The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-28

orabe officers 10 be found n the service OF the couu
Try They are men who, am confident capable
either practically or Theoretically OF dsebargng all their
duties. Now gentlemen talk about applying to he War
Department. and not being able to obtain the information
which The department possessed Why sir. never heard
OF such thing my life, aud am there must be some
mistake in regard tot They always ready give in.
formation Gentlemen say that this bureau should know
everything with respect 10 the rivers and habors &c
How are they TO obtain all this iniomaiioni What
power have they 10 make survey il you do not give
them the means OF doing III They only give you
The information when they are called upon Tor est
mae agreeable 10 the surveys that have been made by
The officers OF their own department. and if you have not
appropriated means 10 survey than feth part
OF The harbors and contemplated Improvements OF this
country, how do you expect that they give you
specific information with regard 10 every region of your
territory. 1t would be utterly Unreasonable expec,
NOW, Mr. President, the whole OF this thing lies n a
nutshell The simple question is. you prepared TO
give 10 seven States of the Union the whole of ihe
veys' Are you prepared TO appropriate 500 10 Massa-
chnse's and leave out all OF the other States Of the
Unlon' That is all OF ita there is the bill. Gen.
tlemen say much about the bill but never heard, and
never dreamed OF such system 1t is also said that The
subject OF other surveys has not been presented know
there was one petition presented here for Improvement
m Saginaw, and have not heard word about that.
What has become OF il 1t did not go TO The DEPARTMENT
10 get estimate. How many others may have been in
the same category do not undertake to say. speak
for myself Mr.. President and suppose may speak for
large portion OF the Senate. that if had had the
least idea that the system under which the surveys
TO be conducted depend upon the individual app-
cation oil members of Congress petitions. before the
surveys could be made all OF us would probably have ap
Mr.. SEWARD. Will the honorable senator permit
me TO ask him II he is quite certain that the petition with
regard to Saginaw was referred 10 the Committee on
Mr. CASS. should think il was II is on my mind
strongly that it but should moi like to make the
assertion But II the committee OF the Senate say that
hey applied Tor estimates in every referred 10 them,
Will say am mistaken. do not undertake TO call
in question their intention-not the least in the world
supposed however, that they had selected the cases
he urpsa utpd nopa vv fpr
their consideration, and received estimates for them
In answer 70 the senator from Virginia. | would say,
in regard TO the old system, that when $50 900
pended by the department, it did the work of 100000
and perhaps more, Tor the very obvious that the
persons who wanted The surveys went TO three ourhs Of
the expense The honorable says if you give
the department the discretion of dividing the $50 900 for
the surveys you might we'll give them The discretion
Of making all the internal Improvements in the country
Now, appeal 10 the Senate il that is fair Argument
He says he wants TO break down the bill, and does
know anything more likely to break il down than that
He is opposed 10 the whole system
Mr.. HUNTER. The senator does not represent me
properly say that the practice OF this body forbds
to appropriate for improvements unless previous surveys
and estimates are made.
Mr.. MANGUM l rise TO point OF order. This dis
cusson is not 10 order on motion to postpone.
The PRESIDING OFFICER, (Mr. FooT The sena.
tor from Michigan entitled to the floor.
Mr.. MANGUM. | make the point of order, that
discussion upon the merits OF the bill is not in order upon
The PRESIDING OFFICER The Chair understood
tha, by common consent the senator from Michigan
permitted 10 90 - rs
Ina need not have been SO impatient He may be sure
that go lar as concerned shall be willing to dis
miss him to his dnner in two minutes
am well aware OF the ground which have taken be.
iorehat appropriations should not be made Tor these
improvements without estimates-and for the obyi-
the world because yon do not have such
estimates although they may be merely approxmave,
you 90 in be dark-you do not know what you vo-
ling for You intelligent officers 90 on the spot,
and give you approximate estimate OF the extent OF
the Improvement contemplated and the probable cost Of
that Improvement. Otherwise you do not know where
you will ne led You will be al without pilot and
without chart. Therefore, a matter OF ludcious
legislative precaution you require previous estimate.
Now, lei me say word TO the honorable senator from
Virginia Tie speaks about the department taking the
initiative, and says that they do that they may well
have the right OF appropriation have never heard OF
survey being refused as long they have the means.
They distribute the iund placed to their disposal as
equally they can give my word for il, that II the
fund was placed at the disposal OF the department, they
would not confne the surveys to seven or eight States,
but they would distribute them equally according 10 the
requirements oil The country and TO the circumstances of
different positions That is the course they oke and
who before complained Of that power OF the
department 10 make surveys! Why, Il seems 10 me
tha, the question just resolves itself into this Are you
prepared TO conhue your surveys this year TO seven
eight States or are you prepared 10 20 into general
scramble from end to the other !-because, repeat.
those gentlemen who have been aware that the system
will PIE vail have had advantage over the rest
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on the
| until 10. morrow.
| Mr. RUSK One word | hope that the bill will be
postponed. wish 10 say here. however, that made
no assault upon the officers OF the government said
that had been able 10 get information; and this
bill shows that there is correct information Will the
senaiot rise in his place and say that $500 000whch
have all the time understood is according to the esti-
mates of the experimentation the Mississippi river and
its tributaries, is fair and equal
Mr.. CASS. | have said before that think the bill is
very unequal.
MIR R6 X The bill is based on the very information
which tie honorable senator wants TO depend upon for
all future operations. think that should not be
confined in this way think the senator puts the argu-
ment rather unfairly. He objects that shall make ap.
propra,ons for The survey OF particular places but that
amount and leave the department make the application
OF H. II he is anxious for this information on which he
relies much in the name Of common sense can he not
offer amendment 10 appropriate $4,000 or $4,000 10
be applied for the same place
The substance OF u amounts 10 thsthaf, as The hon
orable senator from Virginia has said the result will be
TO centre in the head Of the typographical bureau the
whole power these appropriations IL leads precisely
10 that; and for such system will never vote.
MIR BUTLER. hope the bill will be postponed; and
wish 10 make this remark venture 10 cay the longer
il is considered the greater will be the difficulties OF pass
ing H. II the honorable chairman Of the committee sup
mistaken for these difficulties will increase him and
the whole Senate rose time ago-and perhaps
the question is not pertinent nowo ask my friend from
Illinois, when he speaks Of the appropriations Tor the
Atlantic coast how many OF the appropriations in this
bill are for places south Of Baltimore wish 10 say,
that II this inequality does prevail IL is entirely in favor
of the lakes and northeastern rivers and northeastern ar-