New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-28

political purpose. Throw force INTO MeA'co' anu
then petition for annexation, after the fashion Oh
Texas. Create new States. send Senators
Washington, and hold the balance OF power i"'
is the game, and it is a pretty big one "'
Buchanan never would play for sncn STAKES, pus
MIR. SHden. who understands brag, takes the hsnd
and 5oes the netting He has lost Cuba, and hopes
to win Mexico. We shall see. Wait TILL inc men
and money arc voted by the House OF representa-
tiyes.
Mr. Snaulding Of Buffalo, whom many old friends
who knew his sterling worth and ability in Con-
eress wears ago have welcomed back to his former
scere of usefulness with qualification AMI prize,
took occasion, on Friday evening, to review the
Presidents veto message OF the bill for the i'm.
prosenept of tie ST. Clair Flats in of the most
coeent and conclusive arguments yet heard on the
general subject, He took up the three principal
reasons assigned by the Presidents l. That the
appropriation for the improvement (S55, O0O is In
expedient and unnecessary; 2. That 1t is unconst-
tutiOnsl, because Congress has no power to make
the appropriation; and 3. That tannage duties
levied by the State of Michigan 9pon vessels navi-
eating thcse waters would be the proper mode OF
raising funds 10 make the improvement; and dis
posed OF them, seria;im, in manner which AZ
tracted much aud deserved commentator.
Mr. Spauldlng showed how the bar or shoal at
the fats was created and the necessity for deepen
ing the channel so as to remove the most serious
obstruction in the great line of natural water COM
municatiOn between Chicago and Buffalo. Tho
estimated present value OF the commerce passing
over these flats, is $500, 0G0, 600 per AMMAN. Tue
water of these Takes and rivers varies IN hight from
year to year, and is sometimes lower by three or
four feet than at other periods chaanel fourteen
feet deep is neejed for the lowest stages OF water
which meg happen during the approaching season.
Hence there lie an immediate and pressing necessity
for the appropriation, which the President yetoee
against tio deliberate Judgment Of Doth branches CT
| Congress.
| The second point, of constitutiOnalty, was rot
| only ably c0ntroyerted, but the President was con
| yctad of asserting what the records OF Congress
prc7e to be untrue, in alleging that "1or more than
| 4" thirty years after the adoption ct the tecera
Constitution, the power to appropriate money Tor
&" internal Improvement wss neither CLAIMED nor
- exercised" Mr. Spauldiag cted the nlath act
Of the fret Congress, approved 'oy Washington,
| August z, 1859, Ter the establishment AID sup
| port Of lighthouses beac0ns, baOys, ant pubic
piers" for whioh - all the expenses were to be
I /" betrayed out of the Treasury of the United
| States" Jefferson approved Dill on the 65h OF
April 1862, I" for the erection Of lighthouses and
" other purposes" In 1906 he approved the biz
for the Cumberland Road, upon which nearly siz
| ~, cd In
coast survey was began under The same President.
Gen. jackson, in his Message of 1880, expressly
asserted the Constitutional power in the broadcast
terms, covering tue whole practice of the Govern
! ment up to that period, which Adams, Madison,
Monroe, and the other Presidents had sanctioned
. and recommended.
Upon the third point in which the Presden
suggested that Michigan in eonjnnctA n with tPpe
Canada, should provide the means of deepening th'
channel, Mr. Spauldng's demonstration was equally
effective and overwhelming. He cited the ordnance
of I7S7, to show that these navigable waters are
common highways, no: to Michigan aiene, a.
the President seemed to suppose. but to all the
people of the United States; and that nc State
could levy any "duty of tunnage" Gpon vessels navi-
eating these waters with or without the consent o.
Congress.
Every theory or proposition advanced by the
President was demolished so conclasively by rea-
soning practice and established principle that he
stands in the pitiable plight of destroying neces-
sary public measure, merely to satisfy q sectional
clamor without being abe to justify it with an ar
gument which All bear scrutiny. Mr.. Spaulding
is entitled to thanks for tis vindcstion of the Re-
publican policy Of improving our rivers and harbors
and for the clear Light in which he has placed the
question before the public in exposing the Pres
idents Southern s0phistries.
| VICE PRESIDENT BRECKENRIDGE ON THE
| HICKMAN AFFAIR.
| 10 ne Editors o. Tie Consntntisa: $50.
GEETLEMES: in connection with the recent duh
| Guilty between Mr. Edmundson of Virginia, and Mr.
| Hickman OF Pennsylvania, some extraordinary mis-
| ptatements have appeared in the pubtc papers: lHE
NEw-Y O1K TRIBUNE and other presses have deliber-
ately charged that J. in connection with other gentle
men was present that occasion TO assist Mr.. I'd
| rDundson in an assault on Mr.. Hickman, and that,
being armed we stood ready 90 .nale the latter
| gentleman in Gaze he ehoud make the least resist
ance.
| have been very much surprised at these accusa-
TONS but have waited q reasonable time in the hope
that Mr. Hickman would feel bound 10 correct them.
he has not done 80, anG since they are pessteny re-
peated think proper 10 make the following state
ment