The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-22

1
guard According to official statistics, in the year
| 1851 the amount OF property destroyed on the
northwestern lakes, for lack OF harbors Of refuge,
and thoae Improvements about 10 be provided for,
was upwards of two millions OF dolIars-far greater
than the sum embraced in the bill
| Mr.. MOORE, of louisiana briefly spoke in favor
pass OF the mouth Of the Mississippi and the re-
moval of the Red river raft These, he commended,
were truly national works. -.--~--.
! Mr., SACKETr called attention what he con
ceived to be defect in the bill, na,uey, the omis
sion to make appropriation to preserve the
works at Big Sodus Bay. He spoke OF the great
importance OF protecting Lake Ontario, and gave
notice of anne pdment which he intends to offer.
Mr.. TAYLOR suggested that the corn.nittee
rise, and adopt resolution terminating the gene.
raj debate, SO that the discussion nigh, be con
Quoted under the five minutes fui., a"d thu bal
passed to- morrow.
Mr. HOUSTON. Thatl do.
! Mr.. TAYLOR said there were seventy thee
/ items in the bill, and he supposed euty three
gentlemen wanted to make speeches in iavar Of
the measure and seventy three against it.
Mr.. SACKETT concluded his <eniarks when
! Mr. TAYLOR moved that the committee rise.
with view Of terminating the debate.
Mr.. DISNEY appealed 10 his colleague not to
press his motion, as it evident gent, men
. not prepared to close the debate on question of
such vast Importance.
MIR. TAYLOR said he was in favor &c the bi l.;
but, as the session would probably close within
month, he desired that the great amount Of bust
ness now pressing should be disposed Of with all
|
MIR. MEADE remar ked that the House had been
in committee but one hour. and that while there
was disposition on the part Of gentlemen to con-
fine themselves to the merits OF the bill under con-
sideration, the application of the gag law by the
majority would be exceedingly injurious and un
| Just to the minority.
Mr.. TAYLOR, by request, withdrew his motion
that the committee rise; and said, if the bill is to
| be passed, it should be passed now, and quickly,
80 that it might be sent to the Senate, and not de-
layed until the last hour, and lost in that body
was the bill Of the last session. The country expect
Congress to pass the bill.
! Mr.. STANLY gave notice Of a substitute for the
alphabetically, he said, word for word, that which
was passed during the last Congress, sent 10 the
Senate, and there lost on the last day OF the ses
sion.
Mr.. MEADE resumed. He saw, by the vote
taken on the preliminary question to day, that it
10 the determination Of the House to pass this bill
that every other State is provided fur, to
| tent, except the great Stale OF Virginia. lie had
conversed with the chairman Of the Committee
Commerce, and asked him why it was that those
who have constitutional cruples the subject
| Of such improvements over looked the entire inter
ests Of great State, while those Of every other
are provided for. Ii was unfair and unjust to
withhold from her equal advantages. That gen
tieman informed him that member Of the Vir
GINA delegation had appeared before the commit
tee, and that estimate petitions had been sent
in for that State.
1t seemed. then, that the Department., which
submitted the estimates, had discarded the State
of Virginia entirely. If it was determined that
| this policy was CONSTITUTIONAL, and that these inn
provements should be made, WIS it not incumbent
on those who had constitutional scruples to
respect the scruples and opinions honestly enter
tanned by the Virginia delegation, and to see that
the State should not suffer in consequence of those
opinionss While he could not vote for this bill,
as there were many unconstitutional items in it,
he felt it to be his duty to urge those who have
such scrupes to do justice to the State Of Virginia
Mr.. STANLY remarked that in his substitute
for inia
Mr.. MEADE was aware Of that; but he prefer
red this BILL with the omission of an appropriation
for Virginia, to the gentleman's substitute with
such appropriation in 1t, for the reason that in
the fret named there were fewer objects to be &C
complished.
Mr.. SEYMOUR, of New York. explained why
there was no appropriation for Virginia in the bill
No member of the delegation had appeared bef're
the committee to present any case for considera-
ton; and it not proper to solicit the attendance
Of any member, in order that an item might be
| inserted besides, there was no estimate from the
Department, and no petitions on the subject rela-
| tive to that State.
Mr.. MEADE spoke about the removal Of the bar
Mr.. STUART inquired whether he would vote
for the bill with an appropriation for that purpose
| in it.
Mr.. MEADE replied, that he had informed the
| House that no bribe that could be offered would
induce him to depart from the principles in which
he honestly believed, and which had been taught
him from his cradle by his father. Did the gen
tleman think his vote could be controlled by such
considerations?
MIR. STUART said he propounded the question
with the utmost respect aud his object simply was
TO bring to the gentlemans attention the character
of the argument which he had been urging. While
the gentleman denied the power of Congress to make
such appropriations, he seemed 10 insist upon In
expenditure for the benefit OF that State.
Mr.. MEADE replied that the gentleman might
as well contend that, because Virginia voted
against the distribution Of the surplus, therefore
none of it should be granted to her; because, if
she should vote against declaration OF war, she
would not be bound by it. Having finished his
remarks
MIR. MARSHALL, of Kentucky, obtained the
hoas; and said, in the course of his remarks that
he should vote for the bill with a great deal Of
hesitation. AS a friend of such improvements, he
wanted fair play between the various sections
He was proceeding to show the inequality Of the
appropriations, when he yielded for motion that
the committee rise; which prevailed.
And the House adjourned.