Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. President, the Senate have already shown a disposition to load down this bill a good deal, but I feel it my duty to call their attention to the importance of keeping it free at least from propositions likely to create objection in the HoRep. This appropriation, so far as I know, is not based upon any estimate or any recommendation by any officer of the Government. I have listened to the Senfrom NewHampshire, and I have not heard that any of ficer as made a recommendation advising the appropriation of this sum of money, or that any estimates for any specific work have been made. Gentlemen interested in this enterprise have called on me, as they have no doubt on most Senators. I have no doubt that the object they contemplated is a ver good one, the construction of levees along the Mississippi river, without which the best land on the Mississi i, cannot be used for the growth of cotton. at it is a question whether we ought, at this e riod of the session, to engage in a work of this kind, when it is admitted by them, claimed by them indeed, that the work will cost some 6 or 7 million dollars; that the expenditure of a million and a half would be only an imperfect work; that there is no general system or plan upon which the work can be done; that this will be but a partial relief, and the effect will be that we shall reclaim but a small portion of the land. We cannot cooperate now with the State authorities or with the local authorities. I understand that alocal tax has hereto fore been applied in the State of Mississippi to the construction of levees. No tax of that kind can now be assessed in the present condition of affairs there. There can be no coop eration between the local authorities and the authorities of the General Government, and therefore the work is not to be done unless we appropriate sufficient money for the purpose. I submit, therefore, whether it would not be better to let the subject stand upon its own merits, and lets bill properly prepared and guarded be proposed, appropriating a sulficient sum, and directing the mode and manner of expenditure. f we continue to load down this bill, it will manifestlylcad to its defeat. I feel that I neg lected my duty in not calling for the yeas&nays on an important proposition which was adopted before the recess, and I shall take occasion to remedy that, so far as I can, by calling for the yeas&nays on that measure before the bill passes. It seems to me that we on ht not now to jeopard our appropriation bilIs by introducing extraneous matter. This is an appropriation of $1, 600,000,0.very large sum for a local purpose, a local improvement. If it had been put through like the ordinary river and harbor bill, or other appropriations for works of improvement, as a separate measureon its own merits, I probably should have said nothing about it, but would have trusted to the report of the committee; but when it is proposed to be put on this appropriation bill, it is transferred to the ComFinance, and we are expected to take this appropriation upon ourselves, and take care of it, and “put it through, ” in cant phrase. It seems to me that, under the circumstances, these appropriations, extraneous in their character, and particularly this, local in its character, ought to stand upon their own merits. I call for the yeas an nays upon the adoption of this amendment.