Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-15


existence.
TO BE- concluded an nett
'rWENTY-SIXTH CoNGREss---ls, SESSION
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Saturday, february ;, $50
The business first in order (undcr the Gth rule, the
operation Of which had heretofore been extended, by
vote of the House, for limited number of days was
the presentation Of memorials
And the SPEAKER having decided, in reply TO an
inquiry from Mr. Lincoln, that petitions and memorials
which had been laid over for debate came up first
in the order of business
Certain petitions which had heretofore been present
ed by Mr.. Lawrence and Mr. Lincoln, and which, Civ
ing rise to debate had been laid over, taken up
and referred to the Committee Manufactures.
frhesc petitions related Ia certain alleged frauds on
the revenue but debated because in the inter
mediate time, other petitions OF similar character had
been presented by other gentlemen, and referred 10 the
committee above mentioned.
The next subject in order the memorial thereto
fore presented by Mr. Davis OF Indiana, and which had
also been laid for debate of the National Convcn
ton, held ut Terre Haute, Indiana, in July last: and
which memorial Mr.. D. had heretofore moved 20
nit 10 The Committee Of Ways and Means.
Which motion Mr.. CASEY had heretofore moved 10
amend by adding thereto the following Instructions:
.And thu, said committee be instructed 10 report bill
making appropriation otone hundred and fifty thou.
sand dollars for each Of the States Of Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois, to be expended the National Road IN
said States in the year $40, under the direction of the
the restrictions and conditions OF former appropriations
said road.
Mi RARlDEN said il not his object TO occupy
the time Of the House any explanation III regard 10
The merits Of these Instructions often matter OF
discussion. His object TO the time Of the
House In looking the estimates before the Ways
and Means Committee, nc found that the Cumberland
Road had been entirely omitted 1t has not been
coqnised BY the Secretary of the Treasury of
the objects which should claim the attention of Con.
gross These instructions, he thought placed this mat
Ter in very unfavorabe position, though he was in IA
yor of any thing which would reach the subject 1t
important the people of the West TO know the
why IL was omitted from the estimates Whether il
Il temporary abandonment, was only because of the
rInbarrassments Of the Treasury at this time. Ii would
be remembered BY the llous" that appropra.
ton was made last year 10 carry on this road, aaG
he consequence j., that the materials already purchas
ed are being wasted ANA gong 10 decay, and parts
ollhe road, whi,h partially completed, AZ. III a
condition to incur total waste vi t" pended
Il something he not done 10 arrest the decsy. i was
important to know whether it TO progress; and Il
was for that reason that the friends ofhe measure took
this course 10 bring the matter before the Committee
WAYS and Means, Inasmuch as there was no recon-
mandatory expressions 10 Congress by the Executive
10 show the importance OF taking action on ;ht
subject He did consider il proper, then, TO 60 int
the merits OF the question: discuss the subject unles
something more tangible should be presented
Mr. PICKENS said, if he understood the resolutions
nov brought NJ, they proposed instructions 10 TIN
Committee Of WAYS and Means with regard TO tin
Cumberland road TIE object of the gentleman from
illinois, rAlr Casey, in moving these instructions, was
n inanner to obtain the expression of an opinion OF
the part of this House in favor of appropriation to
,ha, road Now he would submit to the House II !
as II and proper, n this early period of the session, I
!.r;ne up a discussion On this subject vote in iavo
Of these resolutions would be equivalent TO passage
the Cumberland road BILL and was the House prepare
march up this question at this early period Of III
session. The gentleman from Indiana, MIR. Rarlden,
100 s6ilful pariamentarIan not no know the ei
feet of thr passage of this resolution at this period of TN
session He woud submit to the House whether it won
not be proper wait for the coming up Of this Cumber
land road bill the regular way instead Of bringing u
in this for discussion in advance and he woul
also submit whether 1t not tit and proper to let IN
Committee of WAYS and Means pursue The regular ro
tine Of the high and responsible duties committed
them, without being embarrassed by instructions Tx
these That committee was the peculiar guardian OF I'll
public treasure it not constituted for this or tina
particular measure but for the general interests OF In
,Siole country II this resolution should be adopted
r.ncmcn wculd get up resolutions TO bring FORWARD
..a"hcr iav"site measure and thus the committee a
we'll the House, would be embarrassed by the consi
Iteration Of measures in advance He protested agains
embarrassing the committee with these collateral qufs
ons Let US wait until know what are the resource
Of the country, before commit ourselves TO an appro
pration for this that particular Was Thu
Cumberland road Of more importance than the civil M
diplomatic appropriations, or the appropriations tor liz
army ana NHN tltn, SnoulG tliS malter be us
cnssed in advance 1t was nnwise, mpoltc, and unjust
thus to override the important business of the country
lie looked upon the resolution nex pcd,n and un
necessary, and punging the House into embarrassment
and difficulty, and as nothing less than ptematurcl
voting the passage of the Cumberland road bill
Mr. P. concluded by moving TO lay The resolution oil
the table
call of the House was moved by Mr.. CASEY, AM
the usual proceedings were had thereon.
On the request of Mr.. WICK,
Mr.. PICKENS withdrew the motion to lay tn
table 10 enable that gentleman 10 make, what he sal
he desired to make, explanation personal to himself
Mr.. WICK said: | glad, Mr. Speaker, that a
length am no longer impcdcd by questions Of orde
--raised upon me- | trust ia 20 invdious feeling
though more than sufficiently embarrassing to VIII
sever before filed place upon the floor OF any legsll
tive body-and that am permitted TO avail myself 9
the courtesy of the honorable member from South ca
rollna, (Alr. PicEens) ST. | have sad, that tia
which wish say is personal to myself II is So an
perhaps equally to Of my colleagues or Others
If it be personal to them it is not reason why 1t
not personal 10 me Ii is important TO me PERSONAL
to define my position. My honorable colleague (alr
Rardcn) has intimated that the object of proposing
those instructions is TO ascertain II indeed the ENecu
tive branch Of the Government has determined aban
don the Cumberland road, and that the same can onl
be done BY taking vote of this House, for the purpose
Of asceraining whether the friends Of the Adminstra
ton will sustain appropriations upon the road not
If were toe silent, Sir, it might be inferred that III,
view Of the subject taken by my colleague is also mine
| am not willing il should be so understood. there
fore have sought permission to explain, lest It may b
iairred that the design TO this question will
general politics, is common 10 all the members from
INDIANA.
Sir my colleague has said that the Executive branrs
Of this Government has not transmitted any estimate
Tor the Cumberland road. j doubt not my colleague
thinks so But sir, find in the estimate coming here
from the Typographical bureau, that large sum 10
the Cumberland road is included VIII M colleague
ray that the Typographical bureau is no part Of :s
Executive branch Of this Government: Again tins
estimate of the Typographical bureau is sent to tins
House. sanctioned by the Secretary at War; and ac
companyipg II communication from the Department
over which he presidss and 10 which the Topographic
cal bureau is az appcndagc VIII my colleague say
that the Secretary War is paT; OF the Executive
branch Of This Government