Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-07-01
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
CUMBERLAND ROAD

present condition Of the road 1t had been opened and par
tally graded through great part Of the State but it bad
now been ten years since any appropriation had been made
toward its complexion and falling rapidly into state
Of dilapdaton He knew personally Of three bridges upon
1t which had fallen down for of repair and unless
something done ia the Of three years more the
whole road would be mpassabe twas winter Time
tho worst road In the State The Of the State had
waited long hope Of aid from the General Government but
they had abandoned all hope from that quarter they aid
not expect to get dollar and the last remedy they
now asked that might be surrendered to the State and in
the course Of few years they hoped to be able complete
if not the whole, large part Of il.
Mr.. THOMPSON, Of Mississippi, asked what condi-
tons this work was proposed TO be surrendered the State
Mr.. SMITH replied that the surrender the bill was alb
soute and unconditional The why the surrender diff
fered in this from the which other parts of the
national road had been surrendered Ohio Pennsylvania
was that in those cases the Government had first completed
The roa but in Indiana il remained incomplete The State
m not thsreoe, enter into any coEdons iih The
General Government The object get the State Lee
gaure after the surrender divide the road and parcel it
out among different private companies who would finish it
out of their The State willing TO bind
itself to complete the road work too heavy for il 10
undertake. rFaG ss sNs se I'D We .ss !
Mr.. MCKAY asked question not heard by the Re-
porter butbelevcd to have relation to the which the
other paris Of the road had been surrendered as the OBJ
legation to keep in repair, &c. Why did not the same OBJ
legation apply in this case e s9trsS 4 N
Mr. SMITH replied that the principle did not apply
in this case because the Government had left the road in an
more than mile, two miles, different places was finish
ed the residue from long neglect had become The worst road
in the State If the General Government had delivered over
The road 10 finished state then they might require
corresponding conditions the part of the State receiving it
but here they had done such thing In SO terrible state
Of dlapdation was it fallen in many places that would
require much money repair it would to make il de
All the State got by the transfer was the right on
pa OF the line of road to cut the timber the public lands
for certain distance each side Of it, aid in the repair
Some parts of the road complete morass MANY gem
lemen must recolec The time when Mr. Vau Buren, was
completely swamped in the very middle Of it, Mr. S. should
be glad II the bill could be passed without delays was OBJ
viously proper, and greatly needed. II 8 N
Mr.. flChLlN concurred fully in the entire statement
which had been made by the gentleman who had Just taken
bis seat He hoped, however, the bill would be referred to
Committee OF the Whole order that he might an amend
men providing for like surrender to Illinois of SO much Of
the road as passed through that State.
NJ VNTON said that this bill had been reported to
the House for the first time the proposition was new That
portion OF the line of road which passed through Ohio V
gna, and had been surrendered those States
certain specified conditions, and qualified manner only
One special condition the right part the General
Government to the jurisdiction and control of the road
II the States failed to keep in repair None of these
dons, be understood inserted in this bill. The bill
might be proper one but he could 10 rush
suddenly into denIve action upon it. and dispose Of in
teest which had been subject OF discussion Congress for
twenty years, its first presentation He time to
examine IT. TO think about and be hoped the bill would be
end with that he would move its reference
10 the Committee on Roads and Canals.
Mr. GREENE thought that If The general system which
had prevailed TO be abandoned and the poons Of
the road which bad been begun be surrendered the
states in which they lay the state of Missouri ought to
ceve the two per cent the proceeds Of the Of the
public lands which bad heretofore been reserved making
roads to and that State and be would move as an amend
men 10 the motion of the chairman OF the Committee OF WAYS
and Means, that the Committee Roads and Canals be in
sructed to provide for paying Missouri the of that
two per cent
Mr.. SMITH, Of Illinois, understood to say that he
concuued in the prophecy Of the amendment suggested by the
gentleman from Illinois He thought tina, State should epiov
like transfer as the bill provided for Indiana II due to
all parties that this long vexed subject should receive some
inal disposition, and that without delay.
The question was then put Mr.. Vrsros's motion and
decided in the Affirmative. fg
So the bill was referred to the Committee Roads and
Canals.
HARBoR AND RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr. HUNT, from the Committee on Commerce to which
referred The memorial Of the Chicago Convention of the
9Th OF july ls47 made report thereon accompanied by the
blowing resolutions
Resolved That the cons,ituon Of the United States
Congress the power to appropriate open add i'm
,rove hsrbor and from rivers
all cases where such improvements necessary 10 the
snu ney o. commerce with foreign nations or,he
Resolved That the interests Of national commerce.
he common defence and general welfare OF the United States
require udicious exercise Of The foregoing powers
- Hesoted, That the assigned President
his veto message of December IS s47 for his refusal APP
prsons for the improvement harbos aud rivers
are deemed insufficient aud unsstst actory.
a. Resored That would be inexpedent and contrary to
The principles 81 the constitution give the general
Congress- IN advance OF legislation by the States the impo
son OF tonnage duties by the several States Of
improving the ports and harbors which such duties may be
levied. tt
S. Resoed That the report Of the Committee on Com
mece the mortal Of the Chicago Convention respecting
arbor and river improvements the Presdents message
December Is 1S47 the subject and bill referred
said committee in relation tonnage duties with the mil
nory report on the subject be priaied that the
Committee Printing be directed inquire into the expe-
iiency ofprin,ing extra copies Of said report ~
These resolutions, giving rise TO debate were laid over
FOREIGN CRIMINALS
Mr.. J. r. INGERSOLL, from the Committee an he In
cay, reported bill for giving full effect to treaties Of extra
tion
The bill was read first and second time when
Mr. j. r. INGERS0L asked the indulgence of the Hou.e
few moments while he stated the object Of this bill and
hen he hoped would he he pleasure OF the House 10 not 4
ipon its passage known House that, by treaty
npulatons made with than Government Of Europe
were bound TO deliver up fugyes who have fed from
Justice on the commission OF crime Cases were familiar 10
very body which showed that necessary b enlarge the
ABILITIES 70 comply with obligations often happens that
individual comes to this country where the crime obvious
nd the application for the fugitive regular but there are no
UGH officers IN the part OF The county where the fugitive
ound as are authorized willing to take on themselves
no burden and weighty responsibility Of issuing warrant 10
rres aud TO take the preliminary proceedings towards
andng over The individual to the properly authorized officer
he object Of this bill Is to appoint officers and authorize
theirs to carry out the provisions Of the with France
nd Eneand, all times without DELAY and the .nc.~ -