Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-24


torous in its character and which would eventually
be built whether this bill should be passed or rejected
because the interests of the State and the country de-
manded it. In conclusion he demanded the previous
| question
Mr.. CABLE of Ohio, moved to lay the bill on the table
which motion was agreed to Yeas 70, nays g.
Mr.. BARRERE moved to reconsider the vote By which
the bill was laid on the table.
Mr., STUART hoped that, IS the morning hour had
nearly expired the House would allow the
ton to reconsider to go until tomorrow morning
Mr.. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania objected, and moved
| to lay the motion to reconsider on the table.
Mr.. RICHARDSON said that there many
members absent he would move call of the House.
| Mr.. POLK moved that the House adjourn which mo-
| ton negatived: Ayes Z, noes Ia
| The morning hour having now expired
Mr.. SEYMOUR, of New York, moved that the House
go into Committee of the Whole the state of the Union
with view Of considering the river and harbor BILL
MIR. MEADE moved that the House 60 into Committee
of the Whole on the private calendar
This being private bill day. the question was first taken
upon the motion of Mr.. MEADE and it disagreed to-
The motion Of Mr.. SEYMOUR then agreed to.
HARBOR AND RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
And thereupon the House went into Committee of the
Whole the state Of the Union, Air OLDs, of Ohio in
the CHAIR and resumed the consideration of the bill
making appropriations for the improvement of certain
harbols and rivers
Mr. MOLONY remarked that against this bill they had
the usual amount of objections both upon the of
consutonalty and expedency that usually urged
from certain quarter against every that deeply
brought forward for the benefit of that part
of the country whether it for the improvement of
harbors for the removal of snag in the whether
it was designed for the improvement of the public domain
and the development of its by railroad grants
whether il give to the poor andess man of the
country homestead and thus enable him to become
freebooter in the West the objections of consttu
onal character and in relation TO expedency invariably
arose. always originating in the quarter. He de-
clared that the opposition of certain gentlemen to this
bill was individual opposition not the opposition of
the Democratic party, which he asserted was party,
in favor Of river and harbor improvements He thought
that there singular inconsistency the preaching
and practice of those gentlemen who raised the question
as to the constuonality Of this bill They could
for propositions taking millions out of the treasury for
the improvement of harbors the Atlantic coast for NE
erection OF breakwaters for the construction of piers and
the building Of navy, yet they thought it unconsttu
ona to vote for appropriations for the Improvement Of
Western waters. Gentlemen said that this
unconstitutional, and belonged to the Wing party The
grand mistake that handful of men belonging to
the Democratic party (who, however, this question
outside i substituted themselves ff the great
national Democratic party-a party that had its origin
under Thomas Jefferson, who supporter of these
measures party that had been led in every cam
pagn since the days Of its founder with the inscription
upon its banner floating high their heads "protec
ton 10 American commerce, whether inland foreign"
Mr. NJ then advocated increased appropriations for the
benefit of Western waters.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the hour to which the de-
bate had been limited would expire in one minute
Mr. DISNEY trusted that the chairman Of the Commit
tee on Commerce would indulge him few moments
| Mr.. SEYMOUR consented to yield the floor.
MIR. DISNEY thanked the chairman Of the Committee
Commerce for extending him the privilege Of
plying portion Of the time allowed to him by the rules
He regretted that resolution should have passed the
House limiting debate upon bill important in its
character.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the time to which the de-
bate limited had now expired.
| Mr. DISNEY, proceeding, said that there was no one
subject which had ever occupied the attention Of Congress
that enlisted to greater extent larger degree the
entire attention Of the American people than this ques
ton Of internal improvements
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Georgia. rising to question Of
der desired to know the chairman Of the Committee on
Commerce could transfer his right the floor to another
member I?
The CHAIRMAN stated that it could only be done by
unanimous consent.
Objections made.
Mr.. DISNEY desired to say one word. The effect Of
limiting the debate to exclude him, representative
perhaps OF larger commercial interest than any other
represented upon this floor from utterng solitary
word in reference TO this subject
The gentleman again called to order.
Mr.. DISNEY to test the sense Of the Committee,
moved that the Committee RISE enable him to sub
mt motion to reconsider the vote by which the resou
ton closing the debate on this subject adopted.
The CHAIRMAN reminded the gentleman that the
chairman Of the Committee Commerce entitled T.
the hoor and therefore his motion was in order.
Mr. DISNEY protested against the whole proceeding
an outrage
Mr.. SEYMOUR Of New York, then took the aoor AND
argued at length to prove the constutionaty Of the bill
, under consideration.
Mr. JOHNSON, Of Georgia. moved to amend the bill BY
striking therefrom the followng q that the following
OF money be and the hereby appropriated
to be paid out Of any money in the treasury other
appropriated and to be expended under the
ntendence Of the Secretary Of War; the following pur
poses, and inserting in lieu thereof the following
That the consent Of Congress hereby given to each
the States hereinafter named levy tonnage duty upon tn
within their respective jurisdictions for the purpos
Of raising and collecting the several money hereinae
specified which said sums when collected shall be appro
priated 70 the works and hereinafter designated"
i Mr. J. remarked that IL had long been part Of th
principle Of the Republican party Of this country that tn
Government should not exercise or assume doubtfu
powers Now, the exercise Of the power contemplated
e this bill Of contested character: but Congress
had power clearly and uequivocay under the Constu
on to give its consent TO the States to levy tonnag
duty upon the commerce within their respective iurisdC
It tons There could be doubt upon this subjects br
Il there vast variety Of opinion as TO the power
Congress to appropriate money directly from the reasur
for the purpose Of internal improvements IL the Con
mittee should adopt his amendment they would ayo
this difficulty, and would stand by cardinal principle
y the Republican party The amendment was also ia .
cordance with the views Of Mr. Polk as laid down in
Is veto message and in conformity with the practi
l. and usages Of the Government and IL IL should be adop
ed il would check extravaganza Each locality In ea
State would know best what improvementshe y needed