The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-02-28
SPEECH OF HON. 2. CHANDLER,


Delivered Ia the u. 3. Senate, Monday,
Feb. 9th 1860.
Mr.. CHANDLER. i thank the Sena.
tor from Mississippi for his courtesy, and I
shall occupy but few minutes. regret,
Mr. President, that i was not present
when this message was read; for there arc
several serious mistakes IN it which | sho'd
have been glad to have corrected at the
time. l therefore take the earliest op'
portunity that is offered mo to allude to
the mistakes in the message. But, sir,
there is something in it more grave than
mistake. There are serious charges bro't
against the Senate and the Congress Of
the United States, or at least impua6ons
Of deceit, in this message. l will read
passage from the Presidents message:
"TEe obvious remedy for this WAS to
deepen channel through these flats by
dredging, SO as 10 enable vessels which
would navigate the lake and the river, to
pass through this intermediate channel
This object had already been accomplished
10y previous appropriations, but without
my knowledge when the bill was presented
to me-"
II this object had been accomplished
before this bill had passed the Senate,
here is an imputation Of pretended fraud
upon the President of the United States
by Congress. again, he says:
"No complaint had been made previous
TO the passage of the Till, of distractions
to the commerce and navigation acros. the
St. Clair flats. What, then, was tho ob-
icct Of the appropriation proposed by the
billr -
If these allegations or impataiions Of
tie Pycsid,a, be correct, then somebody
Is guilty Of having, either through un.
warran,abe ignorance, or through wiliful
Misrepresentation, imposed upon the Sen.
atc and Congress OF the United States.
and OF having attempted to impose upon
the President. II any person is liable to
that imputation it is myself; because |
had the honor to introduce the biz and,
with all the feeble ability which possess,
70 urge its passage; and Il WAS passed.. /
assume that spon>ih,lily, and | say if
these inputatious he correct, am liable
t. them; bu' if thny be not correct, the
President Of the United States is liable t.
the ,,Ie imputatiors, either of GROSS and
and unwarantalle ignorance, or the otlo,
alternative which ] named. meet that
issue: and propose TO examine and sec
whether these b. facts or fiction.
II is hardly necessary for me 10 90 into
an examination If IN, question as to the
channel across the 81. Clair flats. No
Senat pr who has occupied seat upon this
hocr ior any time dariuL The last twcny
years, las Ei!.d 10 he informed on tais
subject. Il IS well known. -ir that two
nil, tr.m he mouth of tie -. Clair r.y-
cr ih,.a !, hu cmlaakment, c,llol The 81.
Clair Flats, where the main channel Of
tie It. Clair river takes q long bend =.
roaad the flats ia ,te shape Of an oS l.w,
cf some seven miles in length, requiring
wind from ,g3g fo!nt Of the compass 10
ca,Iy vessel though this cuu,tgus chan
n'!, Willie, hy cutting a channel oI s'X
..aasoa| '.et ,..5 'mbnnImont, a straight
caWnol would he afforded tJ commerce,
capable = accommodating the rninr eon
"er'e af ta' hses. In 1896, the Con,
gry,s q Tho United states pas7.d " '""
making an appropriation ol : lJ'OOJ tor
cutting this channel That b'it pas ID
bo'h Houses Of CONGRESS, and was vetoed
hy Nr. Pierce then IEcs.d'a, ot the Lu.-
TED S:a''> l.' III. was retained t. Con
crCss with LIS t,lucti ~, aud WHa iIcH