Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the Second Session of the Eighteenth Congress Page: 661

                                
661
OF DEBATES IN CONGRESS.
662
Feb. 23, 1825.]
Cumberland Road.
[Senate.
to govern the deliberations of Congress, the great and
permanent interests of the nation would be disregarded,
the most valuable improvements remain untouched, and
the grpat principles of legislation settle down into selfish-
ness, and a contest for sectional benefits. Higher and
nobler views ought to govern this Senate.
Mr R. said, lis would not go into the discussion of
the constitutional question, whether Congress had a
right to appropriate money for internal improvements,
to make roads and canals. That question he had con-
sidered as long settled by both Houses of Congress after
the most able and solemn arguments. The gentleman
from Georgia, (Mr. Cobb,) has, with great ability, given
us his sentiments on that point, attempting to show that
Congress has not the power to appropriate money to
make roads and canals, but he had entirely failed to
convince him of the correctness of his positions. This
system had been in operation for twenty years; the
country had acquiesced in it; the soundest heads and
ablest talents of the nation had decided in its favor; the
venerable patriot Jefferson had given to it the sanction
of his great name and influence ; he may be justly styled
the father and patron of the Cumberland road. The
agitation of the constitutional question at every session
would result in no good, but might be productive of
great evil to the nation ; there is a point on all questions,
beyond which we ought not to go, where discussion and
opposition must end. Mr. R. said, he hoped we had ar-
rived to that point, and that the only question now would
be, How can we best improve the condition of the coun-
try, by a wise application of its resources ?
Whatever might be the opinion of gentlemen on the
constitutional question, on the right and power of Con-
gress to appropriate the funds of the nation to make
roads and canals in the United States, generally, there
could be but one opinion in relation to the present mea-
sure. This question stands on distinct and different
grounds altogether. It arises out of a solemn and delib-
erate contract between the General Government, and
the states northwest of the Ohio Iliver, by which the
former are bound to execute this work. Congress has
received, and is still continuing to receive, a valuable
consideraiion : an equivalent for the money now propos-
ed to be expended. If it fails to fulfil its engagements,
it may justly be accused of violating its contract with the
Northwestern States. What are the facts in relation to
this subject ? When those states were admitted into the
Union, the Congress of the United States, by their sev-
eral acts, authorizing the people to form for themselves
a constitution and state government, agreed, that if the
states would not t x the public lands for five years after
they had been sold, that five per cent, arising out of the
nett proceeds of the sale of those lands, should be ap-
propriated for the purpose of making roads; three per
cent, of which was to be laid out within the states by
their respective legislatures, and two per cent, by the
authority of Congress, in making a road leading to those
states. Let us examine more particularly, said Mr. Ii.
into the real state of the question, and inquire what has
been the practice of the General Government for twenty
years past.
Ohio was the first state that was admitted into the
Union upon this principle. This took place in 1803.—
When the two per cent, which had been reserved for
making a road leading to that state, Had accumulated so
as to justify an expenditure, Congress passed a law in
1806, authorizing commissioners to be appointed to sur-
vey and lay out a road from Cumberland, in Maryland,
to the state of Ohio. After the survey and location were
completed, annual appropriations were made by Con-
gress for constructing the road, until it was finally com-
pleted from Cumberland to \v heeling, on the Ohio river,
a distance of one hundred and thirty-five miles. This
road lies entirely within the states of Maryland, Penn-
sylvania, and "Virginia. Not one rod is within any of
the new states. The contract with the state of < -hio s
fulfilled; the road has been made to the boundary of
that state; the two per cent, that has arisen, and will
hereafter arise, has all been expended. Ohio, therefore,
has no further claim upon Congress for any portion of
the two per cent, which may be produced by the future
sales of lands in that state.
It is but justice to admit, said Mr. R. that a greater
sum of money has been expended in making the Cum-
berland iioad to the Ohio Iliver, than the two per cent,
would amount to in the state of Ohio. This excess must
be considered as a direct appropriation from the treasury,
for the accomplishment of a great national object, in
which the whole Western country had a direct and be-
neficial interest. All the states bordering upon the Mis-
sissippi, as well as the Ohio Uiver, derive important ad-
vantages from the execution of this work. It is also
equally important to the Atlantic States, being the usual
channel of intercourse, both commercial and personal,
between the East and the West. It serves as a common
bond of union to connect various and distant portions of
the country together.
There is strong and irresistible evidence that it never
was the intention of Congress that this road should find
its limit on the left bank of the Ohio River, but that it
should be continued and made to the banks of the Mis-
sissippi. Congress has followed the same principle on
the admission of the new states beyond Ohio, that was
adopted in relation to that state. When Indiana, Illinois,
and Missouri, were received into the Union, as members
of this great confederacy, it was expressly stipulated,
that two percent, of the nett proceeds of the sales of
public lands within their limits, should be appropriated
under the authority of Congress, for making a road lead-
ing to those states. Under this engagement, they have
a right to expert, that Congress will go on, appropriate
the money, and execute the work. Preparatory mea-
sures have already been adopted on this subject. The
present bill, therefore, is only in pursuance of a general
plan, already commenced, and which has in part been
carried into effect. liy the act of May, 1820, commis-
sioners were appointed to survey and lay out a road from
the right bank of the Ohio River, opposite Wheeling, to
the left bank of the Mississippi, near to, or opposite,
the town of St. Louis, in Missouri. Those commission-
ers, in the execution of the duties assigned them, com-
menced their labors on the Ohio River; and, in the first
instance, ran a straight line to the Mississippi. The
ground was found to be more broken and uneven than
they had anticipated, but presenting no insuperable ob-
stacles to the location of a good road. The commission-
ers state, that the straight line run by them, passes a
little south of the seats of government in Ohio, Indiana,
and Illinois ; but, that the distance will not be increased
more than three miles in the whole route, if the road
should be thrown north so as to embrace those points.
This difference in distance is so inconsiderable, and the
objects to be obtained, by passing through Columbus.
Indianapolis, and Vandalia, are of such vast importance,
that there can be no hesitation as to the policy of the
road taking that course.
There are several other towns of considerable size,
which lie in the range of this route, some of which ought
to be mentioned. Zanesville, which is situated on the
Muskingum river, eighty miles west of Wheeling, has a
fair claim to become a village of the first impjitance.—
It is strongly marked by nature for a place of great
wealth and population. Situated at the falls of the Mus-
kingum, it can command water power to any extern.—
Valuable mills, machinery, and manufactories, are alrea-
dy in operation. There are in its vicinity inexhaustible
beds of coal and iron ore, which will enable its citizens
to manufacture iron and castings, to supplj' all the wants
of the country. It is believed that no situation on the
Western waters will furnish as eligible a situation, and