Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-29

reimburse the treasury for appropriations made
out of 1t to Construct the National road, but not
in manner warranted by the trust. Ohio and
Indiana, however, by solemn acts OF their Leg
S'atures accepted G portions OF the road lying
vitnln their respective limits, upon whic', some
three and a half MILL ms Of dollars were cxpen
| ;ed, and have derived a revenue from them. H.
| ;Ros never adopted such legislation never re-
/ 'o"nizad the work done within her boundaries
as of any value, and never, in any way, made
! III appropriation Of it, go that she, Of all the
States, has derived no advantage from the road
fund set apart for her b. neft, either in the way
| ot expenditures or receipts of money.
| If Congress had kept its faith and constructed
| tie road as it provided should be done through
| I nois, instead Of aband ,ning the enterprise,
| after making few wasteful expenditures be-
t tween her eastern limit and Vandalia. the
equity of the case would be vastly different !;
though, even then, it could not be properly and
| Justly insisted that the fund set apart for the
special benefit of the State, aud for which she
had rendered a full equivalent could be legally
absorbed by Congress in great National
work, undertaken and pi osecutod for the COM
mon benefit Of the whole United States, es
pecially in view of the fact that she had never
accepted OF such legislation
From whatever point the subject may DC
contemplated, it seems to my mind clear that
the State is entitled to receive from the United
States the amount of her claim. That there is
ample legislative provision recurring the pay
ment have as little doubt. The second sec
tion of an act vf Congress, approved March 3,
1859, entitled '' An act to settle certain ac-
counts between the United States and the State
Of Miss ssippi and other States,'' makes it the
duty of the Commissioner Ct the General Land
Office to settle the account of Illinois as one of
the '' other States''-allew and pay it. How
ever, it is nat necessary that I should enter
into argument upon this point with the
Legislature. There can be but one mind
among us on the subject
AS early as 1851 Hon. Isaac n Morris, then
member of Congress from Illinois, COM
menced the prosecution Of this claim before
the Land Department., at Washington, and OBJ
tanned the promise Of that department that it
should be adjusted and paid wherein pom, he
sent a copy of his correspondence ith the
commissioners to his excellency Governor Bis
sell, Hnl suggested the proprety of the ap-
poin1me:'t of an agent on behalf OF the State
to the settlement of the account. Governor
Bissell requested him to DO it. Soon e.er my
term of office, as executive Of that State, COM
menced, Mr. Morris spoke to me upon the
subject and subsequently made presentation
Of the laws and facts upon which he claimed
the money was due the State Upon an investiea
ton Of the matter I became satisfied his views
were correct, aud, inasmuch as he had, after
great patience and labor, entirely familiarzed
himself with the whole subject, [ deemed it
my duty to appoint him to prosecute the claim
for the State. He has submitted to me thrt .
different reports pertaining to the busnes s
with which he was entrusted-two in printed
form and one in manuscript-which are here
with transmitted and to which l respectfully
call your careful attention. These reports
will be found very full, and exhibit clearly
and conclusiyely the right of the State to pay
ment Of the claim.
The difficulties surrounding the prosecution
of claims against the General Government, at
this period, have environed Colonel Morris on
all sides, yet he has brought to the discharge
Of his intricate and difficult mission the great
skill and persistent industry requisite to sue
cess : and feel. that for his distinguished fdel-
ity and Conscientious labors the State is greatly
indebted.
I recommend that the Legislature make a
firm expression Of their opinion in behalf of
the claim OF the State, and that reasonable
appropriation be made to defray the expenses
of its prosecution. Respectfully,
RICHARD YATES, Governor.