Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-02-08

had each passed resolutions, calling on
Congress for an appropriation to this OBJ
iect-it was an object of deep interest TO
all those states, and he should be depart
ing from the instructions of his constitu-
ents, if he gave his vote for road to
Ohio only. In order to bring the subject
fairly before the House, he would now
move to strike out all that part ofthe bill
which follows the enacting words, and
substitute therefor the following:
Here follows the substitute offered
by Mr.. Cook.
| Mr.. Beecher rose in reply-he delar-
ed himself to be disappointed, both in
the quarter from which opposition had
arisen, and in the principle on which il,
was founded. He thought he had stated,
when first up, with sufficient distinct
ness, that the appropriation for this par
OF the road was matter entirely distinct
from the 2 per cent. reserved from the
proceeds of the public lands. The gen.
tleman from Illinois cannot but know
that is>already pledged and already ex-
pended; it had been laid out on road
"towards" the State of Illinois, which
was the very language of the very act
pledging it. He would not, however,
cavil about this little 2per cent. fund
he wished to place the present measure
on broad national basis-on The gen
eral principle of internal improvement.
He was surprised to find that gentleman
limiting his views as he had done, and
narrowing himself into a mere agent for
the State of Illinois. If every gentle
man on this floor is to act on such prin-
ciple, this House will be converted into
body of disorganlzers, and its acts
must tend, not to union and national
strength, but to separation and national
weakDess--it was by adopting larger and
more noble principles that this nation
was to grow and flourish. The gentle
man insists on road that shall reach
Illnois--but how will he get it there !?
on the mere two per cent. fund! That
whole fund was not sufficient TO make
the road through one county in Indiana
lit would not even mark the road
through that state--if this road is to be
gone on with at all, it is to be done on
the funds OF the nation, and not on a
pittance Of 2 per cent. fund. The
gentleman wants to lay out a grand ma
tional road 500 miles long, on a fund
that will never raise one million of dol
lars; no, not more than 700 900. But
Sl,6oo,ooo has already been expended,
on this same fund, whether properly or
not, is not the question. No, sir, said
Mr.. B. | ask gentlemen, and ask that
gentleman, 70 meet me on principles
upon which alone either he or can be
benefited in This matter-on grand prin-
ciples of general national advantage
principles which animated and gave sue
.csss to those who first preached this mea-
sure-priDciples on which bad been
based the acts Of 1903, of 1906, of 1912
and which all that had been done to
this day had been avowedly founded.
Fer himself he had candidly placed the
objec. before the House in its true light
--as requiring distinct appropriation
for which there was to be no return from
the per cent. fund, or any other. The
nation IS about to make road; and if
the nation shall say it is best to begin it
at the Mississippi river, will give that
gentleman my hand to support the mea-
sure; but presume it will be the opin-
ion Of the nation, nay, do not doubt the
gentleman himself will allow that 1t is
better to begin where the road has now
been discontinued. This is the day to
art fla 10 II
can be expected on any future occasion !;
il any improvement is to be made on the
national road, let it be done where the
road has been already surveyed; when
this has been effected, it will be time
enough to give pledges for more unless
it is intended to 60 on and build the
road, it will be unnecessary to carry the
location of it any farther; it is now i'm
passable where commencement only
has been made; this must be FIRST finish.
ed, ortherwise nothing will be gained,
but he trusted it would be gone on with
=, and conducted as a great national OBJ.
ject for the generei good not for this
town, or that town---ior this state or for
that state, but the whole Union. And
he begged of the gentleman from Illi-
nois to give an opportunity to its friends
to try whether or not the nation is now
ready and disposed to make road, and
whether it will appropriate for the com
pletion of tina, which has already been
surveyed ; and he felt that, BY supporting
the object, that gentleman instead Of
compromising, will be advancing and