that proposition is made 10 force
them 10 vote before they have been enabled 10 enlighen
themselves. Why, sir, on the 3oth of last month the
bill was received by the Senate from the House, and
the lh OF this month il was reported by the Commit
lee on Commerce. Since then-seven days-it has been
before U.s. presume that every senator who intended
10 read it, and intended TO enshlen himself about il, has
done already and ii he has not, 1t Is perfectly COM
pelent for him 10 rise here present his own views and
discuss il TO his hearts content He may discuss every
proposition in it from beginning to end Hemay offer any
amendment that his judgment, or even his whlm or
caprice may suggest TO every section and every line IN IT.
There is restriction upon any there is no popo-
sdon 10 deprive any OF The privilege OF Offering 10
amenI or discussing the bill as be may choose.
few words now to the remark oil my honorable friend
from Maryland, lMr. PRATTl with regard 10 the com
paraiive importance Of two rivers mentioned IN this BILL
He objects TO my comparison of the length OF the
Palapsco with that OF Red river, as measuring the rel
alive Importance OF the two or OF their commerce.
mentioned the great difference between them IN this
respect as only one point OF contrast. not as constu-
ting all 10 amount OF present commerce ! admit that
the short nver has more than The long one But by
looking ahead for few years. and anticipating the future
by estimate oil the past, the immense and fertile conn
try OF which The Red is the nver and which is already
populang. and would fill up almost day, aud grow
from wilderness TO cultivated fields, if this g.eai ihor
oughfare opened, rises into importance which
deeply overshadUws the whole country which is drained
and supplied by the Paapsco, and commands an inter-
est commensurate with Its extent, The length OF It's
great river But in estimating the amount TO be appopr
ated there is element more directly and appropriately
10 be considered than those either he or have mentioned
the character and extent Of the obstruction 10 be
moued And in respect TO this how compares the Paapsco
with the Red river 2 moe-hil 10 mountain! The Red
"a, hntn nl fmaar
not merely Saie but running through three States,
and a country destined To make some half dozen
The senator from Texas stated, what we all know
to be true that the government OF the United States in
curs in consequence OF the raft expense almost every
year for the transportation OF supplies Tor the troops on our
western frontier much greater than the amount now pro-
posed TO be given for its removal II strikes me 10 be
OF the smpes, questions OF economy II you should
appropriate amount sucient TO clear out that
obstruction and follow il up with annual appopria
ton 10 keep clear II would be money saving opera
ton for the government You would save enough IN the
item OF transportation almost in one year--cerainy in
two--to cover the whole expense OF the work
And then, sir, the senator from Maryland seemed 10
proceed upon the supposon that the raft OF the Red rver
was very small affair. do not know whether the SEN
ator has paid much attention 10 H. or taken The trouble 10
inform hmself and he may be surprised when tell him
that the Red river raft alone is something like i've times
longer than the whole length OF The Paiapsco river II
Is estimated as siry miles long and although not solid
mass OF timber, II is not wide ot the mark TO say that IL
all the timber contains brought closely together II
would make solid filling up the whole bed OF the
river for space ot at least foeafy ma solid mass OF
wood sir twice the length OF the Paapsco, and then
navgabe stream each side OF this obstruction, which,
above and below, measures from twelve 10 fifteen hun
dted miles. | claim not too much for such river when
call II national in its character and Importance As
have said, il already through three StsiesAkansas,
Texas and louisiana and beyond them, through coun-
try which is destined, doubt not, al no distant day, to
make some half dozen more broad and fertile States.
Besides these considerations there is obligation, in
the OF a compact the part OF the United States,
and for which pecuniary consideration has been paid,
10 remove This obstruction from Red river Many of
people who purchased the government lands near
that rver especially above the raft, did when the
government engaged in the work OF cutting out
done, well and edectually done Such the promise
OF the government by its acts and such the belief OF
the people upon their faith in the government need
not remind the Senate and the country that this belief
would have been justified bad the government done its
obvious and easy duty Under that promise and on that
faith The people purchased the land, knowing would
be valuable ii the raft removed, but comparatively
vaueless ii that suffered 10 remain. Under those
and while the work in progress, they
pad their money into the national treasury The implied
promise TO go with the work to completion was part
and most material part of the consideration ior whca
the money was paid. But after that the appropriations
withheld and have been withheld ever snce and
The work abandoned. Was not that compacts and was
il not binding upon the faith OF this government In
Justice has been done in this case, not only by failure
national work OF pressing importance to the whole
Try, but aso OF failing keep faith with the individual
citizen. Ii is time that reparaon was made. This
seems like beginning II is small, but hope will be
consumma,ed.
Mr MASON The hour Ia late I u,ove that The