The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-21
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1852.
I'm coSTINUATIos.l


Zee of the whole The bill making appropriations for the
Improvement OF certain harbors and rivers ~.
TONNAGE DUTIES TO BE LEVIED BY THE STATES
Mr. SMITH continued his remarks as follows:
| will not Mr. President, pursue this part OF the sub
iect any further. but will call the attention OF the
Senate to another remarkable feature OF the honora
bIe senator's scheme | have shown that this
nre will impose enormous burdens on the people OF
the West aud Northwest. now insist that its effect
will be TO exonerae. IN great degree the wealth
and capital of the Atlantic frontier from all participation
in those burdens we all Know 'nat much the greater
found in our large cities and this wealth now contributes
largely to uyer and harbor improvements. But the
plan Of the honorable senator The cities OF Boston. New
yort Philadelphia and Baltimore, Ito say nothing of
New OTeans) and the milonares and half mliionai res
OF those cities 10 scott-free Will not say that
the senator really intended any snch resnlt but ls,n
nv Judgment. ground OF serious complaint that he
should have been careless as to the consequences OF
his measure. . .
why should the thousands Of wealthy men OF such
civ as New York be relieved from any share in this
alton! Why should they not do something for river and
harbor improvements II the funds requisite TO that end
are taken from the common treasury then the city OF
New York and the millionares OF that city must con-
tribute largely to those improvements Nowhere else on
this continent is there consumed anything like the amount
OF duiable goods and these too OF the most costly char
acer Consider tor a moment the vast population OF
that city. According TO the last there in the
city proper, population OF near five hundred thousand,
which is TO be added the population OF Brooklyn, Will
lnmsbarg, Jersey City, Hoboken, and a large num-
ber Of families who find their homes in the counties
OF Richmond, Kings, Queens, Wescheser, and other
counties higher up the river. all of whom substantially
belong to the city OF New YORK ! believe am not
extaVaganl when say that New York now contains in
effect population OF not less than hundred and fifty
thousand living souls holding and owning verify be-
leve, fifth part of the surplus wealth of the country
When | say surplus wealth, mean such as is above
what is required for the comfortable support OF man
and his family ask again, why this wealth should not
contribute to haIbor and river improvements! Why
should the merchant princes oil the great emporium oil
be exoneraied wholly, nearly SO, from all
obligations TO contribute to objects OF such import
ance Melhinks even now see a splendid equipage
passing down Broadway, with a lady covered with
gorgeous silks, and with servants in livery On inquiry,
ascertain she the wife OF Mr.. So-andso, who within
the last five six years has made half million OF dol
lars in trade or commerce He lives in palace up Town,
which would do discredit monarch that house is
filled with French furnuehis table is covered with the
richest OF platehis cellar is filed with costly wines
his wife and daughters cashmere shawls that cost
five hundred dollars each and their persons are orna
men,ed with Diamond necklaces, pins, and ringss Short
he and his family enjoy every luxury that human heart
conceive desre--all imported articles and pay ing
heavy duties. Why should not revenue derived from
such be devoted TO the improvement OF some
river harbor in the West and Northwest especially
the benefits OF this system ultimately TO rebound
the advancement and prosperity of this same merchants
Why should the senator from Illinois be willing
onerate the common fund.- thus derived from all parlici
patton in these burdens, only 10 lay them exclusively on
the hardy laborer OF the Northwest struggling with every
species of difficulty
What is here said of New York equally applicable 10
NOstOn,
more, Charleston, Providence, Salem Albany Newark,
and other cities of the second and third grades Indeed
there is 10 be found scattered all the Atlantic States
many individuals OF great wealth, who consume great
amount OF duabe goods, and who only be made TO
contribute 10 habor and river improvements By appro
prlatlons from the common stock Nearly The whole
surplus wealth OF the country IS TO be found east OF the
Alegany mountains and what aggrayales the case es-
eenally is the fact that the West, Northwest and South
west have contributed largely TO the enhancement OF that
wealth. The merchants OF New York, Boston, Phila
Ru ln0 nd n fhprr Itpk havs ham tprf III
last quarter OF century, selling and will continue 10
cell, large quantities OF goods to the ransmonane
gons OF the United Slaes at large, not TO say exob
tant, profit In the mean time the people OF that region
have been engaged IN paying Tor their farms, building
dwelling houses school houses and churches opening
roads, and making the thousand other improvements in
dlspensabe IN new country, and have bad little oppor
tuhity to accumulate surplus wealth. Then comes in
The senator with his notable scheme, and says, - Let
these Of toll bear all the burden Of habor and
Improvement and let those who abu undanty able TO
pay" (mosi OF them not unwillng) "go free % How
satisfactory this may be TO senator and politician,
doubt whether the people in his section prepared 10
agree 10 IL.
But the senator, after expressing his dsconeRt with
the corps OF topog aphcal engineers and with Congress-
for conduct which be alleges 10 have been corrupt,
wishes 10 explode the system of improvement from the
common treasure because he says is the source OF in
cs-ant controversy and dsplte al the national capital
According 10 his account OF the matter there stead
ness in it il is spasmodc system, and goes by Jerks
Who is responsible for this state Of things Why have
We not bad reasonable and moderate appropriation year
alter year Why have works on which large sums Of
money have been expended, not been completed Why
have they been permitted to fall into decay and thus
iofmer expenditures rendered comparatively valueless
do not hesitate say that the senator lMr DJUGLAsl
and his political friends solely responsible for this
state OF things The senator cannot plead dereclion
OF duty by himself and those who act with him. as
reason for rejecting the system II will be recolecied
that the late MIR. Polk applied the veto direct TO a
rlver and harbor bill. which passed the two houses
at the first session OF the Twenty ninth Congress and
the pocket veto 10 another bill which passed the second
session OF The same Congress. In the two messages
yindicsting his extraordinary course, (Which was
directly the OF that OF President Jackson on
The same subjeci.) he laid down rules Of conduct
end avowed principles, which readered the consumma-
ton Of any bill during his term absolutely hopeless
thuelh Congress and at the first session OF the thirty
sst, the two houses were much absorbed with the va
Ious slavery questions then pending, 1t impossible
70 do anything But al the second session OF the last
Congress- the House OF Representatives took up the sub
lct, passed excellent bill and sent il TO the Senate
we Know who defeated IL. We know who spent day
Alter day in useless debate and in reading inappropriate
documents, and we know how small minority over
yield
mere was time, il is true, when the state OF the
e"lS was such that appropriations OF this character
a. .m w, properly have been made; bot at least half
Spi ois since the close OF Mr. Tylers administration
oue anu night have been passed had il not been for
NJ, uneasOnaoe conduct OF public Ii is with
M s.e lnal lhe senator alleges the misconduct OF his
nehcent system 'o" io' ''p'h ~ W
b,s ~. a seems 10 suppose that monstrous injustice
nsn,s =, ~ ~ 'ns appropriations for these improve
~, " ,"e nest, northwest and Southwest There is