The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-25

useless waste OF time and money have in my hand =
letter from Colonel Albert chief OF the topographcs! bu-
made at the falls OF the Ohio, under the order 0f that
bureau The first survey made eight years since BY
Captain 4 Cram. Another was made in 1851 by Lieu
tenant j. II. Long. There have also been several
veys made by civil engineers; but speak Of one in par
tieular made By Captain Ball, who is second in Point
O. capacity in his profession 10 no man Of bis Ia
ths nation; and think his report will compan n
yofaby with any made by the different officers named
upon his report part rely to show that the only
practicable plan Tor providing means to this
great obstacle 10 the uninterrupted navigation Of the Ohio
river 10 be found canal the Indiana shOEe one
hundred feet in width with locks four hundred feet apat
II requires canal oil this capacity to answer the growing
wants OF commerce on this river. appTehend that the
effort OF my friend from Kentucky TO enlarge the Louis
vile and Portland canal snfcienl remove the
levis now conpained Of will prove entire fsisp.
cannot be done TINS is the opinion Of two OF the
engineers whose pames have mentioned In addition 10
The former letter from Colonel Albert have another iTom
him on The same subject, In which he says aF
In my letter. days since about the falls at Louis.
vle omitted TO state that additional surveys being
made thar are not yet reported" sss
Now. il the department making estimates at this
time, see ne necessity for the amendment offered By my
friend from Kentucky 10 this bill. desire TO inquire Of
the chairman Of the COMMITTEES on Commerce whslhsr
the amendment in the bill inserted in conse-
qlence OF an estimate by the typographical bureau.
Mr.. DAVIS. II was put in al the suggestion of the
! Mr. BRIGHT. suppose, them the $4,000 is for the
purpose OF meeting the expenditure that will result from
the present survey. ssA
l
MIR. BRIGHT Then, insist that do not zee any
necessity Tor the amendment oil my friend from Ken
lucky, though, repeat do not wish to be UNDERWOOD
as objectng. ii he insists upon lis adoption III he ID
under the impression that the canal on the Kentucky
shore be enlarged in such the
wants OF our western commerce that river, cannot
complain at his insisting the he is pursuing Ii
very natural that the citizens OF Louisville and those
represent her interests here should have feeling
on this subject II is, in my opinion however, mistaken
OF this question: TO say that Louisville s 10 be in
jured by the contemplated Improvement the Indiana
shore She has already taken her stand high among the
ourshlng great cities OF the West and she will 70 for
| ward rapidly, canal canal. But whether this be
true not private Interests yield to the public
good canal Of The capacity have described is de.
manded by the highest public considerations Il deeply
interests every State from the headwaers of the Ale.
gany and Monongahea south TO the Gull; and think
when this question is brought fairly before the country,
unembarrassed by other conflicting questions OF legisa
ton, that there and will be difficulty in procuring
the necessary appropriation to insure the completion OF
the work. @t1s -
Here is point for which money may be taken from
the national treasury and expended with profit and sd
vantage TO the nation II is not one two, three States
people. every interest but particularly the great agrcul
ural interest OF the West Ia poin, Of importance it
overdes every object Tor which money is appropriated
IN the bill now under consideration.
aei MIR President, when this bill was taken up,
that, the Senate decided to amend H. should feel 10
be my duty 10 otter as amendment the substance Of
bill which had the honor few days sincs OF ptsseat-
ing TO the Senate from the Committee Roads and Ca
nails. That bill accompanied by report, which.
days OF long protracted session. has been gene
rally read, presume Therefore, hesitate about the
tuhlment OF my PROMISE fearing that by pressing the
amendment now may prejudice good case, because
lis merits not fully known think, however. that
may say with safety that the facts and figures disclosed
in that report go demonstrate the necessity Of another
canal around the falls oil the Ohio and that the estimates
and surveys hitherto made go prove that canal
be built the Indiana shore, of the capacity have
mentioned IL we would provide for the growing COM
merce of the West This is the view taken BY your
committee, after long, full, and impartial examination
OF the subject. THIS is the view have urged in
report and feel bound 10 follow up every proper
sion. But satisfied il were offer my bill
amendment 10 this al this late hour OF The session,
there nalors who would vote against il that
under other circumstances would vote for il. They
would look upon my amendment calculated TO embar-
the bill, which have disposition TO do. II
my wish TO have voted Tor the bill. and intended doing
so, provided 1t could be brought within the limits have
laid down 10 guide my votes on all such quesons but
il has moi been done, and now my determination
to vote against NJ which s another reason against ofef
| ing my amendment at this time.
lew words in reference to the bill itself. concur
IN much that said By my friend from South Carolina.
Mr. DEsAussuRE,l and BY my friend from Virginia. Mr.
HuNTER.l Ehey have taken sound and practical
view OF this question and too late, fear, we will be
compelled to realize the irnih OF their reasoning and
sound positions The subject Of rivers and haFbon
and while approving their general view, must dissent
from the opinions expressed to-day by the honorable
aor from Tennessee, [Mr. JosEs,l who. think, has
entirely mistaken The opinions and wishes of The great
body of the people. feel quite thai the
constituency which represent here do not desire 10
give any vote appropriatng money out oil The national
treasury for the Improvement OF objects clearly local in
their character They believe believe, that this IL
the duty OF the States and any other must in the
end bankrupt the general government and place her in
the same condition that many OF the States have been
placed IN by that reckless spirit OF legislation which
Is exhibited in this bill We have added TO this bill
amendment after amendment appropuating money to
works that clearly OF local character and which
come within no safe ruleat least within rule which
have laid down TO guide myself, do believe they
are recognised BY any safe constitutional rule Of
srucon. For these reasons, and many that
not give for The want OF tme cannot give il my
| tion
merely, Mr. President for the purpose Of staiiag
that was my purpose at time TO have offered an
amendment the bill having for its object the improve.
menl OF the falls of the Ohio, believing TO be germane
to the subject before but being satisfied. in.
lqulry that would weaken the for the future,
and that would be thrown into false position ms self
at the opening OF the next session of Congress-
sequence OF having required senator's TO vote my
amendment without lime and opportunity TO examine into
all the details OF H. think more prudent and my duty
TO decline so doing, and will content myself by giving
notice that at the session shall bring forward
upon Its merits by other Objects and
hope TO the favorable action the Senate upon it,
Mr. MERlWErHER | regret very much to differ
from my friend from Indiana, tMr BRIour but II thsse
has been a survey upon the plan which propose Of
improving the falls OF the Ohio, except the one which
was made under my direction, have yet TO
tain it, have read Captain Grams report, and Longs
report and all except the by Mr. Ball. resident OF
Indiana. OF which the senator has spoken. His have
never But there report upon the plan suggest
The question involved is, Will you examine well this
work before yon expend several millions of dollars there
II you make the improvement and canal suggested BY
ndta