The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-06-17
District Of Columbia-for instance =.

road in the District of Columbia--for instance
/ Pennsylv lvania avenue3
MIR. BROOKS. We are constantly making
streets or rosds in the District Of Columbia.
MIR. CAMPBELL. Is there any distinction in
the power:
Mr. BROOKS. do not wish to discuss the
} question Of power, or 20 be drawn into a long
controversy territorial bill day, and at this
stage ofthe case. I only express nv own opin-
non that. practically. do not see any difference
between making roads in Minnesota, or in the
ierrltory Of Oregon, not necessary for military
purposes, and the making like appropriations on,
OF the same Federal Treasury, for roads, or har-
bors, or rivers in other parts Of the United States
II IS easy to chris,en one Of these roads in Oregon
or Minnesota military road---and military roads
are doubtless necessary in Oregon because there
may he an enemy there to be met with, say for
egn enemy; bui il requires o great dea! of cour-
age to rise upon the floor Of this House, and say
that military road ,s necessary in Minnesota.
in order to keep off or to put down an enemy
there.
MI SlBLEf, Gn,errupting The genllemaa
VIII allow me to correct him in this matter. Is
he not aware that the Territory of Minnesota is
inhabited BY the largest and most warllke tribes
OF Indians on the North American conlinen,s
Mr. BROOKS. know that very well, and
the gentleman from Minnesota will not rise and
say that the people of that Territory canno. take
care Of themselyesi
MIR. SlBLEY. | will say. In regard to that
matter. that if the Government will gran, Us ono
nan OF what II osis 10 support tho army or tha
northwestern frontier, small as il is, we will take
care OF ourselves agains; any aud all enemies.
without other cos, 10 the Government.
MIR. BROOKS. That may be--and the liko
may ba said Of many other parts Of the United
States-bu, this Government has ceased 20 be
a ndnOi1ar hv ,fi ifs i,r Il
settlers IN the Terrrory OF Minnesota Besides,
Minnesota will have nothing 10 complain Of US, IL.
as she Is asking at tins moment, and Tigh1lliy,
think, we eSpend very large suns of money TO
exiiDgulsh The Indian title; 10 the land. within her
borders, and in the ratification of numerous In
dian treaties. Indeed, a Federal Government in
acting with amazIag liberay, Il she extnguishss
IN Minnesota. and at great ces,, titles 10 millions
OF acres OF public lands, and then votes them ali
away 10 actual settlers. We have ceased, there
fore. or are ceasag. perhaps should say. to be Il
great landhoider In Minnesota, or in any other
part Of the Union; and II we arc more ca auiious
than usual therefore, In making reads, or in 9TH
erwise voting money from tbs Treasury to rsise
the value Of these lands in the Territories, ws
must be pardoned now for this excess of CD as,ion,
II Is time 10 begin 10 look upon all these reads as
system OF Internal Improvements, and 10 decide
whether we shall go lGio il IN Oregon or Mime
mon. Minnesota IS a rapidly rising Territory,
soon to be State ef ihe Union, and am reuc-
iant 10 see her have all she wants now as n Ter
rltory-fve or six pretty long roads. here H.
tended, and when this Territory comes in as a
State, have her turn around. snap her fingers q,
he Old States and oppose the whole system of o-
terna improvements as unconstitutional waste
full II he system ~ right in Minneso,a il IS right
elsewhere and everywhere, and If il is Wrena
o. "a tSr 4 S ttsr heura hsrs
this starting point, should settle whether 90
not internal improvement 10 a live or dead sys-
TEN. have nothing TO say now on either side.
pro or con, but what do want IS for the House
10 see what 1t is doing, and establish, or refuse to
establish precedent.
Now, as regards this road from MENDOZA or.
he Mississippi, 10 the mouth of ;he Blk SiOux, on
the Missouri, beg the attention Of the House TO
ihe fact that 1t is an appropriation for survey
50 ,OoU( an appropriation additiQn2l 30 6 ) 900
voted for survey in the last Congress, aad that,
therefore, ii Is new road tha. Congress is now
called upon 10 establish, the very survey OF (which
cosis 900. The colonel Of the topogra phica!
corps, as II to open our eyes TO the fact tina, il
was no military road, remarks 'the (surveving)
party will be itself irs escort. as she Isdans
are not troublesome in hot rsgi0a.'' Hence the
remark Of the Delegate from Minnesota about
wariike tribes Of Indians IL Minnesota. is here Of
only be necessary for the transportation OF sup
plies; aud If We once begin 10 establish roads
merely for transportation of supplies, where shall
we stop? A .ke military road IS needed in Mis-
scuri, in Teaas or Arkansas, ior the like trans
Iportalicn of supplies for Tho troops staiianed IN
hSss S:s s:nss W: Sd :hoad BEGIN bssn
once the making Of r,ads generally for the trans
lportaton of supplies.
In the eighteenth and nineteenth iines Of .hs
bill, Mr.. Chairman. is this item of 5000 for the
survey Of military road from MENDOZA to ihe
mou,h OF the Big Sioux river. The item is very
Innocent and very small appropriation upon the
face Of II; bu; let the House look a, il, aDd pom
der upon IT. Last Congress. upon The Uoticn Of
lhe gent eman from Minnesota, Mr.. SIBLxY,]
So 900 given for ths survey Of this rUad, md
given without any estimate frou, responsible
lqusrter. The War Department comes to you
now and says that IS 900 will not begin 10 mako
The survey, and that you must give at least
s., 900 more; and that sum is inserted in this
lh upon the estimate OF the War Department.
an estimate forced now by appropriation made
~ Tie ast Congress without any estimate what
soever. How long do you think this road is. Mr..
Chairman Forty or City miles, Perhaps hun
dred, OF hundred and 6ityi No, il is road
two hundred and sixty miles long, and $4,000
IS asked for its survey; but the amount j; viii
cost, the War Department cannot even guess,
much less know. The gentleman from Minnesota
lMr. SIBLEYl himself does not know, and it 10
impossible for this House TO guess a. il with
any certainty. We vote altogether in the dark.
Mr.. SiBIEY. The gentleman will allow mo
to present one fact. have been o,sr Inpch Of
the Indian country through which this read will
pass. II Is for the mos, part a prairie country,
and the cost Of road through it will be mnch
ess than through woodland. In military point
of view this proposed road is Of great importance.
because 10 case Of trouble with the powerful tribe
of Dakotas or Sioux, which may or may no, ariss
hereafter, the troops would be enabled TO march
with their munitions Of war directly into the fast
ne.ses occupied by these Indians and bring then,
to terms without running the hazard Of nactinZ
upon the frontier the horrors OF savage warfare.
The gentleman from New York, Mr. B.ooksl 10
greatly mistaken in his estimate Of the ehsrac-
ter Of tho wild tribes Of the prairie, aud Of thar
means Of offence.
Mr.. BROOKS. I do not wish to be msurder-
stood upon this subjec, by the Delegate from
Minnesota, IMr. Sibeyl or the Delegate from
Oregon, mir. Lane. did not rise 10 make wsf
upon any necessary appropriations for these Ter
ritores, nor do l mean TO be so undcrsoOd. !
am no, hostile to the States or the Terrific
ries, but wish equal and e,ac, justice to be