Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-01-20

mon country. Yes, they were not peculiarly
hers-her interest in them was collateral, no.
direct not selfish. The west
rushed manfllly on--but what they bore. wba,
they suffered, and what they did, itdoes no,
belong to me here to say.
With respect to the Hon. member from s
Carolina, (Mr. McDufie, whom was delight.
ed, on former occasion, to find co-operatinp
with the friends of internal improvement.
must say that my delight was only equalled by
the regret now feel at his opposition to the ,
present bill. He tells us that the west is 6Il.
ed with emigrants from the eastern states; thai
her inhabitants are but one part of the same IA.
mily; spread on the eastern and western side
of the mountains; that all the various and fond
recollections which belong to the birthplace
of those emigrants, constitute so many ties and
safeguards, to cement the common union. But.
need remind that gentleman, that other gen.
erations are hereafter to spring up-Senera.
tons who will find the tombs Of their ances.
try, not upon the shores Of the .3tlantic, but in
the valley of the Mississippi and the Ohio. On
them no such ties will exert their power-no
such recollections spread their healing in
fluencc. Is not then the duty ofthe general
government to bind our population by ether
and more lasting ties And, after all, what is
it that is asked from Congress, not only at this
session, but at all future sessions, for these
eighty miles Of the great National highway
Less than the cost Of a single trigate-not
twice the sum which will build those ten sloops
of war which are now called for, and which I
apprehend will be required for the defence of
our commerce against the depredations Of p-
racy-this is al that is asked. Yet We are
told of the rayenous voracity Of the West -
Will Pennsylv ania decline an appeal, not to
her generosity, but to her justice Is it fair
isit gcnerous-is it just-after she has enjoy
ed the expenditure of more than million Of
the public money, on the Cumberland Road
after houses have sprung up, and villages been
formed, and settlements multiplied upon her
soil, in consequence of that expenditure
ask, is it generous to say, the moment the road
leaves the limit Of that territory, that she will
oppose its farther progress But, it neither
justice nor generosity will prevail with her,
let ne remind her delegation of the interest OF
that state. What is this road but an extension
of the road from Philadelphia to Pittsburg
find whittier will its branches lead but to Bed
ford, to Carlisle, and dOwnwards, from thence,
through all the neighboring towns Sir, do
hope that the gentleman from Pennsylvania
will not oppose this bill. know, indeed,
that there did once exist prejudice against
the Cumberland road, in one city OF that state !;
but feel satisfied that ere now the good sense
which so eminently distinguishes that city,
has prevailed against the prejudice arising
from local interest, by which, tor moment,
it was clouded. May l not appealto the
whole House we have 4 great trtst-we
have also great duty to perform. Letusiend
our hearty cooperation tor the common Sooa
of those who sentu u.s.
What shall we, from the west, say to our
constituents when we return home, and they
ask us, What have you done for the Cumber-
land road Must we answer "No money, no
money " If they then ask us what was done
for the Delaware and Chesapeake canal, must
we say, go there was some money tor that
about twice the sum asked tor the Cumoer-
land Road !" Sir, we are men, and we nave
| the feelings of men. But will not longer
detain the committee on an object so SIMPLE
and proposition so self evident as the expe-
diency of this measure. Let Inc rather ANU,
cipate your parental kindness-your PaternA
feelings, in promoting design so muniatey
connected, Twill say, with the safety ana inc
best interests of our country.
The question was then taken on flling the
blank with $50, 900 dollars, and decided IN tho
affirmative-ayes sc noes 30.