The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-04-04
UNITED STATES SENATE.
FRIDAY, April 3, 1910.

FRIDAY, April 3, 1910.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the
CUMBERLAND RoAD Bill.
1.-The galleries were filled some time before the
hour OF meeting, with large and brilliant assem-
blage, drawn together by the announc me nj that Mr.
Clay OF Kentucky, would address the body on this
measure. The audience had double treat for as
Mr.. Clay had no intention TO make long speech,
he cheeriully gave way TO Mr. Soulhard, OF New
Jersey, who explained his reasons for voting against
the bill, in speech Of remarkable interest, force,
and animation.
Mr. SoUTHARD stated that he had been
hitherto friend to this great National work, and
had balled In favorof IT, and resisted the attacks Of
able Senators upon II. But he felt reluctantly
compelled by the condition Of the Treasury, and
The avowed necessities Of the Government, 10 vote
against the for the road Ia the course
Of his speech, Mr. Souihard commented with great
spirit and effect the of that deficit OF the
Treasury which compelled him 10 take this course
and traced them TO the Encouragement and extra
yagance OF The Administration. he concluded with
repeating that friendly as he was TO the enterprise,
and DESTROYS as he was for its continuance and CON-
pletion, he felt himself imperiously called upon by
The impoverisbment of the Treasury, and The ne
cessty of creating debt TO satisfy the actual wants
OF the Government, TO record his vote against the
bill
Mr.. CLAY, OF Kentucky, wished to say few and
very few words this BILL and to assign briefly his
reasons for the vote against il at this time, which he
felt himself compelled 10 give. He had always be-
lieved and still believed. in the existence Of power
10 the General Government TO provide for the
slruction OF works of Internal Improvement; bat he
had never thought II expedent 10 create National
Debt, in order 10 provide the ways and means to
construct them. II was only when il could be done
without Inconvenience to the Treasury, that he had
been willing appropriations to thai object
OF late years. considering how much the States have
done for themselves, and how much had been con-
tributed by the General Government in aid Of them
under the act distributing the surplus among
them, he for one was willing 10 waive the exercise
OF the power in respect TO canals and roads, especi
ally il law could be passed to distribute the nett
proceeds OF Tee sales Of the public lands That would
supply fund, in .perpetuity, abundanly sufficient
for all desirable objects Of Internal Improvement.
Since President Jacksons veto of The M iysville
and Lexington Turnpike road-which in fact was
but section OF one arm OF the Gu nberland road
the operation Of the Constitution OF the United States,
as TO the construction OF artificial roads, has been
suspended in all parts Of the United States except in
the three States OF Indiana Ohio and Illinois. We
have had, in effect two constitutions OF the United
States for those three S,aes and another for the
lest Of the Union. For repeat, what have before
said that the proposed appropriations to the Cum
berland road are wholly indefensible but upon the
ground OF the existence of a general power in the
constitution authorizing works OF Internal Improve
ment. And SO understand Senators, Immediately
interested in this bill, TO maintain. Ii has been con-
tended, indeed, that the United States, as great
land proprietor has power 10 open roads, with
view TO the sale and enhancement of the value of
their land, and so they have. But no one can Think
as this would be made, that il has been in fact
constructed with that view.
II has appeared to u.s. on the southwest side of the
Ohio river, very hard that, under a common Consti
tuition, our neighhors on the northwest side could
have constituionally appropriated the public money
to the object OF erecting these roads, whilst ii would
be unconstitutional TO apply it TO ours We have felt
the injustice OF being taxed to supply the Of
constructing the roads of others, without any rec-
proca taxation of them to assist in making our
roads.
This inequality has made me heretofore, since the
veto of the Maysvle and Lexington turnpike road
vote with great reluctance for appropriations to the
continuation of the Cumberland Road. That reluc-
lance was increased by knowledge Of the fact that
the very States, which were thus exclusively bene-
fitted, constantly maintained the Administration
which originated and inflicted this inequality Nay
more, majority of their delegations has been always
opposed TO distribution of the proceeds Of The sales
OF the public lands, by which other States as well as
themselves might have acquired the requisite funds
to construct their works
Perhaps, after that veto, ought not TO have voted
for any appropriation TO the Cumberland Road until
the generel power was restored, or equivalent OBJ
tanned. But have voted for such appropriations,
and would have continued, for time, 10 do So if we
had possessed the means, without going into debt,
and if the President and Secretary of the Treasury
had recommended the appropriation.
The Secretary of the Treasury pr eSents the annual
estimates for the service of the current year. That
for the Cumberland Road is not amongst them Both
he and The President urge The observance of the
strclest economy. The President goes far as to
intimate the of that veto which, instead OF being
a power Of occasional and extraordinary use has
been too frequently exercised The Treasury is
literally empty; and we called upon to borrow
money, as the issue Of Treasury notes is called, to
supply means for the current expenses OF the Go
vernment
II is under these circumstances that we are asked
to appropriate $225,000 to The Cumberland Road;
and TO force the appropriation upon the Executive
against its wishes and against all the motives to
economy which exist, and which have been SO earn
eslly, and hope sincerely pressed upon our consi-
de ration.
We Of the Opposition have been accused unjust
y, by the friends of the Administration, with swell
ing the annual expenditures OF the Government,
which have certainly reached a most extTavagant
amount. II we concur in the passage of this APP
preparation, contrary to what suppose to be the de-
sire OF the Administration, far IL goes shall
we not give color to the accusation to which have
REFEREED If the friends OF the Administration
wish the bill passed, they have majorilies in both
Houses sufficient to pass il.
Another consideration operates veTy strongly with
me TO dssuade me, at the present time, from concur
ring the passage Of this bull and that is the necessi-
ty which think exists, for thorough investigation Into
the Of the extraordinary expenditure upon this
road in those States, and especially in Indiana un-
derstand that the road has thirteen fourteen
thousand dollars per mile And after all that has been
already expended upon the work. has been stated that
il will require eight millions of dollars to COM
ple,e it as far as the river Mississippi.
NOW, sn THIS astonishing expenditure requires most
rigorous examination. To what is it owing think
II is not explained by the alleged hardness Of
appropriations, and consequent necessity Of repairs
When the trees the site OF the road feled and
removed, and the road graded by filling up valleys
and cutting down hills that work must remain unaiect-
cd seriously by any neglect of the road. The
repairs necessary, in consequence Of the premature
Of the road only require trng expense compared
to the original cost Of grading IL There must be
other cause Of the enormous expenditure upon this |
road, and before make further and lavish sppropna-
that object that ought 10 be pruhed and