The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-07-25
Your esteemed friend,
W., TT CEW
Roads in Minnesota.
L. S. SENATE. july 6

- - cENAj CufF ".
Mr.. DOUGLAS. The Committee on
on Territories, to which was referred
House bill, No. 81, being "an act for
the construction of certain roads in the
Territory of Minnesota, and for other
purposes" have had the same under
consideration, and have directed me to
report it back to the Senate without
amendment. l ask that it may be taken
up and considered now.
The motion was agreed to, and the
bill was read a second time, and consld-
cred as in Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. KING. What is the gross amount
proposed to be appropriated?
Mr.. DOUGLAS. The total amount is
$40, 900. 1t is House bill, which was
referred to our committee, and is now
reported back to the Senate.
Mr.. KING. Mr.. President, / feel eve
ry disposition to be liberal to the new
territories, and to give them all neces-
sarY facilities to enable them to carry
their produce to market, and to commu-
nicate readily with each other by means
of roads. These large appropriations
to territories, however, are of recent
origin. happened to live for short
time under territorial government, and
| must be allowed to say that in that
territory there never was one cent ap-
propriated by Congress for the making
of roads. We made all our own roads
| believe that was the case with nearly
all the territories, so long as they re-
mained in territorial state, and until
they came into the Union, and then they
received certain portion of the public
lands for that purpose. There may,
however, be propriety in anticipating
these grants, by giving to the territories
small appropriations for the making of
such roads as are actually necessary
| believe that in Minnesota the popuIa-
tion is limited to small portion of the
territory, aud these roads, which are
numerous, must communicate with the
wilderness country, and not with the
settlements. / may be mistaken in this,
but, as / said before, / am disposed to
be liberal, and therefore I will not be
critical in finding grounds of objection.
/ wish, however, to call the attention of
the Senate to the fact, that although the
revenue is likely to be greater this year
than usual, yet the appropriations which
are being asked for, and made, and
likely to be made, will fear, more
than absorb our enormous revenue, and
render it necessary that we should re-
sort to some other mode Of raising a
revenue. The appropriations which
are being asked for, and those which
have been made, are greater than have
ever been made heretofore; and it ap-
pears to me that they are likely to go on
increasing by the action of Congress in
adding appropriation after appropriation
beyond what is asked for by the Gov
ernment. If Senators are prepared to
create a debt, after absorbing those
means of revenue, it is for them to do
so. For myself, l can only say, after
the long experience / have had in the
Government, having been here more
than 30 years, never have seen such a
disposition to reckless extravaganza as
has characterized the Congress Of the
United States during this and the last
session.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. think word of ex-
planation will obviate the Senator'S OBJ