JUNE 18, 1834.] Harbor Bill. [H. OF R. matter of course, that the committee must have had the mons, he immediately resigned his seat. But here he was estimates of the Department to go upon before they re-seen setting himself in opposition to the recommendations ported the present item. He was greatly surprised at of the Executive department, and denouncing the esti. the statement of the honorable chairman, [Mr. POLK,] mates, officially made and submitted, as extravagant, that he and his committee had been induced to change enormous, and "profligate." Why was such a spectacle their course by the personal importunities of members of exhibited? The Secretary of the Treasury told the that House. He had had no idea that any committee of House that there would be no deficiency in the revenue; that House would suffer personal importunities, however that, after all the public debt should have been paid, and urgent, to prevail over their sense of propriety and duty. all the great expenditures provided for, there would be [Mr. POLK explained. He had not meant to say any still a balance in the treasury of three millions of dollars. such thing as that the committee had been over persua- And now, since then, he had discovered that things turned ded by the importunities of any gentleman. They had out better than he had anticipated, insomuch that there been induced, from representations made to them, to was likely to be five or six millions of surplus revenue. conclude that it would be best to introduce the items, What was the gentleman from Tennessee going to do and let the House pass upon them in any way it might.] with these six millions of dollars? Was this sum to be Mr. MANN thought the honorable chairman had not left in the pet banks to be lent out for their profit? Were mended the matter much by his explanation. It was they to get all this money without bonus or interest, and still somewhat strange that an amendment which had speculate or discount upon it? Was that the object? been reported by the committee themselves, and had received the sanction of the Committee of the Whole House, should now be opposed by those who had moved it. [Mr. POLK. Very well. Next time I will withhold it altogether.] Mr. WHITTLESEY here interposed, and reminded the gentleman from Pennsylvania that this was a bill for harbors, not about pet banks. It had nothing to do with the subject of banks, and he must call the gentleman to order. He did not wish to see another whole day taken up in debate. Mr. MANN resumed. That would be the right way. If he disapproved of an appropriation, let him keep it out Mr. STEWART replied that he knew it was a bill for of the bill; but, for himself, if he reported a measure, he harbors, and he went for the harbors, and should vote for should sustain it. How were the House to be instructed the bill. It was what he desired. He was for putting in matters connected with estimates from the Depart- our money to some use, not for letting it lie dead in the ments, unless through the Committee of Ways and Means? banks or the treasury. He was just as much opposed Mr. M. went for diminishing the appropriations where it to hoarding it up in one bank as in another-in a national could be done with propriety; but not for suffering the bank as in the pet banks. Scatter it abroad-let it do good. public interest to be totally destroyed. Whether $10,000, Mr. BEARDSLEY hoped the appropriation for Osweor $20,000, or $30,000 were needed to protect the com-go harbor would not be killed by talking, of which it merce of the lakes, he should ever be ready to vote for stood in great danger. The Department recommended it. Why should an important and valuable harbor, like this appropriation; the Committee of Ways and Means that of Oswego, be suffered to go to ruin for want of recommended it. He did not understand it had been this paltry sum of $30,000? The harbor was not only abandoned by any body. It had passed the Committee important to all the commerce exposed upon those stormy of the Whole, and was now to be acted on in the House. lakes, but to the preservation of human lives. The No positive opposition had been made to it; a mere sugspectacle presented by Lake Ontario in a storm of wind gestion had been thrown out, and some doubt expressed was truly appalling, and the danger of navigating it at such a time was far greater than that encountered upon the ocean itself. as to its expediency. The Committee of Ways and Means had not avowed any opposition to the measure, and he hoped they would not be teazed into doing so. They had reported it, and that was the best expression of their judgment in its favor. Mr. STEWART rose merely with a view to set the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. POLK] right in reference to a remark made by his colleague, [Mr. McKENNAN.] Mr. BURGES said he had been laboring for seven It certainly was not a little extraordinary to see the chair- years to get the House to appropriate 500 dollars to obman of the Committee of Ways and Means advocating tain the report of an engineer on the merits and capabilisome of the appropriations reported by himself for the ties of the harbor of Providence, and had been unable to service of Government, and opposing others, while both accomplish it. Yet here were 30,000 dollars asked for a were from the same Department, and rested on estimates little harbor on the frontier. They could not go from of like authenticity and accuracy. If the Department this port to the other lakes without scaling the falls of wanted hundreds of thousands of dollars for Indian annui- Niagara; and