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

has been approved by Congress The bill before the
Senate If adopted as stands must seems be adopt
ed the principle not only of the power of Congress
make appropriations @and for improvements of this descp
ton, but oil money also; and far understand the his
tory of the legislation of the country in relation to This SUBJECT
the Of Congress to appropriate money directly from the
Treasury to internal mprovemento roads and canals or
to vershas never any me been decided against de-
MED by majority both Houses of Congress- We have had
Presidents who had the power the action of Con-
gress in making appropriations for this purpose, but in
raj that has been exercised against any conviction Of
the majority of Congress that III, power unconstitutional
and that might not be claimed by Congress Congress
thought proper to do it, believe however, that the MAORI
ties OF both Houses Of Congress have during the last fifteen
twenty years. held very decided opinions against the policy
Of appopnatng money directly from the Treasury for the
OF roads and canals when passing through
two more States from belief that would inevitably lead
extravaganza partay and other abuses the part OF the
National Legislature Upon that ground, sir believe that
Congress since 1901 mean, of course, majority of both
Houses ready sustain aprncpe of that
descriptions but at the time, has been any period
decided by the majority Congress that they have power
Of apPropatng the public lands lying within any of the
States for the purpose of promoting the construction OF works
OF this description have, when member of the House,
given my support TO such measures and ready to
give support such when the work projected
appears to me to be Of great public uy and on that
ground intend to give my support to tho bill pending
before the Senate think however, that the honorable
Senator from Georgia Mr DAwsoS) demonstrated yester
day that the provisions of this bill do go beyond any Iecog
Missed or established principle in the legislation of Congress
am not sure OF this is eight ten years since have
been familiar with the legislation Of Congress this subject
This bill provides that Of the public lands situated the
line of the road every alternate section shall be appropriated
to the construction of it, and to this extent far goes
upon the principle that the public property held by
the Government in the State, is benefited to equal
tent to what IS given away, transferred 10 Individuals
poations, TO the States But the bill, it to me-
beyond that The principle is extended, shown
yesterday by the Senator from Georgia. (Mr DAwsoN and
also by the Senator from South Carolina, (Mr BurIEa
1t is extension OF the principle. Well do not know
that opposed to that extension, although thought it
best yesterday, when the vote taken this subject
limit it. as understand that great number of roads pro-
cted in the States where there is residue Of public lands
am willing 10 go for account of the munfcent pur
poses and to which this appropriation is proposed to be
applied am willing to for exclusively tina, ground
base my support of the provision in this bill authorizing
the State the company where in that State get
the grant of Government lands upon this view of the subject
because is proved that the work likely 10 be of great pub
lie utility, and legislation the general policy OF limiting pa
onage and reducing the number of public officers, may be
only exercised but justified think it liberal policy,
and would be willing, when lands Of this description have
in the market for thirty forty years. to act on the po-
cy Of enabling the States which they lie to make mu-
ncent of them that be thought proper conceived
to be advisable am ilng to appropriate them for such
purposes renq ish them and think that the people and
Government of the United States would be benefited by being
relieved of mum, of ub.ic officers and of patronage, fire.
queny very little to any one and probably expense
do not confess, know exactly what are the provisions Of
the law upon this subect whether specific salary given
/
Mr. JONES, lin his seat) They get $500.
Mr. BELL. BY the REIMBURSEMENT Of these lands then,
number Of federal officers receiving salaries of $780, will be
dispensed with but this the case, would
allow these refuse lands lie de when by giving them W
they may be improved and made productive and add to the
| resources of the country.
Now here great and magnificent work to connect the
country the great chain Of northern lakes with the Gulf
Mexico Taken altogether the railroad projected
eight nine hundred miles in length about four hundred
and fifty miles, perhaps, in Alabama and Mississippi, ane
four hundred and fifty in Illinois, tree hundred in Aaba
and Mississippi, and hundred and twenty thirty Ii
Kentucky and Tennessee oge her Now sir this grea
andmagnifcent work. think will not only rebound to the
advantage and benefit of the States Of Illinois, Alabama Mis-
spp, Tennessee and Kentucky but to that Of every othe
State in The Unon This sentiment once well and forcl
bly, expressed by very eminent gentleman who represented
New York twenty odd years ago, when this subject
attracting attention in Congress There debate in
the House in regard to number of improvements the ques
ton being whether the members of section of States should
support Improvements wherever projected in other sections
The gentleman to whom l. have referred said with great
truth and sagacy although the remark applied more espe
ay to bis State than to other that there could not
be any Improvements, however magnificent, however
small whether canal macadamzed road, what not
constructed in any State north, SOUTH east west which
the city and State of New York would feel the benefit Of
either directly indirectly and of every other great point
of commercial and social intercourse 1t undoubtedly true,
that works and improvements of the most limited extent
contribute impercepbly swell the tide of general pros
perity But, said BEFORE this work is Of gigantic
kind it proposes afford the of intercourse at all
of the year. between the inhabitants the line of
the lakes and the Gulf of Mexico and for the interchange
productions between the sections by overland route
True there the great rveshe Illinois and Mississippi but
able transport productions at all seasons, with safety
to Mobile or New Orleans. There is considerable portion
ofthe year during which the Illinois river frozen up and there
is another season which the Mississippi is not only very
inconvenent for navigation and unpleasant for travel but
during which it is absolutely dangerous not only perlous to
the lives of the passengers hut also to the property which
attempted to be transported that whilst one side the
ice obsrucs the in the north, there relative
south where low water obstructs It, This great
work proposes construct mode OF communication, social
ing country in the northwest and the Gulf Of Mexico, and
the cities and population there open at all seasons OF the
year-winter well as summer.
But Mr. President in order to make this grand chain OF
communication complete Illinois ought not to limit her lbe-
ra,y to Alabama and Mississippi and to terminate this road
on the southern border of Tennessee There will be on
essential link of 1870 odd miles left unconnected, which will
destroy this idea of the general utility and magn6cence of
connecting line of communication at all seasons OF the
year. Why not make proposition to include ken,u KY
and Tennessee believe that the road through Tennessee
only twenty thirty miles, SO that there will be
link wanting of hundred and twenty miles to complete
this magnificent work-ths connexion between the Gulf and
the Lakes. Now, Mr.. President the design with which
Yesterday evening to make proposition which
would make this work really what it ought to be, and what
must be completes and that is extend the munfcence
OF the Government towards this work into Kentucky and
Tennes for am fearu-havng knowledge OF the
country through which this road is to passhat there will
not be private commercial capital sufficient to
carry In Kentucky the settlement s sparse, the i'm
few, and there is but little trade and commerce,
the population being chiefly small farmers and planters
True the southern part Of Tennessee the farmers and
planters rich but there is little surplus capital
that without the muncence of the Government, and