The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-26

We have designed TO give no one work an advantage
over another we do not propose 10 finish any of these
harbors Improvements OF rivers Upon that represent.
alton agreed, voluntarily TO reduce the appropriation
Tor removing these great obstIuctions to $4,000, little
more than one third OF what would be necessary com
plete the whole which II very important should be
completed IN the shortest time. yielded 10 the force Of
ordbe senator from ILLINOIS Mr. SHIELtsl said. Here
is the Illinois river, navgabe for two hundred aud fifty
miles; and II you get yours in, We want ours also
They did not ask for so much as did They asked Tor
only $4,000. and it was given 10 them. You are not
content to have appropriated $4,000 10 improve the Up-
per is not part OF the $4,000 spo-
epe which The bill was introduced il was not pro-
posed TO finish the entire Improvement OF The Upper Nus.
slsspp; but you have just said we will vote 10 finish
both the rapids in the Upper Mississippi; will inn
prove the rapids only al the Des MONIES river, but the
ock River rapids, and for that you have appropriated
100000 Now sir II you proceed on any principles oil
equality and Justice you ought 10 restore The approora-
on for the Tennessee river to l3S coo, or at least to
100000 AS sad before, iobore 10 press the appro-
praton proposed in the amendment oil The senator from
Kentucky, although will have TO answer for il at home,
as the representative Of that great interest on the Cum
beiland river can only answer lot II by making such
remarks these, stating the difficulty which there was
IN getting the appropriation Tor the Tennessee river
that glad 10 all these works OF national char
acer carried on, and that did want TO make the bill
obnoxious 10 the House OF Representatives, by loading II
down. Therefore would have to say to my constit'
uens on the Cumberland river that agreed to make
that we would receive appropriation hereafter.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD wish my friend from Tennes-
see would state whether what am about TO say is not
the fact The appropriations heretofore made upon the
Cumberland river have been expended below Nashville.
Ii am correctly informed, OF them have been ex,
pended above H. Now, am anxious 10 have that part
OF the Cumberland above Nashville, In which not only
Nashville and Tennessee, but my constituents PARTICULAR
y up towards the mountains, are interested improved
There sas much Of that stream navigabe above Nash
vile as below. We have received benefit, compara-
lively, from this appropriation heretofore and therefore
thought the amendment properly came from me, par
culay my friend from Tennessee bad made the sug-
geslun which he mentioned, preferrng because he lived
on the Cumberland, TO ask appropriation for the len
ndssee river.
While up wish 10 correct misapprehension Of some
gentlemen The Chattanooga railroad which leads both
TO Charleston and Savannah inercepts the Tennessee
river above the Muscle shoals There is now no con-
nexon between that and the river navigation, in conse
guence OF the intervention OF the Muscle shoals except
by the Cumberland river at Nashville.
Mr. BELL. All that Is very true. | would not have
ntruded these remarks upon the Senate, but that shall
be held accountable for my course. have acted thus
upon general conservative grounds in regard 10 this
bills but have observed that the spirit has not
peryaded other gentlemen. agreed 10 exclude the Cum
be and river altogether, although is two or three times
as large the Illinois. | do not know whether it is
quite SO important in national point OF view, but be-
leve it is important unless you make ship canal
ship communication on the Illinois, and widen the chan
nell say feel myself called upon. in vndicatioh OF my
course in regard to this river, state the principles upon
which had orborne TO ofer any amendment for it.
have no time go into The consideration, aude 10
the general views which have upon The subject OF river
improvement but will say, that heard the senator
from Indiana Mr. BRIoHTl make the announcement,
which ne did moment ago, with SURPRISE thought he
was one Of the fast friends of this bill But he said he
would not vote tor II the ground that il State.
and not a national improvement
While am up | feel called upon 10 say few words
to my friend from Michigan, MIR. CAssl He promised
one day last week 10 make remarks reply TO
interrogaory oil mine 10 what he meant by "ceraln
national objects He was ready osuPpor what he con-
sdeTed came within the principle laid down by General
jackson. do not want TO provoke any controversy
now
Mr. CASS | will not make speech thought
had explained myself.
Mr. BELL The senator may have explained but il
he did ] misunderstood him. Certain general objects
OF a national chafscier'lhat was the language oil my
nend in defining bis position the other day was Gu
rous 10 know what was the description OF the certain
objects OF national character" have no party views
this subject do not whether this belongs TO the
wing or democratic policy, or to both II is TOO great sub
ect, tits valuable 10 be lost account oil any technical
or party interest connected with IT, But understood the
senator say that the duty OF improving the navigation
oi rivers and harbors by The general government did not
depend upon the extent OF those rivers and barbors,
whether they confined to one State alone more
He could distinction 80 that the appropriations TO
The Appomattox and James rivers although they were
wholly in the State OF Virginia and very small al that
and only made navgabe at immense cost by artih
cal works, national others. II that is certain
national object, want distinctly TO understand wheh
er those rivers within one State come within the dehn
ton.
Mr. CASS. will not make a speech. If the sena
tor from Tennessee will permit me- viii repeat, IN the
language OF General Jackson, that the Improvement
should be for national purpose that i makes no
difference whether is in Slate, two States, or twenty
States shall not 20 into metaphysical inquiry as 10
what national objects, any more than would as 10
where the Navigation Of river begins or ends. That
every gentleman can determine for himself
Mr. BELL Now, | want 10 know how much more
enlightened than was before. [Laughterl
Mr. CASS. | refer the senator to General Jacksons
message
do not to see defeated by this difference OF opn
ion among s friends; and must consider the senator
from Michigan friend OF the bill But am sorry 10
see his leit-hand man in the Senate, Mr. BRGHT occu
pies the sea, TO the left Of Mr. CAss,l whom ! looked
upon friend OF the bill, disavowing all approprIa
lions TO improvements exclusively within one State
Mr. CASS. He did not take that ground.
MIR BELL. He said that he opposed 20 the i'm
provemen by the general government OF object wholly
within the jurisdiction OF single State.
Mr.. CASS Well, have nothing TO do with his
opinion.
Mr.. BELL II we do not come to better under
standing OF the principles upon which support this
bill, we shall never get along with it. II is Stale meas
ure The senator therefore cannot vote for the bill
want 10 ask The senator from Michigan in place Of the
senator from Indiana whether there not interest
the whole Union, IN the navigation OF every river, in
some sense Whether the general interest OF the coun
Try may not extend 10 the navigation of river that IL
within the jurisdiction oi State onlyl Where does
he draw the liner He says there is distinction be-
tween rivers running through two or three States and
rivers running wholly in State Is there any dis
lncIon, when you come 10 consider, between river
State and in several provided all bene-
fted by IL 7 The South not benefited by the COM
nerce OF the lakes directly but we have common in
erest in the prosperity Of the whole Union So, part