The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-31

the 9Th October, 1889. The report OF Cap
tain Ogden, superintendent in Indiana, IS
dated October the 10Th, 1899, and the report oil
the Secretary, making estimates Tor lo1o,
was not sent to this House until the 2oth oil
December, 1899. Now, sir, what becomes
Of this excuse And il, sir, any siinulant
was necessary 10 arouse the dormant sPirit OF
the Secretary, | should think this report OF
CANAAN Ogden would have been all-suflicent.
AS an argument in favor Of an early appro-
praton, / will read an extract from II;
Nov i, the period for large and timely sppropria-
ton The contingent expenses, the pay OF engineers
aud other agents. whose assistance is necessary to the
proper supents ndence OF tho work. will be no more un
der large than under small appropriation The opera
tions on the State works having been temporarily sus-
pended, labor may now be procured in the greatest
abundance and al reduced prices, and the Geoefs 20
verament may now proceed with this wofS Mnno"'
coming IN competition with the States ohou'o q" "
preparation be made at early period OF .he e"su'e
sessen the superintendent will be able TO lei on, con,
tracts and to commence operations with the opening OF
the spring But. should the appropriation DC oeieiieu
10 an advanced stage Of the session The ahoefs OF the
country will have been engaged on oiher pooic WORKS.
or will have embarked in agricultural pursuits, the
works be put onder contract l late % the sea-
son. aud then the contractors VIII not be able TO pro-
cure labor in sufficient abundance.
The importance Of this work. its general utility,
and purely national character, are now no longer ",
indeed they were, questions Of doubtful import The
United States mail transported this road, in four
horse post coaches, daily in Indiana, and trweeky in
Illinois. Travellers and emgrants are thronging this
road, literally in thousands. Already L passes through
portions Of less than sx States Of this Conederacy
II unites the Atlantic with the Ohio, approaches
the banks Of The Mississippi, and seems destined
long. einbrace In It's ample span the hall OF mighty
continent Aud will it still be insisted that this is
work Of local character and that 1t is unworthy Of
national construction
This work was projected while some OF the States
through which 1t now passes were mere Territories aud
while others were yeti their inancy-Staes which
have since grown TO importance second only TO
the first Of the Union Some Of these States have
since undertaken and are now executing works sur
passing in magni6cence aud grandeur the public i'm
provements Of many Of the old states OF Europe They
have ed this road and have united With it. max
ing only single link in the vast chain Of public
proyement. And now it may be asked, will the General
Government abandon this work in Its unfinished state
Will she stand idly BY, while the States are thus
cutting their works. and behold hers the only unfinished
link in the chain y
This, sir, is par, Of the argument used by
the efficient and valuable officer having this
work in charge; and yet, sir, the Secretary o.
the Treasury passes by this road as unworthy
Of his attention; and my colleagues, instead
Of confessing that the Government is culpably
negligent, or bitterly opposed to our interests,
stand up here. and by every possible device,
attemp, to conceal and palliate its unjustifable
conduct towards us.
MIR. Speaker, the official organ Of the Ad-
mnistration also has taken ground against us,
and denounces the Wings who support this
appropriation as Federalists, who are voting
for appropriations clearly unconstitutional
and, sir, this cry of Federalist is echoed by
every new ally of Van Burenism in and out
of Congress. My colleague (Mr. WIcK) calls
US Federasts, and even in his letters home,
written expressly for publication, applies 10
us Wings the same cognomen. Now, sir,
do not wish to make any personal illusions TO
my colleague, (Mr. WIoK) for we are on
terms Of personal friendship, but would ins
qure Of that gentleman when it was that he
became so purely democratic! How long is
it since be and were fighting under the same
banner? | recolect, sir, that my colleague
was warm supporter of the venerable gentle
man from Massachusetts (JouN QUINCY
ADAMs) for the Presidency. Sir. he was an
elector on the Clay ticket against Andrew
jackson in 1881. Again, sir. knew him as
a Wing candidate for Cons ress, and he was
beaten by my colleague, (Mr. Carp who was
friend Of General jackson
Mr.. Wick rose to explain. He said that
when he support, Mr. Clay, he (Mr. c. was
a democrat. MIR. Wick said he never was a
Wing
Sir, said Mr. Profit am glad to give my
colleague an opportunity to explain. should
never have alluded 10 his political course had
not the gentleman thought fit to call us fede-
raists. But sir, the gentleman says that Mr..
Clay was democrat when he supported him.
Why sir, ! thought that Andrew Jackson
was called the very head and front of demo-
cracy. and yet the gentleman opposed him in
1881. Sir, Henry Clay was then, as he is
now, the ornament and pride of his country,
and the gentleman need never blush at his sup
port of him. But, sir have not yet done
with my colleagues democracy. The gentle
man says he never was a Wing. Well, sir,
what was hel should be glad to hear the
political name by which he was designated in
1881, and for years afterwards Mr.. Speak
err, said that my colleague was beaten for
Congress. Still, sir, he stood high, very
high, sir, in the party of which was youthful
and humble soldier Again sir, my col
league candidate for Congress at the
next election, still fighting bravely under the
same banner, and processing the same prnoi-
plies; and again, sir as is too often the case
with us poor Wings 1.-THE gentleman will ex-
cuse me for calling him by that name after his
explanatory he was defeated by the lament
ed Kinnard.
Ito be confinued)