Mr. HARRIS. Mr. President, I hope/the motion will prevail. I do not new question the power of Congress to pass such a law; I do not question at present the power of Congress to create a corporation with authority to construct such a canal; nor will I now question the expediency of the work. What I o question now is the expediency of passing uch a law as this at this time. There is no reason 1 why such a measure as this should be forced upon the State of NewYork at this time. It is novel in its character and very important in its consequences. I say there is no necessity for it. At present, it cannot with truth be denied that the means of communication throuwh the State of NewYork are sufficient for all the necessities the West. NewYork has recently enlarged her canal 3 fold, and it is asserted by those best qualifiedto judge, who have the most competent knowledge on the subject, that the Erie canal is capable of transporting now one million tons of produce from the West be yond any quantity that has been presented for transportationin anyoneycar. I believeit. That the time may 'come when greater facilities will be demanded I do not doubt; but it has not yet come, and there is, therefore, no necessity for passin this measure at this hour. It would be, in my judgment, ungrateful and unkind in the West to force upon the State of NewYork, at this time, the construction of this work by a private corporation. Let NewYork have an opportunity to see what she will do. Let this question once more come before the Legislature of NewYork. NewYork has been generous, as was conceded by the Senfrom Visconsin yesterday, generous toward the West. A little more than 40 years ago, when that State entered upon her great system of internal improvements, there were 6 or 7 great States lying along on the northern lakes like so many sleeping giants, unconscious of their power and strength. It was the Erie canal and the construction of this great system ofin ternal improvements that revealed their power more than anything else, for more than anything else. Itwas this that showed them their im erial strength. ow, sir, is it wise for those States whose powers and resources have been thus revealed and developed by the NewYork system of improvements, ti) force this measure upon the State of NewYork? Let NewYork have an plpportiinity of doing this work herself, or, as e now contemplates, enlarging still further her canal. It is no light thing to create a corporation and send that corporation into the State of NewYork to occupy her soil without her consent or permission, and to construct this work there on er soil and territory, giving her no sortofcoiitrol overit. It is unprecedented; and though Congress may have the power, it is not wise in a time like' this to exert that power.