Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-10
Debate In Congress upon Lake
DefenCess..Remarks OF Hon.
A. 6. Riddle.

{ UclcACeSHaek kAtltkdRhS 0t lOAs i
A. G. Riddle.
In the House on Thursday last, IN Com
mittee OF the Whole on the Presidents mes
sage, resolution Of Mr.. Stevens was pend
ing to refer the various parts to the usual
standing committees, by which that portion
referring to system of Lake Defences would
10 TO the Military Committee, when Mr.. Ar
mold Of Chicago, offered the following:
RssOlvsd, That ali that portion OF the Pres
ident's message and accompanying docu-
ments relating 70 the defence Of the Great
Lakes and rivers be referred to select Com
mittee OF nine, TO be appointed by the Speak
or, with power to report by bill or otherwise.
Mr.. Arnold, Mt. Aldrich Of Minnesota,
Mr.. Richardson of Illinois, Mr. Fessenden OF
Maine and others favored the resolution,
while Stevens of Pennsylvania, Olin OF New
York, NORTH Of Vermont and others OPP
posed It, saying that 1t was sectional, that
the general Committees were capable Of TAX
ing care of it, &c.
Some of the Washington papers report Mr..
Riddle, of this District as also opposing the
resolution, when, on the contrary, hestrong-
ly favored it.
Mr.. Riddle remarked that the proposition
Of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. ArnOld)
was in no sense sectional, and as nobody
had invoked sectional feelings in its favor,
it was unjust to excite sectiona; prejudice
against it. Indeed the Lake region was too
vast to be called a section. It was rapidly be-
coming the country, and other portions were
sections and sppendages.
Nobody questioned the wisdom of the
speaker in the construction Of the commit
tees; or doubted the intelligence and patriot
/ ism of the Committee on Military Affairs ;
/ but it should be remembered that that Com
mittee was formed before the question OF
forlifying the lake coasts arose and also
that no portion Of that vast territory is rep
resented on that Committee
It is true the Standing Committees furnish
/ the best and most symmetrical working ma
chinery for the ordinary business of the
House, and whoever seeks to take from them
any subject matter, ought TO show good
cause for it, and it is well for the proposition
before the Committee, that all that could be
said against it is, that in a given instance il
changes the ordinary course of business.
Ever since the lake country has been the
subject of legislation, said Mr.. R., you have
been blessed with these bsne6cent, wise and
patriotic standing committees; and am up
TO say a single word as to their uniform
chronic course, in reference TO this great in
terest, that in part represent here; and
aver that in that course alone is found the
amplest reason for committing this cause to
other hands.
From the remotest head waters Of these
lakes TO where they mingle with the sea,
the long persistent and chilling neglect Of
the general Government has frozen them
The early and just policy OF the Government
in reference to this great interest, was de-
parted from more than twenty years ago
since which time, decay and ruin have
wasted and crumbled the public works, unit
desolation marks the mouth of almost every
river and creek along the thousands of milel
of our large coasts, some portions of which
are annually strewn with the wrecks of oul
vessels, and the eorpses of our people. Is i
q wonder that we feel upon this subject anC
seek for q change Of this policy2
Why, sir, at my own city of Cleveland thr
harbor Improvements have been undermining
and crumbling for years, while my predeces
sor begged of your Standing Committees il
vain, pittance to arrest the ruin. In tn
eastern part of my district, the best natura
harbor on the south side of the lakes ha!
been utterly ruined, and its river completely
and absolutely damned up, so that while it
waters triekle and leak through the remain
of the piers, into the lake, the Grand Rive
may, without profanity, be said to be th
damdest river in the United States. 1t j
true that, even under these embarrassment
the commerce of these lakes rivals, and sur
RAsaea IN FnAusp the foreign --rrnu1aree of tn
nation, not because 1t haa -heagv-FStiIIsSII.E4s
and fostered by a wise national csTe, but il
spite of q mean and ungenerOus neglect, an(
s0lely through the indOmitable energy ant
courage Of our people.
is it not time, Mr.. Chairman, that a new
policy towards US should be entered upon
And do we not show abundant reason VIII
this grave question of Lake coast defenc
should be committed in part to the keeping
of those directly interested in it And ",
will accept the adoption of this proposition
as an earnest on the part Of the House o
Representatives that our interests shall b,
placed on the common level OF the nation
welfare.
Mr.. Olin replied to Mr.. Riddle, after whicl
Mr.. Arnold's resolution was adopted by
count of 60 to 50. Subsequently the yea
and nays were ordered. Vote, 75 to e5.
We are glad to see that the long continued
neglect Of the West by Congress Is likely Il
be broken up at this session, and that on
member, in common with OtLer Western
members, is leading off in demanding jus
tice for the Lake region. There is Wes
and Great West which demands atten
/ finu