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

place before Congress estimates the cidSS OF tAFtD-
durcs prescribed BY the Constitution. The Cumbcr-
land road has been brought before the nation by the
Constitution. 1t is of legislative growth Nhi!e the
Legislative branch of the Government (Cungfess) ss-
tained it, the Executive also sustained IT, At the last
session of the last Congress- the Appropriation Tor this
road reocd not by the Executive but by Congress
were true, them that the Executive has pur
poscy passed this road the estimates presented
TO this House, is scarcely fair to hold the adns,ra
ton exclusively responsible The Executive could
find reason for passing the road by IN Inc refusal Of
Congress to make appropriations for H. de Nigh; have
inferred from the action of Congress, that public OPT
Mon would no longer sustain appropriations upon the
| Cumberland road. But infer very differently from
my colleague upon this subject. repeat that see
nothing from which TO infer that the Executive intend
ed to defeat appropriations upon the Cumberland road
have SAID sir, that regret to see any effort made
| TO give political cast to this question. am always
sorry 10 see any question embarrassed by political con-
sderatons II is fatal all fair and useful legislation
to bring general politics TO bear upon particular CUES
tons Particular questions ought 10 depend upon
their particular merits. This question has merits. In
stating them ! will be brief; and it is necessary TO
nv personal explanation TO state the grounds upon
which the subject, in my opinion stands it is TO dis
claim sympathy with those who incline 10 give poll
teal aspect tie action Of The House upon the matter
Sir for wears the nation held its Golfers, and used,
without interest immense sums Of the two per cent
fund accruing 10 the Western States under national
compact AZ length IFS expenditure was commenced,
according the compact and il is said that is all ex
pended Suppose this TO be true, is it ncqutabe for
the Western States to expect small advance in re-
turn, out Of fuEd which will indemnify the
| Treasury:
Again. the people Of tho W".'"rn o,ates have been
taught by more than thirty years legislation, TO expect
appropriations for and the final completion of, the
Cumberland road They have seen engineers passing
along through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and at least
part of Missouri They have seen large sums expend-
ed year after year, and finally they have seen, during
the past year. an estimate Of the probable cost OF the
..xll, n,,t
and acting under lis authority Think you, sir, they
will now see the work abandoned and net hold respon-
sble those who contribute 10 the defeat of this their
great measure.
Sir monarch, despot. would not first instruct, by
Of action kept Up for thirty years, portion OF
subjects to expect particular object TO meet his favor,
and then all at once abandon IL And will the Repre-
sentatves Of free people, VII" conscious OF their
rights, refuse that justice, that kindness, TO sHch eo-
pie, which despot dare refuse 10 his seris: The
| Legislative and Executive branches of this Govern
mcn, acting together have produced the expectations
which have stated. Is il wise TO dsappoint them
| Will not jealous people, think yon, mark those
who defeat this II is their allahsorblng IN.
tcrcst Even general politics 4 party politics.
absorbed ~ Thcy Wal no; deem that tina,
party, orthodox, who wheel! may contribute TO DIS
appoint hopes raised BY your predecessors, the great
and The good Of past wears, (hey think they wise
| tooJ who have coycManed, by implied contracts
stronger than party consderations-ay, strong as
national f.itli-;o continue appropriations reasonably
apportioned to the condition Of the state OF the Urea
sufv upon the Cumberland road, or make some aqu
table friendly, and final disposition cfthe subject, far
different from ceasng to appropriate, without reason
gwen.
In accordance with my pledge to the honorable men,
Der from South Carolina Mr.. Pickens, renew the
motion lay the matter under consideration upon the
| table But do i'll the fond hope that the motion
NAV not prevail.
| Mr. HAWKINS called for the yeas and nays which
were ordered, and being taken, were Yeas 10, nays
i ll2
So the motion TO lay on The table rejected.
i And the question recurring on the instructions
Mr. REYNOLDS observed that this subject
exceedingly interesting to his constituents, and for this
reason and for amy political considerations, he had
risen In say few words with regard 10 IT, If he re-
manned silent, when question so deeply affecting their
interests was discussed here, lie should fail the duty he
owed to those whom he represented and would be Justly
accountable them for it. |, extremely unfortunate
for him that time he to address this House
and il was but seldom that he did so--potcs should
have unnecessarily been mixed up with the matter h.
felt hound 10 express his views This the case,
The Speaker would rcc"ect, when the question oi
adopting the rjrn principle ot voting lc!ur-
the House; and he had again 80 regret that it should he
unnecessarily dragged Up nov, when subject inte
resting t. the Western country under discussion
5 Now h. was not opposed 10 political discussions il
their proper place; lac was not opposed 10 stamp
speeches, made boldly and openly, IN the Western
+ fsioI but he did not approve OF the Eastern fashion
! Of holutnn q caucus al midnight ana bringing out
). candidate who could not say word for himself.
But a subject of the Importance to the West thai
this was he appealed TO Western gentlemen 10 discard
politics and discuss II with reference 10 its merits alone
No political capital could be gained b. either party
from tins question: and he would put 10 his Western
G friends whether measure they had much nj hear
e would not be injuriousy affected by dragging it unnc
cessaTlv into The political Indeed, it would BE-
good policy his part 10 avoid political discussion
10. he was well that his desultory remarks wonl'
,..iti, Tad u,;-r
il speech they had just heard from the gentleman from
o Fennsy vana, Alr Biddlc
What be intended for the purpose OF show
of nr 10 his Western friends the importance Of kecpn!
this question free from the political conflicts Of the day
e He would say, however, III reference TO the President
I that he was no, averse asking him for information
+ this or any other subec! touching the public interests
and would with pleasure vote tor resolution to tina
d effect. lie would not oppose resolution reachln:
r the Departments III proper way, Tor he was no! 10
y sitting invest CATION when the public interests rcqGir
ID ed it, But said Mr.. Reynolds, let turn aten
Re ton 10 ti., snb,rGi before Suppose the Prcsidcn
!. has neglected the Cumberland road to tn
10 favorable consideration Of Congress. Suppose an n,
propriaton for lt road * not TO be found IN the est
c mates Of The Secretary Of the Treasury. Were 'hCS
II reason. why the friends Of Tie s,oud
e press il upn4 Congress cntreat, then, my Wescr
l. friends 10 JON me il: ny cidcavors to get the action
d this House in favor of this measure and laying poll
IS tics aside assist in obtaining appropriation for il
It Ii was commenced in lc0G, and had been uniforml
carried on, year by year, down to the present time
IS lad been favorite measure with the Democracy @
the country, and had been sanctioned by Jefferson
is Madison aid Monroe. he was aware that some gen
teincn on that focr of opinion that internal i'm
e provements by the General Government we're con
J. irary to the provisions of the Constitution. This wa
[, no doubt correct general rule But were Their
:, not exceptions TO every rule And not thi
J. Cumberland road of these exceptions: The Fe
t deral Government ought not 10 make internal i'm
provements in the old States, because they had tn
power of taxation over the soil within their limit.
had resources make these improvements themselves
That however, not the with the new States
d The vast public domain within their limits exempt
cd from taxation, and that for internal i'm
provrmcnts was cut off. Give TO The States til
power Of taxing the public lands, and will ask 20
ID for no appropriations for the Cumberland roat
Did not this circumstance make exception to the
Al neral rule,
n There was another which made this road a
=. exception 10 tic rule. There Iust legal, an