Nebraska advertiser., 1860-01-26

State, or Territorial Governs enls, has
always been considered of very doubtful
policy. and wherever a different senti-
ment has Obtained, and ever works Of ap-
parent public 1ecessity have been con-
structed from tie Treasury Of a State,
the wisdom Of his policy has been clear
ly vindicated.9 There is scarcely n Of
the northwestern States but affords evi-
dence Of the folly of departing from this
doctrine. 1t is unnecessary in the limits
of a brief report to specify particulars.
Too many are within the reach of the
intelligence of every member Of this body,
and although the amount asked for in this
instance is small, yet the principle is the
same, and the precedent sought to be es-
tabIished is far more to be dreaded than
the mere appropriation Of the ihOusand
dollars. 1t would be the opening Of a
hood-gate through which the very life
blood of the Territory might be poured.
If this appropriation be granted, it will
prooye but the beginning of the end
Your committe is knowing to the fact that
similar favors 10 the immense amount of
th~irty-nine thousand dollars will be asked
Of this legislature the moment this ap-
preparation is granted. From every por-
ton Of the Territory would they pour in
rapidly, and be sustained by arguments
equally as strong as are used TO secure
the success of this measure for we must
confess there is nothing in the peculiar
nature of this case to make it an excep-
ton to the general rule. The money is
proposed TO be appropriated upon a road
upon which the general government has
already expended thirty thousand dollars,
and upon an Indian Reservation. / am
credibly Informed that there is no road in
the Territory better improved, and that
the stream to be bridged is no larger than
many others which have been bridged in
other portions Of the Territory by the pri-
vate enterprise of those directly interest
ed.
"But there is another consideration the
minority Of your committee would urge
in no sectional spirit, however, upon the
attention Of this Council. 1t is too well
known that, hitherto, local ~jealousies and
strifes have done much to mar the peace
and social relations of our citizens in diff.
ferent portions Of the Territory. Il has
been charged hat the northern portion Of
the Territory has received much more
than its share Of the patronage bestowed
by the general government; that thou
sands of dollars have been expended in
the construction of public highways and
bridges and in the furtherance Of other
enterprises which have added much to the
wealth and comfort of North Platte,
while the less favored but equally meri-
torious regions South of the Platte have
had to depend entirely upon their own
resources, without even a smile from
abroad to cheer them in their efforts.
Absolutely nothing has been done in the
way of appropriations for South Platte
enterprises, either by the general gov
eminent or by the Territory. AT the
last session of the Legislature an appro-
priation of $500 was made out of the
Territorial treasury for the purpose Of
repairing a bridge North Of the Platte,
on a government road, and which there
is abundant reason to believe was in no
wise advantageously spent, to say the
least. If the present appropriation be
granted, North Platte will have drawn
nearly every dollar she has ever paid
into the Territorial treasury, and expen-
ded it upon works of internal improve
ments, beneficial only to hat section of
the Territory, while South Platte-ne-
elected as before mentioned-is neces-
sarily paying an undue proportion of
Territorial expenses. 1t is needless to
disguise the fact that an intense jealousy
has been the result in times past; but we
are happy TO know and state that this
feeling is rapidly dying away; a better
feeling is beginning TO pervade the ranks
of our people, feeling of brotherhood
which embraces the residents of all por-
tons of the Territory. Let nothing be
done by this Legislature to check the
growth of this new and better feeling.
Fearing this may be done, the minority
Of your committee urge upon the Coun-
Gil to consider well all of the effects of
the passage of this bill. Its passage
should be deprecated as a violation Of
sound policy; as the establishment of a
precedent which may engulf US in ruin
and bankruptcy in the future; and as adj
ding fuel to the dying flames ofa section
al fire whose baneful light has revealed
the mournful spectacle Of a people divid-
ed in the best and rurest relations of life,
Respectfully submitted"