Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-05-04

done consituonaly, to give you land enough from Illinois
to complete it. agree here and pledge myself under these
to vote to give you land enough but do not
wish 70 see this bill embarrassed now, and certain that
me senator himself neither wishes defeat embsrrass it.
ne measure Is too grand too magnificent to meet
with such fate, a. the hands Of this Congress And really
as It Is TO connect the North South SO thoroughly may
set a o. even the Wmot provso, and tie as to-
gehe so eiiecualy that the idea separation will be
impossible beg OF the Senator from Tennes ee as spe
cial favor to US, to withdraw his proposition
Mr. BELL. II is Difficult, withstand such appeals from
senators whom esteem SO highly but beg leave to ask if
they not mistaken the that are TO re-
suit from the adoption of this proposition took very dis
nct ground from that which appehended that is placing
It on the ground that should give this land Tennessee
and Kentucky, if stood the principle The distribution
OF the public lands of the States among all States
said was essential to supply this gap the chain commu
ncatlon small link in IT. only about eighth that which,
spPehended would mol be supplied under this appropriation
proposed to be made by Congress unless should be
to Include it. Now, tell the Senator from Alabama,
though do not pretend to be prophet that this road
will be constructed through Tennessee except such clause
adopted You fud convenient and economical ter
minus in the northern part Of the State Of Mississippi, upon
that great trunk which discharges all the waters OF the North
South, and West and the States Of Alabama and Mississippi
will come to the conclusion that will be great nconve
nence to be obliged to navigate the Mississippi hundred
miles further up than the mouth of the Ohio instead of
strucng at their own expense this road Of hundred and
twenty hundred and thirty miles, through the States of
Tennessee and Kentucky. They neves will do ii. l am
friend to the proposition for constructing the road in Alabama
and Mississippi, for friend every work which prom
ses to be nationally useful whether it located through
my State or not. do not act narrow principle
to oppose the work if my State does get the
lands applied for shall vote for the bill though my propo
stion be not included.
i But what does the Senator from Alabama mean when he
speaks Of constitutional objections voting this land the
States. Is not that the proposition Of the bill Is it
giving to the States corporation the lands in Alabama pro-
posed by the Senator from Alabama The constitutional
\ at with the
same force to proposition to give these lands to any
State to giving them II it be cons-
tutiona to give land to Misssspp why is it not consu-
tiona to give it to Tennessee Kentucky So of Illinois
Where the point Indifference The only constitutional ques
ton that know of rests alone upon the question Of appro
praton, whether OF lands money for works Of this de-
scrptloD, in one State in It seems to me thai, if
determine the question Of consuionaty to be in favor
the power 10 donate State, you settle the whole pro-
pos tion can difference. The objection is this,
that these lands in illinois lie for example, and that pro-
posed to give portion of them Kentucky Tennessee
Where is the distinction, in constitutional point Of view,
whether the lands in State another The pro-
pey does not belong Illinois than any other State
in the Union. But have heretofore done this very
thing We example, for the support
OF an asy in Connecticut, and another in Kentucky Ger
anly there be distinction between appropratng the
land to the State in which it lies and to any other State
it is the property of the Government.
Mr.. DOWNS | wish to ask the Senator, while on this
point whether this railroad through Illinois, Kentucky, and
Tennessee, and the whole route is to be made by
l
have supposed, is frequently the where road
through several States that the whole be the work Of
company sanctioned by the several States. If that be
the in this instance, is not very material to kentucky
Tennessee whether the lands granted to Illinois
Alabama, long they the completion of the
work.
Mr. BELL. would just say that still there is no differ
ence in principle whether company or the State construct
road BECAUSE if lands granted the State
grant them to the company who will construct the road
Mr.. DOWNS If the Senator will pardon me moment,
believe he has misunderstood my question.
Mr.. BELL. beg the Senator's pardon vii! come to
it in moment. My impressions in part based the
idea that the work will be constructed either through
Tennessee Kentucky without foreign aid, and that there is
sufficient interest either in Alabama Mississippi make
the road there at their expense That my idea and
the reasoning upon which it based will, think the
of the Senator himself This is very
deraknghe building Of three huuded miles Of road
through Mississippi and Alabama aone expense Of
less than fifteen twenty thousand dollars the mile And
in Illinois, the four hundred miles there will cost less
than fifteen or twenty thousand dollars to the mile.
Mr.. SHIELDS, Tin his seat Say ten thoCsar dollars.
Mr.. BELL. Well, ten thousand dollars mile. These
States wbe buened enough with the completion of their
portions Of the road and will not be liberty feel the
inclination to engage in the construction of fireworks in Ten
nessee and Kentucky And in Western Tennessee and the
part of Kentucky through which this road is the nte
rest will not be sufficiently great induce the people TO build
the road The local interests in the road it is true,
siderable, but they confined to narrow limit and in
sparse POI u,ion Now this work great and advantageous
in ITSELF which, if constructed will have beneficial eff
feet upon both the North and the South and DESIRE there
FORE secure the cooperation of the Government furnish
the for its completion through Kentucky and Tennes
see BOTH do not propose insist further up my propo
stion have given this explanation of my object show
that not offered frivoousy, and will leave il to the
Senate to dispose Of The Senators from Illinois and Alaba
suppose that, if my proposition succeeds, will be fatal
to the should regret exceedingly if such should
be the effect but do not that it will be. At all events,
shall vote for the bill whether my proposition be adopted
or not. .....
The debate continued ty Messrs MILLER, DAVIS
| of Mississippi DAYTON, DOUGLAS, BENTON, TUR-
| NEY, DAWSON, HUNTER, and WHITCOMB, tie
latter gentleman ntimang desire continue his speech
and consequently, without dsposng of the pend
| ing question, The Senate adjourned.