Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-04-20
6,3ls,739 50
972,97s 90

two per cent. on the sales
| heretofore made 972,97S 90
| And The balance of S5,345,76 ~
will constitute the excess Of appropriations over
the sum of the two per cent. arising from the
sale of lands in all the States concerned. From
this statement, 1t appears that the amount OF the
| two per cent. on the sales. already made, has
been expended in making the road through the
States of Mary land, Penns ylvania, and Virginia.
And now it is attempted to prevent the compile
ton of the road through the States for whose
benefit the fund reserved
Has not Ohio n right to demand fulflInent Of
the contract, by which you bound yourselves to
make TWO more roads through the territory!
And is il anv answer to this demand To say that
YOU have fit TO expend in making ONE an
stead of TWO roads greater sum than the whole
of the two per cent. fund has amounted tn, and
therefore, that the United States is no longer un
der any obligation to finish even one road through
the S,atef Besides, If argument be valid which
suppose that the duty Of the Government to
make this road ceased with exhaustion Of the
two pef cent fund, it might have been urged with
equal force against the completion of tho work TO
the Ohio river; for the proceeds OF the fund, to
the present moment, have not equniled the cost
of the road from Cumberland to Brownsville
Would contract to make roads through the West
ern States have been fulfilled by making one in
the States OF Maryland and Pennsy lvania? Or
do YOU think that the People of the West would
have been satisfied with such performance OF your
enpagementsl If you have expended the fund,
and three times the amount Of il, on the east side
of the Ohio, whose fault IS II! The people OF the
West have had no agency in expending the money,
and therefore are not chargeable with its misap-
plicaiion. Bot sir, the two per cent. fund is not
exhausted. The quantity of public lands remain
ing und,sposed of in the states of Ohio. Indiana,
Illinois, and Missouri, was, on the Both OF Septen-
Der last, no less than sixty-one millions Of acres
fr,,, shoc of hos
lands large sum applicable, under the compacts
with those States, the construction OF this road
By making appropriations to larger amount than
the per cent arising from the annual sales
Of these lands, do but anticipate the current
proceeds of the fund and this is required By the
spirit of the contract; for, should the Government
refuse to appropriate beyond the annual receipts
of the fund, the road could not probably be COM |
pleted in century. The intention of both parties
was, that the work should be done and all con-
venIent despatch, and that the money expended
be refunded from time to time, as the sales pro-
crossed.
But, independently of the obligation arising
out of compacts with the new States Of the West,
W ouId it consist with sound policy on the part
of the Government Of the Union TO return, in the
form Of appropriations Tor work beneficent to
the whole Western country, and TO three or more
Of the Atlantic States, small part OF the enor-
nous sums contributed TO the national Treasury
by the Western States? Besides paying their
full share Of the revenue derived from customs,
md of the tax imposed for the encouragement OF
domestic industry, and all other burdens that are
,orn by any other quarter Of the Union, four
States alone have paid into your Golfers, for land
more than FIFrY-FoUR MILLIONS AND A HALF OF
loars. From the following statement, complied ,
rom official documents, 1t appears that OF this
nm OHIO has paid, from
Ian l, 1902, toSept. 1888, Sz3,SOS2O
indiana, from Dec. l 1916, do. 16. 5499
Illinois, from JAN 1919, TO do. 1l,O5o,O44 !
Missouri, from JAM /, 1921, to do. 1868 $50
s54, 1923
Nv own State has paid an amount exceeding
weniy-one millions Of dollars, and there are yet
wo millions of acres of public land remaining ,
within her borders undsposed Of. The whole
ost of constructing The road in the State ofOhio,a
stance of 224 miles, WIS estimated in 1885 at
e. 26 .325. The estimate Is, probably, about
ZOO, 900 below the sum tina, will be required
Or the completion of the work-a sum, however,
exceeding but a very little the cost Of Two Of
our princely custom-houses. Let me tell gen.
lemen not to deceive themselves; the People OF
he West notwithstanding all their devoted at
achment 10 their brethren the east side Of
ne AiIeehanIes. will not patiently see themselves
rained Of the fruit of their hard earnings, and
heir money expended on the seabord, IN the I'M Q
Of its haTbors, the erection OF fofica-
ions. custom-houses, lghthou and breakwa- il
ers, without participating IN the oenehis OF sucn
xpend,tures. The process Of exhaustion on tho ii
ne hand, and injustice on the other. could not a
al, ultimately, to generate in their minds spirit
dscortent, that, seeking strength in orgaaiza-
on. might hereafter command that respect whsch
now denied to humble remonstrance. They %
light, in imitation of your own bad example, Ie
nd from a natural desire to indemnify Them b
elves. refuse any longer to perform, on their |,
art, the stpulaions Of compact which you o
ere the first TO violate. Should this issue ever
E made, Won will be justly chargeable with all
,e consequences tha, mus, inevitable flow from
If,hi. Government were to consult its best f
.tere..s. il would never BY ans &c, cf gratui:cus