Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-04-20

will be as beneficial 10 the parts Of the Atlantic
States throughwhieh they are 20 pass, and nearly
AS msch SD 10 considerable portion of the In
ion, as 10 the Northwest Territory itself; but a
ds- attention to the particular geographical stu
alton Of that Territory and Of the adjacent west
ern districts Of the Atlantic States will fail
TO impress YOU strongly with the Importance Of
that provision in political point of view, SO far
as it will contribute towards cemen,ng the bonds
of union between those parts of the United
States whose local interests have been considered
as mos, dissim,lar.'
II will be observed that these principles were
advocated at the moment of negotiating the
terms of the compact under which the State OF
Ohio sas afterwards admitted into the Union.
Ata late period The same principles were re-
asserted. Mr.. Tracy, from the committee that
had charge Of this subject, made. report on the
10Th Of December, 1905, acc .mpanied by bill
for the construction of "a road from Cumberland
10 the Ohio river, which became law during
the same session: and in that report the com
mittee said, that $40 eniai ge upon the highly
important considerations Of cemeDtIng the union
of our citizens located the western waters
with those of the Atlantic States, would be an in
delicacv offered to the understandings Of the bod
v 10 whom this report is addressed, rs il might
seem 10 dstrust them. But from the Interesting
nature Of the subject, the committee are indu-
ced 10 ask the indulgence OF a single observa-
ton: Politicians have generally agreed that riv-
ers unite the interests aud promote the friend
ship of those who inhabit the banks; while noun
,ains on the contrary, tend TO disun,on and es
arrangement of those who are separated by their
interventI0n.'
Bat the committee did not stop here; they as
serted what is now denied by members on this
floor-the obligation Of the United States to make
this road in conformity with the compact OF lSO2.
inv lie pa rtcular attention TO 1t, as 1t furnishes
the most conclusive evidence on this point. The
committee say, "They suppose that. to take the
proper measures for carrying into effect the sec
iion Of the law respecting a road or roads to the
State Of Ohio is duty imposed upon Congress
by tie lap itself and that sense Of duty vii
always be sufficient TO insure the passage OF the
bill offered to the Senate"
Sir, hope that the committee were not mis-
taken in surprising that "a sense of duty would
ALWAYS be sufficient to insure the success OF
this measure. Since that day new king has a.
risen (which knew not Joseph" What effect this
or disregard of the past is to have,
| shall not undertake To foretcll
But The idea that this road was part and parcel
of system for hisposing of Western lands seems
to have ever been present TO the mind OF Con-
gress. Hence the preamble to the 'act to author
iZe the appointment of Commissioners Co lay out
the road therein mentioned, approved 10Th May
1920, states, that whereas, by the continuation
Of the Cumberland road from Wheeling in the
State Of Virsinia, through the States of Ohio,
Indiana, and Illinois, the lands of the United
States may become more rdluabIe THIS act
the President appoint commission
ers who are empowered carefully to examine the
country between Wheeling, in the State OF Viz
GINA, and point The left bank OF the Missis-
sippi river to be chosen by said commissioners,
between ST. Lonis and the mouth of the Illinois
river, and to lay out a road from Wheeling a.
foresud to the point to be chosen the left bank
Of the rirer Mississippi And to defray The eS-
oenscs of laying out the road, ten thousand dol
d. 49,
provision which those who opposed 10 all fur
her appropriations for the construction of the
Dad have seized hold of as evidence that this
vernment has, by its own act, released itself
rom the duty of performing its solemn engage f
nenis If this be sound morality. or constitution I
i law then a breach of p'ghted faith and a vio-
alton of compacts are not inconsistent with ma
ional integrity.
The proyiso declares "that nothing in this act
on aiued or that shall be done in pursuance
hereof. shall be deemed construed 10 imply
nv obligation the part of the United States
o make. or to defray the expenses Of making,
he road hereby authorized to be laid out, or Of
nv part thereof" Let those who have the in I
enuitv, or the wish, reconcile, if they can. this
rovisio with the act of 1902, by which the
Jnited States promised, for valuable consider
ton received and upon high considerations OF ma
onal policy TO lay out and AXE mot one road only
ut roads through the State of Ohio Recon-
lie this provISTOn, II YOU can, win your Coh- =
acts made with Indiana ,Illinois.nnd Missour.on Z
lie admission into the Union. with lndiana,you a
reed by the act ofthe 18th April, 1850 reserve
vo-ifhs of the nett proceeds of the lands in that
,rr,ory be applied 'to the making Of road or J
,ads leading to the said State under tie direction OF
Congress- With Illinois, you agreed, by the &C, OF
,e 18th April, ISIS, that the same amouot OF
oney should be d,sbursed. under the direction
Congress, in making roads leading to the State.
In march, 1920, and little more than two
on. his prior the passage of the act containing
e proviso TO which have referred, you engag- t
!, by an act of that date, providing for The ad-
ission of Missouri, that two-iiths OF the hive
II cent, arising from, the sales of land in that
ate should be reserved and applied. IN defray-
o under the direction Of Congress. the erPrn-
$ to be incurred in making Of road or roads, f
nal or canals, leading to the said State
What is the just and fair import OF these en- =
,ments, repeated at different intervals between 4
'O2 and 1890, and submitted, IN the form OF 4
opositions of contract. TO the free acceptance L
rejection of the new S,aiess Why, IT is an Il
,ered Oh the other side, that If the United States
C bound to make road from Cumberland TO Il
e Mississippi, their obligation IS discharged by p
e application of the two per cent fund TO that u
ject. To this. reply, that you have agreed to II
axe road or roads that shall terminate at some e
,hrt hav her Ish FL