The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-15

months unless The appropriations are passed nowun-
less avail ourselves OF the opportunity presented OF
attaching them The ceheeEcy billa bill OF general
inieIesla bill important that II may be necessary Tor
the unembarassed operation Of The government that II
shall pass. THIS is just such as appears 10 me
which this body, IL a majority Of them concur IN The
psopIeiy and importance oil constructing these works
nj a-snd that question which Il now passed, de-
eided ii understand il. tor they have been Undertaken
Il is lust such which either house OF Congress
may avail itself Of the opportunity OF bringing TO test
again and again. II need be, or such an appropriation as
this "a a as
Some OF these buildings a condition TO be dets-
rioraed Not only is the question presented whether
you will have buildings that suitable Tor permanent
pubic buildings. ereted either the Last the West,
but whether you viii follow The appropriations which
you have heretofore made, aud prevent actual loss.
which will resui! By delaying me appropriations is,
therefore. not only question oil public Inconvenience.
but OF actual loss OF property II y not sound prin-
cpls tor legislation in this body 10 say that percbance
the House oi Representatives will moi concur in IT, l
know IL has been said thai The House OF Representa-
twas have already rejected such appropriations ~ theses
hst ls hAs hecn wsh seglivds as understood II, that
feenl obecls and impossible to perceive upon
what distinct ground connected with these appropriations
The House could have acted because the proposition
was not IN the House when they came 10 the Anal vote
whether they would construct q custom house al ST.
Louis. Louisville, or Wilmington, for that question
had already been decided therefore take il for granted
that there was some other motive which induced the
action OF the House. have not read the debate and,
therefore, cannot undertake 10 stale what was; but
take i Tor granted 10 deierence TO The wisdom and the
discretion oil the House OF Representatives, that there
was some other motive which caused them to vote down
the first deficiency bill,
But again; THIS bill does not necessarily fail if you
agree 10 this proposition The honorable senator from
Virginia knows very well the machinery by which this
question may be settled and the bill yet lost This
proposition will 20 down the House, be acted upon
by them and the bill wall. apprehend, be dsconnect-
ed with those propositions which embarrassed the first
deficiency bill there But do TO 60 into the
consideration oil The question whether II is likely or not
that the House would reject the bill because these appro
priations should be made il inserted by the Senate.
say il is unsound principle to act upon and do not
know bot that il would be much wiser and s0under
policy, majority either the Senate in the House
Of Representatives in favor OF public work or
public Improvement OF any description sor specc eEsa-
ton upon any subject, 10 avail themselves OF bill in
the nature OF deficiency billa bill The passage OF
which necessary for the unembarassed principles OF
the government ,sen o,der 10 enforce. BY such con-
sdestions they believed would be operative policy
which they thought vice and Just OF The country.
Now, sir, would make no such proposition. |
would move no such amendment TO the deficiency bill
which is now before US as am about TO suggest but
lay down this principle 10 regard 10 every public work
which has been commenced-Dot only custom houses or
mn,s, or post Offices court-houses but every other
public work which has the sanction OF both branches oil
Congress II they had The opportunity to act upon them
unembarassed by rules. and those means OF delay and
defeat which i s always IN the power OF the minority OF
either house OF Congress TO adopt. do not see but that
would be much sounder principle OF legislation, In
stead OF relying upon that presented by the senator from
bill 10 carry out whatever public works have been COM
mencsd under the sanction, not only OF the majority OF
the houses OF Congress, but Of large majority CT
the people OF the United States; and TO this
mode of enforcing their completion.
Sir, there other public works which Just in the
condition Of these buildings, that have been progress
during The last year, and unfinished In consequence
OF the session being proacted to late period in the fall
unless an appropriation is made now, not only Will they
siop, but there will be large amount OF loss OF the
pendiiures which have heretofore been made for them
allude the extensive in preparation for
clearing out the western rivers Tor the Improvement
OF harbors on The lakes large amount Of money has
been invested ia snay boats and other machinery which
cannot be employed during The whole OF this year for,
by tle lime we gel general appropriation bill through
IN September, or as some gentlemen suggest in October,
the waters viii rise, and there can be nothing done Then
all the expensive machinery will be useless The works
halt completed will 90 TO decay, will be destroyed
greatly damaged by storms and rehets, because of their
unfinished condition, and they will have to pass through
the ordeal for another and be again exposed
to storms, and resbes. and ice before they be
pleied Now, say that unless some such plan is adopted
as baye suggested, this system. which believe has the
support OF the majority both Of he Senate and House oil
Representative and meets with The iavor and
renee q lbe country generally, wl on account OF the
proa session OF Congress every other year. have TO
be stopped This win be H. ease, unless mode is
devised invented BY whica be KEEP, regularly in
progress from year TO year.
do not propose 10 make any amendment 10 ths bill 10
accomplish that oblcc bot cay that the objection which
is made 10 this a0endmen nai pefchance the House OF
Representatives wll delay the passage Of the blibey
cannot defeat i, because the question will still be with
ia The control oil the Senalels an unsound principle oil
legislation in either houss oi Congress- and instead ef
acquescng in IL as suggested now, should be in favor
of he free and independent action OF both branches OF
Congress 10 make early appropriation whenever
there public work which demanded II. And I
would moi limit Il 70 cssiom-bou-es court-houses
would limit il 10 subjects which were likely to suffer
damage and injury by the delay. Bot ! would do II on
another account II supposed there were influences
and principles IN the administration oi the government
4 DO say thai there do not distinctly
dersand whai hei principles afebut II suspected that
there were ans nsences At work 10 ihua the operation
OF he system Of improvements, limited ne i has been
heretofore adopted BY Congress, would, in that
aga1 myseif OF bill OF tins description for bringing them
e oi the sentiments and Judgment OF the approval
disspyfoval of Congress, though il might embarrass
the government Now. sr, would have been perfectly
willing that this ball should have gone along without
any amendment af all But other amendments have
been made which consider less acceptable TO me
bsn this They have already been attached TO the
bill therefore, feel myself perfectly at liberty for
this appropriation
Mr. WELLER. | have remark 10 make to my
friend from Virginia and before make that remark,l
desire 70 say something IN regard 10 the cus,omhouse at
San Francisco.
Az matter OF course, there cannot be any question
as 10 the proprety Of appropriations Tor the custom
houses. Tue only difference OF opinion TO be
10 what place The appropriations should be made
whether in the deficiency bill some other general
appropriation bill. Yesterday, | did not for the
amendment proposed By my friend from Maryland, 10
make appropriation OF v500.0o0 TO bring into
ths city, simply for the that never desire TO
place myself IN false position. in favor OF the
appropriation, but opposed putting upon The de.
hcIeney blll but my friend from Virginia, who has
sought 10 ercnde almost everything from this bill for
fear Of difficulty IN the House, voted for that amend
ment Now, the only question is. whether these appro-
psiiong that ash ed Tor