how was it that gentlemen talked of its exties, it was all right; it must be paid; the Government re-tensive commerce with Ohio and Michigan? He had, inquired it. If millions were asked for fortifications, the deed, heard of a large sum of money having been investcommittee recommended accordingly; all was right; ed by a certain gentleman in a purchase of land near the Government wanted the money. But when money Oswego, or rather, near Sackett's harbor; and that might was asked by the same Department for a road, and the account for the deep interest which seemed to be manicall was accompanied with the most minute estimates to fested in the present item of appropriation. But, surely, support it, the tune was changed-it was profligate ex- gentlemen did not wish to take the bread out of the travagance. He had always supposed that the chancellor mouths of the people of New England, to carry it into of the exchequer came to the House for money to be Canada. If not, why was Oswego harbor, which opened applied to objects recommended by the Government. only to the commerce of the Canada shore, to be preThat was the proper position for a chancellor of the ex-ferred to Providence harbor, which opened to the comchequer it was expected of him. But who before had merce of the whole world? Why were a few dollars to ever heard of such a gentleman, selected to fill a post of be refused for the examination of a harbor in the Eastern such a character, throwing himself, with all the influence States, and thousands granted to build up a little harbor he could wield, in open opposition to appropriations on the frontier, to trade with Canada? The chairman of called for by himself in the name of the Government, the Committee of Ways and Means condemned the apand doing every thing in his power to embarrass and de-propriation, and very properly. That gentleman was not feat appropriations for the public good? In England, if bound to support every object which he might be made the chancellor of the exchequer failed to carry the ob- the organ of communicating to the House for its action. rects which he had recommended to the House of Com-He hoped, although the gentleman had reported this H. OF R.] Harbor Bill. [JUNE 18, 1834. item, that he had since grown wiser; and, before he sup- sippi, passes through Oswego. The steamboat United ported any measure in that House, would first consult his States, on her trips up the lake, during the last summer, own conscience, (that was to say, if he had any,) al-usually had on board from three to seven hundred passen. though, for so doing, he might be rebuked by the self-con- gers. This boat commenced running the present season stituted conservator of the Cumberland road. He hoped in the month of April, and 1 see, by the papers of that the gentleman would escape unhurt. If the public mo-date, that, on her first trip up the lake, she had seven ney was to be left in the pet banks, the gentleman who hundred passengers and seventeen horses on board; on left it there had already a quite sufficient load of respon- her second trip, she had on board nine hundred passengers sibility. He was answerable before a most tremendous and twenty horses. This, said Mr. T., is only one of sevtribunal. He hoped that gentleman would not be offend-eral boats which now constantly touch at that port. Some ed, although the effort to build a roadstead for our navy, opposite his farm, should unhappily fail. He agreed that this stood on rather better constitutional ground than roads and canals from one State to another. This was a harbor on our frontier waters, and the trade for which it was to be made was foreign, not domestic trade. Who had ever before heard of making a harbor? Creating one where nature had made no harbor at all? His colleague and himself had been laboring, session after session, to get a little opening made in Block Island to secure a harbor for wrecked sailors, where, with a little trouble and expense, a harbor of eighteen fathoms might be opened for all the commerce of the Sound. Yet here was a harbor to be made upon a great mud-flat--a harbor to be made "out of the whole cloth"--because it happened to be opposite a farm belonging to the Vice President! idea of the increasing prosperity of Oswego may be formed from the fact that, in 1827, this village contained but 600 inhabitants, and that its population is now not less than 3,500; and the House can judge of the importance of the commerce of that place, when I state that, during the last year, there were shipped from the port of Oswego one hundred thousand barrels of salt. It appears to me, said Mr. T., that it must be evident to all, that not only the interests of an 'extensive and rapidly-increasing com merce, but also the safety and protection of human life, imperiously require that the public works at Oswego should be made permanent. Mr. SELDEN said that objections were made without facts to support them. He was well assured the gentleman from Rhode Island would vote for this appropriation when he came to understand the case. At the mouth of all the streams entering into Lake Erie and Ontario from Mr. TURRILL said that it was, perhaps, to be regret the south there were banks of sand, occasioned by the ted that the honorable gentleman from Rhode Island [Mr. sluggishness of the streams, and their encountering at BURGES] had not been successful in his efforts to obtain that point the tides of the lake. This obstacle, which the appropriation of 500 dollars, for which he has so long rendered useless the most excellent and capacious har contended; it would have saved the