The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-24

IT,.
estimate for $43i 000 The provision in the amend
ment which have offered is that the Secretary OF War
shall receive proposals for the construction OF the canal
accepting OF course, the lowest bid He may receive
bid Tor the whole or any portion OF the work. The
whole cost however, is not TO exceed $780, 900 Unless
contract cah be made for the amount OF S400, ,000 OF
course no legislation which we may have here on the
subject can 20 into elect. tt n N
With regard 10 The amoun the representatives OF Mich
gan felt an interest," OF course. in providing. in the rs
place. Tor an amount which would be sufficient TO con-
struct The work; Tor Il is true that although II Is work
OF good deal OF magnitude, yet il is OF that character
that ii money ID appropriated in this single
son will believe, be sufficient TO open the communca.
ton between Lake Superior and the lakes lying below
We desired, therefore, TO fix upon such would
be sufficient, in the liis place, 10 insure the making OF
contracts for the execution OF the work and IN the second
place. which would not be extravagant Expenditure OF
money for the construction OF The work We were
therefore satisfied consultation, with the amount pro-
posed and the senator that the consultation
has not been confined either 10 members OF the Senate
individuals outside, but included those at the depa
ment who were conversan with the matter, who have
aided fixing the amount necessary to secure the
construction OF this work at very low expense.
Now, il is very true as my colleague said, that there
outside OF this chamber-moneyed men in this
country interested In the country bordering lake
Superor--who would al take hold OF and construct
the work. ii the government would permit them to do
We have resisted all application OF that Kind because
we though, IL was work OF so much public Importance
that, acting certain extent for the public interests
ought not TO suffer il 10 pass into the hands Of individuals
and thereby give them the control OF the navigation OF
the upper and lower lakes
The amount fixed in the amendment, 100000, with
the explanation have given, will, Think be sufficient ;
and necessity Of sending TO the department for
the purpose. This is less sum than the department es
tnaed for in 1874. Although The work will be Increased
regards the magnitude OF the locks II less
and yet have hesitation in saying that, for the
amount specified here we can at once have contracts en-
tered into for the construction OF the work. II il can be
done for less OF the whole amount proposed 70 be
appropriated will not be expended The matter will be
open 10 the competition OF every person who may see hi
to enter into it.
Mr. DAWSON / do not wish TO prolong this debate !;
but will very candidy state 10 the honorable senator
what my object was. If this canal is needed for the
public defence, then the bill ought properly TO have been
investigated before the Committee on Military Affairs
If il is intended for the purpose OF encouraging
merce it ought TO have been referred TO the Committee
on Commerce. But, as il comes from the Committee
Public Lands il can only be considered improve
ment for the purpose oil increasing the value of the pub
lie lands. Have the Military Committee asked for the
appropriation OF this money for the public defence J
Have the Committee on Commerce ever presented
port TO this body asking for Improvement Of this kind
for the purpose of encouraging the commerce OF the
country Then il comes down at last 10 OF the
guments OF my distinguished friend from Michigan, Mr.
CAss that it is 10 increase the value OF the public lands
and then the question necessarily arises whether we
should appropriate this amount in money, for the pur
pose of improving the value of the public lands in this
way.
The senator from Michigan stated that not many years
ago late President of the United States, when were
in danger OF foreign war; bad il seriously under con-
sderahon present the subject TO Congress
OF increasing public defences But that appreben
passed off, and he did not do so. He thereby showed
his good judgment and good sense, and bis unwngness
TO involve The government IN appropriation oil money
which the emergencies OF the time did not require Yet
now, when we are in a state Of profound peace-when
there is no war-coud owerng-when there is no appre-
henson feltwe are called upon to make this approprla
ton In the way might speak OF the sppropria.
ton in reference to the commerce OF the country Then
the question is. Is polite, merely Tor the purpose OF
improving the value OF the public lands, TO make this
propration WANTED 10 get TO that point, and 10 show
10 the Senate that are lesislalng now Tor the de-
fences Of the country and Tor the encouragement ol com
merce, through the Committee on Public Lands
Mr. CASS | do not intend to follow the honorable
senator from Georgia through this discussion We have
pursued that long enough and am mol going to say
another word about it, But cannot help noticing
most extraordinary doctrine which he has advanced !;
which is, that il standing committee OF this body re-
port proposition, here have no right 10 take into
consideration aGy other question than the simple one that
may have been before the committee.
Mr. DAWSON. ] did not say you had not the right
TO do it, bu, that il is unusual.
MIR. CASS. Unusual Why, Mr.. President | take
il that il measure is before this body, and senator is
compelled vote upon it, it his duty look to all the
circumstances connected with 1t. A measure is pre-
sented il is referred 10 committee the committee make
report giving their views and them when comes be-
fore the Senate every senator's duty TO look into the
whole circumstances connected with H. There prop
ositions which before us every session which in
vove considerations that frequently not advered 10
by The committee which report them Very frequently
occasions arise where questions Involve different interests
and it is difficult to know TO which committee TO refer
them; but because they referred 10 OF the
mees, does therefore follow that 10 lose sight
of all the considerations which might recommend their
reference to another committee Such doctrine will
not do for moment You might well shut your eyes
TO these questions at once That is all have to say
Mr.. PRATf MIR. President shall vote with great
deal OF pleasure for the bill before the Senate.
from committee of which am member; and would
ask my friend from Georgia [Mr. DAwsoHl how he
conceive possible after II has been referred TO that com
mltee by the Senate, that II is not the duty OF the com
mttee 10 report upon the subjectl Now, 1t was the &C
ton of the Senate that sent this matter 10 the Ccmmee
on Public Lands The action of the Senate, therefore,
superinduced the duty upon the part OF the committee
TO report they should think proper This is national
work OF internal improvements and instead OF going 10
round about way do what is to be done, appropri-
ates out OF the public treasury the public money TO do IT.
1t recognises the old doctrine which have always been
favor ofihe power OF the general government TO APP
proprate the public money for works OF national import
ance.
rose particularly, however, 10 sugges, that it is
all important seems TO me- that should carry on
this work this time, only for the assigned
by The honorable senator from Michigan, Mr. CAss,l
but fer the further that If is not done, II
may be possible looking TO the future that may have
al the head o this government some one who would
prevent lis going into effect, even il the bill passed
Mr.. FELCH Mr.. President, ! merely wish 10 say
one word. The senator from Georgia Mr.. DAwsoYl
inquired whether this matter had received sanction
from any other OF the different committees than the
Committee on Public Lands; whether II has been re-
ierred to the Committee on Commerce wish merely TO
say that it has been referred 10 the Committee Com
merce and that they have given il their sanction in
report here made for the object OF this appropriations that
il has been referred TO the Committee Public Lands,
and they have given their sanction in the report here
made and that IL has received the sanction OF the War
Department as is Indicated by the report which refer
e. .lL h.. nnH hcor .prttpu mod