The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-22

and hardly impression will be produced the
work that has 10 be performed upon That river II will be
conceded on all hands that the Red river Is one OF The
great tributaries OF the Mississippi river and according
10 the rule laid down by the very able and neverlo be-
forgotten report OF Mr. Calhoun on the memorial OF the
Memphis convention addressed 10 Congress- this work is
strictly national Ii is which Mr. Calhoun consid
cred coming within the provision OF the constitution
giving Congress power TO regulate commerce.
My friend from Texas has suggested that the removal
OF this ra will open up navigation Of six hundred or
government has heretofore sold lands under the impress
sion that the raft would be removed. II is now but an
acl OF good faith the part OF the government TO
leve the implied pledges which it gave the time il de-
rived an immense amount from the sale OF land on the
borders OF that river have doubt that II 100000
be appropriated the work will be done. IT, on the con-
Tay the appropriation should be kept within the terms
proposed by the bill as il came from the House, the
whole amount will, think, be squandered without any
profit to any one-,east of all TO the government,
| Mr. DAVIS Mr.. President | think that if we go
into amendments upon the plan now suggested. the
whole system will come TO the character which
many gentlemen give TO it. Here is a proposition
from the Department OF War; asking for $4,000 for
this work. An honorable senator rises and Gays he
does not think that enough, but that 100000 would
do very well, ! might ask him with some propre-
y. by what deduction be arrives at the conclusion that
100000 will be the proper amount lie Is supported IN
that CONVICTION by another gentleman, and then by
another. II you depart from the estimates made, and
senators present their views, and we TO act upon
them as the rule and guide for settling these sums, them
il seems to me, the whole matter is thrown loose 1t
VIII De lett simply 10 the guess OF sucn gentlemen as can
guess pretty WELL shall not attempt 10 discuss this
question but il seems TO that the obvious course oil
proprety to stand by the proposition OF the department
unless there some shown why You should depart
from it. This raft has been, as understand it, once cut
through Il has since filled up to extent, and there
will be some expense necessary to remove IT. But how
does appear that $4,000 will not be adequate Tor this
service How does it appear that $4,000 will be the
right sum have much respect Tor the judgment
OF my worthy friends from Arkansas, Texas and Louis
lana, any other gentleman but. after all. must be
obvious that their estimates founded entirely upon
conjecture
sion but must say 10 the senator from Massachusetts
that derived my information 10 the amount which
will be necessary and sufficient to clear out the raft IRON
what consiier-and from what think all practical men
considerable very best source; from The intelligence OF
practical who have lived for the last twenty thirty
years in the immediate vicinity OF the raft who know
the process by which it was formed, who know what
work has to be done, and who have interests stake n
it. They, looking at il as practical men, have come to
the conclusion that this amount will be sntilcient and
this is, think, good authority. The senator says very
truly that the Iait was once cut through, but that has
partially filled up again II has filled up. and it will
much TO remove it as II ever ddtbat is there is
as much work to do than before. Having
learned something from experience 10 the practical opera
ton of cutting out such raft it may be done for less
money, although there may be the amount OF work.
or perhaps MORE than at any former period. These
the sources OF my information.
Mr. RUSK. dislike, al this late hour to detain the
Senate and shall delan it but few moments. |
think this presents strong illustration of the
difficulty OF depending solely upon the Typographical
ginees any that be presented live in the neigh
boJhood OF this raft have been upon the ground
have conversed with gentlemen who paid twenty dollars
acre Tor land IN the immediate vicinity when the gov
eminent was engaged in clearing out the raft My in
formation is recent, and from of intelligence who
have lived there all their lives and well acquaini
ed with this raft and the necessary TO clear II out
the typographical engineers could have been il they
had been there; and will hazard the opinion that
OF the corps OF typographical engineers has been there
10 examine the ralt within the last fifteen years do
believe OF them has been In the neghborhood in
that time.
10 addition TO what has been stated would say that
the government is annually put TO much larger expense
for the transportation OF supplies for the troops imae
daely in the vicinity OF the raft than The whole appro
praion OF 100000 asked for II you appropriate
this amount OF $50 000 IL my candid impresson-and
in tina, impression sustained by those familiar with
The subject, and who reside in the neghborhoodhat il
will result in good whereas, 800, 900 will enable
the Secretary Of War 10 make contracts for the removal
of the raft, and TO keep open tor time. OF this
feel perfectly satisfied. And there is another thing:
am that soon IL is removed the government
will receive than twice the amount OF the expendi.
ure by IL reduction in the price OF transportation The
forts The vicinity OF Red river II this is not mem
ouous proposition then there is nothing OF merit in the
bill
MIR. UNDERWOOD. | rise for the purpose of OBJ
tanning information; Tor the information which desire
TO obtain will have great deal 10 do with my action
this amendment, and perhaps with that OF Others II am
correctly informed, the mode OF operation Is this The
government employs superintendent, and they hire
hands, and the government rays them II that be the
mode OF proceeding, all that Is necessary is 10 give money
enough 10 keep them at work until meet again. Ii
that is not the mode OF proceeding, then mlsin-
formed and presume am not misHiormed because |
do not how il would be possible for them TO act upon
any other principle. do not believe that lhe govern
men makes contracts with individuals TO snags
on the Mississippi for certain distance, say beginning
al the mouth Of the Ohio, and going down TO Wolf
\ island, or the mouth OF The YaZoo The government
does not parcel the work out into districts in that
believe that the medis operJnd is az have stated and
II that be the case all that necessary is 10 give money
enough 10 expend in the progress OF the work until we
meet again.
| Mr. MASON. | have nothing 10 say as TO the amount
the raft in the Red river But wish again 10 call The
attention of the country TO the character OF this BILL and
its expenditures. Here Is required OF The Secretary OF
War contract with somebody the raft iD Red
river and to pay him 100000 out OF the national
ury Tor doing it, The Secretary OF War is here at Wash
ington and the Red nyer two thousand live hundred
miles off The Secretary OF War is required to pay
100000 TO raft in nver Two thousand five
hundred miles of.
The senator from Illinois, Mir. DoUeLAs,l who is
friend OF the BILL said this and reerale IT, that il may
go upon the records OF debates, and 90 10 the
Try that for every dollars you appropriate you do not
get one dollar OF labor Ay, sir he said IT, and treas
ured il in my recollection For every dollars you
appropriate you do not get one dollar OF labor. |
pect he tell within the estimate. Here you are TO
eypend 100000 by contract TO be made here for
the removal OF work twenty-five hundred miles off, and
to get less than $4,000 worth OF labor for 500 900
OF money That u the effect OF il, and wish that TO go
70 the country.
Mr.. SOULE The senator from Illinois mir. DoUG-
LAs was right when, in the OF his remarks, he
stated that under the present system could not expect
10 realize dollar out OF ten OF any amount that might
- pfa t.tthlt rnrL ht