time of the House in bors, had been happily encountered and removed by the listening to, and me the trouble of answering, the remarks erection of two parallel piers, extending out from the harwhich he has just submitted. The harbor of Oswego is bor a short distance into the lake: these, by compressing not, as the honorable gentleman seems to suppose, made the streams, gave them force sufficient to wash away the out of "whole cloth." There is not a safe natural harbor sand which had accumulated at the mouth of the harbor, on the lake. Before the construction of the work under and carry it into the lake. This once done, there was no consideration, there were, at times, serious difficulties in more accumulation, but the navigation became perfect entering the harbor. The current of the river and the and unobstructed. When th s system commenced, it was surf from the lake had formed a bar at the mouth of the merely an experiment. It had been recommended by the river, over which it was almost impossible for a schooner engineers, and its result had more than realized their best to pass in rough weather. The piers erected at that place hopes. Wherever this plan had been adopted the harwere intended to remedy this evil, by enabling vessels to bors were rendered safe, and perfectly accessible at all pass over the bar in safety at all times. These piers do times. This was the value of the work at Oswego; and not, as the gentleman supposes, said Mr. T., extend into the present appropriation was asked for the purpose of the lake; they are nearly parallel with the shores, and repairing the damage done to these piers by a storm, and they do not stand upon the sand, but upon solid rock. to strengthen and render them permanent. Before the construction of this work, schooners were fre- The gentleman from Rhode Island was a little mistaken quently stranded in attempting to make the harbor; now, when lie supposed that all the shipping from Oswego they can enter it in perfect safety at all times. The hon- must scale the falls at Niagara before it would reach the orable gentleman says that "there is no connexion what-more Western lakes: it got there by a less hazardous asever between Oswego and the upper lakes, unless you sail cent, through the Welland canal. The appropriation, over Niagara falls." In this, also, said Mr. T., the honor- therefore, was not for the sole benefit of the State of New able gentleman is mistaken. There is a direct navigable York: but, also, for that of the Western States, whose communication between Ontario and the upper lakes. products reached this port. Indeed, its effect was rather Salt is put on board of schooners at Oswego, and landed to divert the trade from the Erie canal, and thus lessen on the wharves in Cleaveland; wheat is taken from the the revenue of the State; yet he was in favor of the measstore-houses in Cleaveland, and, without reshipment, ure, as one conducive to the public good. Even were landed at the mills in Oswego. To that portion of the the facts as the gentleman from Rhode Island conceived gentleman's remarks which applies to the trade with the them to be, and this had been a harbor manufactured out upper lakes, it is a sufficient answer, said Mr. T., for me of the whole cloth, to raise the value of an estate pur to say that, during the last year, there were shipped from chased by a certain distinguished individual in the State the port of Oswego to the upper lakes, through the Wel- of New York, the reason to oppose the present appropri land canal, sixty-five thousand barrels of salt, and that, ation no longer held good, inasmuch as that very distin during the same period, one hundred and sixty thousand guished person had, since then disposed of his interest bushels of wheat were brought from Lake Erie to Oswe-in the land: and were the persons who had purchased from go, through the same channel. British as well as Amer-him to be punished because he had once owned the prop ican steamboats touch at this port in performing their erty? But the facts were far otherwise. There was a regular trips, which they could not do were it not for the good natural harbor, and no one who had ever visited the public works, to secure and complete which this appro-spot could doubt of its great value and importance. It priation is asked. Sir, said Mr. T., the immense tide of was in immediate connexion with the great salt works at emigration which is constantly flowing into Ohio and In- Salina, and it was at Buffalo that the salt from those works dian, and thence rolling down the valley of the Missis was shipped for consumption in the West. The harbor was alike connected with the foreign and the home trade upon the lakes, and he trusted the House would not abandon the improvements which had been begun, and which, if now given up, must go to ruin. [H. OF R. this application of the public money, the measure was agreed to without a dissenting voice. Mr. MANN explained, disclaiming all intention to censure the Committee of Ways and Means. He had mereMr. BEARDSLEY made some inquiries of Mr. BUR-ly expressed his surprise at the course they had adopted, GES, as to what he had alluded to in speaking of some individual whose property was to be benefited by the proposed appropriation. Mr. BURGES explained himself, as having had reference to Mr. Van Buren, who, he understood, owned 500 acres of land at or near Oswego. He had since understood that he had sold it to some other gentleman, but he would not say to whom. Mr. BEARDSLEY replied that, if the fact was so, the gentleman's objection was happily removed, and now he hoped