The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-13

What the exact amount of the proportion of the
net proceeds of the sales of public lands in these
States since 1887 is, have not the documents at
hand to show As, however, it did not reach a
million from 1902 to 1887 it is but reasonable cal
culaton to presume that the amount which has ac-
crued since does not reach above half million of
dollars. Placing it at that, and we will find that
4,665, 76l have been gratuitously appropriated to
the purposes called for by the acts admitting these
States into the Union.
1t IS admitted, indeed, by the friends of this BILL
that specific amout pledged for the building of these
public roads has been expended upon them by Con-
gress, but that it has been unwsey and improperly
expended-expended in a manner not best calcutta
ted to the end in view. 1t is contended that
if less costly road had been planned and built the
specific fund set apart for it under the several acts
quoted by me would have been sufficient. NV an
to this is, that the application of this fund was
left to the discretion of Congress. 1t was "to be
laid out under the authority of Congress" and Sum
der the direction of Congress-" Power and discre
ton has to be reposed somewhere. 1t was in this
case reposed in Congress- and no specific character
of road having been designated, Congress was left
to the exercise of its judgment In exercise of that
judgment, the whole proportion fthe net proceeds
of the sale of these lands has been expended, and
large sums not barganed contracted for have been
gratuitously voted to those States-making the sum
total applied to this road near seven millions of dol
lars.
But, gentlemen say, the contract wss that Con-
gress should make this road, and make it we must,
or fail in our plghted faith read the bond differ
emily. read that Congress promised to Ohio that
zone tpentsih of the net proceeds of sales of land
in the State should "be applied to the ayng out and
making public roads" &c. In that l see but two
stipuatons the reservations from sales Of "one-Cen-
teth" and the application of that sum to specific
purpose. | read that Congress did not undertake
positively and without fail 10 make public road lead
ing to and through all these States; but 10 apply five
per cent of the net proceeds of sales of the lands
within them to that purpose. If the sum failed OF
it's object, there IL no provision that Congress shall
apply another "one-tcentieih" to that purpose. On
the contrary, Congress is specifically denied the
power ofappying more than lone t,oentieth" to that
object. II ] am correct, then there s no contract
now binding upon the government to appropriate
any further sum to the completion ofthis road This
hill, them must be supported, if supported at ALL on
other grounds.
The constitutional point shall not argue Is il
expedent, then, to grant the three million nine hun
dred and eghty-slx thousand three hundred and
twenty-five acres Of land called for by the bilR To
render this large slice of public domain as paatabe
as possible TO our throats, members advocating the
bill promise il will passt, not to ask for another
acre or dollar for the road
This savours Of some qualms Of conscience evey
in its friends. They suspect that we cannot well
gulp down so much land at a swallow; and TO quiet
our startled judgment, say, "well, we know tits @
large slice, but swallow ii, and we will not trouble
YOU again" But who is to guarantee thisS The
people may keep these members here long, and