The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-28

vastly inferior streams to this OF which have been
speakng-can as representative OF the people of
Georgia, stand by and not ask an appropriation for the
rivers OF that State TO which have referred II il is to
be done by procuring letter from the Typographical bu-
eau, cannot the senators and representatives call upon
The head OF the bureau TO make that recommendation
And II that accommodation be made IN and through the
bureau, merely upon the emergency oil the case Just at
The moment about TO pass this bill, will II not be
equally as valuable the recommendation made IN Ia
vor OF the Rappahannock' Has The head of the bureau
ever been up down the Rappahannock In all proba
putty he never has been, and presume he never has
been up or down the streams of which have spoken.
ence this bodyl II is this; II is either the nhu
ence OF the name OF the State OF Virginia. the position OF
the State, the character OF The gentlemen who repre-
sent r# aHt3
Mr.. HALE All combined
Mr. DAWSON. Now, sir, If this be system depend
ing upon The will OF senators and representatives, how
can be denied here that all the States OF which the
ator from Michigan has been speaking. who are lett out
Of this BILL shall not present their CLAIMS Why, had
thought that before Congress would make an appropra.
ton for purposes Of this kind they would understand al
least the geography OF the country, The extent OF the
stream proposed TO be improved, the character OF its CON-
merce and the extent of that commerce, and what proba
BILE advantages the Improvement OF the stream would give
to the United States al large
That il the duty of the committee, but yet they
to deny that and 10 throw entirely upon the recommend
alton OF the head of the bureau with regard surveys
call made upon them by citizens OF Fredericksburg
for appropriation for the Rappahannock they send
them ihe head Of the bureau and he sends letter, say
OF an engineer going from the mouth of the river to Fred
ericksbuIg. That is The recommendation upon which we
are 10 rely as that OF the head oil the bureau.
have said, over and again, that would vote in
favor OF those appropriations which are calculated TO ben
eft the States and the OF the Union where the
objects national, and have statel that will vote
for appropriation of this kind except estimate be
made Now what is meant by estimate!
Congress must first understand what power It has
gress to ascertain that power' By the knowledge which
The members possess of the geography Of the country
and OF the character OF the system! Does not every
gentleman here well know-and those gentlemen who
have passed Fredericksburg going SOUTH particularly,
know--ihat the Rappahannock is small stream. not
one-ihrd the size OF the ordinary streams 10 Georgia OF
which have spoken' Steamboats,. and perhaps schoon-
ers, can go it, How is the constitutional objection
to be in,erposed' Upon what principle is that to be
founded! VIII the senators upon the opposite side OF
the chamber say that II there be constitutional obec
tons to opening river and improving by the funds oi
the government the same constitutional objections do not
apply to making an appropriation TO survey it! Where
do you get the power from the constitution 10 authorize
the survey II you have not the power at the same time
TO appropriate money 10 clear out the river! cannol
ton TO survey stream there seems TO be an obligation
created To clear il out Ii you have not the power to
clear out you have not the power 10 survey unless
you maintain that the power survey is necessary 10
the character of the in order TO decide
the constuonalty OF an appropriation Tor opening IT,
In my own mind can draw no constitutional distlnc-
ton between the power TO appropriate to survey river
and the power to appropriate money 10 render il navi.
gable. But wanted to give notice that, in the event OF
these various amendments being passed, shall before
the bill rs finally disposed OF, procure copy oil the ad
dess made TO the head of the bureau of Typographical
engineers, and go to hun and ask OF him If he has The
same knowledge OF the streams OF Georgia which he
had in regard TO the river Rappahannock and to tell us
how much IL will take TO survey those streams How can
you dery that appropriation if you admit this There
IS the question
But seems now that we are about TO retrace our steps
on the subject OF internal improvements, and instead OF
doing it by limitations OF any power known TO the con-
slitution we are going into 1t without any Limitation
hate ia ma he n he forms
recently established by the two great parties OF the Union
do not say that il is do not that according 10
the principles which gentlemen proceeding, there
is any limitation to this power have looked this
bl and find that II is beyond my power 10 convince
my mind as TO the consttutonay OF all OF lis provisions
have laid down the position as we'll as could that
would vote for all appropriations that were national in
their tendencies, aud which would be for the benefit Of
the whole Union.
1 admitted yesterday, that the word national" in
this connexion is very general, and is scarcely sut
ceny limited 10 express precisely what my meaning
The democratic party took the best in their power
10 establish IL under administration OF General Jack
son. Of which my friend from Michigan a most dis
tinguished membehat was that the constitution could
be up river as high as port OF entry When look
ed al the subject found that Congress had TO declare
what should be port of entry. My friend from Mis-
souri, ran the constitution as far up the Mississippi
ST. Louis There was port of entry established there,
believe and, therefore, the constitution up that
far. | believe that Nashville, upon The Cumberland
yer is port of entry and, according 10 the principle
10 which ! now refer, you can un the eons,at,oa
peror the Cumberland river at Nashville, is not
port Of entry; and consequently, according TO the view
OF which am now speaking, the constitution cannot
extend there; and so II is with Macon and Columbus.
Ia this state of things, what am TO dol Shall first
cali upon Congress establish ports OF entry these
various places and increase the expenditure Of the gov
ernmept OF the United States by appointing officers there
as agents TO those ports OF entry II is evident that will
not do.
Then, what is the limation' What is the point az
which either of the parties OF this country stand
with regard to the consttuonality of this question :
Or have they abandoned their old ground Why,
cordng TO the language o my democratic friend from the
State OF Maine, Mr. HAMLIN. there is no limitation
the power OF Congress in this respect II that be
then becomes strife between parties; and the strong
est combination that be made in either house viii
carry through the bill and man who has any feeI
Of fairness, who will not 60 into the general combina
ton or who asks much for his voe cannot get any
thing II there be no constitutional inerposition--no
constitutional barrier limitation the power OF Con-
gress with respect internal improvements- have been
mistaken all my life.
In the Language OF the senator from Michigan, the
course now being adopted has limitation. The bar
rers which that honorable tried throw around
IT, IN his speech dutng the last session OF Congress- were
prudent and wise-tbat is before the appropriation be
made we shall understand the extent OF the Improvement
desired the OF The benefit it is to be to the
Try, and have investigation OF the subject Now how
are you TO ascertain and get that normstonl We have
TO come back TO that question The senator from Mich
gan says cannot be done by particular appropriation
OF this kind Tor survey cannot see how II can be
done IN that way because, you have right to call for
appropriation for the survey OF stream such the
Potomac, il will be commended that you have right to
survey the Rappahannock, which hows into IT, and then
will be carried TO OF the small creeks flowing into
I'LL "a. T. n