The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-06-27
REMARKS OF ms. LEroHER,
of VIRGINIA,


On the House bill NO 4l5 TO make an appropriation for
the construction Of penitentiary in the Territory Of
Nebraska delivered in the House Of Representatives
June "a, 1856.
Mr. Chairman, this business Of making appropriations
for the erection OF public buildings in the Territories
thing of comparatively very recent growth but IL is
ming 10 very alarming extent IL seems TO me that
il Is time the House should look to the facts shown by
the public documents and " possible put stop TO APP
proprations Of this kind have table before me- pre-
pared by the Secretary Of State in resolution
OF this House showing the appropriations which have been
made for the Territories OF the United States in their leg
isatye executive and judicial capacities in column
the appropriations made for public buildings in second
column and the appropriations made for military and
other roads within the limits Of the Territories in third
column. desire TO call attention to the time at which
the appropriations for public roads and buildings were in
toduced into these territorial bills and also TO the annual
expenditure ascertaned by this report TO demonstrate
how enormously large these appropriations have grown
within the last ten fifteen years Of our existence
Ohio remained in territorial condition fifteen years,
and the appropriations for executive legislative and judi
ca purposes during that entire time amounted 10 S6s0O0
Nothing appropriated for public buildings and moth
ing appropriated for public roads The next Territory
the list Il Tennessee She remained in territorial
diton from May &C. $780, 10 June a6 and she received
$4,000 for legislative executive aud Judicial purposes
nothing for roads and nothing Tor public buildings The
merit Is the Territory Of Mississippi She remained in
territorial condition for period Of nineteen years and
the appropriations for executive legislative and judicial
purposes during that whole period, were SlAsSa9 81
There was no appropriation Cor the erection Of public
buildings but then for the first time In the history OF Ter
rores commenced appropriations for the construction Of
roads There was an appropriation Of $1,000 for that
purpose.
Indiana was the next She remained In a territorial
condition sixteen years. The appropriations for legisla
tive executive and judicial purposes amounted 10 SlT
5o There nothing for the erection Of public build
ings and but 900 for the construction OF roads The
Territory Of Louisiana next sl57 29s sppropr
ated TO her for legislative executive and judicial purposes
nothing for public buildings and $1,000 for roads Then
the Territory OF Michigan. The appropriations for
the legislative executive and judicial purposes for that
Territory amounted 10 S352 TO3 59 nothing for the
ton Of public buildings and the appropriations for the
construction Of roads up S235blO The territorial
existence OF that Territory for period Of try-two
years. longer period by far than any Of the Others The
Territory Of Missouri had Slla1oo appropriated for lsgis
laye executive and Judicial purposes nothing for the
erection Of public buildings and nothing for the con-
sruetion Of roads Illinois had S69500 for the first
named purposes nothing for public buildings and $4,000
for the construction Of roads Alabama had Sl4,4A9
with $4,000 for roads Florida, which remained in
territorial condition for TWENTY-FIVE years. received
$685. 55 for executive legislative and judicial pur-
poses Sl7263 for roads and $4,000 for the erection OF
public buildings This the fret instance In which
appropriation for the erection Of public buildings in Ter
rtory made by Congress Since that such appropr
aous have been made, down TO the present time and
they have grown with astonishing and alarming rapid
ity Wisconsin received for public buildings the OF
SlOO00-twice the amount appropriated TO Florida he
sides that she received $4,000 for roads AID x3473 for
legislative executive and judicial purposes although her
territorial existence only for period Of twelve years
Iowa received S2s DOS for executive legislative and jnd
cal purposes 500 500 for roads and $4,000 for public
buildings less than Florida and s350oo less than
Wisconsin.
Well now we come 10 the present Territories Here is
the Territory Of f0regon was organized the lah Of
August ls4s II has received for executive legislative
and judicial purposes In The short period Of sqh years.
S2495s2 69 for public buildings Sli2OO and 100000
for public roads Then Minnesota organized the
I'D d March, s4o has received S2O4G50 for executive
legislative and judicial purposes for public build
ings and sl50oOO for public roads,
Mr. RICE That Is too litllo
Me- 4 lnvs. Il III a.
any other Territory with three times the length Of terrific
rial existence and yet the gentleman says II j. too little
Mr.. RICh That s lcss than have received.
Mr. lETCHRR Well, how much have you received
Nc. RICE About 100000
Mr.. LETCHER ! thank the gentleman for the correc-
ton The Secretary Of State says that they have received