The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-21


and expediency OF granting the measure. Now there is
no Slate that has applied for this assent and there is
State nat feels any urgency about the natter and II may
as well be acted upon al the next session as now
Moreover, beg leave say that do not believe that
The States which have received this great boonwhich
The senator from Illinois exlos SO much privilege OF
immense yalue-have prohled essentially by II in any
way. IL was granted TO Georgia 10 remove wrecks from
the river Savannah Now, there is provision in this
very BILL bali century after that time for the removal
OF those very wrecks That shows al the effect of
granting tonnage duties OF this description They have
not been available IN any hands, and those parties who
have had the enjoyment Of them have been very glad to
come here and obtain herimprovemens by other modes.
Even Baltimore, with all lis prosperity, and the enjoy
meni OF this tonnage duty has found Intellectual in s
hands TO accomplish the objects in view | would say TO
The senator from Illinois that if this is designed
ahd Intended 10 supersede the present system, could
once point out many reasons why 1t Is immature in It's
character, and why ought be pressed upon
this tune will give it at the next session, il he chooses
TO present it, careful deliberate. and considerable
nation. shall be perfectly willing 10 do that but am
Mr.. BORLAND. shall not undertake anything like
against this amendment-certanly not to arguments Of
Tered by gentlemen OF the opposite political party from
that 10 which belongs had anticipated the opposition
OF gentlemen on that side, and have not been dsap.
pointed must say, however. TO my honorable friend
from Maine Mr.. HAnIISl that it seems that his
ADMISSION j. this Sase Yields the whole principle !,
Mr.. DAVIS. Will the senator allow me word My
honorable friend from Illinois threw out here the intima
ton that there had been manGuvng to defeat the
amendment. NOW, discalm all knowledge OF such
hing Nobody said anything to about it, and |
have said nothing TO anybody. did not hear anything
about until it came IRON him. II there be any politics
in il, except what in here accidentally to-day by
way OF explosion, totally unaware OF il; and have
seen no evidence OF it, and no feeling OF that description
with any gentleman.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Justice requires to say that the
gentleman from Massachusetts, has been entirely frank
this question
MIR. BORLAND The senator from Massachusetts
evidently misunderstood my allusion. did allude
all TO any political question introduced to-day. | said
that had anticipated objection to this proposition the
part OF the wing members OF the Senate, not from any
Thing that has been said todayot that they have ndi-
Gated any purpose TO oppose IT, but upon general grounds
expected opposition from that party TO this proposition
because think strikes at the root OF the policy which
has been advocated by them in all time 1t strikes at the
root OF their policy which have considered as better cal
culaed change the character Of this government from
what il intended 10 be when it was ofganized than
any otherthe making OF this federal government the
great agent which is TO perform all the functions of the
whole sysen and absorb the powers OF the States and
do those important things which the true character and
principles of system of government intended that the
States should perform
But, sir, my honorable friend from Maine, if under
stood him-and wish TO be corrected if am in error
said that all the legislation on t subject by which Con-
gress had given It's TO the leyyng Of tonnage duties
in different States had been preceded by State legislation
MIR. HAMLlN. Generally.
Mt. BORLAND. think the senator said in sixty or
seventy That is not, however, the point which
the senator from Illinois, any other senator, would
come forward with proposition from any Stale asking
the assent OF Congress the evyng of tonnage duties,
he would agree to IT. Did understand him correctly
AIR. HAMLIN. Not exactly said that if the sena.
tor from Illinois would present any definite points for
provement giving us The manner in which II should be
done would vote for II very caeeriuly-that would
concur IN any general system which would have equality
IN H. but that this system crude, and did not specify
the various points which should enjoy the privilege
derstand the senator. He says that if the from
llnois will bring forward proposition from of the
States specifying the particular instances in which this
he
All he requires is that the points and the circumstances
shall be made specific; then he will give his assent
Now ask, where is the difference, practically, between
being willing TO vote for every that may be brought
forward provided il may be made specihc-fo that is the
only condon-and voting for a proposition which is
general In It's character, and which anticipates these
specific applcaons The senator does restrict il in
this way he does not say that he will then exercise his
Judgment upon H. and that if he considers il proper he
will vote for IT He only requires that the application
shall be made and shall be specific in its character and
then he commits himself vote for ii. | ask if there
can be practically any difference whatever between
ting Tor each specific case that may be brought toward,
and giving the assent of Congress to the States leaving
The States 10 take up and specify the nsances Iii
only matter oil form, after all.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. The senator will allow me 10 state
that have here of Congress in which they give
their assent to such act the legislature Of North
Carolina shall adopt Here the assent OF Congress
given in advance In other il subsequent 10
State action II is true Congress had previously given
assent 70 one act but there were various amendments to
II, 10 which Congress assentcd in advance.
Mr. BADGER | would ask the senator IL he has
found any case OF the sort except North Carolna3
Mr. DOUGLAS. do not recollec. any other.
Mr. BADGER. Then the reason is obvious Con-
gress knew that North Carolina would only do what
was right tLaughterl
Mr. BORLAND resumed Supposng il TO be as the
gentleman from North Carolina suggests, what is the
dierencei ask him IL there is ever an instance where
State has applied Tor the assent OF Congress and il has
been refused In the sixty seventy cases referred 10
by the senator from Maine application made. APP
pehend, in advance | would ash the senator from
Maine whether there Is any instance where State has
made application Tor the assent OF Congress and it has
been refused
Mr.. HAMLIN. do no, now remember single case
where the States have not come with a law TO show ex
actly what they asked.
MIR. DOUGLAS Except North Carolina
Mr.. HAMLlN. do not except even North Carolina
because the privilege granted that State upon
act which she had passed II the from Illinois
will look 10 the original law he will find tina. TO be
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Authority gwen to change it.
Mr. BORLAND am not speaking OF the matter OF
form am speaking OF the substance; and ask again
there is any difference in substance, or in the practical
operation OF the system whether you give the assent OF
Congress in advance Of the legislation which the States
may adopt in which they specify the points where this
duty shall be levied, committing yourselves
10 vote Tor all applications which may be made provided
they made specifically
Mr.. HAMIlN. II they are right.
Mr.. BORLAND. The senator did not make that con-
don, and ! am speaking of the proposition as he sub
mled IL and ! asked hun al the time If | understood
hun correctly. He admitted that he committed himself
for all applications with the sole condition that they
should be specific. II his argument rested on that, Il
seemed TO that he conceded the only point which in
volved principle.
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