The daily union., 1852-08-20

ing solely upon the States resources, was completed
years ago, and has already yielded revenue far be-
youd It's original cost. When private enterprise has
taken hold OF these woIks-these railroads and these
eaaals--they have prospered. When the United oates
government have granted land IN aid OF iner con
structlon and then left them TO the local au'houes
they have pfospered Your Ohio canal was constructed
by the local authorities aided by grants ot lshd IRON
The federal government. The Indiana canal was also
constructed by The State authorities, aided oy grant
from this government The Illinois canal, mai con-
meets The lakes with the Mississippi, and makes Two
thirds OF this country one gfea! isiana, owes @ s or
work was constructed under the local authorities OF The
State OF Illinois. And the grant OF land you made lew
wears ago in aid of the construction OF railroad IN our
Sate from the lakes and the Upper Mississippi TO the
mouth of the Ohio and from thence to Mobileeyery inch
of that road under contract, so far as Il is ia lli
nois, I'll miles long, and is TO be completed IN twenty
four months from this day.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Under whose authority
MIR. DOUGLAS BY a company, under the authority
OF the State and responsible to the State Now, suppose
that, instead Of granting these lands to the State OF lii
nos for that purpose you had commenced the road your
sell do you suppose you would have had all under
would 1t rather have been, after forty or niy Years
abandoned, as the Cumberland road was abandoned
after the energies Of the government had been LAVISH
ed upon il Tor half century, Wherever the gov
crnment has taken hold OF work oil internal I'M
prOvement there has been squandeIng OF the Puohc
money failure OF the enterprise or oo'h. bui Where-
ever individuals have taken charge oil the work II mas
succeeded What object TO is ths--lhat by absorbing
all these public works within the circle OF the federal gov
eminent, put the most DaUeiul CutCk upon
improvements this country that can possibly be DEVISED
My plan is this everything which can be accomplished
by individual enterprise ought to be done BY individual
enterprise; that which cannot be done by individuals
but can be accomplished by the States should be done by
the States and that only should be done by the federal
government which cannot be well done IN any other
way. would limit the power Of this government, and
the expenditures OF this government upon these Objects
TO the narrowest possSe limit II s my belie thal every
friend of internal Improvement should seek to have these
great works prosecuted in the manner have Indicated
I fnr apDtOprlatOn Tor this
Sau de Sle Marie canal Tor the reasons that nave
given believe it would be sanciionng system that
would cost $500 900 Ii this work is to be made at
the expense of the federal treasury can point out many
other works you that should commerce. and go on
with Immediately. have already indicated the canal
around the falls of Niagara and will indicate canal
around the falls OF the Ohio, where there is TOO or
500 miles of steamboat navigation above the falls, and
1900 or 300 miles below them; also canal around
the Des Moines rapids, in the Mississippi; also cana
around Rock island, The Mississippi river; also canal
around the falls of ST. Anibony IN the Mississippi: all OF
them are short CANALS connecting long courses OF navga
BILE waers and then there is the canal across the PENN
suar OF Florida. There objects enough where the
interests of the country would be promoted where the
interests of commerce would be greatly advanced, for you
TO expend $500 900 900 upon and you would have ex
hausted your treasury before you would have finished
them all. Now these works can be best made by local
authorities, with such aid from the government by means
of grants OF land may properly be made where the
works situated that the residue OF the lands would
be enhanced in value than the grants would amount
TO- think we had better conne ourselves within The
limits OF only doing that which the constitution
has clearly authorized 10 do, and which can be done
in through the agency OF the federal gov
eminent For the Improvement Of the channels OF the
great rivers of the country cheerfully vote for the
Improvement OF the harbors upon our great lakes and
upon the ocean, can cheerfuy voe although believe
a cheaper wiser, economical, and more effect
nal system than the now adopted can be substituted
for the present PLAN Yet must vote for the present plan
until you devise better because these are objects
within the control of the State authorities, and hence
this government, is the only power earth which can
move in the matter until another and better plan is pro-
posed.
With these views, shall be compelled 10 vote agains,
the money appropriation OF this bill. regret il exceed
ingy. is work very near TO my own constituents
work in which my constituents deeply interested-a
work that will advance the interests OF my own section
of country. 1t comes from my friend from Michigan
IMr. CAss,l who knows would aid him If possibly
could And regret 10 be under the necessity OF placing
myself IN the % 6 q ssss an bs ssHs ba
the interests of my State the interests OF the State
of Michigan, and the interests OF the entire country re-
que that these works should be constructed by the local
authorities If, therefore, the Senate will come 10 vote
and reject the money appropraion-thus leaving the bill
originally stood, making grant OF land 10 aid ot The
construction Of this canal to the State Of Michigan, on
such terms and conditions as would only authorize her
charge tolls enough TO keep It IN order-we can pass the
BILL and the canal be made in very brief space OF
time. grant of land 10 that Slate, properly admins
tered, will enable her TO make the canal in one half the
time that you get II made by this government II put
under the War Department. or any other executive de-
partmen of The government twill be made IN less time,
and for less amount of moneys will be kept in better
condition, and will promote all the interests Tor which II
is be constructed in greater degree than II II were 10
be constructed by this government For these reasons
shall vote as have indicated.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. / hope the Senate will allow
TO make short vindcatlon OF my position.
MIR. CASS Will the honorable senator allow me TO
say word to him 1t is simply this hope be will
permit the Senate 10 TO vote upon this bill now.
Any argument upon the subject OF internal improve
ments generally would be out OF place here, and would
be properly made upon the river and harbor bill,
MIR UNDERWOOD 4 will he YER brief. hut Whpn
a gentleman attacks me | think il is but right that /
should be permitted TO make short vindication Of the
position | assume. have said to my friend from ll
nois Mr. DouGLAs that If | were TO select system TO
carry out my views OF internal Improvement, 1t would
be that upon which the government commenced its
operation. And why ought that system TO have been
the which should have been continued Because
II would have accomplished precisely the object which
that gentleman advocates. = would have left TO in
execution of these works, and in that way you
would have had every motive OF economy which can
stimulate man TO go with work with the least pos
sble expenditure of money And is not that the way in
which the gentlemans State (Iinos) is going on at
this very timel brought out, in the o his
marks the fact that this great railroad TO which he referred
to be made by company responsible 10 the State
Yes sir, that State is the partner OF the company the
State legislature employ company, and by contract
made between the State and the company, the rights OF
the parties secured and you thus have the very adj
vantages which desire 10 secure TO the general govern
ment-tDe advantages OF individual enterprise, individual
skill and individual economy. Why cannot the national
government do these things precisely that State dong
them Is il great disgrace for the national government
enter into corporation partner while IT ~ per-
fecty right and legitimate for State do the same thing
kasrV