they should have the gentleman's vote. which, however, he did not doubt, had been pursued from the best motives. The committee were only seeking to diminish the expenses of the Government. Yet he must be permitted to repeat that, if a standing committee of that House desired or expected their report to meet with the respect and support of the House, the members of the committee must be ready to support it themselves; and, should the report be assailed in the House, must be prepared to give reasons in its defence. If they opposed a measure reported by themselves, what weight could they expect the House to attach to their recommendation? Mr. SELDEN inquired whether the appropriation proposed by the amendment was founded on estimates from the War Department? Mr. WHITTLESEY, of Ohio, said it was within his power to give such an explanation as, he trusted, would exonerate the Secretary of War, the members of the Committee of Ways and Means who had concurred in the amendments, and others, from all censure and blame. Mr. HUBBARD hoped the House would proceed to vote, and not occupy its time in inquiring whether the Vice President owned a certain farm or not. It was not true, whoever might say it, that the committee had been induced to propose these items of appropriation by importunity from any quarter. He had been satisfied that this harbor must be ruined, unless something was done to secure the piers. He had no doubt of it. He had, therefore, addressed a letter to the Secretary of War, to which he had received an answer which he would now When the gentleman from New Hampshire, [Mr. HUBread to the House. [Mr. H. here read the letter.] In BARD,] as the organ of the Committee of Ways and Means, exact accordance with these statements, the amendments reported this bill, he went, he said, as soon as it was comhad been prepared: and Mr. H. was convinced that less mitted to the Committee of the Whole on the state of than $30,000 would not be sufficient to save this harbor of the Union, to the Clerk's table, to see whether the apOswego from destruction. The gentleman from Pennsyl-propriations for the harbors on the lakes were in the bill, vania [Mr. MCKENNAN] was mistaken in supposing that as recommended by the report of the Secretary of War the committee had pursued an inconsistent course in re- that accompanied the President's message. He found, garding the estimates of the Department in one case, and to his surprise, that the appropriations for the lakes, with disregarding them in another. The committee had taken the exception of a small amount for Erie, were stricken the liberty of differing from them, as well in regard to out. He went directly to the seat of the gentleman from this harbor as to the Cumberland road. The estimate of New Hampshire, [Mr. HUBBARD,] to know why the bill, as the Department had not been $30,000, but $43,000: yet first draughted, had been amended. In reply to the the committee had recommended only $30,000. How, tion he propounded, the gentleman from New Hampshire then, had they made "flesh of one and fish of another?" said, on adding up the appropriations, they found them How much flesh, in the name of conscience, did the gen- to amount to a large sum, and greater than, the committleman want? Who would think of adding to the gentle-tee feared, it would be prudent to recommend; and, on man's avoirdupois? [Mr. MCKENNAN is a very large and consulting the Secretary of War, be informed the comstout man.] The House had given the gentleman Aesh mittee that these appropriations might be dispensed with, by the million of pounds. But the gentleman seemed to this year, without the works sustaining material injury. think that, whatever might be appropriated to other ob- Mr. W. said he was satisfied there was a mistake in supjects, the Cumberland road must be residuary legatee. If posing the Secretary of War ̧had consented to defer these the gentleman would allow to poor little New Hampshire appropriations; and he informed the gentleman from New one-fifth of what had been given to his mammoth road, Hampshire he should call on the Secretary the next mornMr. H. would be very thankful. ing. He did so, and was informed that a part of the committee called upon him, and, without asking whether these appropriations were necessary, said, as he understood them, that they found a curtailment necessary, and should strike out the appropriations for the lakes. The Secretary said he might have replied, if they could not be made this year, he supposed they must be deferred to the next; but, having expressed his regret that works so necessary should be impeded, or be permitted to decay, he said he would see some of the committee, and correct the mistake. Mr. McKINLEY now moved an amendment, reducing the appropriation to $8,000. Mr. McKIM said he wished to be indulged with a few words, in explanation of the course pursued by the comTuittee. The Committee of Ways and Means had felt uncertain how the revenue was like to turn out, and therefore they had been disposed to let these applications for harbors lie by for the present, until it should be as certained whether the nation would have means to justify the expenditure. He had had a personal conversation with the Secretary of War upon the subject. That officer had assured him that the proposed improvements were really wanted, and must be made; but that the appriation might be omitted for the present year, if any apprehensions were felt as to the sufficiency of the revenue. Subsequently to this the committee had become satisfied, from evidence submitted to them, that the appropriations