The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-12-20
Debate in Congress upon Lake Defences
Remarks Of Hou. A, G. Riddle.


lu the House or the 5lh inst, in Com.
mit,ee OF the Whole on the Presidenl's s
Message, resolution Of Mr.. Stevens was
pending to refer the various parts 10 the
usual standing committees, by which that
portion referring TO a system OF Lake De.
fences would go to the Military Com.
miuee, when M-. Arnold Of Chicago,
offered the following:
ResoIred, That all that portion Of the
Presidents Message and accompanying
documents relating TO the defence of the
Great Lakes and rivers be referred to a
Select Committee Of nine, to be appointed
by the Speaker, with power to report by
bill or otherwise.
Mr.. Arnold, Mr.. Aldrich Of Minnesota,
Mr.. Richardson, OF Illinois, Mr.. Fessenden,
ol Maine, and Others, favored the resolu /.
ton, wh'le Stevens, of PENNSYLVANIA,
OIin, Of New York, Morrill,, of Vermont,
and others opposed ii, saying that it was
sectional, that the general Committees
were capable Of taking care OF il, DC.
Mr.. Riddle remarked that the proposi-
tion OF the gentleman from Illinois MIR.
Arnold was in no sense sectional, and as
nobody had invoked sectional feelings in
It's favor, II was unjust to excite sectional
prejudice against it. Indeed, the Lake
region was TO vast TO be called section.
1t was rapidly becoming the country, and
other portions were sections and append
ages.
Nobody questioned the wisdom Of the
Speaker in the construction OF the com.
mIttees; or doubted the intelligence and
patriotism OF the Committee on Military
Affairs but Il should be remembered that
that Committee was formed before the
question oI foriiying the lake colsts arose,
and also that no portion of that vast ter
rltory is represented on that Committee.
1t is true the Standing Committees fur.
nlsh The best and most symmetrical work
my machinery ior the ordinary business of
the House, and whoever seeks 10 take
from them any subject matter, ought to
show good cause Tor it, and Il is well for
the proposition before the Committee that
all thai could be said against il is, that in
given instance it changes the ordinary
course OF business.
Ever since the lake country has been
The snbject of legislation, said MIR. r
you have been blessed with these benefi.
cent. wise and patriotic standing COM
mltlees and am up to say a single
word as TO their uniform, chronic course,
In reference 10 this great interest, that
IN part represent here and aver tn at in
that course alone is found the amplest
reason for committing this cause to other
hands.
From the remotesi head waters ofthese
lakes to where they mingle with the sea,
the long persistent and chilling neglect of
the General Government has frozen them.
The early and jus! policy of the Govern
merit ln reference 10 this great interest,
was departed from. more than twenty
years ago since which time, decay and
iuin have wasted and crumbed the pub.
lie works, until desoIalon marks the
mouth OF almost every river and creek
along the thousands Of miles of our large
coasts, some portions of which are an
nually strewn wi h the wrecks of our ves-
sells, and the corpses OF our people. Is it
a wonder that we feel upon this subject,
and seek for change of this policy ?
Why, sir, at my own city of Cleveland,
the harbor Improvements have been un-
dermining and crumblIng for years, while
my predecessor begged OF your Standing
Committees in vain. pittance 10 arrest
the ruin. ln the eastern part OF my dis
trict, the best natural har0or on the south
side OF the lakes has been utterly ruined
and its river completely and absolutely
damned up, so that while its waters tricle
and leak through the remains of the piers,
into the lake, the Grand River NAV, with.
out profanity, be said TO be the damdest
river in the United States. Ii is true that,
even under these embarrassments, the
commerce of these lakes rivals, and sur
passes in value, the foreign commerce OF
the nation, not because it has been slim
ulated and foslered by a wise national
care, but in spite of a mean ungenerous
neglect, and solely through the ndom-
liable energy and 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 why this grave question OF Lake
coast defence should be committed in part
to the keeping OF those directly interested
in it? knd we will accept the adoption
Of this proposition as an earnest on the
pGrt of the House Of Representatives that
our interests shall be placed Oh the COM
mon level Of the nations welfare.
MIR. Olin replied to MIR. Riddle, after
which Mr.. Ernold's resolution vas
adopted By count of GO to 90. Subse-
quently the yeas and nays were ordered.