The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-24

through several States, cannot be improved and made
susceptible Of convenient navigation without some ard
in addition to The oil the pOpulaton residing
on their banks believe that State caa undertake,
with any degree OF success, TO improve such great
highway as The Mississippi aud this 10 chaacerisuc oil
The senator from Arkansas lNr. BosLANDl has
brought the port OF Baltimore, with It's little ryer the
Paapsco, into comparison with the Red river or the Mis-
ssspp Well il the relative size Of the Ps,spsco and
the Mississippi constitutes the only ground kcomparlson
the Patspsco must sink into humatnE position. for 4
as a very small river But in question OF this nature
we must look 10 the that is borne is bosom.
and the right which the public has to expect that il will
be improved AS a great commercial highway When we
see great city, containing population Of two hundred
thousand souls which ID visited by the Of
this country alone, but also OF foreign nations. we must
perceive the strong the urgent necessity for rendering the
approach that city easily navgable possible We
consider merely the amount OF the exports and
imports Of the place, and the length OF the river but we
also consider the general amount Of busness done
on that ve and the exigencics which exist for aclita
ting its transaction, |, with view 10 such consid
eratlons that that item recommended.
Mr. President, have puTposey abstained tfom ma
king any opening argument upon this bill, OF entering
into any debate because despair OF prevailing upon any
the question that do not possess the constitutional
power pass such bills think the duty Of my friend
from Missouri Mr.. ATcHisoN] is easy. His mind "
made up. He is resolved 10 vote against the bill His
duty, therefore, cannot be perplexing to him. but
equally despair of getting gentlemen 10 vote for bill OF
this description who have made up their minds against it,
moi for constitutional reasons but who are influenced by
considerations OF expediency know that in the multi
tude Of the items Of which this bill is composed and the
variety Of provisions which embraces il gentleman de-
sires 10 against the bill he readily lind reason
| have never known any gentleman fail at doing II.
Therefore, consider il 10 be work Of supererogaon Tor
me TO undertake TO conviHce gentlemen, especially IN
discussing topics that have again and again been dls-
cussed by the most luminous minds Of this country 10 the
halls Of this Capitol Why, sir. to my certain knowledge,
Tor twenty years past this question OF the CONSTITUTIONAL
powehas been discussed in these halls over and over
agan and the other peplexing questions which
out OF hso the expediency OF doing this thing that thing
the other These discussions have been carried on until
here is really nothing new to be said upon the subject
may very we'll therefore. be pardcned tor not intro
ducing this bill by any particular observations OF my
own. But If bad known that my honorable and ex-
cellent friend from South Carolina had wanted reportI
certainly would, for his gra,hca,ion. have taken me
trouble of drawing one setting forth the figures and es-
mating the progress Of each item OF the works as far as
could be able to do it. have failed to do that. con-
| fess and it is an omission OF duty which regret.
wish with all my heart that the bill had been placed in
the hands of some other member of the committee was
that other individual should take charge Of
it. but it the desire OF the committee that should
take charge OF it, and have conducted it as well as
could. | suppose the committee may have thought It
proper that it should fall into the hands Of some IN
dividua who had no particular concern IN THIS DIVISION
OF the spos, as II is called
We Of Massachusetts generally pretty modest. Mr..
President in this matter We share very little OF this dis
trbuton Of the public money; and if there s 10 be this
equitable arrangement which is suggested by the senator
from Michigan and the senator from Indiana Why lhen
might very well rise up and complain here. but
shall DO no such thing ] shall make complaint be-
cause the money does not flow towards my State And
must confess that think the senator from Michigan
had forgotten what passed here yesterday when he rose
10 complain that there unjust and an unequa!
distribution. Did not yesterday vote 900 acres OF
8 land to Michigan, IN addition 10 THIS SAe.ooo.
4 Mr. CASS. Will the senator allow me TO interrupt
him
Mr. DAVIS And is not Michigan the last State that.
under any circumstances. ought complain 10 regard to
internal Improvements il this principle Be applied
I MIR CASS No, sir Michigan does not complain.
She has received less than any State in this Union She
to one OF the great highways OF the nation but that s
no moresa work that her than the rest oil the
nation. One end OF Lake Superior is IN wisconsin,
and the work is common benefit TO all The States IN the
: North.
But was going to explain. I did not say one word
about the injustice OF this bill spoke OF lis nequay
II am not censurng the committee. maintain that you
will find impossible to make one that Will be equal
am therefore willing to take the bill il is, merely
marking that il you open il shall endeavor TO show
i you the inequality OF IT,
: Mr. DAVIS lam glad to hear the remarks OF the
d ator from Michigan He exactly the right word
when be speaks OF the that passed yesterday
as national work The senator takes that measure ou,
OF the category because II belongs to the public NOW
know the great exgenees OF the State OF Michigan oui
!, IL could bave my choice in this matter would carry
this principle far and cay that Michigan
: should have work because il is Michigan HH mot
public Improvement there is no public exlseney Tor =,
and for one, will not support IT, But know the great
upon il know how des,itu al is Of hsrbors. and how
indispensable for the necessities OF coumerce places OF
refuge and when, for one, for the improvement
OF the OF Michigan proceed entirely on The idea that
it Is TO be place of refuge for the commerce OF the
country generally and II is no less work belonging 70
the public than the canal around the fals Of st. Marys
The is much identified with the public wants and
exsences the other and they both stand substantially
in the same category There s distribution 10 the
Statesnone all The States should in fespect be held
accountable any way in this matter. You place break
water the cost OF million OF dollars the coast OF
the State OF Delaware Ia it for the benefit OF Delaware
No; is intended place OF refuge for the commerce
running along the coast--the commerce OF New YORK
Boston, Portland and OF Philadelphia more especially IL
for the benefit OF all the the Atlantic coast,
and particularly all that portion entering the great
bay OF Delaware and going up to Philadelphia NOW, ST.
would there be any justice making Delaware account
able for this expenditure OF money because tnis break
in her por Ought she TO be considered ~ taking
millions Of dollars Of the treasury OF the government
for her own particular usei No, air il stands upon no
such footing 1t is the public character Of hese works
that makes proper that Congress should sanction them
and they have not got that character they ought not TO
be sanctioned These little ports aionshe lakes are Just
indispensable canal around the falls OF 81 Mays,
and do not think the ingenuity OF my Trend can an
principle distinguish the one from the other o. no
consequences whether port OF refuge lies IN hcn-
igan or Ohio or New York or Penasylvania mat 10
not the inquiry. The inquiry is, does the public exgency
demand i'll and il il demands il i should be granted u
. the government conveniently do H.
| have taken some pains to note down ,he AmouW o
money which has been expended upon eaeh o. nese oa
works The bill itself will show what Il now aaksi ana
the principle upon which that amount - asked fepess
b that II s proposed to give pope sum Iot 'ne euIsen
wear II i 10 be that sun which be conveniently sx
pended That il the principle Win these req sfnss