The daily union., 1852-08-29

q.
matter OF discretion But sill do not suppose hat lna =
vague discretion, but that IT is governed oy IsI'S Tb
rules and certain principles and be very iae, before
leye Congress has 10 decide upon the lniolmaton
them. whether the work is OF national nph ,bass
plies that admit the power OF Congress 70 mdnv ~, ~
improvements Ihave not denied that power pus soy
r. n nosr N ~ onvht 10 be exercised with great dlscfe
ton aud that, where there Is doupl as 70 h. m @ =,
ity general importance OF measure y ousn' mo- "
n Is yery true as hegeneman says In reference 70 me
mouths of The Mississippi that there have been surveys
I'M, i also true if they bad not been surveyed that
the main fact upon which we rely-the national import
anee Of the works Independent entirely oil survey Inc
information have acted upon cnieny Is VIVA. mas osen
number OF vessels that have been lost. particularly du-
ring The last season. the mouth OF that rver. have
NOT looked into the details OF those elaborate surveys
do moi think matter OF conseq uence. find tha fact
that the distinctions are growing greater and therefore
become satisfied and hope the Senate will be satisfied,
of the importance of this admit then, to the
fullest extent, the power OF Congress 10 make these i'm
provemens but say If is not the practice OF the gov
eminent, not the doctrine OF the democratic party to
exercise except IN those cases OF general interest," and
ought not 10 be recognised the doctrine OF that party
Wherever the improvement is OF local character-
wherever il Is confined to particular locations whether
particular State or States than one care not
for that is entirely immaeriano appropriation should
be made. The question is whether the work is OF gen.
erai importance or not NOW, could men1n instances al
together, being confined TO Slae and yet consider
the object just much of national Importance as there
were half dozen States connected with it. refer par
ticulary the Patapsco river which consider as the
entrance 10 OF the great ports OF the United States,
in which all the country is interested. That is an i'm
proyement OF general importance, although il is in The
State Of Maryland alone.
Mr.. B0RLAND. | admit that
MIR. DOWNS. And so in regard to the improvements
in the Chesapeake bay which Of the great branches
o commences and also with regard to the Hudson river
and some OF those great streams. Although they may
BE- situated in one state many portions @ Of the
ply this rule 10 the Rappahannock and rivers OF that de-
scrpon because the improvements are just such as my
State and other States have made for themselves.
Mr. DOUGLAS. Mr.. President, such repeated refer
has been made here to the Baltimore platform upon
the subject OF internal improvements, that feel il to be
appropriate, perhaps 10 make remark or two upon that
We are taunted by our whg friends that the advocacy
OF river and harbor bills by democrat is in violation
opposed to these appropriations take the view OF
The subject think that one moments reflection will
satisfy gentlemen upon both sides of the chamber that
they are entirely in upon this point The Baltimore
platform, so far that concerned believe, is substan
TALLY the same that has been from the days OF General
Jackson down to this time. The general system OF inter-
nal improvements spoken OF in these resolutions is sys
tenn - which General Jackson's administration op
posed and which was put down by his vetoes II will be
borne IN mind that at that time what was known the
system OF internal improvements, supported by the ad
mnisalion ef Mr. Adams, and opposed by the admins
traton OF General Jackson, was system of roads and
canals and other artificial communications in the differ
ent States OF the Union Ii was against this system that
General Jacksons veioes were directed. The internal
Improvement system stood entirely distinct and apart from
the navigation interest and In General Jacksons
message OF the Maysve road bill, you will fnd after
expressing his conviction that Congress had not the
power to carry on this system OF roads and canals under
The name OF internal improvements that he says substan-
tally this But there is another class OF works which
may not be improperly called internal improvements
which stand upon entirely different footing. | alude
10 appropriations for improving channels OF naviga-
BILE vers for habors buoys beacons, and other works
tor the protection OF navigation. These appropriations
have been made from the foundation Of the government
and is not my purpose to disturb that policy" That is
very nearly his own language with reference 10 appro
priations Tor rivers and harbofs
Now sir, with these pending before the country
the wings advocating system OF roads and canals and
ARTIFICIAL communications Tor commerce in the different
States, the administration of General Jackson resisting
that system and he himself destroying by his veo-the
Baltimore Convention assembled then, and passed reso
luton against general system OF internal improvement
by the federal government What the meaning OF
that rosouon' To condemn that which the adminstra-
ton that we were supporting had veoed-to condemn
that system which separated the policy OF the democratic
administration from the whg administration which bad
preceded IL Then, by the Baltimore platform, condemn.
ing general system OF internal improvements the dem
ocrauc party are committed only against the system OF
roads and canals and other artificial OF commun
cation in the different States OF the Union SO lar as
rivers AID haTbors concerned the Baltimore platform
platform resolution against roads and canals we omit
ted 10 put into resolution in favor OF those works
which General Jackson did not proper to veto Then,
the rver and haI Dor bill is local question with the dem
ocrac party upon which democrat may take either side
without violating any principle or resolution OF that plat
form.
show that these taunts either side unounded-ha
men may be good democrats and either support or oppose
system OF internal improvements. A man here some
umes opposes and sometimes supports system, and is
consistent IN both cases; for when bad bill comes up
he opposes II, and when good one comes he supports
H. lhis IS The position OF men who do not discover
any want Of constitutional power to egslate spon the
subject Other persons believe that appropriations for
MYERS and harborsare unauthorized by the constitution
oppose all appropriations upon the subject Men NAV diff
may dier-upon this question without
eher infringing upon the platform in the sg degree
Men here profess TO be Jackson men, carrying out his
policy 10 resisting river and harbor improvements The
TACT Is, that more improvements for rivers asd barbors
were made IN the administration of General jackson than
IN any other that has existed since the days OF the
foundation oil The government. Then, as these appro
pnauons have been larger under Jacksons
lhan under any oher and they have failed under whg
administrations as often under democratic il clearly
Ver and ha Dor mprov have beer
parry qqeslonsIn This country The party question was az
10 whether roads and canals and other artificial
tons should be made within The different States M the
gnion and that question involved important prncipIe
he right to make canal within the limits OF State car
res with i the right and duty to protect the canal and
hence the obligation TO assume the jurisdiction over Its
banks and the work sef far as is for
purpose OF protection. Such jurisdiction was held 10 the
be IN conflict with the rights OF the States because
United States assuming jurisdiction thereby excluded
Inc Slae jurisdiction. Hence there great point of
principle, involving The constitutional power so far as
making arlbclal communications, roads, and canals
within The limits OF State So far as related TO payi.
States, and not to the States no such question of conflict
CT power could arise.
must remind gentlemen that this question OF power
over your and other navigable waers ia