The daily union., 1854-02-03
From the Louisville Times.
From tn
Tonnage Duties.

The Improvement oil our rivers and narbors 50 that
they may be able 10 meet the requirements of the vast
trade and sprnging up all over the country,
lis wealth and capabilities developed, assuredly
deserves the earnest consideration ol Congress. The
way by which THE object is TO be accomplished is
tsnly qaesiion Of very grea; importance.
No man, who will look honestly and fairly in the
face past legislation upon this subject, can fail 10 admit
that and harbor bills enely inadequate 10 make
improvements with The Of he
Try This the most sangune advocate Of river and har-
Dor bills must be forced 10 admit With scarcely an ex.
cepon, every improvement andera BY the general
government results IN an absolute failure and the reason
for il very easily explained Every bill for the i'm
provement Of rivers and harbors must. BY the very
nature of things be omnibus bill No other
could, by any possibility become law; for il
is bat natural that every member Of Congress
should look upon Improvement 10 hs locality as
OF paramount importance, and make appropn.
alton for that purpose the sint qua non without which
his for The bill be obtained If appropra-
lions made equal TO the accomplishment OF all these
improvements il would not take long bankrupt The
ona treasury The financial abilities OF The Secretary
would be very employed, in disposng Of sur
plus revenue, but in deysing way provide for de-
felt The result il that the appropriations are too small
eec, any practical good, and by the time Congress Is
induced 10 make additional one, what little that was
accomplished by the hrs appropriation has been lost
Every candid must admit thar ihs is the usual hs.
tory OF the improvements undertaken by the federal gov
ernment Il does 10 us, then, that the only effect
Of these and haIbor bills is create delusye hopes
and check individual enterprise.
II the general goyenmen, had undertaken 10 build our
railroads, it is impossible to calculate how long II ever
before they would have been brought that state OF
forwarlness which their present condition EXHIBITS IA
addition the obstacles above stated in the way OF an
improvement Of rivers and bsrbo By this system
must always meet with violent opposition; for large
number Of our best and wses, politicians believe il IN
constitutional, and conflicting with The rights Of The
States But, waving the constitutional objection. and
asssming that these bills can accomplish the purpose
that the Improvements can be made il must be admitted
that they are Of doubtful policy, involving a waseful
and sxusvsgsni expenditure Of ne public money and
giving to the general government patronage and a
power contemplated BY The States when The con-
federacy formed n the general government, has the
power construct lighthouses, and improve The ma.
ions ID thorcughfares il is somewhat difficult 10 deny to
il the power 10 carry general system Of internal i'm
proyenents; aRd one imbued with democratic primer.
pies contemplate The exercise Of such powetw,h.
out trembling for the safety Of the country. Il al
tempted once but the democratic party arrested il before
s corrupng influence had pervsded The Of the
people, and poisoned the very Ifebood Of insitu-
tons
10 order to o5yisie the very many difficulties embsr-
asng this vital question, il has been proposed that Con-
gress pass agsnera law, giving the States the right
collect tonnage duties, 10 be devoted the Improvement
oi the rivers and harbors pertinent 10 their jurisdiction
To what extent such would meet with The sp.
probation Of the democratic party, is impossible say
IT'S merits and dement's have yet 10 be examined and we
do hoi doubt bui that the dominan, party 10 Congress will
a,ieniively weigh The for and against IL One
ming very csrsnsome Of the features preferable
to those Of any plan yet proposed is the only way by
which The Improvements even be ically made