Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-05-12
SPEECH OF MIR. PEARCE,
OF RHODE ISLAND,

OF RHODE ISLAND,
In The House Of Representatives., April
l0h, before the Committee Of the Whole, on
the bill 10 construct National Road from
Buffalo, IN the State Of .Ne,c York, passing
by The seat Of Government IN the district d
Columbia, 10 .Nep Orleans, IN the State
Of Louisiana
Mr.. Hubbard, Of New Hampshire,
having concluded his remarks, Mr..
Pearce, Of Rhodc-Island, addressed the
Committee as follows:
Mr.. Chairman: As l have finally sue
ceeded in placing myself upon this road,
not, as you know, without a struggle,
how long ] shall remain upon it, can
not now say: but l assure you, it is not
my wish to travel it from one end to the
other, u distance Of thirteen hundred
miles, and, as some gentlemen have told
Us, more than that lest, said Mr.. p,
(poihtinS to some notes before him. l
should faint by the way side. i have
taken with me some viands from which
can receive relief if any should be want
ed. / cannot, however, read to you a
speech, for / never was able to write one
before l obtained the floor, on any
question or subject under discussion, and
never able to write out one, after l had
finished my remarks. In either case,
could employ the gentleman now in
my eye, (Mr. Stanberry,) much better
than could employ myself:
The gentleman who has just taken
his seat will excuse me, if do not fol-
low his example. l appear before the
what different from those of many others.
1t has been said that New England,
New York, and several other States,
have no direct interest in this road, and
that, therefore, there is no reason why
they should contribute their support to
the bill, or their money to carry it into
effect The opposition has been urged,
not merely on grounds of principle, but
appeals have been made to the worst
feelings Of our nature-to the selfish
feelings of individual interest-as if
nothing ought to be done by any gentle
man on this floor, unless it contributes
Immediately and directly to the interest
of his individual district, of the State
from which he comes. Mr.. Chairman,
am influenced by no such feelings, and
am prepared to say what gentlemen
have told me was true, that Rhode-Island
has no interest in this road. What then?
If the Nation has an interest, is it right
to withhold my vote, and refuse this
measure my support' Others can speak
for themselves, but it is sufficient for me,
if this road will contribute to the benefit
of the country at large; that conviction
is sufficient to command my vote, and,
in Obeying it, l have no doubt / shall be
sustained by those am proud to repre-
sent. / know that designs of this kind
present very different subjects for leg
islation. We have all seen this diff
Guilty. Some gentlemen, with all their
Constitutional scruples, would not have
any serious scruples to this road, II it
could pass through their District AT
any rate, if it must be made, the route
through their district is the proper route,
Notwithstanding all the Engineers have
said upon the subject. The road is as
sailed by objections, the most various,
and frequently the most opposite kind:
For some, it is too far West; for some
not for enough; for some is too long, and
ought to terminate at Memphis-looking
towards Texas; for others t.is too short,
and ought to 60 to Boston by the way Of
Lake Champlain-Onc thing is certain
it is too long and unmanageable to be
laid upon the bed Of Procrustes, and
shortened and stretched to meet the
views or crafty the wishes Of every one.
Mr.. Chairman, if mere local feelings are
to influence US in all the proceedings OF
this House, what can ever be done for
the good Of the Unioni So far as relates
to me, I merely ask myself, whether the
scheme that is proposed is calculated in
its nature to confer benefits on the whole
country, without reference to any partic-
ular section Of country
II is not familiar to US all, that although