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

with the President, and who know, as well
as you or know, sir, that one word from the
Executive 10 his partisans here in favor Of
this appropriation would ensure its success
though five millions were asked instead Of the
small amount claimed by the friends Of the
work.
But we must not speak of party. Sir, who
are we, and W hat are we! For what pur-
pose are we assembled herel Our first du-
~ is TO consult the general welfare of the
country; to legislate for the common good !;
TO enact laws as equally beneficial TO all parts
OF our widespread coniederacy as the con-
iictng interest and diversified pursuits Of our
People will permit. But, sir, we are stand
ing here as the immediate representatives Of
certain interests, and, as such, it is our duty
TO assert the rights Of those who sent us here ;
to maintain the rights of the States we re-
present; to ascertain who are the friends and
who the enemies Of the interests held dear
by those who delegate to us the power of Re-
representatives. OIL this floor; and it is further
's6ur duty to let our constituents know whether
those who administer the Government are
using their influence in their favor or to their
prejudice.
With this view Of my duty, l shall proceed,
sir, to charge upon the present administration
that, for political purposes, it defeated the APP
preparations for this work at the last session
Of Congress that the administration and its
party presses were the first to connect this
great and important national work with the vile
spirit ofparty that if we fail to obtain an APP
preparation, the administration and lis friends
are alone responsible to the people of the
West.
Again, that, for the first time, the present
Secretary of the Treasury, for reasons best
known to himself, has neglected or refused to
make the necessary estimates for the road,
and that this omission was made under the
immediate and cypress direction Of the Presi-
dent Of the United States.
Again, sir, will prove that Mr. Van Blu
rem, notwithstanding his professions Of friend
ship and great regard, is, and always has been,
opposed 10 the interests Of the West.
And further, sir; ! shall expose the means
by which the present Executive and his
friends have, and still are attempting to de-
ceive and hoodwink the people Of the west
and then, sir, will show what Indiana has
lost, actually lost, by suffering herself to be
deluded by the nsincere professions Of this
administration.
|, sir, will not enter into discussion of the
merits of the Cumberland road. 1t is unne-
cessary. am willing to rest the case upon
the very able and, will say, unanswerable
speech Of the gentleman from Ohio, Mr.. Ma.
son; and if, sir, it should, in the course Of
this debate, become necessary to add any
thing to that argument, there is my colleague,
Mr.. Rariden, and another gentleman from
Ohio, Mr.. Corwin, now sitting before me, who
is of himself able to encounter the combined
opposition to the measure. My purpose, sir,
is to examine the declarations of my col
leagues, Messrs. Wick and Howard, to ascer-
tain whether they are supported by the facts,
when they assert that the administration is
friendly to the appropriation; and further, sir,
l. purpose to answer them on other matters
which they have thought proper to introduce
into this debate.
And now, sir, will speak Of the action Of
the last Congress on this subject. For some
weeks before the termination of the last ses-
sion, the Wing members friendly to the Cum
berIand road were alarmed by dark insinua-
tons and mysterious hints from members high
in the confidence Of the Executive, that no
appropriation would be made upon the Cum
berland road, and one Administration member
from State Immediately interested in procur-
ing the appropriation, openly expressed the
most perfect Indifference as to its success, and
even ntimated that failure to procure the
appropriation would aid the Administration at
the next Congressional election. The Wings
friendly to the road determined to press the
measure, made every effort to call up the
Cumberland road bill and at last, in despite
of every effort of the Administration, my
honorable colleague Mr. Rariden) succeeded
in obtaining the floor and made motion that
the House noW resolve itself into Commit
tee of the Whole upon the Cumberland road
bill. Upon this the yeas and nays were called.
The motion failed. The vote stood yeas IA,
nays II, and of these seventy-seven who
voted against the road, ,ffy-tpo were support
ers Of this Administration, (Jour. II. X. page
7I4,) the only Administration Representative
from Indiana being absent from his seat. Sir,
intend to state nothing but the facts on this
subject, and if either of my honorable coea-
CUES dispute this statement, let him rise and
correct me. Sir, they all know this to be
a fair statement their silence confirms my
assertion. What followed, sir No sooner
had Congress adjourned without making an
appropriation on the road, than the Admins
,ration presses in the West, and more partcu-
larly in Indiana, opened their batteries on the
Wing representation in Congress. The In
diana Democrat, the Jeffersonian, the Wa
bash Enquirer, and other prominent Admins
tration presses, violently abused the Wing
Representatives from my State. They ac-
cused them of inefliciency, of want Of tact,
as deficient in influence, and openly charged
them with having sacrificed the interest OF the
State to their party predictions. They call
ed upon the People TO send men to Congress
who favored the present Executive, and as
r,.ral IL. po..l1, 1hnt ihnu hauinn influence