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

SOME security ought to be required oil the State,
for the proper application Of the land.
Mr.. Chandler said, that the project was, in his
view, altogether inex pedient and improper. The !
State Of Ohio contained a population of 100000
souls, and We, they asked for assistance to make
road; and demanded of Congress to give sections
OF land, to what distance they not told Be-
sides, in making this grant, the Compan, was no
restricted from taxing the People and the Govern
ment by tolls. although Congress to make the
road for them. He thought the People OF Ohio
well able 10 make their own roads; and, under this
opinion, he should move to lay the bill upon the
table. He, how ever, withdrew his motion al the
request Of
Mr.. Harrison, who replied, that the State of O
hio able to make their own Dads; Lu, this
to be done entirely through the lands Of the u s.;
and according to compact. should the u S. sell the
land, the State could not tax il for S years-yet
The road must be made, and the State would be
forced to make it, if Congress refused 10 assist her;
thus the lands OF the u S. would be increased in
value, without any loss 10 them, and the State
would be debarred from selling those lands which
the road would have SO mu oh increased in value
He would ask the gentleman from Maine, whether
such restriction on the State Of Ohio agreed with
his ideas of justice magnanim:ty? He certainly
consi Tered tina, Congress bound to assist this
object.
Mr.. Macon said. that the State Of Ohio, he
knew, could not tax the public lands for years
aRcf were sOiuS Schttemcn tdlkeu Vi tNis,
as if il was great hardship. But it always ap-
pearad to him TO be benefit 10 the State,
| rather than injury II would do the State, he
thought, very little good to tax People when they
had first settled in wild country, and when they
had nothing TO pay taxes with. II was Supposed
that the State ought wal, until they had scraped
little something together, before they began to
tax them; and not lay a tax on poor People in the
woods, who had much as they could DO 10 keep
body and soul together The exemption from
taxation Tor five years, seemed to him to have
been OF great benefit 10 the State Of Ohio, it
had brough, in People SETTLE and in that way in
creased the population.
MIR. Ruggles observed, that Ohio, with 500 600
| Inhabitants was not wanting in enterprise, and
could make her own roads. As proof of tis, Ire
might mention that the State now engaged In
| making canal 300 miles in length, which pro-
missed benefi, 20 the Union at large. In this case
| they wanted road, and they asked Congress-, as
great land-hold-r, to do their share towards il ,
| as far as 1t went through their lands. There was
nothing bile in this. nor was i, NOR. than
any Individual land holder ould be willing to ac
ceje to. He observed, that the road was an i'm
por'ant one IN national point Of view, " ell as
promising TO be OF much consequence in enhancing
the value OF the public lands near it,
Mr.. Woodbury. inquired whether this Columbus
and Sandusky Turnpike Company was public or
private association. If the State of Ohio was the
party TO whom The land was given, il would be
recoilected that Congress had already given to that
State the extension of the Cumberland road, as an
equivalent Tor an exemption of public lands from
taxation for five years after their sale If this land
was TO be given 10 individuals, he saw no reason
why they should be permitted TO collect tolls from
the u ). He thought, at least, to the United
States, the road ought 10 be free.
MIR. Harrison said, that the land was 10 be Civ
en- TO the State for the specific purpose of aiding
the Company 10 completing the road; and car
would be taken that individuals should not reap
benefit intended 10 be given to the u. States.
Mr. Woodbury. added, that il was legal cues
ion whether the State could do otherwise than
release the lands to the Company. He considered
! that the State could do nothing further.
| Mr.. Holmes asked, whether the donation of land
was 10 effect more Than the construction of the
road through The lands belonging TO the u States.
So far he thought Congress ought to go, being
bound to do so both by considerations of Justice
and interest.
MIR. Noble said, that the Ves'er, States had
been nnJusiiy charged with immodeyly in their de-
man Is upon Congress. The fact was that they
had been treated in many instances, with any thing
nut justice; and, ii excitement was raised, the
members kom the West were not in fault law
had formerly been passed, granting two per cent.
or sales OF land to of the Western States
which, b. many of them, has never been realized
mere vas no limitation to the law; and until
within two years, Ohio had not received il. anil
the States Of Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. had
not received one farhing to this day The law had
hxed no time to carry it's provisions into effect
And what would gentlemen think of a contract
between individuals in which no time was fixed for
ITS fulhlmen'. Did gentlemen pretend to say that
this system was new! Was it not began in Vir.
ginia, AID had it not been praciised in almost all
The States in the Union? Gentlemen might 90 TO
the top OF the dome of the Capitol and leok down
upon the city, and they would see pavements along
their avenue, which had cost thousands; and bill
was now on the table TO increase that EXPENSE se
Verai thousand dollars, in paving il in the McA-
dam fashion, TO keep the feet of Members of Con-
gress from the mud, while The PeopIs who were
struggling IN the iore-t forgotten, and anv
application tor their assistance was rejected an n
matter OF course. The gifts of the United States
were scarce, indeed, to The Western States: and a.
to the two per cent. that had been so much tall, ed
oil, 1t was an Indian gift-Congress had given il:
and then taken il away
Mr.. Hendricks then moved TO amend the bill bv
giving TWO alternate sections on each side of the
road TO the Company.
Mr. Holmes said that. as he had befors obso,,
ed, he thought this donation too large; he there.
lore suggested to modify the amendment, so as IN
grant one alternate section on each side of the
road; which was acceded TO by MIR Hendricks
Alter a continuation OF the debate by Messrs
Woodbury., Harrison, Chandler, johnson of XIV.
Smith OF Md, Holmes and Ruggles, The amend
ment was adopted, 10 to Is; when the bill was
ordered TO be engrossed for third reading.
The engrossedb bill to establish certain post off
ces and post roads, was read third time. passed.
and sent TO The other House for concurrence.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE NAVY
The bill tor the gradual improvement of the
Navy Of the Uni ed STATES was read third ,ime
MIR. Holmes said that this was a, i,nportant
bill, and It would be recolected that he had taken