The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-24
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST IS. 1852.
RryrR AND HARBoR BILL.

TO the OF the bill from the House Of Repre-
sentaves s.making appropriations Tor the Improvement
There were several amendments reported by the Com.
miitee on Commerce, the first of which to amend
the following clause;
.For opening shipchannel of sufficient capacity to
accommodate tho wants oi commerce through the most
pass leading from the Mississippi liver into the
Secretary Of War apply said the opening OF
said shpchannel by contract and st an early day in the
said work. and estimate OF the annual cost Of keeping
said channel open;
by striking out these words:
ITO report said contract the progress Of said work. and
an estimate Of the annual cost Of keeping said channel
open J"
and inserting in lieu thereof the following ,a
To report the progress of the work. the amount neees
sary complete it, and estimate Of the annual Of
keeping said channel opeai and any contract made shall
be limited 70 the amount hereby appropriated"
Mr.. DOWNS. / hope the amendment will not be
adopted. Probably might be an Improvement TO the
bill but think it evident at this late stage of the
sion considering the controversy and the discussion in
volvcd in the disposition OF this bill, that the only way
which lis friends can expect II to become law at this
session is to pass as is now, without any amend
Mr.. BUTLER. Are we to pass it without examna-
M Mr.. DOWNS lido not object to an examination Of
the BILL But do not think that the amendment this
particular provision is very material or important
think that the provision Of the bill it stands is
sufficient II now provides that the Secretary of War
shall apply the money appropriated the opening of the
shp.channel by contract; and he is early day in the
next session Congress to report said contract the pro-
gess OF said work. and an estimate OF the annual of
keeping said channel open" The amendment to make
it read that shall be the duty OF the Secretary OF War
to apply the moneys 10 the opening Of the channel and
at an early day in the next session OF Congress to report
the progress OF the work. the amount necessary to COM
pee il, and estimate OF the annual OF keeping said
channel open and any contract made shall be miled 10
the amount hereby appropriated" do perceive that
there is any point in the amendment which makes it ne
cessary think the original bill is sufficiently ex-
plict
ment 1t appehended by The committee that the
provision OF the DILL stands contract for The entire
completion of this work might be entered into under this
appropriation. The committee propose 10 change the
provision that the shall be limited to The appro.
pria,ion. Ii is great work, and important work.
Everybody who considers il must see this at The
importance OF the work, what should be lis character,
and the eject to be produced by the expenditures OF this
matters which should Be fully understood be-
fore complete contract shall be made TO the
whole ground For that il deemed expedient,
prudent, and proper by the committee that the
10 be made under this appropriation should be limited
il. Then, after knowledge OF all the facts which may
grow out OF the expenditure OF this sum, shall be
able TO judge OF what will be necessary prose-
cute the work hereafter. Besides, the amendment is
precisely in the terms OF bill which The Senate has
passed This year, providing Tor this very object
Mr. DOWNS | consider that the Limitation proposed
by the committee exists in the nature OF the law ITSELF
without any express declaration to that effect The depart
men certainly has no right to go beyond the amount Of
the appropriation. The amount appropriated is the
tent Of s power. IL the department is in the habit of
going beyond that, it is certainly irregular, and cannot
bind the government because the department has no
thority 10 do therefore consider that the amend
ment is al all material but that necessary
sequence of the amount OF appropriation. the depart
men will feel itse limited in making contract by The
amount appropriated What authority has the Secretary
OF War 10 make contract for larger amount ! The
appropriation will be The law by which be will be
governed. II will be his warrant for making any
contract; and any person proposing TO make con-
tract with him would look at the law and see
at that whatever contract might be made be-
yond the amount oil appropriation would be null and
void because the appropriation the OF the author
iy OF the Secretary therefore consider that II this bill
becomes law, as it stands thus provision will be con.
sued the committee wish il 10 be. If there had been
such Limitation made in the bill from the House
should object to IL. because do not think il mate
rial but feel satisfied that il any amendpentb made
Mr. CASS. Mr. President, | have no thought OF dis
cussng any general question upon This BILL II has been
gone time and again. II has been so often discussed
and redscussed that 10 me the tune Tor discus
son has passed by But fully agree with the senator
from Louisiana. [Mr Dowss that so far we deem the
,aEe ~ II have moi examined The bin with much
mnutepess but am disposed TO take il as II Is shall
therefore object TO any proposed amendment
Before 20 any further, however allow me TO say thai
I,hink myself and nv colleague are about az dsiner-
esled this subject as any members from the West
This bill appropsiaes TO Michigan. with nearly thou
.and mile. OF lake coast but $4,000 Il aPpropales %
Ohio with perhaps two hundred miles OF lake coast
$4,000; and the committee propose to appropriate ior
her SaS 900 more II appropriaes to Wisconsin, with
about four hundred miles OF lake coast $4,000 II APP
propriates 10 New York, with three hundred and fifty
miles Of lake coast, &l44o00; and the committee pro-
pose 10 add $4,000 Michigan gets the least OF all the
representations for the lakes, with the exception oil li
nos and Indiana which barely touch upon the south
crn extremity OF Lake Michigan. say, therefore. that
90 far as respects any equitable division, we have as
much TO complain OF any other Stale in the Union.
But think is grea, deal better TO take The bill as 1t is
than TO run the risk oil defeating il by amendments.
Why, what will be the coDsequencei IL you put on
an amendment for one quarter OF the Union, you will
have 10 pat for another. and you will get up
the old 6ght and have 10 fight over again This one
independent OF the rsk that there will be
Of the bill failing the House OF Representatives, II we
send II back.
This bill il q moderate one its amount and that is
one OF the why am In favor OF keeping il as
Kind of arrangement We know the difficulty there is
in regard to making large appropriations, OF baderlng
one Improvement for another Everybody knows that
that is The danger OF The system, and y Is danger
against which we oughtto guard
Besdes, sir independent OF these considerations mere
sto be vacation Of only three months Ibe mex, ses
sion Of Congress commences on The first Monday OF DE
oember Now suppose that the appropriations for the
Northwest, and presume for the Esst, cannot be ex-
pended until next spring II is totally impossible tba.
they can be expended sooner At the next session OF
Congress recess OF only three months intervening
shall have il fully in power to make any necessary
alterations and any additions where injustice has been
done to any particular portions OF the country But
repeat, if you amend this BILL and send It back to the
Honse OF Representa,ives--if you load down with
amendment afier amendment-i will break down Ihal
course will probably break down here, and y must
encounter the chance of being destroyed IN the