Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-18
TUESDAY, MARCH IA, 1854.
TN SEN ATE

Mr.. PEARCE. l desire to present resolutions of the
City Council Of Baltimore urging appropriation tor
deepening the channel of tho Patapco river and Chesa
peake Bay. They give various which show the
absolute necessity such appropriation The object
is which is demanded by what is due to the present
population and business of the city of Batimoreto its
important export and cosstng trade Its necessity is in
creased by the from that city railroads
to the great West and also by the consideration that Bal
tmore is the depot of unlimited amount Of btuminous
COAL which be furnished to steam and CONNER
cia marine There is therefore, necessity for having
the city for the largest class of vessels The
channel of the river is so obsructed render it
impossible for such vessels to enter Those distractions
might be very readily removed The subject repeat,
is of great Importance and commends itself to the
attention of the Committee Commerce, to which, sup
pose the resolutions should be referred. their
reference to that committee.
Mr.. PRATT. In connection with the same subject,
beg leave to present the memorial of the Board of Trade
of Baltimore asking appropriation of similar amount
Of money for the Improvement Of the Paapsco river and
Chesapeake Bay.
This memorial Mr.. President presents facts which
would like to bring to the special attention Of the Sc
In the first place. there is fact which has been
suggested by my colleague that at this time the city of
Baltimore is the only port in the Union at which pen
ul and cheap supply Of bumnous coal con be furnished
to marine The memorial also states the fact that be-
tween the capes of the Chesapeake and Pensacola there
now no Southern port in which, in the Of war;
of larger class naval vessels could for any
pose 1t also refers to the probability of war in Eu-
poosipiitJS
that war; possibility which, think, is increased by
developments since the memorial was signed and sent
to me.
It appears to me- Mr. President that the subject is one
Of deep interest in every aspect That there should be
ports Southern ports in which vessels of could
enter for purposes of repair and supplies and safety is
manfesty necessary to the interest and welfare Of the
country had hoped that my colleague would have made
motion nstead of referring the resolutions which he
presented the Committee Commerce to refer them
to select committee. / believe that the Committee
Commerce are already charged with various applications
for appropriations for the improvement Of harbors from
every section of the country and that their purpose to
embody in general bill all the measures that they may
think worthy of the consideration of the Senate. Now
however in the present aspect OF aairs this is object
Of interest beyond any which has yet been presented
the consideration of the Senate upon this subject and
think that should not be connected with the Others but
that we should have the opportunity of having report
from committee, and special bill making the appro
priation will with the concurrence of my colleague,
move that the memorial be referred select committee
One other fact may be referred to, which is matter in
which the whole southwestern part of country deep
ly interested. fud upon my table this morning
mortal asking for millions Of Of land to aid in
the construction Of the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad
which is to connect with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Wheeling For your own great city, sir, we have ap-
propriated millions of Of land for the purpose Of
making similar conneIion and it is apparent that
less this harbor Of Baltimore Is made accessible to the
larger class Of vessels oil these various appropriations
will be comparatively of no use hope that the Senate
will If colleague WILL consent, allow this memorial to
be referred select committee and have bill report
ed SO that the Of the Senate may be had upon this
isolated question whether this Southern harbor shall be
so improved as admit vessels Of the largest class
Mr. PEARCE. The resolutions which presented have
been referred to the Committee Commences but GER
ainy with my colleague in his request to refer
his memorial to select committee
Mr.. WALKER opposed the idea Of select committee.
He thought the Committee Commerce would give the
subject careful examination.
Mr.. ADAMS CONQUERED in the suggestion of Mr. WAL
KIR that select committee ought to be raised TO
take into consideration the legitimate business Of the
standing committees.
The motion of Mr. PRATT prevailed, and the following
is the select committee appointed by the Chair Messrs
PRATT, BRopHEAD, CHASE, CLAYTON and RusK.
MEMORIAL OF THE CLERGY OF NEW ENGLAND.
three thousand oergymen Of New England of every re
gous denomination demonstrating against the passage Of
the Nebraska bill which was laid on the table.
Mr.. DOUGLAS subsequently stated that he was not
present at the time when the petition was presented or
he should have offered observations. Mr. ID. then
petition.
These remarks led to quite protracted discussion and
ut times an exceedingly animated one which lasted until
near z. H. The Senators who participated IN the de-
bate were Messrs HOUSTON, MASON, BUTLER, AD-
ANS, EVERETT, PETIT, DOUGLAS, SEWARD, BAD
GER and Others when the subject dropped by the
tition being laid on the table.
The following is the memorial which gave rise to the
debate:
The undersigned clcrgymen Of different religious denom
nations In New England, hereby, in tho NAME OF ALMIGHTY
GoD and in his do soemny PROTEST against the
passage OF the Nebraska BILL any repeal or modification OF
existing legal prohibitions Of slavery in that part OF our ma
ona domain which II proposes to organise into the Territory
Of Nebraska and Kansas.
We protest against great moral wrong breach