The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-28

The principle is the same For example il is said n re-
gard 70 Ihis wofk maj y Is very important for the mill
OF communication through different portions of This con
iederacy they would all be highly useful n the ranspo
aton both OF troops and munitions OF from one sec
hon OF the Union 10 another 10 meet enemy where wi
were The hardest pressedmponant not only regards
speed but IN reference 10 cheapness and the rapid
mutation OF forces al any given point.
Now, II we go upon the principle OF me common mill
tafy defence OF the country, all woIksot that description
all roads, canals, and ilroadswi under the sam,
principles there Is no distinction IN principle 10 be made
between lhein Now, these works that have alluded to-
lh's pass between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, the
pass between Delaware bay and the great Chesapeake
bay and The passes upon our great ryersare all similar
Objects and would be useful for military appliances tc
bring forth the resources OF the nation in defending
selves against oregn enemy upon any part Of bor
ders Yet in principle, they not al all different from
any great line OF communication, such that projected
al one lime from Buffalo to New Orleans The same
principle would apply to them all The policy would
apply TO them ALL viz the military defences of the coun.
try, strengthening its in time OF war; well
| incidentally giving aid to internal commerce No
one denies that Yet 1t is said that this particular pass
/ would he particularly useful as means OF national
defence, OF passing our ships war from
one OF the great lakes 10 another in OF war
awar with Great Britain, presume, is the refer.
red TO-
Now are honorable senators sincere in placing their
reliance for the support OF this bill upon that will
call il presrt out OF Difference to those honorable sena
tors who used the argument the other day. and the hon
| orabie senator from Connecticut Mr. ToUcEYl who
used to-day We know i is possible that il might be
useful TO us But does any gentleman really conem
plate that IN any future collision with Great Britain we
shall have any necessity for any military defences in our
northwestern sections between Lake Superior and Lake
Huron Ia what time, IN what remote generation. do
they expect that issue will come, when there will be su
cisnt English population and resources in that quarter Of
the British possessions to give us any annoyance or
alarm whaeyer Does moi every gentleman know that
twenty years 10 come with the power Of this conedera-
cy increased in its population and resources we would
at cut the line between the lower and the upper
adan provinces and overcome their whole power there
at any moments Does any gentleman really suppose
that we will havea war-vesse upon Lake Superior for
the purpose OF protecting our Northwestern frontier
and coast against Great Britain Do they even sup
pose that will have any vessels upon the lakes lower
down-Lake Erie or Lake Ontario Now, venture
nounced upon this floor in regard TO Canada, they
would say that the forces there could scarcely be
organized before the British power upon the conl
nent-upon the land here--woud be crushed Not only
would we have no naval force in that quarter. bn,
in the event of war with Great Britain, with our in
creased power and resources the conquest there would
be but a mere mornings piece Of work for ns There
might be hard fighting if Great Britain thought
proper to maintain the contest there. But seems to me
that every gentleman must be convinced that the mo-
ment that war breaks out between Great Britain and
the United States. with present resources, and the in
there would be in them by that time, she would
not dream of holding her Canadian possessions; they
would be abandoned Honor indeed might compel
them TO hold out for short time, but with expecta
ton OF maintaining their ground there. She has no re-
sources or means by which to prevent the twenty thirty
millions OF population upon her southern borders from
overwhelming the two three millions she has there
SO that as take it, is altogether pretext.
Again, with regard TO the principle OF this matter
said the principle of this work the same as that
which would be maintained in carrying out a general
System OF internal improvemsn,s said also. though!
that matter had been settled, practically at least
think that even that portion OF the whig party which
had heretofore maintained that general system-pardon
for using any language here which may have refer
4 me
that those gentlemen who had heretofore not only held
that the general government ba the power, but that il
was also expedlent TO go with these works by
oil appropriations from the public treasuryI understand
that those gentlemen have abandoned that measure and
that il has been abandoned by both the great parties OF
the country have always myself been opposed to il,
though there is man this Senate who has been
more earnest Jealous in the support OF in
sustaining The policy OF facilitating the of the
country than have, by removing the distractions in
our great rivers in habors upon the lakes and else
where, considering those works national in their
character than otherwise-as description OF improve
ments that would not be likely be made by the action
and operation OF individual capital, and such as would
not authorize the States themselves to spend money
IRON Their own treasures upon them. maintained tina,
Ipolicy. But have, with Others sernly opposed any
project oil general system OF internal improvements
Now, SIR do not care to object to permitting this
proposition TO go on as originally Stood appropnatng
600 acres OF land 10 aid in the construction OF this
canal. am willing 10 let il go in that way upon the
same principle thai would be willing TO see large aud
liberal appropriations OF public lands made for railroads
But the proposition is become quite different from
what II was originally 1t is proposed appropriate
$500 900 directly from the public treasury for the purpose
OF constructing this work But since the propeiy of this
appropriation is maintained by honorable senators here
am willing to have the question discussed, and that
we should go and vote upon il. should like TO know
ii such general system oil internal improvements is
likely TO be taken and sustained by the
majority OF the representatives OF the people in both
branches of Congress do not speak as party man |
am less OF party man upon this matter than perhaps
such arguments would to infer. do not want TO
this, TO know it, for the purpose OF seeing how is
TO operate upon the great parties OF the country. am
opposed 10 the system the ground that 1t necessa
rily leads 10 great progacy and waste OF the public
money. There would be no end TO the call for money
No treasury, however rich and overlooking, would be
able to supply the demands of such system.
repeat again, should like TO know upon what distinct
principle honorable senators support this proposition
except upon the that it is expedent 60 into such
ment is, that this isolated very short pas
between these two great lakes, and very important
tor the development OF the copper mines and other min
era resources which this Lake Superior country
IN extraordinary degree, and which yet scarcely
known, and but mperieclly developed II it important
upon that ground then why is it that precedence ia given
to this all others They talk OF the cop
per mines, and the trade there must be in Transporting
copper this portage and the great difficulty attending
they talk OF the upon this trade upon the products this
mineral region which Just being developed and which
is OF the richest description Now, TO this tar upon
account o these short voyages But while think OF it,
would merely ask what s the difference IN principle IN
giving this $500 900 for this work. and giving that sum
for opening railroad along this country and connecting
directly with Lake Michigan or some other point' The