were absolutely necessary; and the resolution to insert them in the bill had passed the committee in the utmost harmony. There had been no personal opposition to them before. The only objection was founded on prudential considerations; but as soon as it was discovered that the welfare of the country demanded ques Mr. W. said he remarked to the Secretary, if the sums contained in the estimates were objectionable, in the minds of the committee, on account of appropriations for other objects that could not be curtailed or dispensed with, and there were grounds to fear the treasury could not meet all the demands upon it, he would prefer that the sums should be reduced in amount, rather than that the appropriations should be suspended. He said he stated that there were public boats, and the necessary machinery, at all the harbors, which would be liable to be injured, if not lost, if the hands were dismissed for the season; and that, as a matter of economy, it was best there should be something appropriated at all the works. In this the Secretary concurred. He saw the gentleman H. OF R.] Harbor Bill. [JUNE 18, 1834. from New Hampshire [Mr. HUBBARD] a few days after, mittee had acted on their own judgment, and the House and he was then informed by him that the committee, was to follow them. Private statements were to be reor a part of its members, having seen the Secretary of ceived and acted upon, although this morning the most War, had directed him to report an amendment to the authentic data, when exhibited and urged in support of bill, reducing the sums, however, from what they were in the estimates, and in the bill as first drawn. a western improvement, must receive no credit at all. Then the Department was every thing; then the gentleman He did not see, he said, that any one was to blame, as cried for official estimates and requisitions from the Deit appeared to be a mistake, which was corrected as soon partment. Now the Department is nothing, and a New as fits existence was known. He had long known that York appropriation must be voted blindly. Mr. G. said the Secretary of War was in favor of the construction of he was for an equal course. He was a friend to internal these harbors; and no one better knew their importance improvements; but when he saw that one portion of the than he did; and he was happy to say that he did not country was to be favored, and another portion to be deunderstand a majority of the Committee of Ways and nied, he was for arresting such a course of things. NineMeans decided against the appropriations, because they ty-one thousand dollars had already been expended on doubted the power of the General Government to make this little harbor at Oswego; $34,000 had been given to them, nor because they considered these harbors were carry on the works, and now they came forward and asknot useful; but because they thought the works already ed for $30,000 more. God alone could tell what approconstructed would answer for the present, and would priations for repairs were yet to come. He should vote not materially be injured if further appropriations were against the whole. not made this year. If the gentleman from Alabama Mr. SUTHERLAND said that he had been one of the [Mr. MCKINLEY] would go to the lakes, and see these first in favor of embarking in the gentleman's Red river harbors, and learn personally how necessary they were concern, and the House had given the gentleman's conin carrying on the commerce for that extensive region of stituents 50 or 60,000 dollars at a dash. Now, this bill country; and particularly if he could retreat to one of contained ten or twelve appropriations for the benefit of them from a storm, he was entirely certain that all ex- States which had helped the gentleman on that occasion; cept constitutional objections would be removed; and and it would be well enough for the gentleman to remem even those, he thought, would be shaken--by the wind. ber that he, with others, was embarked in this bill. He Mr. GARLAND, of Louisiana, said that he had not must sink or swim with it. They were all in one boat, been disposed to resist this appropriation; but when he and they ought to act accordingly. The gentleman had saw a particular course pursued in the House towards one got $30,000, and he thought this was pretty well for the part of the Union, and a course directly opposite to present. Mr. S. had voted to make it $50,000, and another, he felt his determination much changed. He would have been willing to have raised it to $100,000, had voted for the objects in which other gentlemen were but the House had determined otherwise; and the gen interested, but the journals would tell how Louisiana tleman had better submit with good humor. He thought had been treated. He had voted for the appropriation the bill did, upon the whole, as much as could be expect. for the Cumberland road, and, provided the money was ed. Ohio was well, New York was well, and Pennsylva to be equally distributed, he was prepared to go for other nia was pretty well. It was best to quit debating, and objects of a similar character; but when he saw proposi- come to voting. tions coming from large influential States, either not op- Mr. MERCER said that it had been his fortune to posed at all, or opposed in very soft and modest terms, know a good deal about that part of our frontier for which by the same committee which cried out against and voted the present item of appropriation was proposed. Gendown propositions resting on the same principles, if pre- tlemen were mistaken who supposed this harbor to be sented by other