The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-02-11
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.
WAsHINGrnN. Feb.

WAsHINGToN, FEB. D.
Although the journal of Congress will keep
you informed of what the representatives of the
people are about, yet there are some subjects
of Importance before them, the character of
which is not generally understood by the public,
on which, some information may not be unac-
ceptable to yourself and readers.
The bill for the preservation and repair of
the Cumberland road, you will see, is still I'M
der discussion in the House. The road, it is
said, is in a state of diapidaton, and, unless
efficient means are soon taken for its repair, it
will become impossible and useless. The orig
inal bill before the House appropriates a sum
of money for present repairs, and provides for
the erection of toll gates for the collection of
a revenue to be devoted to its future preserva-
ton. The debate, at present, is on PROPOSE
ton of Mr.. Buchanan to amend, by striking out
the section which provides for the erection of
toll gates, and inserting one in tsstead for ced-
ing the road to the States through which it
passes. This proposition is supported, Of course,
by all who deny the constitutional right of Con.
gress to make internal improvements, and by
those who hold that the General Government
cannot constitutionally levy and collect toll
for such purposes within the limitssdf any of
the States--to which doctrine Mr. Buchanan
acknowledges himself recent convert. 1t is
also supported by some others on the ground of
expediency, and by some who, while they claim
the power of making internal improvements,
believe there are other objects more deserving
the patronage of government. The vote will
consequently be close one, yet it is nv opin-
ion that the amendment will be negatived by a
small majority.
Another subject of great Importance is Mr.
Benton bill for graduating the price of public
lands. His plan is to graduate the price &C.
cordlng to the quality, taking one dollar and a
quarter for the maximum price, and to cede the
refuse to the States in which they lie. The
bill also provides that all which is not taken up
at the price affixed within a given time, shall
| also be coded to the States in which it lies
The object of the bill is to enable the new
States, having public lands within their limits,
to get possession of the same without paving
any thing for them. This seems to be a prom
inent object with all the States situated, and
| there is some reason to fear that they will per.
severe till their purpose is effected. bill has
been before the House for some time, ceding to
| Tennessee the remainder of the national do.
main lying within that State, and petition
has just been presented from the Legislature Of
Illinois, not asking, only, for cession of such
lands within that State, but claiming il as a
right They contend that it is inconsistent
with the attributes of sovereignty, which APP.
pertain to them as an Independent State, for
property
and possession of territory within their limits
on which they are not allowed to levy taxes as
| if IL was the property of citizens.
! The Senate spends considerable portion Of
the time it is in session, with closed doors, in the
consideration of executive business. Soon af.
| ter the commencement of the session, the Pres.
ident nominated Mr.. Crittenden of Kentucky
to fill the vacancy on the bench of the Supreme
Court, caused by the death of Judge Trimble
File also nominated Mr.. Hopknson of Pennsyl
vania, and Mr. Creighton of Ohio, to fill the
vacant seats of District Judge in their respec.
tive districts The nominations we're judicious
and no objection could be made to them but
that they were administration men. The Sen
ate, therefore, unwilling to confirm the nomin.
atoms, yet shrinking from the responsibility Of
rejecting them, for sometime refused to 90 into
the consideration of executive business; but
finding that motion TO that effect would be
made every day, and the ycas and nays requir-