The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-28

that city has been relieved from very considerable reopen
slby by the government, IN meeting lis subscIpl0ls to
some public works that were undertaken by her. How
large that subscription was, or TO what extent sae was
renewed do not undertake 10 say But, II we are 10 70
o the equity OF the case, these things are to be coupid
: Mr. UNDERWOOD Many of the States Of ihis
ohion haye advanced money in aid OF this government.
10 lis indian wars, and for other purposes; and since
nave been here do not know that solitary bill has
ever been presented the part OF any of these Stss to
reclaim the amount thus advanced or even interest upOn
the caiH-as IN the OF Georgia and other S,atSS
which has been refused Upon what ground is Il tha
you have considered these claims and paid back the
money! 1t is upon the ground that the States have al
vanced the money TO the United States or lhejr use and
benefit These States have not been called upon 10 make
these advances No, they defending their own cti-
zens by making these advances and yet in con.
sequence of the obligations of the constuton-one Of
which places upon you The duty OF defending them-you
invariably return the money-principal and interest
Where is the difference between these and the pres
enl Here the State OF Virginia has advanced he
benefit of the money il being expended for nationN par-
poses you live in the houses that You built for aha
moneyor rather they shelter you daily in your Discus
sion OF the public business and them when You are
called upon to refund the money thus advancedJyQu
make distinction between the money OF the States that
you have thus used; and that EMPLOYED in defence
plel My mind is too obtuse to see il.
But say, the gentleman from New Jersey and tho
gentleman from Maine You pay this. why. YOU Lay ne
foundation Tor individuals claims the government
here, because you get the alternate sections, or the
whole Of the ground upon which the city is laid out and
you only pay for alternate sections lots Now, will
inform these gentlemen that you have been acting. time
after time, and year alter year. upon this very prncle
that you bound pay all this money for the benefit
Of the city and that OF the reasons Tor making ap
preparations for the Improvement OF streets, for The City
Hail. and other improvements here, as well know, for
the last fifteen years You actually voting for the
Improvement OF the city, for the Improvement Of public
property for the Improvement Of streets and alleys upon
the very ground that you have derived revenue r0mths
profits in selling out lots. believe there is perWaneat
,nI,A Tho
Tags, who has the superntendsnce OF the sale of the
maler OF these lots still remaining To, the government
@ hays ns o SOs Ss
which these gentlemen speak, and have acted upon it.
Now, sir, as to the idea of being alarmed at addi-
tona claims, if they are just and amount to miiens.
would vote for them come when or where they nay.
But should they be UNJUST in my opinion, and for only
picayune. lwould vote against them. Sir we oughtto
discriminate upon prinGpie, and not upon GmOuyts,
have idea of that sort OF legislation which is 10 make
a vote turn upon the amount. Ii you will give. me "a
principle upon which is to turn will respect it. andgp
for il against it accordngy but put i upon the mere
amount and have no idea OF that species OF leglaiatOp
The question is simply, then, in nutshewhesher this
money which you have received and applied o paol aso
shall be repaid If you regard the State OF Virginia IN
the light of donor- you look upon her as the cred
tor, when she says you, 81 desire you TO return he
whether you will return her the money or not. abe
which have called your attention are Precents
against this sort OF legislation, winch l0oks 10 Tho
amount alone and not to the principle. sef
beg pardon for troubling the Senate with my reInaskA
| am done with the question. .er fsia
Mr. RUSK Mr.. President | have no difficulty inivo.
ting for this bill upon either OF the grounds that it has
nplaced upon-whether il advance in tbana-
OF loan, donation 10 consideration of souoar
rangement about the seat OF government being as.e-
United States, it certainly ought to be paid hack It
given upon any supposon that Virginia was 70 rs-
csve benefit from The location OF the seat OF gov-
ernmeAt at this place. think il should be paid backd0r
the want OF any consideration. On the contrary Ithnk
that bringing the seat OF government here has been N
injury rather than an advantage to the State OF vIgios
Oh that have doubt If, therefore, it sori Of
bargain, to be stated, based upon the MeA 0f
benefit resulting from that source. certainly think ths
money ought TO be refunded. -t'ris
With regard 10 the other objection, that this right has
been transferred to another party SO far from its ba
objection to my mind, il is, in fact arecomnsndaiioa
for the bill. II Virginia asked the repayment OF tho
money for herself ii would be right for nobody preasds
that single particle of consideration was ever roco1d
by her, in the trade, if there was one, between Virginia
and the general government at all But she propoass
transfer the claim that the money, If receved.
will go, not TO the benefit OF Virginia herse nor OF any
particular locality but for the general benefit In con-
sructng road which is in state oil progress from herc
Mr.. Mr. BALDWIN. II this money belongs to the State
OF Virginia, il is very clear, think that Congress has
nothing whatever to do with the manner IN which The
State OF Virginia has thought proper to dispose OF H nor.
in my Judgment, should the manner in which she may
have thought proper to dispose OF any claim she nay
have upon the United States govern IN any way the &C.
ton OF Congress upon this bill II the money belongs
the Stale OF Virginia. it is due to her that loan msde
by ner 10 the Oniled SAtes snOuiu DC tcAu, P8a
with interest," whether she wishes 10 place that monsy
in her treasury, subject to her own CONTROL or whether
she wishes TO apply II TO case OF internal improve
ment With regard to the manner, hen in which chs
fund is TO be disposed of that ought not my judgmeato
have the slightest influence upon the action OF Congress
The memorial on which this bill is founded was rs-
ierred, when presented, TO The Committee OF Cisme
That committee carefully considered the claim, and all
the documentary evidence adduced IN Its support lney
were believe, unanimously OF the opinion that these
was no claim in behalf OF the State Of Virgins. N
which, claim they could report bill but eeHka
claim made indirectly by of the States OF the udon,
desrous of retaining for deserving assignee eo0ey
which she had advanced the treasury OF the Uuted
States, the committee thoughtu was proper case to b
decided by Congress- and they agreed to report the f3c
aud ask the action OF the Senate upon the subject fhe
mt,ee for the purpose of obtaining their views were not
satisfied with the manner in which the committee hed
disposed of it, and recommltted II and hereup0u, Sy
the assent of the committee believe but with no nisn.
ton of giving the sanction OF The committee TO the cMsm
the honorable senator from Kentucky [Mr USDERwosDl
introduced this bill.
Now sir, il appears from documents which are VIZ.
your table, connected with this case thar on ,ne s
the treasury this money, received from u"e " H 49,
that State Il was thus credited on the DOCKS o. me
United States more than fifty years ago. ~ must o
he presumed 10 have been known by the SAto OF
Virginia from that TO this how TINS advance wa un-
ersood bv the government OF the United States to have
been made Until the present session OF Con9Sess no
claim whatever was made, and no intimation VS.
a;yen by the State Of Virginia that she regarded this
advance made by her to the government OF the United
States IN any other light than that in which had been
regarded by this government
Now sir, we all know that at the time at which the
seat of government was established here, il was m.Her