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

was loan take it for granted that it is incumbent upon
the United States 10 repay il will appear, and is SO
set forth IN the report OF the committee, that on the h
o. pecemeer l7oo. on vas Introduced Tor granting q
for erecting public buildings the Potomac river agree,
ably 10 the resolution OF the last assembly This bill
with this title passed the House by the parliamentary
forms OF proceedings upon the eth of December, 1890
and on Its passage lis title amended by substituting
Tor the words quoted above the f,lowing
An act concerning an advance Of money to the govern.
meni of the United States for public buildings.
Now, MIR President, will refer 10 the original act
which is contained IN the Virginia Statutes at Large II
is entitled
An act concerning an advance oe money TO the
q ;he unel Sm,ss iqr public buildings, tpassed the
9th oi December, 1900
Whereas general assembly ofMarysnd have scceded
10 proposition OF The general assembly Of ibis Common
wealth conianed IN their resolution The tenth day Of De,
esber thousand hundred aud eighty nine,
cernng an advance o money 10 the general government,
10 be applied towards erecting public buildings al the
permanent seat of tbe government Of the United States
ioud te Congress deet texpTdnntto TX Il on the bank
OF Pa.owmack and whereas Congress passed
Tor establishing the sid seat Of the Pato~-
mack BE rnactsa ~ the general assembly That hum
died and twenty tonsand dollars shalt be advanced by this
equal yearly payments and 10 bo applied towards erecting
public buildings at the permanent seat of the government
of the United States the buk of the Patow and
The auditor Of public is hereby directed issue
his warrants tie the amount OF hundred
twenty thousu,d dolias IN uanuer hereinbe-
fore directed, to the order OF tie President OF the United
States.
The history of these transactions shows that the gov
ernment OF Vlrgnia--l presume in order 10 induce the
government OF the United States to locate upon the Poo
mac riverproposed that if should locate the Sea, of
government upon that river, would advance the of
$4,000 towards the erection OF the public buildings
The general government did afterwards locate the govern
ment upon the Potomac river and the President received
this money under the act of the United States authorizing
budings although the State Of Virginia passed the law
not to grant this money to the United States originally
proposed, but to advance it, submit. therefore, that is
now proper that should be reclaimed from the govern
a
Mr. BRADBURY should like to be informed by the
senator from Virginia whether the State OF Virginia has
ever, previous this time, made any CLAIM TO have this
amount OF money refunded which Is now asked ior in
Nj MASON. Mr.. President, am not aware that the
State OF Virginia has asked that this money should
be refunded. remember that some tour or five years
ago member of the general assembly OF Virginia INTRO
duced resolution that SO much OF the District OF Colnm
hla AS was within the limits OF the State OF Virginia
having been receded proper that they should Claim
of the general government that sum OF money which hsd
thus been advanced. No action then taken upon IT,
will say now that although Virginia has certainly
advanced aClalm which she has assigned, have
as one OF the representatives OF the Stale OF Virginia,
received any instructions upon the subject whalever
The memorial is presented By the Railroad Company the
assignees Of the claim but inasmuch the State OF
Virginia has recognised II, and assumed dominion
II by asssng IT. deem lmy duty as one o. the repre-
through the claim OF the Orange aud Alexandria Railroad
Company
Mr. BRADBURY Mr. President, to induce the loca-
the Commonwealth oil Virginia proposed to advance the
sum of $4,000 to the general government The right
TO reclaim it, suppose would depend upon the terms OF
the grant or advancement Now sir, we should inquire
what the intention OF the Commonwealth OF Virginia
al The time of making this proposition. Did she under
stand that she was merely making loan to the general
government Did she do II as bona hde proposition
not depending upon the technical terms in which the
proposition couched, but bona de proposition 10
grant that amount OF money IN orer TO secure the oca
ton OF the seat OF government upon the Potomac river
The conduct OF Virginia for some sixty years, IN declining
to make any reclamation o the fund, would seem 10
show, plain acts show ha, the understanding
of Virginia TO make il donation TO this loca
ton and after this lapse OF time think II not little re-
makabe that this company should present an application
OF this kind, and expect that the application would be
Mr. UNDERWOOD. / rise, Mr. President, 10 state
the reasons which have influenced to advocate the
passage of this bill In looking at the legislation of Con
gress, and also at the legislation Of Virginia am salts
he'd that the general government received this money
donation, and so regarded it The accounts, believe,
kept al the treasury, looking upon II in the light oil
donation H4lr
But now, sir this question comes up. When you look
at the legislation OF Virginia, you will find that when she
TO upon the Legislation of Congress. she did not
conform her legislation 10 The language which Congress
had adopted 10 express fs ideas and views, but she
adopted language 10 accordance with the statement made
by my iend from Virginia, which holds ont upon the face
ol that she did iGtendo make il gift, but merely
advancement thereby leaving to herself the right 10
reclaim the money, if she thought proper, at future
day. THIS was done al lime when the United States
was poor aud was done, as the gentleman from Maine
has SAID with view to the seat OF government
upon the Potomac.
Now SIR l. for one, under such circumstances, not
willing, when the government has become rich, TO hold
10 the money, If II was gilt take IL upon the
most favorable ground against the claim OF Virginia.
and that suggested by the gentleman from Maine. am
willing to hold the money, i il was regarded
gilt, when she claims II back again. through her as
signee, from the government.
Sir, this is no question. recollect case, which
illustrates the whole subject, which discussed year
after year ~ the Kentucky legislature. The citizens IN
and about Frankfort made large donations Tor the purpose
of securing the location o the seat OF government in
their town Some OF them became unfortunate in the
course OF their business transactions; they became re-
duced from afluence TO comparative want and they then
applied 10 the Stale of Kentucky to refund TO them the
money which they had thus advanced when the govern
ment seemed 10 want It, and when those individuals had
abundant ability make The donations The govern
ment responding TO that application, believe, returned
the money, think ought 10 be done in all similar
Now, sir, by no means present the Commonwealth Of
Virginia who is my honorsd mother, in the attitude
OF pauper or a beggar. Not at all She do without
this money and her assIgnees perhaps along very
well without it. But she has thought proper for the
purpose OF making great public Improvement which will
rebound to our advantage well as hers, in connecting
Alexandria near the OF government with her west
ern territory, transfer this claim to railroad company,
which will expend il for this useful purpose. II u had
been gift, in every OF the word, originally, 1
would not hold the money under such circumstances My
disposition is now that able TO return IT, think
the United States ought 10 have located lis permanent seat
OF government without any temptation 10 be derived from
money think il should have been done upon principle,
IN reference the great interests OF the nation consider
ing popular cenality, &c. The seat OF government,
whether located by the influence Of donations which
maryland and Virginia made not, located, as II
uneu ou' according TO subsequent facts IN very proper