The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-25

Lei us cAdlnuc tulh argument Of
lem oil approprianng two three millions OF dollars TO
the Improvement OF rivers and harboTs annually is start
ling to many minds Ii is said that is great tax upon
the treasury; that when il is commenced II cannot
be stopped Some of these gentlemen, who have such
horror OF this system, never seem TO consider that the
fathers Of the repubcthe great expounders OF the prac-
teal operations of the constution-haye told u.s. long
SINCE that abuses OF the government were not SO much
10 be apprebended from The usurpaion OF powers mol
clearly given from abuses OF powers conceded and
unquesloned. What has this Congress done within the
last few years Why, cautiously, voluntarily, without
any demand in public sentiment for such thing, they
| have given away fifteen or twenty millions OF acres OF
public lands, or thirty forty millions OF dollars worth
OF property in bounty land warrants. This was gra-
uilous pandefng TO the appetite for popularity IN my
opinion. There was no claim or demand set up on The
part OF recipients The soldiers who fought IN our wars
had received Their pay according 10 promise, and some
thing extra They had received bountes according to
promises and then. after all that proposition was iaro
duced TO appropriate fifteen or twenty millions OF acres
10 distribute thirty millions OF dollars worth or more OF
property among the soldiers and their assignees and not
voice was raised against Il This was done too under
the warmakhg power, on the ground that il was proper
to cultivate and stimulate the military spirit OF the people
OF this countryas ii il needed disadvantages II there
not sufficient rewards and inducements, besides
those Of land and money 10 rouse into action the gal
lantry and patriotism oil our citzensodlers Under the
clearly conceded power OF making war twenty or thirty
millions OF dollars worth OF property was gratutously
granted without saying wori-at one swoop--by sin
gle vote The yeas and nays not cae even and yet
the proposition TO appropriate two or three millions OF
dollars annually Tor clearing out the rivers and improving
the harbors OF the West, is enormous and extravagan
waste, and against the constitution Scarcely ANAL arrives
from the great West that does not bring iidngs OF lives
lost by the distractions IN the navigation oil the rivers
distractions in the great rivers which State has
sufficient resources 10 remove, and none have jurisdiction
over them yet gentlemen resolntely oppose any inter-
ference by the general government Gross abuses In the
expenditures under this government it is clear not
10 be apprebended from the exercise of contested powers
for they always watched and guarded with greater
wisdom than others and is well enough that they
should be. This furnishes ample security that the pow
er TO improve the rivers and habors OF the West will
not be abused must not be understood addressing
my remarks TO the gentlemen Of the Northwest upon this
subject Many OF Them, believe, are sincerely in favor
of the Improvement OF rivers and habors, and but few
If any, from that section OF the country avow their OPP
position 10 this policy but somehow other we can
never get bill through, There is manifest reluctance
the part of some OF the avowed friends of this policy
to come 10 the vote. The formidable opposition comes
from the South Is il unreasonable 10 ask appropriations
for the Improvement OF the great rivers and harbors of
the nation, when the government expends millions from
year to year on other objects not more clearly warranted
by the constitutions Ten millions annually expended
on the navy Tor the protection and advancement OF Tor
eign commences and how many millions for the coast
survey to lessen the risks OF the carrying trade between
the States on The Atlantic How much annually for the
maintenance OF the light system. guide the coast
ing vessels in the darkness and in the lempess But not
one cent IS TO be given TO improve or light up the great
waters of the West To do this would be unreasonable
and unconstitutional according TO the doctrine of large
and respectable class OF our statesmen.
The constitution gives TO Congress the power TO regu
late commerce, internal well external and the juris
dIcon OF the seacoas and the navgabe OF the in
this view OF the which creates some uneasiness
This power OF regulating internal commerce and juris
dcon over commerce betweea the States is looked upon
with some alarm. Bat the power TO regulate gives no
power 10 prohibit trade There is the safety We do
regulate internal commerce now We establish ports of
entry and require registery OF vessels trading upon
our great western waters just do in regard those
engaged IN foreign trade According 10 late decision
Of the Supreme Court, the Wheeling bridge is to be
abaied as a nuisance because obstructs great
channel Of internal commerce within the jurisdiction OF
the United States
trust have shown that, should the improvement OF
the rivers and harboIs of The West follow The dsribu.
ton of the public lands among the States, the evil
would not be great the questions of constitutional
power so doubtful, as the gentlemen OF rights pol
tics have supposed Is not strange, not TO say
strous doctrine that you give millions 10 light up the
seacoas, but you cannot light up the darkness which
You cannot clear the snags out OF the Mississippi,
afford facilities TO the navigation OF that great river,
though you may spend millions on the coast survey.
To exercise the powers the navigabe waters
of the interior that you do over the bays and harbos
and seas on the Atlantic coast IL is said would be
uary TO the Stae.rghs doctrHe and that is the paa
dun OF the Union. According 10 the teaching OF those
who hold this doctrine, TO exercise the powers in
regulating internal commerce that exercised over
foreign trade might be dangerous TO great interest often
alluded TO in the debates OF this chamber have al.
ready noticed that the power 10 regulate does not carry
with II the power 10 prohibit commerce in any species OF
property but am not prepared 10 say that absolute
Prohibition OF all commerce between the States in the spe
ces OF property referred TO would not be the best thing
which could be done for the promotion OF that gfeat in
lerest IN the SOutn but mat cannot be done, because
there Is no power to prohibit commerce 10 the constu
ton
must for moment to the argument OF the sena.
tor from Michigan, that have no power under the
constitution TO distribute the public lands among the
States except upon principle OF perfect equality, and
that such exact equality is only 10 be found in the
practice OF paying the proceeds into the treasury and
letting them pass into the general expenditure II all will
agree 10 that, am willing. But the new States will
not agree 10 that We disregardng that policy in
what do nj every session. The lands in course
OF unequal distribution but because we cannot have
distribution upon any plan OF exact justice, is il sound
policy to say that we will not have il al all Over
twenty millions OF acres have been given 10 the new
States for various purposes fourteen hfteen millions OF
which have gone directly for internal improvements and
the old States not 10 have share, because the fund
cannot be divided with exact justice each. Ia that
principle OF sound legislation Is not the true policy to
get as near an approximation 10 justice can We
have made larger grants OF this property TO the
new States which unjust TO the old States, and
wrong IL IN violation OF the constitution right that
wrong by granting equal proportion OF these lands to
the old Saies9 know II ~ commended that we have no
power 10 correct abuse growing out Of an unconst-
iutiona OF Congress But think is not prac
tical view OF the subject, quite consistent with
common and justice There are some where
might and ought 10 be done thought the position OF
late administration, when by its own act, when by
It's officers il had placed an obstruction in one OF
the great navigable rivers OF the West Ohe Ohio) and
yet denied the power TO the obstruction placed
there by federal authority, was error, and
strained case OF conscience.
There is one other view OF the subject which wish
TO touch upon before close. We have more than two
open for settlement after making all proper deductions
ovprfoN ed barren. and hOunv lands I'm he 6va