Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-04-09
The Righ,s OF dine West.

win ID euDlDlucQ IGuCCllOnSs III ItldlAOu " III IlRutSI
and claims of the West, to some share of the favor
of Congress, as it is b bestowed through appropriations
from the public treasury for works of general benefit.
Il is not necessary that we should add a single word
to what is here said, in order to emf rec the business
Of the positions taken. That will be admitted without
question By citizens Of the West. We would urge,
nevertheless, the absolute necessity of some efficient
action on the part of the people, by way of petitions,
if nothing else. Almost any man can attend to this
in his own neighborhood and we are sure that our
immediate representative, Judge Wick, will gladly
exert himself to accomplish the end in view, and in
so doing he will have the Jealous aid Of our entire
Congressional delegation. So far as the Cumberland
Road is concerned, we are convinced that the most
energetic action is necessary. 1t has already become
an almost ''obsolete idea" since Mr.. Clay's opposition
to il in 1910, which was almost a death-blow; but
all will agree that no work in the West is more
demanded by the public convenience and prosperity.
Every man has surely a right to the farm he has paid
for, and some maintain that every freeman has a right to a
portion Of that earth which God has made for all; the
same right which all are allowed to possess in the air we
breathe and the water we drink. Earth, air, and water
being alike indispensable to The life. and the welfare Of man.
The Western States have a right to the protecting
care Of The general government, and the ommon benefit
which was expected to grow out of the confederacy.
Under this head may he demanded, defence in time Of
war. and those arrangements required for internal commu-
nicstion, and the safety and facility Of commerce which
are beyond the capacity of a single State to accomplish.
&" But the Yves, has been powerless, and its population
scattered and disunited the East has been comparatively
strong. and its strength made efficient by a deficient popu-
lalOn, aud the irresistible influences of associated wealth.
The national treasury isa common fund supported by the
people of the nation; to which every man, woman and
child contributes. who eats a spoonful of salt or wears q
yard of cOico. The population Of the Mississippi Valley
is now equal to that of the Atlantic States, and now pays
as much into the national treasury but with inconside-
rable exceptions the whole revenue of the nation is dis
bursed upon The Atlantic border, and for the benefit of
maritime commerce, whilst the West gets nothing.
at $ a plain case, we are now paying our money into
The national treasury for nothing, since the sparing and
~niggardly appropriations heretofore made for a few limited
oljpcfs Of western commerce have been altogether INSULT
Gent for any useful purpose. But, say our eastern breth-
rem. the Constitution prohibits all appropriation for internal
commerce, and no expenditure of public money can be
l~egitimately made except on salt water, or at least within
the reach of the sea breeze.
"About fifty merchants. employing a capital of from
six to twelve millions, are engaged in the China trade, and
supply US with imperial, %pouchong and bohea tea, and
other nick 1t is indispensable to their protection
and encouragement of this important commerce. that a
mission to the celestial empire should be got up, and that
a reputable portion of a navy which is kept aAOst for that
and similar duty at the cost of some seven or eight mill
ions Of dollars, should be employed to scOur those distant
seas, to keep off buccaneers and maintain the dignity of
the nation.
upon the mighty waters Of the Mississippi, and its
great tributaries III transported the whole surplus produce
of more than SIX millions Of people. An appropriation 10
aid and protect this trade by an improvement in the navi-
CATION of those waters cannot be granted, because the
: Constitution, as e1pounded by the ingenuity of eastern
statesmen, forbids it!-Patience will brook no further
delay. They demand prompt and ample justice. 1t can.
not be denied if their representation in Congress are true
to the interests Of their constituents.
"Even the Cumberland Road. that great national work.
so long due to the West by the solemn pledge of the nation,
is to be denationslized. cOmmuted for, and finally killed of
by a grant of refuse land.
"This subject of the Cumberland Road comes up in the
! House of Representatives on the third week in April, and
such as feel interested in its fate are invited to memorabilia
} Congress upon the subject. The following is a copy of
a Petition got up and numerousIy signed by the people of
Bond county, illinois, and already forwarded to the seat of
government:
The Petition of the citizens Of Bond county, Illinois,
TO the Congress ofthe United States, respectfully shOt0s
That they have seen with deep regret Bill introduced
into the House Of representatives purporting to provide
for completing the Cumberland Road by a grant Of land
TO the States of Ohio. Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.
This Road has been deemed a National enterprise for
more than forty years, and upon this character its claim 10
efficient appropriations from the general government rests.
The bill alluded to would deprive it Of this character, throw
it upon the doubtful action Of four independent States for
its further prosecution, without their desire or consent,
and, under the character Of means for accomplishing the
f work. bestow a portion of public lands of no immediate
value, to be selected from such as are left on hand, after
{ a forty years culling of spectators and emigrants. All
experience shows hat grants Of this kind are no benefit
to those who receive them. The expense Of an unavOid-
ably protracted sale, usually swallowing up the whole
upon the prosecution of a work of this kind, and to make
it dependent on the concerted action of four independent
States, two of which have already disagreed as to its loca-
ton. can only result in the entire destruction and final
abandonment of the enterprise.
Your Petitioners beg most respectfully yet urgently to
cali Ia your attention the fact, that whilst the annual reve-
nue. of the nation amounts to almost thirty millions Of
dollars. one half Of which is contributed by The people
who dwell in the Valley Of the Mississippi, nearly the
whole Of This sum is expended upon the Atlantic border.
more than half a century and are still making for every
requisite facility and protection demanded by maritime
commerce. the great interests of the West have been ne
elected, and put completely under the ban Of legislation.
They beg for a fair and deliberate consideration Of their
claims which may be justly urged in favor of the Cumber-
land Road as a great and useful national enterprise and
for a redemption Of the pledge given to the purchasers
and settlers Of the public lands, by the government of the
United States for its completion. They solicit for it a
useful and legitimate appropriation, TO lie disbursed like
oil other sums for national purposes, from the public trea-
sury aud that the work be prosecuted as heretofore, under
the scientific and practical supervision of competent agents,
appointed aud controlled by the general government.
A MURDERER AcQUIrTED.-Contrary to all expect
atoms, Tirrell, who murdered his paramour, Mrs. Bick-