Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-02-22

ready tor use the ensuing 6pring, Vwensy- one !
miles Of il were graduated. but not covered with
stone. The bridges, however. on this portion. /
were completed. The remainder of about twenty |
miles not yet put under contract. The ap-
preparation now asked would be sufficient to COM
plete the road az far az GAINESVILLE.
MIR. Mccoy raid, that an appropriation bill was
most unfit place for the expenses Of this under
taking. He dwelt upon the large sums which had
already been expended, and insisted that the two
per cent. fund. pledged by the States through
which the residue OF the Road was TO pass, would
not be sufficient TO meet the expenses in fifty
years to come.
Mr.. Williams said, there seemed TO be no end
to the appropriations for this Road he would
not urge the Constitutional objections, since il
would be vain TO do so-he had been opposed to
the plan from the beginning, and was now oppos-
ed to its farther extension.
Mr.. Forsyth called for the reading of the act Of
IS2t--which accordingly read. lie then
moved. founded-whether this was the last
sum that would be needed-and not. what would
be the probable expense of the whole?
Mr. Beecher went into history of this measure,
from its first inception he also explained the two
pei cent. fund pledged by Ohio. and the States
West oft, and frankly owned, that he did not
believe that fund would be sufficient to re-
imburse the United States for the expenditures on
the Road He dwelt on the economy which now
Characterised all the arrangements for this impor-
tant work. The capaciy and integrity of the SUI
perintendent, and the low of the pr esti-
mate, which was, nevertheless, fully Justified by
experience. The measure was to be prosecuted,
not on the ground of the TWO per cent. fund, but
on the great principles OF Internal Improvement
lie did not seek to disguise that it was the wish
and hope OF its friends, to have this Road carried
through to Missouri, as great thoroughfare from
the Western States to the Atlantic. lie referred
to the sentiments of Mr. Jefferson, and other dis.
tinguished men, in favor Of such object, and
insisted on the loss and injury which must ensue
should the appropriation be refused.
MIR. Marvin advocated the appropriation, and
submitted some documents from the War Depart
ment
Mr. Ingham moved an amendment, the object of
which was, 10 limit the application Of the money
granted TO the road from Wheeling to Evansville.
Nlr. Stewart opposed the amendment. The law
oil 1874 not only authorized the construction of
the road as far West Z,nesve but also the
surveying and locating of road West of II - far
as the Seat OF Government in Missouri Should
the amendment prevail, there must be another bill
TO cover this object.
Mr.. Cook no'r moved an amendment in such
form as 10 apply the appropriation 10 both these
objects, IN The words following:
for constructing the road from Canton to
GAINESVILLE, in the State of Ohio, and for continu-
ing and completing the survey of the Cumberland
Road from Z'nesville to the Seat of Government
OF Missouri, 10 900 dollars, which shall be re-
placed ont oil the funds reserved for laying out and
making roads under the direction of CONGRESS bv
the several acts passed for the admission of the
States OF Ohio, Indiana. Illinois and Missouri into
the Union, on equal footing with the original
Safes
DIR. Vance said, this was matter of some feel
ing IN the West. II was The only expenditure of
The public money which those States had We, en-
Joyed, or expected TO enjoy, 10 any extent in fu-
ture. They had hitherto been sustained bv emil
thei 3D.
hiied up, nothing remained in prospect before
them but 10 become hewers of wood and drawer.
OF water TO the Atlantic Sta'es The embarr,ss
ments now felt by Kentucky would be experienced
oy all the Western States in turn. He insisted
that the Government could not exist for anv Io,v
perioi, unless u pursued system of Internal I'm.
provement. He maintained that il had mower IN
carryroads for Military purpose, through any of
Inc States without their consent and rdiculed the
idea of a Sheriff undertaking to stop a M,l;tary of
hcer, charged with opening the way for passage
OF an army. He insisted that the whole su,n now
asked, was less than that appropriated for ,en.i,s
in the Navy Yards of New York alone. Ne Tho
expense oil the road hitherto what il might it onIv
strengthened his argument for all that money had
been expended East of the mountains
Mr. Test insisted that the Government -yas as
much bound TO make the survey through Indian, &
Illinois, TO complete the road from Curnbe,l.nd
10 GAINESVILLE. He did not think The amendment
OF MI. Cook added any thing to the meaning of the
bill. but il could do no harm. He was opposed
entirely to the amendment of Mr.. Basse,,.
MIR. Strong thought that Mr.. Hoffman had in.
du9ed in too wide latitude of debate; the cues.
tons, how much had been expended ON the road
heretofore! What to be done with the road
when completed! And the Constitutional oues
ton respecting power, were none of then, be-
fore the House or involved in the bill He stated
The provisions OF the act of 1924, and 1925, and
insisted that the only question before the Hopse
was, whether il would or would not mall. nro
vision to fulfil that act. We have agreed TO make
this road; shall we not make it,? We have agreed
II make these surveys; shall we not make them,
What was TO be done with the road when COM
plete, was question to be considered after the
road was complete.
Mr.. jennings went into particular history of
the arrangement with Ohio respe citing the two per
cent fund, and its subsequent extension TO Indiana
Illinois, and Missouri, and insisted that both the
completion OF the road. and the extension of the
surveys, were due from the General Goyeromert
to these States, as well on The ground of CONTRACT
as OF expedieency.
Mr.. Stewart repealed the charge of waste and
prodigait7 which Mr.. Hoffman had made a. IN
the construction Of the road East of Wheeling.
He referred 10 the estimates of Mr.. Weaver. and
insisted thst MIR. II. had greatly overrated the ex
pense of the road. II bad been made in time of
war, when all things were dear; it crossed ridge
oil mountains, and was constructed in a region
where no provisions were ct hand, and where a |
sparse population supplied few laboring hands.
Mr.. Hoffman rejoIned, and corrected Mr. Sew |
art, in turn. That gentleman had certainly re-
duced the expense Of the Cumberland Road to one |
third OF the estimate of the United States Enei- |
oeers; but many would be inclined 10 consider |
those gentlemen as the better authority.