Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-08-21
To the Citizens or the nth Congressien-
nj District.

al District.
NY FRIENDS You have much anxietyon the sub
ject of appropriations for our Cumberland road In
former times such appropriations were made annual
y But for the several years last past they have been
withheld You wonder what the reason IS 1t has
been said in great folly. by some, that it has been
owing TO the character personal political, Of your
representative in Congress- for the time being Yet
you have been represented by variety of personal
character and by wings and democrats, of fair abili
ty and undoubed industry who have failed in their
efforts to obtain appropriations The true reasons
as follows: Appropriations were formerly made out
of the two per ceit fund. That fund is long since
exhausted. The fact of Its being exhausted not
known for many years, after it was all expended and
consequently the appropriations were continued But
about 1889 the fact was made known, by a member
of Congress who investigated the subject Since then
no appropriations have been made. An appropria-
ton can be, and has been made to pass the Senate
with ease, because the Senators few in number,
and the Senate therefore acts promptly. But the
House is composed Of about two hundred and forty
members, and arge bodies slowly" at the late
session of Congress bill passed, among appropria-
tons for great variety Of other Objects making APP
preparation for the Cumberland Road. 1t failed to
ceive the appreciation Of the President (Tyler it
Is understood on the ground that it contained APP
preparation for the Hudson rivera river, which Mr..
Tyler held to be not National, but State river,
il rises, and dsembogues into the ocean within the
bounds of a single State. Under the rules of the
House it requires vote of two-thirds to take up
bill, measure out of its turn. For several years
no bill, Tor certainly but few has been
acted upon, in its turn, because majority of two
thirds does day by day, take up business to occupy
the entire time of the House, during the session. In
order to get two-thirds to favor an appropriation for
the Cumberland road, other appropriations interesting
to twothirds of the members of the House must be
included in the BILL To say nothing in apprehension
of this log rolling mode of legislation nor of the it-
mense expenditure which we have to contribute to OBJ
jects In which have interest in order to pro-
cure appropriation for road in this way,
unconstitutional appropriation is apt to find its way
into the bill in order to secure two-thirds vote For
instance The bill which passed last session could
be made to pass without purchasing the votes of
the New York members by an appropriation for the
Hudson river, and that appropriation was deemed un-
constitutional by MIR. Tyler and therefore he refused
his assent our BILL whether in right or in wrong is
not for me to say.
My democratic friends will perceive, from this
statement, the embarrassments with which your Rep
resentative must contend in efforts to obtain appro-
priations for our road. Candid political opponents
will the same thing. From those political oppo-
nents who, during the past summer, denied and de-
nounced false, plain statements of facts substant
ated by indubitabe testimony, composing part of
the history of the period, and who swallowed like
young birds every foolish fasehood prothhged by in
terested witnesses to the prejudice of my personal
character, and concerning my sayings, doings and
tentions, neither ask, nor expect any thing, except
that by redoubling their injustice to me, they may
make the same garing possible.
1t is my desire to present this subject to Congress-
sustained by the voices of my constituency. To this
end have caused to be printed hundred, or more
copies of memorial to Congress praying an appro-
priation of money refuse lands be expended up
on the ROAD, and for speedy appropriation of money
to erect guard wall around the middle pier of White
River Bridge, which, without repair, win certainly
not sustain the bridge for many years, or perhaps
months longer These petitions will be left for sig
nature at the post Office in Indianapolis and at the
mills and clerks Offices and other public places in
the District, where hope they win be signed by those
interested invite the cooperation Of all liberia
men in obtaining signatures. Copies of the petition
can be had at the Sentinel Office.
5 l invite the attention of my Congressional col
leagues to this subject. Will not they especially
: B. Smith and McGaughey) adopt the proper measures
: to bring about public action on this subject! Viii
not our members of the Legislature bring the subec
before their respective Houses Especially will the!
not institute inquiry into the condition of tn
s bridge pier, and present the to Congress. In
matter of common interest every one ought to be
actor.
II Most respectfully, your fellow citizen,
4 w. w. WICK
IS NoTE.-Wben signatures have been obtained, di
e the petitions to at Washington, in Nov. next
e The Indiana State Journal will obige by insert
inr the above w. w. w.