The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-29

necessity. or importance OF an Improvement let il be
ald aside for other me and let US act upon those
about which there is doubt In this way. there can be
no difficulty mght very well happen that some pTopo-
slions thus brought forward for the brs time would be
ald aside but ii they have true mertf they should re-
ally be national works, such ought 10 come within the
general principle which The democratic party has LAID
down-then additional information, increase OF COM
mece and better knowledge OF the subject, would GER
tainy bring them within the rule when they came up
again.
do not suppose that we intend by this one bill 10 do
everything that necessary TO be done ia regard to i'm
provemenis. II Is but beginning, and as beginning
think should be very cautious our action and not
as Was so well suggested by the honorable senator from
South Carolina Mr. DEsAUssUaEl break down the sys-
ten at once by its own weight ! am not unriendy TO a
have always been favorable to such syslem-been
advocate OF such system. And know as well and
feel as sensby the honorable senator from South Car
olna does, that the best way TO break down such sys
tenn IS TO overload it with works OF internal improve.
ment And say that every gentleman who votes for a
proposition which is unnecessary, which is mol right, or
abou which there is doubt votes for that which will
break this system down. Ii you adopt the principle
have indicated, and take works OF improvement about
which there is doubt, but take only those that you
perfectly certain Of then next If The system does not
go lar enough, extend IT, and then the system
can be perfected in full accordance with The principles of
,he democratic party Tor when This rule Is pursued;
there can be no difficulty In asceIlaning what will
what will not.
wow, must confess tnat l was q great deal STnck
with the remark OF the honorable senator from Virginia.
Mr. MAsoE.l that this amendment OF the senator from
Illinois, Mr. SHIELDS calling for surveys generally, did
look like the first step towards general system of inter-
nal improvements The honorable senator from Illinois
may not have intended it, 1t may perhaps be good
better than the amendments of the nee for they call
or great many surveys which disapprove OF, as dis
approve of all surveys for have idea that Congress
should go out and search for internal improvements And
mere IS another very serious difficulty, which the amend
ment OF the honorable from Illinois has suggested
a, IN ~ SP-
rousy considered and which the very able remarks of
the senator from South Carolina [Mr. DEsAussuREl has
very naturally called TO reflection and notice refer
10 this plan OF improving rivers 1t perfectly true, that
honorable senator has sad nat of The rapid and
important changes that going the commercial af-
fairs OF the world is this very abandonment of the
CATION OF rivers, and substituting transportation by rail
roads in lis stead We just in state OF tansi-
ton, and no man can tell how far will go and will
suggest 10 the honorable senator from South Carolina
that the case which he did not suppose possible
IN operation. plan Is now gong on 10 accomplish pur-
pose winch must result IN favor OF railroadsapan which
he dd not suppose 1t was possible 10 put IN operaon o
be supposed that, however other rivers might have been
might yet be abandoned the navigation of the Mssis
sippi would still be kept up But would tell that hon
ofahle senator that numerous meetings have already
taken place. resolutions have been passed. and assoca
tons have been formed with the idea and understanding
to build up system of railroads from ST. Louisone
the most accessible pors al all stages OF the water, upon
the Mississppi--io New Orleans And another great
proect contemplated extend a rarold from New Or
leans north 10 Buffalo; and although will notrun directly
connect with the Mississippi by OF lateral roads
running 10 Baton Rouge Vicksbnrg, Memphis and other
the Mississippi will be very materially affected by
OF these railroads running along its very banks, aud
Meeting with The Important places upon II. So that you
must that all these te rivers about which so much
interest is felt, will be considered very nsg-
nificsni, and il improved now, will be abandoned
for the greater facilities afforded by railroads think
then that however important il may be 10 make invesfi-
gatons all Investigations in regard to rivers should be
entered into with great caution for in regard to many o
them but few years will go by before the number OF rail.
roads will be so increased and the commerce OF the
country can be much better earned on By msans oil
railroads they will be considered objects of very Little
importance.
me, are very indefinite. This order is TO survey nayga.
BILE rivers. Now, should like TO know what is meant
by navigabe rvers What is the limit to be pat upon
that expression Why, OF rivers are Haviga.
BILE all The year round; others again nsvigable Tor
but bali the year; while others again navigable for
short time, two or three months weeks, perhaps but
two or three days. as is the with many OF small
streams. But no general description be applied to
our great rivers which should be the subjects OF i'm
provemens of this kind. think that, if there
other Objection 10 this amendment but this one, would
be enough TO make II Objectionable The ground OF liz
leading to general system of internal improvements
Now, fn was no longer matter OF doubt there in.
supefase objections TO entering upon general system o
internal improvements by the general government In The
hfs place, these local lmprovemens-these small improve
such as ne appabannock yer and other small i'm
provemens OF that knd-are not OF that general character
and general interest that intended should be the OBJ
jects OF the action OF the general government They are
not at all necessary and never intended that hey
should be made by the general government Now, il il
altogether different with these geat objects OF general in.
teres SO obvious this that at the commencement o
the government objects Of internal Improvement
were matter oi necessity, adopted by the general gov
erneni and have been pursued ever since without an,
question Of the right and the duty OF the government tc
carry them on-such as lighthouses buoys, and othe
Improvements OF important barbors. But the
sy does exist for these local improvements; they
no, matters of general interest they OF local interest
merely-nauers in which the particular States alon,
interested and therefore ,ere s no propnety IN thri
being carried by the general government because each
locality will take care OF its peculiar and local im
provements But even II this serious and insupersb'
objection did not exist ia regard TO general system OF IN
terna improvements, there another serious objection
il which is that The system cannot be made equal anC
fair in lis oberatons You cannot carry the system ou
equally and falyfor this obvious reason, that many
the States have already expended large sums oi money
IN carrying these very Improvements which you nov
propose TO do for other States who have not done so
Many OF the States have expended very large sums u
this way many OF the States larger sums than others
My own State has probably expended more money &C
cordng to her than any other State IN The Unor
Tor Improvement OF her navigabe streams, Tor the I'm
provemeni OF her commerce. for the building and i'm
pfovement Of her wharves and other works OF improve
ment at New Orleans, aud for improvements in various
other ways have exact statement of the amount ha
she has thus expended, but think may safely venture
to say that IL has amounted millions OF dollars Now
in regard TO the Improvement Of this Rappahannock
very small siresmI ask you with what proprlety yor
call upon me- a from the State OF Louis
lana. to improve river which is Just such stream
The bayous OF louisiana upon which my State has beer
expending so much money for the last twenty years
\ Whv. q them upon the footing woull