parts of the country, and by States less altogether the work of art. As far back as the old powerful, he did not know what to say. He thought French war, the harbor of Oswego had been considered a gentlemen called with very bad grace upon the West. point of importance, and a post there had been taken by When any thing was wanted for New York, when New the French officers. So far from being altogether a work York wanted a large appropriation for a custom-house, of art, it was the best natural harbor on the southern shore or provision for crowds of officers, then they were told of Lake Ontario. He had formerly, as chairman of the that every thing should be done for the West; but no Committee on Roads and Canals, reported an appropria sooner was money asked for a western improvement, tion for the erection of piers and the improvement of this than forthwith the doors of the treasury were closed. harbor. But, by a subsequent arrangement, the whole Then nothing was talked of but economy. Then the subject of harbors had been knocked off from the juris. House was reminded of the state of the revenue, and the diction of that committee and given to the Committee on chairman of the committee, himself a western man, came Commerce. Nobody had ever imagined that the sum at forward and strenuously opposed the appropriation of first appropriated for the improvement of this barbor money which was to be expended beyond the mountains, would be enough to complete it. In all these cases, the and a moment after, when harbors or custom-houses were course was to appropriate different portions of the entire wanted, then all was right and fair. He could not but sum requisite, from year to year, according as they could mark the peculiar course pursued by the two ends of the be the most judiciously applied. In the great fortificaCommittee of Ways and Means. The head and the tail tion at the Rip Raps, the money had long since been ap of the committee united to oppose a western measure. propriated and applied; it had been expended in prepa But when money was asked for New York, one end of ring a solid and stable foundation, and there would not a the committee would warmly advocate it, while the other wall be erected for four or five years to come. It requi. end would scarcely oppose. This morning, the gentleman red time for all such works to settle. The great church from New Hampshire [Mr. HUBBARD] had insisted that of St. Paul's, in England, had been 30 years in building, we must have estimates from the Department, before we and this leisurely course had been pursued in order that could move one inch. Both Houses of Congress were the foundations of so ponderous a structure might have nothing, and could do nothing, until the Department time to have fully settled. In providing for the breakshould go before. But what said the gentleman now? water in Delaware bay, the House had appropriated not Here was an appropriation not contained in the original more than $270,000 in one year. Whenever works bill, and not supported by estimates; nay, contradicted were to be erected where there was a shifting channel, by the estimates; yet now the gentleman sang another such a course was the only wise one, and he hoped they Estimates were not to be adhered to. The com- should not hear again the reproach that works of the note. JUNE 18, 1834.] Harbor Bill. [H. OF R. character now in question had not been completed for the The clause had been moved, after the bill had come sums first appropriated. As to this harbor at Oswego, it into the House, by the chairman of the Committee of would be expedient and proper to make it, if it were for Roads and Canals. Mr. P.'s own opinion was that the no other object than to protect our navy on the lakes in act of 1824 did not require or warrant its insertion. He times of war. No navigation was more dangerous than considered the power of that act as expended so soon as that of this part of Lake Ontario. Vessels were land-lock-the first appropriation had been made under it. As soon ed, and had no room for manoeuvring in case of a storm. as that was done the law was functus officio. In confirmThe most violent winds, winds so violent as to carry off ation of this view, Mr. P. here quoted the act of 1824. the roofs of the houses in Oswego, often arose very sud. He had always concurred with the gentleman from Virdenly, and vessels could not beat about before them for ginia, that a repetition of this appropriation for surveys, want of room to do so. They must have secure harbors, after so many years, was wholly uncalled for, unless, inor be in imminent risk of destruction. They ought to deed, the Government was still disposed to sanction such have them wherever harbors were practicable, and every a grand scheme of internal improvement on a general natural advantage toward that end ought to be seized up-scale, as was contemplated by the law of 1824. But that on and improved to the uttermost. In case of war with the present administration was not disposed to do. Mr. Great Britain, the lakes would have a hostile coast oppos- P., however, would not go into the general question. ed through their whole length to our own, and good har- Every body must remember that the original introduction bors would be a means of rescuing much property from of the scheme had led to a very able and protracted decapture and destruction. bate, in which a highly distinguished gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Randolph] had largely participated. Mr. EWING said that he rose not to make a speech, but to convince the House that they ought not to lose