The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-21

OF party held out promote the aspirations OF any
set OF men. should be sorry to be understood TO
cast mpuatons on any honorable senator or 10 question
his motives but do not hesitate TO say that the interests
oil the Northwest have been for long time past sacrificed
political considerations such has been the
course OF events. without undertaking 10 say who is TO
blame. We have bad TOO much OF the cry OF mere par
ty and too little oil attention to the great, substantial in.
terests of the country Let then, the people OF The West
and Northwest awake to Their true condition, and lei
them see that no man reaches the presidential Office TO
tlwari their will BY the interposi,on OF the 0nsmaa
poDer"
But wish 10 notice here one complaint made by the
senator from Illinois IN his OF yilnpealion aud
abuse OF this system He tells that sort ol justice
has been done to the harbors on Lakes Michigan and
Huron. while he atrms that enormous sums have been
lavlshed the harbors east OF those lakes He would
open account between the different lakes, and con
cludes that balance of paality has been displayed
by Congress in favor OF the harbors ON Lakes Ere, Ona-
no. and Champlan.
If there is any seeming foundation for this complaint
again ask whose fault il Have not the senator and
bis friends bad the entire control OF the two houses OF
Congress Tor the last two years! Have they not con-
sttuted the committees, and had everything their own
way Besides, the harbors Of Lake Michigan are COM
psratvely OF recent origin is hut day since The sizes
OF thriving cities and smiling villages bowling
wilderness; and it is the veto the veto Direct the pock-
ct veto and the veto by senatorial minority, which has
prevented justice being done them OF late. Thus, had IL
not been for the nterposition OF 'he oneman power,
and the minority power" the harbor OF Chicago would
have received in 1916, $4,000; in s47, $4,000; and
10 1851, $27,l76 making, with $4,000 granted by
single harbor. Milwaukee would have received, in
1916, $4,000; and in 1851, $4,000; making, with
$4,000 appropriated by the bill. 100000 for that har-
$4,000 in is47. $4,000; and and in 1851. $4,000;
making with 100000 appropriated by this bill, $i02,
600. Saint Joseph's would have received in 1916, $lo,
900; lS47, $1,000 and in 1884, $40, 900 making,
with $4,000 granted by this bill, $46 0Oo and
to other harbors Lake Michigan. To this should be
added what would have been granted in s4s and lSi9,
had not Mr. Polk arrested and broken down, for The
ia vel M
what proposed for dedge boats on Lake Michigan,
to wit In 1s46, $l5,oOo; in lS47, $l2,ooo; and in
1851, $20000-maklng with $40 900 contained in this
bill, The very considerable OF $4,000 for this single
item. 1t is idle for the senator to pretend that there has
not been disposition in Congress TO do justice to Lake
Michigan and its important harbors We make no dis
tncton between the lakes; but of late we have had We.
toes-yes, sir, vetoes OF all sorts and their origin aud
application carry back TO the date when most Of the
hal bots were in the midst of wilderness.
But the senator makes very singular appeal TO He
says in effect tDe only ask slight favor! Why should
you not accord it 10 US Why contumaciously refuse
grant US this small privilege But ask Mr. President,
who are "wr" Does 6e senator speak for the people
OF Illinois Does he bear any commission from them
authorizing 10 demand "toanage duties" Have The peo-
miserable boon Has the legislature Of his State acted
on The subject? Un the contrary believe an immense
majority OF the people of Illinois would repe scheme
aaghl with nothing but oppression, with Indignation
1t is. Mr. President, with infinite concern that see in
the course OF the senator proof conclusive that he has
made his mlnd 10 take ground against improvements
by the general government and TO blow up the whole
system. | thought saw unmistakable Indications OF
such purpose towards the close OF the last session OF
Congress. When a motion made TO take up the
habor and river bill then pending, what did the senator
say Here are his words,
q shalt take this bill this TIME for the
son that desire to have an Opportunity state what part
with view OF trying to put IL in such shape that
pass ii that will be- my reason for voting to take up"
So that the senator was not content with that bill,
though tgave TO northern and northwestern hatbos, and
TO western and southwestern rivers and harbos the enor
proportion OF 81 747376 out OF 81 ass, $40 Why
did he not state his objections IL he had any, Why did
he remain profoundly SILENT and leave 10 ignorance
this day on a subject OF such vital imporancel The
senator will not claim he offered single amendment, and
believe he voted against all amendments proposed by
others and yet he told the Senate he voted to take up the
bill for the that be desired 10 have opporu
nifty 10 state what part OF the bill he in favor of and
what pau he was against" ltis bad sign when
aior begins to quarrel with the details OF batbor and
nyer bill, and one when fIe djes not make
known the grounds oil his quarrel
But the senator has made further revelation oi his
purposes by opposing at this session grant Of money
from the treasury TO construct sbp-canal around the
falls oil the st Marys-a work OF the rst importance 10
the nation, and particularly TO the people of Illinois
Ny friend, the junior senator from MIchlgan, tMr
fELcH offered an amendment 10 bill from the Commit
tee Public Lands, proposing TO grant 500 900 from
the treasury for this truly national work, and both the
senators from tina, State [Messrs. CAss and FELcH ad
vocaied the adoption OF the amendment with unsurpassed
ability. felt myself constrained TO take the floor and TO
lend the little of my poor advocacy. but The
senator tMr. DoUobasl opposed himself TO with all
his migh,-he raised great camor against the construc
ton OF canals By the general government when he knew
ought TO have known, that this work "a mere river
mpoy oyement, and intended solely to obstacles
in river hold the senator responsible for the defeat
oil that He has banded that great communca-
lion, With seven hundred and fifty thousand acres OF the
public domain to the State OF Michigan, whereas IL
should have remained in the hands Of the rational au
horties and the Improvement should have been made at
The expense OF The common treasury
But there be doubt to the position OF the sen
ator since he has offered his amendmept do not hes-
tate to say without intending any dsfespect TO the
tor, that OF all the schemes o mischief that could be con-
cocted for the purpose OF blowing up the whole system
OF river and harbo improvements by the general govern
men that devised by him is ingenious and better
adapted TO accomplish the object than any other De-
vised, do sayl ! must recall that word. The projt
OF the honorable senator has the merit OF orig
nalty The idea OF substituting tonnage duties Tor the
eystem which Congress has long sanctioned was, be.
eve, first suggested by Mr.. Calhoun Mr. Polk took
up the subject in his message Congress OF Decembef
l5 i547 usying his potk veto OF the bill that passed
the two houses at the preceding session. and dwet upon
IL at length He insisted that il the only safe and
practicable method OF making and harbor improve
ments The senator seems TO have derived most OF the
facts and Arguments which he has addressed TO us this
day from that same veto message OF course he cannot
complain when insist, as now do, that be occupies
substantially the ground assumed by Mr. Polk, and
s influenced by the sentiment OF hostility 10 the
policy which | advocate.
Nor is the senator the first bring orwardsn Congress
proposition for legislation In conformity with such
views. Mr. Rhett, OF South Carolina, introduced into
the House OF Representatives January 2h, ls4S. "a bill