Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1840-04-07
4 ase Eei,.sof, Patriot
s'HAcS - 80.
UNITED STATES Ss>N.NcEs


UNTTEi, STATES SENATE
Tho Senate to- ley rcsrn.s1 the OF The
Cumberland Road bill
The galleue. were Elle,l some time before the I
hour Il meeting. with large and hf;lian, sscnblsgr.
drawn together BY the that AIR. CLAY.
OF Kentucky. would address the body TIN, ooasnrc
The audience had double treat for Mr.. Clay had
had intention make long speech. he checrfrly
gave way To MIR. SoUruARp. OF New Jersey, Who ex
planned hrs reasons for voting against the bill IN
speech of remarkable interest force and animation
Mr.. SoUrnAnp stated that he had been hitherto
friend this great National work. aud had bated IN
favor Off, and resisted the attacks Of able Senators up
on il.
Mr.. CLAY then took The floor, and addressed the
Senate.
very few words this bill. and assign briefly hi.
reasons for the against IL this time. which he
felt himself compelled to give. He had always be-
eved and still believed. i'm The existence Of n power
IN the Genera. Government TO provide for the
ton OF works of Internal Improvement but he had
thought IL erpcdient 10 create National Debt
IN order 10 provide the Ways and means TO construct
them. IL was only when il could he done without in
convenience TO the Treasury that he had bccn will
ling TO concur IN appropriations that object or late
years considering how much the States have done for
themselves and how much had been contributed by
the General Government in aid Of EN-, under the
distributing the surplus revenue among them, he for
one was willing to waive the exercise OF the power in
respect to the canals and roads, especially If law
could be passed distribute the proceeds of The
sales of the public lands That would supply a fund,
IN perpetuy, abundany sufficient for all desirable
objects OF Internal Improvement
| We Of the Opposition have been accused unjisly.
by the friends Of the Administration with swelling the
annual expenditures Of tho Gosernment. which have
certainly reached most eIiravagant amount. IL we
concur in the passage of this appropriation contrary
TO whnt suppose to be the desire or the Administer.
ton. far goes shall we give color to the
cusaiion 10 which have REFEREED II the friends oi
the Administration wish the bill passed. they have ma
joriss in both Houses sufficient TO pass H.
Another consideration operates very strongly with
me TO dssunds the present iimc from concurring
in the passage of this bill; and thai is the necessity
which think exists. for thorough investigation into
the causes Of the extraordinary expenditure upon this
road IN those States and es pecially IN Indiana un
ders;and that the road has thirteen or fourteen
thousand dollars per mile. And after all that has beer
already expended upon this work IL has been stated
That II viii require seven eight millions Of dollars &c
complete il as far the river Mississippi
Now. sir. this astonishing expenditure reqrires 9
most rigorous examination. To what is il owing,
think II Is explained by the alleged hardness or wan
OF appropriations and consequent cessy Of
There must be some other cause OF the enormous CT
rendiures upon this road and before we make irlhe
and lavish appropriations TO that object that cau..
ought TO be probcd and certainly and carefully ascer
tanned.
} Assuming that the distance between Wheeling An,
81 LOUIS TO be about six hundred miles ono-hslf @
the Of eight millions of dollars now said 10 Z
necessary TO complete the road nfer oil the :nmon
expenditures which have b sen ide upon il ought
be sufficient according the of cost o such rosd
IN keniu' KY 10 construct the whole road f not srok
OF work had been executed upon it
Under all these circumstances. Mr. President car
not, at this time for The appropriations nrono,e
ia this bill, whatever might have been disposed :
do IN more suspicious state Of public affairs N. m
that II viii be better 10 remit the whole subject 10 IN
administration Of President Harrison. Under that ri
investigation be made into the causes Of the yas
cost Of this road. and proper correction WILL no doubt
be applied. And his identity throughout almost hi
whole life, with the interest of The three States NOR
directly interested IN the road will secure for il nus
and liberal patronage Wht ther that patronage shout
DO c1icnded by direct grant from the public Tressu
ry. by division among all the Stnes Of tho proceeds
ihe sales Of the public lands or by other means will
then be III subjects OF enquiry. And We may rest il
perfect confidence that the administration which will
The and OF the People and with the blessing of God
will commence the 4ih day OF March in the year
our Lord 1871. will do in respect TO this road what
ever may be demanded by the interests Of the parcu
iar States and ofthe whole Union.
Mr. SMITH, Of Indiana replied briefly 10 Mess r.
Southland and Clay; and declared that. although the
Administration had refused make any appropriation
Tor The road he would urge its justice and proprety
! notwithstanding.
The discussion continued by Mcssrs YoUyo
SMITH. CLAY and others