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

made by this Administration, but that not one
OF It's promises have ever been fulfilled.
Mr.. Speaker, we have assembled here.
Five OF the seven Representatives from lndi-
ana are in favor of the Administration. And
what is the first thing which astonishes the
| friends OF the Cumberland Road, and shows
the mighty influence which this change of
Representatives was 10 make manifest
Why, sir, that, with all their combined exer-
ton, they capnot prevail upon the Secretary
OF the Treasury TO make even an estimate for
the work; and for the first time, the Cumber-
land Road is passed by as work unworthy
OF Congressional patronage. Mr.. Speaker,
the documents for the last three years are
now before me. In the estimates for 1887,
! find the Secretary asking $l5O,00O for
each of the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Hi
nois. In 1888 the same estimate is made.
Again, in 1889 the same amount was recon-
mended by the Secretary. But now. sir,
the Executive has accomplished his object J;
now that he has succeeded in revolutionizing
the Indiana delegation; now that John G.
Calhoun has shaken hands with and en-
braced the President, the People Of the West
and their dearest interests are forgotten, or, if
remembered, despised, and our rights are sa-
crihced on the altar at which the honest"
Nulhfer and the Executive met to " swear
eternal friendship" Ii was necessary TO Sc
cure Mr.. Calhoun and South Carolina. The
price paid is the sacrifice Of the Cumberland
Road, and it may be, the promise of Pres-
dental chair. II yet remains for us to see
whether the People of Ohio, Indiana, and Hi
nois will ratify the contract.
ltnow becomes my duty sir, to notice the
course which has been pursued on this SUBJ
lect at this session.
The memorial of Convention of Delegates
held at Terre Haute, asking appropriations
for the Cumberland Road, is presented by my
colleague, (Mr. Davis j motion is made to
refer it, with Instructions TO report bill APP
propriating $500 to each OF the States of
Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois This, sir, was a
test question but, no sooner was the motion
made and the instructions moved than imme
diately the gentleman from South Carolina,
(Mr. Pickins,) after making short speech
against u.s. moved to lay the memorial and the
instructions on the table This motion, sir,
comes from the confidential friend of Mr..
Calhoun, and warm supporter OF Mr.. Van
Buren,. Thus was an attempt made to defeat
the appropriation upon its first reception.
This motion, sir under our rule, is not de-
bateable, but still something must be said or
done to convince us that Mr.. Van Buren, had
nothing to do with this opposition TO our inie-
rests SO my colleague (Mr. Wiek) rises
from his seat and asks his friend from South
Carolina to withdraw the motion in order to
allow him to make n personal explanation.
This request astonished the whole House.
My colleague had not uttered a word on the
subject--his name had not been mentioned,
no aliusion had been made to him-what
personal explanation he could have to make
was uncomfortable to every one. He was
emphatically asked if the explanation he
wished to make was really personal, and his
reply was in the affirmative. Sir, the motion
was withdrawn under pledge that it should
be renewed when my colleagues personal
explanation was made-(a pledge, sir, which
|, as friend Of the Cumberland Road, would
have sconed 10 give --when behold instead
Of saying one word explanatory as 10 himself,
my colleague entered into a labored defence
Of the Executive-a defence, sir, when no
charge had as get been preferred. That de-
fence, sir, will notice presently. Mr..
Speaker, my colleague renewed the motion
to lay on the table, with an emphatic an
nouncement and significant intimation at his
political friends, said "that the People of In
diana would not recognise as orthodox in the
faith those who voted against this appropria-
ton"
Well assured, Mr.. Speaker, that, ifthis mo-
ton to lay upon the table succeeded the fate
of the road was sealed, my colleague MIR.
RARIDEN) and myself, as well as other friends
of the road, passed from desk to desk, asking,
begging, entreating our acquaintance and
friends to vote against the motion. We sue
ceeded ia defeating it. The vote stood yeas
&c, nays III and, of these eighty-six who
voted to defeat this appropriation, and that.
too, in an indirect manner sirty. four are the
political friends of Mr. Van Buren,. Now,
sir, where is this vast influence which the Peo-
pie of Indiana were promised Where is
this friendship Of the Executive of which we
heard so much al home The friends of thus
Administration can rally to man when the
Executive calls for an issue Of Treasury
notes, or signifies wish that his darling Sub
treasury scheme shall be acted on, or when he
orders State to be DISTINGUISHED; but, with
all his love for Observation-Disclosures his
ten thousand-times told tale Of devotion to our
nterests-all his devoted followers, nearly
all, sir, vote against giving us a dollar on
work which has received the sanction and sup
port of every Administration except this. And
yet sir, we are not to breathe one word about
party no,r, though it can be talked of loudly
at home We must not, as Representatives
here, expose these party tricks and stratagems,
although at home they answered well 10 fill
these seats. Sir, (said Mr.. PRosFIT,) had ]
come to this Hall as the sworn friend of Mr.
Van Buren,, and had even pledged myself to
support his Administration, and had found, as
have found him, opposed to all and every in
nc 4 In1linn