Nebraska advertiser., 1860-01-19
PROTEST.

b. The Opponents of the Bill .AppropTi-
ating One thousand Dollars out OF
tie Territorial Treasury to Erect a
Bridge across Black Bird Creek, on
The Omaha Reservation.
The undersigned, members Of the Coun-
Gil, having opposed the passage Of the
Bill making an appropriation of one thou
sand dollars to build a bridge over Black
Bird Crek in the Omaha Indian Reserve;
and havieg exhausted all the Constitu-
tional and parliamentary usages in order
to defeat the passage of the bill, respect
fully ask leave TO enter our protest and
submit the facts to cur constituents.
We believe that the Legislature ought
not to make any appropriations of this
character, because it is establishing a
dangerous precedent, which, if follow
ed and carried out, would soon involve
the Territory in hopeless bankruptcy and
ruin.
1t is calculated to inaugurate a system
Of intrigue and combination among the
different portions of the Territory, which,
if not discountenanced, will, for all time
to come, deplete the Treasury of every
dollar paid into it; and entail a bur
densome and oppressive debt upon those
who are to come after US, or drive them
to the dangerous alternative of repudia-
ton.
For this reason. appropriations for
works of a local character, are at all
times Of doubtful expediency, but espec-
tally are they so at this time, when the
Territory is already deeply in debt, and
her evidences of Indebtedness rapidly
.depreciating in value, in view Of the APP
preparations being made by the present
Legislature.
But aside from all these considerations,
the passage of this bill is unjust and OPP
pressive to the people of the southern
portion Of the Territory.
The general government has appropri-
ated the sum of $780, 900 in the Construc-
ton of Roads and Bridges north Of the
Platte River.
During the last session Of the Legsla-
an appropriation of $500 was made
for the purpose of repairing a bridge
built by the general government and
this bill provides for an appropriation Of
81, 900 out of the Territorial Treasury
to rebuild a Bridge erected by the gen.
eral government, on an Indian Reserva-
ton, which is by the provisions of our
Organic Law, declared to be without the
jurisdiction Of the Territory.
The question naturally arises; what
have the people south of the Platte river
received as a set-of or equivalent to all
these munihcent appropriations The
larger portion of the population of the
Territory reside south of the Platte river,
and they have paid the greater portion Of
the receipts in the shape Of taxes into
the Territorial Treasury, and what have
they ~receivedR The answer 10 this ques
ton is no less strange, than it is unprece-
dented and unparalleled in history.
They have never received a single dol
lar from the general or Territorial Gov
erLment. They have received nothing.
1t appears from the report of the Terri
torial Treasurer, that the counties north
of Platte River have, from the organi-
cation of the Territory, up to the pres
ent time, paid into the Treasury the sum
of 81, 635 SO, and there has been by the
operation of this bill, and the Act to re-
pair Elk Horn Bridges $500 Of that
sum appropriated for the exclusive ben
eft of those counties; leaving a balance
of S135 90, less the amount paid Coun-
ty Treasurer for making their returns,
the amount contributed by the counties
north of Platte River towards defraying
the Territorial expenses during the peri
OF Of five years.
Is it then, a matter of surprise that
the people of the southern counties feel
aggrieved, and are, many of them, dis
posed to sunder their connection with the
northern portion of the Territory; and
to form new associations and relations,
with The view of securing their justrights
and privileges.
Occasions arise when ~OTbearance ceas-
es to be a virtue. The people south of
the Platte River have fOrborn for five
years; but who can undertake to say
that they viii any longer tamely submit
TO wrong and oppressionl They have
been disposed 20 forgive and forget the
past; and amicably unite with their breth-
ern Of the northen counties in the forma-