Mr. MERCER said that it was always painful for him time in making speeches. He wanted to remind them to address the House, and it was especially so to be called that they had but a few days more to accomplish a great upon at so late an hour of the day to answer so general mass of business, which yet remained undone. He fully and indefinite an inquiry as had been proposed by his estimated the magnificent, enterprising, and glorious colleague. It was well known that the Government had course of the State of New York in regard to works of employed a corps of very able and scientific officers, internal improvement. He considered her interests as with a view to ascertain the actual condition of the counintimately allied with those of the West. He had gone try, by an examination of its surface and an investigation in favor of the Red river raft, and he should go in favor of Oswego harbor. He hoped to see no jealousy between New York and Louisiana. With respect to the present appropriation, he presumed the House were already satisfied. He thought the Committee of Ways and Means had done much in reporting for works of internal improvement, and his chief anxiety now was that the House should act, and not waste its time in useless debate. The question was now put on the amendment, which proposed to strike out $30,000 and insert $8,000, for completing the improvements of Oswego harbor, and rejected: Ayes 41, noes 97. The question was then taken on granting the appropriation of $30,000, and carried by yeas and nays. The next item was that for the continuance of surveys for the purposes of internal improvement. of its capabilities and physical resources. And while engaged in this useful design, they had not only demonstrated the practicability of many designs of improvement, but had also rendered certain the inutility of others, and thus, by the expenditure of a comparatively small amount of money, had prevented the misapplication and waste of sums infinitely larger. Such a corps was valuable to the country, not only for the purpose of surveying the proposed routes of canals and railroads, and ascertaining the best mode of improving harbors, and the navigation of rivers, but it would be worth while to employ and to pay them, if for no other object than to construct a good map of these United States. Such a design was considered of great public importance by European Governments, and was still in a course of prosecution at vast expense, although those countries were so much more thickly settled than ours, and their topography so Mr. ARCHER, of Virginia, declared himself wholly much better understood. We had already acquired an adverse to this item of appropriation. But as he was un- increased knowledge of our country from the prosecution willing to make an attempt which he knew must be in of these surveys, which was highly valuable both in a vain, he should not enter into any argument in the hope civil and a military point of view. On that ground, of arresting the course of such an appropriation through doubtless, many voted for the appropriation who were the House. But he desired to receive from the chair- not the advocates of such a system of internal improveman of the Committee of Ways and Means some expla- ments as the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. PoLK] had nation of this eternal prolongation of the system of sur- alluded to. Mr. M., however, and those who thought veys to be made by the General Government. He had with him, had given the same vote for additional reasons been in Congress when this item had been first introduced. connected with an approval of that system. Mr. M. was He had witnessed its repetition ever since; and he was not disposed at present to enter into the general discussatisfied that, if the money had been well applied, it was sion, but if the gentlemen would name a day, or if they sufficient to have furnished the country with surveys would agree to protract the session, he was ready to enough for works of internal improvement for at least meet them. But at present he had not courage to do it, one hundred years to come. And was there no ground because he did not possess moral courage sufficient to to hope that they were ever to have an end to this system continue a debate when nobody was listening. of expenditure? He remembered having pressed a simi- Mr. ADAMS, of Massachusetts, regretted that his ar inquiry two years ago, respecting appropriations for friend from Virginia did not get the same definitive anclearing out the Mississippi river, and a member had at swer to his present inquiry which had been given to that that time replied that the appropriation was never to made by him respecting the works on the Mississippi cease until the Mississippi should cease to flow. IIe had river. Mr. A. was prepared to give it to him now. And ot, to be sure, had such an answer to the present inquiry, he now said to that gentleman, and to all others who but he believed he might make the same assertion; for heard him, that he hoped the expenditure of money for he had no hope that this appropriation was ever to cease the physical improvement of this Union, and the discov fill the termination of the world. ery and development of its natural resources, from an Mr. POLK said, in reply, that this item had not been examination of every part of its surface, would cease only serted in the bill by the Committee of Ways and Means. when the Mississippi ceased to flow. And this he hum The bill, as it left their hands, had no such appropriation.bly presented as his prayer to Almighty God. He trusted VOL. X.-286 |