Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-07-19
Remarks of Mr. Letcher, Of Virginia,


1856.
Mr.. Chairman, this business Of making
appropriations for the erection Of pubic
buildings in the Territories is thing OF
comparatively very recent growth, but II
is running now to a very alarming extent
II seems TO me thatlti is time the House
should look to the facts as shown BY the
public documents. and, if possible. put a
stop to appropriations of this kind.
have table before me, prepared BY the
Secretary of State, in answer TO resolution
of this House, showing the appropriations
which have been made for the Territories
Of the United States, III tl.eir legislative,
executive. and Judicial capacities, IN one
column; the appropriations made for pub
liz buildings, IN second column and the
appropriations made for military and 9th
er roads, within the limits Of the Terrific
ries, in third column. l desire to call
attention 10 the time at which the appro-
priatons for public roads and buildings
were introduced into these territorial bills,
and also to the annual expenditure, as as.
certained by this report, to demonstrate
how enormously large these appropria-
tio"S nave bto"H W it.lb tHe last leu VI
fifteen years of our existence.
Ohio remained in q territorial condition
fifteen yrars, and the appropriations Cor
executive, legislative, and judicial pur.
poses during that entire time amounted to
sos, 900. Nothing was appropriated COR
public buildings, and nothing appropriated
Tor public roads. The next Territory on
the list is Tennessee. She remarked i'll a
territorial condition from May rs, 1890, to
June |, 1906; and the received $22, 1000
ioI legislative, executive. and judicial pur-
poses nothing for roads, and nothing for
public buildings The next is the Terri
tory oil Mississippi. She remained in a
territorial condition for period Of uine-
tech years. aud the appropriations for ex
ecut've. legislative, and Judicial purposes,
during that whole period, were $14S, 1893
49, There was no appropriation for the
| in Of public buildings; but then, for
the first time in the history OF Territories,
commenced appropriations for the con-
s!tuetion Of roads. There was an appro.
pii,tion of $4,000 fol that purpose.
Indiana was the next. She remained
in a territorial condition sixteen years.
The appropriations for legislative, execu-
tive aud Judicial purposes amounted 10
S117,75O There was nothing Tor the
erection Of pubic buildings, and but So
600 for the construction of roads. The
Territory Of Louisiana was next; $i52,.
20S were appropriated 10 her for legisla-
tive, and judicial purposes; nothing for
public buildings. and Sc, 400 for roads
Then comes the Territory of MichIgau.-
The appropriations for the legislative, ex.
ecutive, and judicial purposes Tor that
Territory amounted TO 1852, 703 So; no,h-
ing for the erection OF public buildings,
and the appropriations tor The eonstrue-
ton OF roads run ur to S235.510. The
territorial exlstenue Of thai Territory waA
for period Of thirty-tWo years. longer
period by far than any of the others. The
Territory OF Missouri had $11S,700 APP
proprialed for legislative, executive, and
Judicial purposes nothing for the erection
OF public buildings and nothing for the
construction Of roads. Illinois had &c.,
500 for the frs! named purposes; nothing
for public buildings, and $4,000 'or the
construction of roads. alabama had & ID
433, with $4,000 fol roads. Florida,
VI Inch remained IN a territorial condition
for twenty-five years. received S665 436
55, for executive, legislative, and judicial
purposes s172 6l3 for roads, and $50 900
for TIE erection Of public buildings. TIN,
was The first instance in which an appro-
priation for the erection OF public build
ings III Territory was made by Congress.
Since that such appropriations have been
made, down To the present time, and they
have growE wiki an astonishing and alarm-
ing rap,dit,' Wisconsin, received for pub
lie buildings the sum oil $40, 000-twice
the amount appropriated to Florida. Be-
sides that, SIZE received S72 coo for roads,
and $347,473 for legislative exec ntive,
and Judicial purposes, although her terri
,oriai existence was only for period Of
twelve years. lows received 1854 9oS for
executive, legislative, and judicial pur-
poses; $6O,5 for roads, and SIS 900 fol-
public buidings-$5, 900 less than Flori-
da, and $50 900 less than Wisconsin.
Well, now we come to the present Ter.
iitories. Here is the Territory oil Oregon.
II was organized on the 14th Of August,
lS4S. 1t has received for executive, leg
isiaIive, and Judicial purposes in the shori
period Of eight years, S249,5S2 50; for
public buildings, $l2l,000, and $4,000
loI public roads Then comes Minnesota,
organized on the 81 Of March, 1S49. 1t
has received 1904 $50 for executive, leg
lslatve, and Judicial purposes $76,50O
Tor public buildings, and Sl50, 900 tor pub
lie roads.
Mr.. Rice. That is 100 little.
MIR. Leiehe.. They have received dou-
bic as much as any other Territory with
three times the length OF territorial exls.
tence, and yet the gentleman says it is too
tile.
Mr. Rice. That is less than we have
received.
Mr. Letcher. Well. how much have
you receiveds
MIR. Rice. About 100000.
MI. Letcher. thank the gentleman
for the correction. The Secretary Of State
says that they have received $3.50 000.-
Tie gentleman says they have received
100000. Mex, comes Utah. organized
September 8. 1850. That is not quite SIX
years ago. Tins Territory has received
Sl99, 159 for executive, lrgirIatiye, and
Judicial purposes; S53 900 foI public
buildings; and $4,000 for roads, New
Mexico, organized OH the same day, has