The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-06-17

Mr.. SBLEY. had no intention of doing in.

Mr.. SHELLEY. | had no intention Of doing in
justice TO the gentleman from Alabama; but
does seem 10 ue somewhat strange tha. he shouls
attack this bill upon the very opposite grounds ia
Ken by him IN hrs argument upon the other bill
lis assailed the Oregon bill because no rreyou,
surveys OF the roads had taken place. The bill
now before the committee is based upon surveys
and estimates actually made. The Department,
has recommended that the money shall be appro-
priaied. And SO far us regards his presen, posi.
non, II does seem TO me that the gentleman is a
! LITTLE inconsistent
Mr. HOUSTON. / want 10 say 10 the gentle
| man from Minnesota that he has entirely miso D.
pretended me. do not attack this bill because
the roads have been surveyed. The fact tha
they have been is so much to their credit, But
the gentleman says, furthermore, that the De-
paT,ment recommends The payment Of the money.
Now, let me say TO the gentleman that the De-
PaF'ment recommends the payment of the money
In case we intend continue to carry on the work.
but he cannot show me where these roads are set
down as military roads. As understand il, the y
are not estimated for as such in any of the reports
made upon them, or in any Of the surveys made
upon them.
Mr., CAMPBELL, Of Illinois. Do | under
stand the gentleman from A aba ma to attack In.
oiIi upon the ground Of the iU1polcy Of The Gen.
e'ai Government making internal improvements
10 these Territories,
Mr.. HOUSTON. stated that was opposed
TO The sy ystem, and should vote against The bill
upon that ground, If upon no other. But | ex-
pFessy stated that did not intend to make an
argument upon that point. Thers were other OBJ
Jectlons 10 the bill
Mr.. CAMPBELL. Then that is not the ground
upon which the gentleman opposes it.
Mr.. HOUSTON. That is one ground.
Mr.. SlBLEY. | do mol desire TO consume the
Tine OF The committee unnecessarily in this de-
bate but must not allow the House to act under
i mlsapPrehension of the facts IN this case
Mr.. Chairman, under no circumstances would
urge any argument or any claim upon ,hs COM
i"i'tee' that was rot, IN my Judgment, in perfect
accordance with The facts, presented by ME.
wish the committee TO act unders tandiugIy with
reference to this question. The documents show
that the engineer, who has charge of these roads,
has lndorsed them as being the very roads which
II Is most important should be now made IN that
territory; that they are regarded as such, rot
only Win reference TO the public COW enience,
but 10 The wants OF the Government itself The
gentleman tieutenant Simpson, Of the topc-
graphical corps Of ensineers) who has been placed
In charge OF these roads, is eminently qualified
by scientific aitainmens, practical knowledge, and
sound judgment, TO discharge his duties properly.
HE opinions, wiki regard TO this subes. Of roads,
report, that 1t IS Of the utmost importance tina:
these great thoroughfares should lie properly
opened as soon as practicable. l know. ihat
when this is done, the Government, will BE- saved
arg. sum annually IN the ira nSportaton Of sup
pies 10 lis military posts and Indian agencies If
the gentleman from Alabama, lMr. Houston,
does not base his argument against this bill on
constitutional grounds entirely, humb.y submit,
that he can urge no other reasonable objection.
The Government, being the sole great land pro-
prieor IN the Territories, is tound, b, every con-
sisersiion Of equity and usice, 10 make I,s do
main accessible TO the settler, by means of roads
% do otherwise, would be to abandon ,he policy
hitherto pursued towards all your Territories
How, SIR, Your lands be sold if the Immigrant
cannot reach thsm' The gentleman will cer-
tdn'y net take The ground that The people Of the
!erritories shall make their own roads. not only
but those OF the Federal Government likewise.
The Terri cries, North and South, have invaria-
bly, received liberal grants from Congress. for such
purposes and, hitherto, no attempt has been made
10 connect them with any system Of internal IN
provements in the States. The distinction is too
broad and too pa pabie to require nythins 70 be
SAID on the subject The Democratic plnv, TO
which we belong, has never held the doctrine
Just advanced by the gentleman from ..lahap.a,
[Sir. Iloustcn.l 1t has always been liberal in
grants 10 the Territories.
lrespectluliy submit, Mr. Chairman, that, as
MAKE no demands upon YOU for lighthouses
and harbor appropriations, we may reasonably
expect Congress to be generous with US IN regatd
10 the construction Of roads and The improve
of our rivers. Minnesota never has, and never
Will, take undue advantages O: your ibt r.ty
As an illustration OF our modesiv IN lhai respect,
/ ~ Ic$PcCt,
can point 10 the fact have before advetted to-
hat tt,,ch hall ,ol,, l,,iF a.,
amount estimated for by the Department; and
wi! be frank enough to say, lha, do no; believe
we should have received anything II had pressed
! FOR the whole sum mentioned IN those estimates
have learned something, at least, from my ex-
perlcnce here during the last Congress, when we
Ioss all the appropriations for our roads because
the Department asked for too much.
! conclude BY assuring the committee tha; the
money Is wanted now, and am satisfied il " III
be economically and properly disburscd. The
sum remaining uneypeuded from the original ap-
! preparation Is very small, and that asked for IN
this bill can be applied at once, so far as ii will
go, TO the completion Of the roads already COM
nenced under authority of law. Notwiihstand-
Ing the opinion expressed by ihc honorable CHAIR
man Of the Ways and Means, take il for grant
ed, that If the bill now before the committee shall
pass both Houses Of Congress, the money appro-
| printed oan be drawn from ,he Treasury a, any
time after the SOlh Of June next, which will be
the close of the fiscal year, and be made inmedi-
ately available ior the purposes for which II was
designed.
Mr. BROOKS. am very reluctant 10 throw
obstacles in the way of this bill dislike, even ,
to seem to he in the way Of proper appropriations
for the Territories. and rise, mainly, with u
view calling the attention OF the House to " hat
we are voting upon. If there is alority Of The
House disposed 10 60 into this sort Of appTopria-
tons, will not continue any longer to throw oh
s,ructions in their way. The objection which
made 10 making appropriations for the roads in
Oregon, the other day, is certainly ohviaied in
this oil by the action Of the Delegate from Min
nesot, Mr. Sibley,] the last Congress, who
withdrew the Minnesota road appropriations from
The usual committees having custody of such ap-
preparation bill, and himself introduced them into
the House, either upon his own sole responsible
ity. or through the Committee on Roads and C..
nails survey has been obtained for part Of
these roads, by having appropriations made for
the roads themselves, just without any survey.
and hence the argument which was directed
asains, the gentleman from Oregon, Mr.. Lane, ]
The other day, cannot now be used in this casa
a survey has been made, out Of appropriations
TO make roads, and the Typographical Bureau
can now guess, therefore, what the gentleman
from Minnesota is about, and Congress can have