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

sir am entirely loss 10 imagine what possible effect
the etrocession could have upon the validity oil The claim
The seat OF government is located here All and every
advantage which desired, can be desired by Vlr'
gina in the location OF the seat OF government here
still retained Surely the retrocession OF Alexandra 70
Virginia was no injury loit We did not force II back
upon Virginia II was rettoceded with The iull consent
and desire OF Virginia We gave her back the territory
which she had given US, and il seems to me singular
argument that therefore she has right 10 ask the pay
ment of this sum OF money appears 10 me- putting ihe
the footing OF the senator from Virginia, II be-
comes conclusive against the claim set up According to
his statement, the money never would have been asked
by Virginia herself al ALL believe that fully But he
says would have been assigned by her. nor treat
ed claim, il Alexandria had not been reiroceded.
Alexandra was re,roceded with her full consent, and
surely the acquisition OF the territory cannot be CONSIDER
ed furnishing any reason why this money should be
paid which would not have been asked received by
her if this retrocession had not taken place But SIR,
with regard to that portion of the State OF Virginia
though am not very familiar with this subject appre-
hend Congress has treated it, while it was under It's
Jurisdiction, with anything like slepmothes neglect
But be thaas may this OF Alexandra TO the
State OF Virginia be considered in the character OF
which gives TO Virginia to ask OF mo-
ney taking back II could, why, she ought 10 have
asked it when the bill OF retrocesson passed The act
ofetocession proposed TO cede il back to her She said
nothing about its being nconvenen or injurious and that
if reoceded to her she must be paid back this 900.
And certainly il would have been very strange claim,
and very extraordinary foundation upon which TO place
it, believe everybody thought-certainly did--hat
Virginia gaining something valuable to her when 1t
/
valid in Vginaif the retrocession would not have fur
nshed the ground upon which she could have rghully
claimed tit furnishes no ground upon which her
assignees could have claimed it, seems to me, there
fore, that the stands where placed il at first We
ought deal with these assgnees and we ought not
10 treat this the assignment OF debt due to tue State
of Virginia. Still repeat what have said before, that
if Virginia thinks proper TO ask the money will vote 1t
with the utmost willingness.
| Mr.. HUNTER The senator from North Carolina did
not state the point precisely as presented IT. according to
the history the that Virginia
not only anxious, as was the case with other Sates,
that the seat OF government should be placed upon the
Potomac but that part of her territory should be IN
cued in the limits oil the district where the seat OF gov
ernment was To be located Ii may have been very un
wise for her TO have desired il; indeed think an undue
anxiety manifested in this matter OF the location OF
tue seat OF government But sir whether was wise or
reversesuch being the state OF the caself appears
IRON the history Of the transaction that this donation was
probably given for the purpose OF inducing tins govern
men to take that portion OF the territory OF Virginia, to
enable II 10 improve that portion oil territory which IL
should thus acqueif il should turn out thai that was the
consideration and il subses experience shows that
II was better Tor both parties that Virginia should re-
sumo it, and that there was no occasion originally Tor
giving any part of it, the money along with lit
seems to most natural view OF The equity OF the
case that when the territory was returned the money
should also be returned with it, Now, sir, believe the
history OF the transaction will show that that the
motive which governed the Donation and that that was
the why this demand was made, upon The part ol
Alexandria, only since the restoration. know at the
time of the rerocesson they talked OF this matter and
the authorities OF the town, many OF whom in
suaton with al that day. thought they were entitled
10 il but told them that IL would always be an OBJ
stacle In their way that II given by the State OF Vn-
gina, and not by the corporation OF Alexandra do
not understand that the State oil Virginia sells up any
claim, the corporation OF Aexandria-which IS the
this Railroad Company-lhat thus government is
bound 10 pay them; but they appeal 10 your sense OF
equity, well other considerations, especially when
ii comes TO be remembered that this is to be work
which s to do this District much good as Alexandra
itself, whether under all these considerations, you are
to regard this claim which, with due regard TO
equity, ought TO be gwen back TO thus corpoaon to be
expended the construction OF work both ior our own
/ and their benefit.
Mr. BUTLER. | am reconciled 10 vote for this bill
upon viewthat the money is TO be appropriated TO
highway Now, there are many gentlemen on ths moor
that would hundred thousand dollars or more
for internal Improvement il you only give II that name
and il this road should happen 10 run through the pubic
lands, believe a majority OF this Senate would be IN
favor OF granting alternate sections OF land TO enable The
company TO finish the work. But when you ask for
money, 10 be returned indirectly to u.s. bat Immediately 10
Virginia, through this road, upon which this company is
really employed Tor purposes OF internal Improvement,
then hear difficulties and scrnpes started that we are
the hrs time Virginia has suffered from being boun-
tifu. She has been bouniliul enough IN giving away
her lands and money, and the struggle - to make
out this advance OF hers TO be an revocable bounty
! am not OF those that vote money directly from
the public treasury fos internal Improvements But VIZ
gnia bere-l mean she represented by her as
signees-and asks for money which say, opere er
bono belongs her, and ought to be returned TO her II
she advanced IT, she did II 10 aid the government 10 esah
lish seat of government here, and erect the public
buildings This is but mode OF returning H. THIS
bouny-if bounty you choose to call it's to be applied
to mpovements-some road that 10 be connected with
the West do not know where the road Is to run.
suppose IL is TO be run highway TO the West II
public Improvement IN which every citizen OF the United
States less, has interest, and especially The
western portion OF the United States Now, ~ appropn-
aung money in this way, there is technical objection
raised The gentleman from North Carolina chooses to
consider in the nature OF an iuevocable bounty.
Why, sir, il it So If you would give the houora-
bic opportunity, he would vote directly do
that he would vote 10 money directly from
the treasurybut he would be willing to vote the public
lands for the purpose OF improving roads IN Illinois, In
diana, Michigan, Arkansas, and, believe, Alabama-
| Mr.. DODGE, OF Iowa, I'm hls seat) And money,
| too
! Mr. BUTLER Yes, and money, too. Virginia is
claiming back what she asks for, and the gentleman
is raising technical objections far az he can.
/ Mr.. BADGER think there is very material differ
between the two which my Trend IRON Soulb
Carolina to think identical. Now, sir, might
be very willing TO yotef do not say would not vote
this $4,000 Tor the purpose OF aiding this company IN
that work. II il asked for upon the ground that II
necessary for its completion that should receive this as
sisance Upon that question speak neither the one way
nor the other. But am not willing to admit that | am
paying S20 900 for the satisfaction OF debt, when, from
everything that can hear, debt is due III vote the
money, want to vote ii on its true ground--n ITS true
the purpose OF important Improvements, and not to assume
the position that am voting back to the State OF Nr
gnia through this company, the sum OF Sl2OOoO winch
this government owes TO that State. do not consider
this government as owing such debt.
Now with regard TO the grants of public lands for this
establishment Of roads-ths granting OF alternate sections
or Townships have voted for many such, and upon
4 - ,.t.Lt nAta m