The Madisonian., 1840-02-13
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
DEBATE ON Tue. CUMBERLAND ROAD.
SATURDAY, February s.

DEBATE ON THE CUMBERLAND ROAD
The business before the House being the memorial
heretofore presented by Mr.. DAVIS, Of Indiana, from
the National Convention OF Delegates from the States
orOhio Indiana and Illinois, held at Terre Haute in
the State Of nd. IA for the purpose Of recommending
such be best calculated 10 insure the
final completion OF the Cumberland Road with The leas,
possible DELAY, which memorial Mr. ID. had moved TO
refer 10 the Committee on Ways and Means
And which motion Mr. CASEY had heretofore
moved TO amend by adding thereto the following in.
struLtuns
And that said Committee be instructed to report
bill making an appropriation OF one hundred and hiy
thousand dollars for each Of the States OF Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois, 10 be expended on the National Road in
said States in the year $40 under the direction Of the
War Department; said appropriation TO be subject to
all the restrictions and conditions OF former appoprla
tons on SAID road
Mr.. RARIDEN and said that he did not rise to
discuss the merits OF the Cumberland Road, to luves
iigate its claims upon the patronage of Congress this
time, but simply 10 explain how its friends had been
forced into the dsadvantageous attitude which they
now had 10 assume He proceeded to observe that
heretofore appropriations upon had been embraced in
the estimates Of the Treasury sent to the House IN
dcaons Of the opinions Of the Administration through
that organ, of what wanted for the public service
aud within the means of the Treasury. But this
year (said Mr. X that item OF expenditure has been
dropped and wholly omitted in the Treasury estimates of
the wants ofhe Government, aud the ends Of that great
work had other means left them Of getting il before
the Committee Of Ways and Means [lhe only Commit
tee where appropriation can originated but the
adopted lie was fully of its disadvantages,
bu, seemed agreed by all It's friends that it the
only way left them lie further remarked that it was
very important To the West TO know who for and
Who against this work there should no longer be
doubt about and parties should he unmasked
1t is, moreover, important (sad Mr. K. to know
whether The Administration have abandoned this work
temporarily permanently; whether It's friends have
right expect the future the patronage Of this AJm
nstrson for II or not and this can only be known
by the votes Of the members OF this House, the friends
Of the Administration. who not locally identified
with The work, and who presumed be advised Of
the views OF the Administration regard 10 this sub
lcct This knowledge very desirable, especially in
the West II is not for me To say why the friends Of
the road have been placed in this position why the ap
preparation for the contlnpaton OF the road IN Ohio In
diana, and Illinois has been omitted IN the Treasury
tmaies for the necessary expenditures for the
year why the President should exhor Congress to
contne appropriations 10 those estimates and why the
omission, for the first time for years past This should
be interpreted in some way, and leave 1t with the
friends ol the Administration locally identified with
the road, interpret this omission and this recommen-
daIion OF the President by their votes the lnstruc
tions moved
Mr. PICKENS moved 10 lay the Instructions on The
table, The motion lost: Ayes 66-noes IL
Mr. BlDDLE took up the issue made by Mr. WICK,
Of Ind as TO the Dgeniousness OF the course which
the present Administration had pursued IN this matter
He was glad that the House had afforded him an oppor
lunty that boast He desired snxiously to fix
If he could, the attention OF every member Of the House.
and Of every fair the country upon the
in which the President had gone uto the approaching
canvass.
SIR, said Mr. b tbs, part Of the Message which
la,es the expenditures is prepared with the skill OF
veteran politician IL has gone the country far n adj
vance of the estimates 1t has been eagerly seized up
by par,zans You fud ia staring capitals every
village spaper Of the Administration. IL contains
round assertion, brief and porabe--such as any one
can catch up the Cross Roads aud readily carry home
from mill market He says that the expenditures Of
1899 twill not, in all probability, exceed tweniy-six
millions. str millions less than it last year
With determination. so Jar depends me, TO
tinne this reduction | have directed the estimates for
1910 be subjected to the scrutiny, and to he
limited 10 the absolute requirements Of the public
vcc They will be found less than the expenditures Of
1899 by over fpe millions Of dcIlars."
Now, Mr.. Speaker, will any candid person deny that
this is calculated to make false impression upon the
country7 What is the inference drawn by any plain
mani Doubtless that the Presden, has been anxiousy
engaged day and night in severe and lsborious scru-
tiny abuses that the pruning knife has never been
ofh hand tha, he has encountered iearlessy and
without regard friend foe, the odIum and stubborn
resistance which relrenchment must always provoke;
and that he has brought down the expenditure at rate