MARCH 25, 1830.] Buffalo and New Orleans Road. [H. of R. is no necessity which demands at our hands the applica- man, if I did not believe that a remedy is within his reach; cation of the public funds for purposes of this kind. Nei- that is, to give up his exploded canal system, and embrace ther the "common defence," nor the "general welfare," the railroad plan; and a most happy opportunity now demands it. And if the security of either of the points, awaits him. Let him unite the interest of the company to which this road is contemplated to be constructed, did demand the exercise of those powers, and the application of our treasure, I ask in the name of common sense, sir, if this road, a mere paltry earthen way, would afford the security desired? But, four general considerations have been urged in support of the bill, and they may truly be said to be most pliant considerations; for they are brought to bear upon all subjects of internal improvement, requiring the public lands or the public money. over which he now presides, with that of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, and, by a unity of action and community of feeling, they will find their interests mutually advanced, and the most happy results growing out of the arrangement. I hope I shall be pardoned for this digression. But let me ask the honorable chairman who introduced this bill, [Mr. HEMPHILL] how he can reconcile it to his vast notions of grand and magnificent internal improvements, and the resources and capacity of this Government to prosecute them, to an indefinite exIt shall be my object to show that not one of those tent, as he set forth in his speech? But what is more, how considerations requires that this road should be made. I can he reconcile it to himself, to fall so far behind the shall take them up in the order in which I find them in advance of the age in improvements, as to propose an the report of the engineers made to this House at the "earthen" road as a means to facilitate commerce, and first session of the nineteenth Congress. And the first promote the "common defence and the general welfare?" in order is its commercial advantage. Now, if the gentleman had proposed a plan for the con It has been gravely maintained that this road is all im-struction of a railroad, on some plan commensurate with portant as a line of intercommunication between distant the greatness and resources of this nation, there would points for the facilities of commercial intercourse, and have been some plausibility in his arguments. But, upon the transportation of produce and merchandise. Now, what have we heard his beautiful theories and high wrought sir, admitting the constitutionality and the propriety of figures exhausted? Why, upon an earthen road--a road making roads for commercial purposes, is there any one of mud, liable to be washed by every shower, and subwho seriously believes that this, or any other road, can ject to the vicissitudes and casualties incident to every possibly be brought to compete, successfully, with the season. mighty father of rivers, and its tributary streams? What, Before I take leave of this branch of the subject, I ask sir! change the channel of produce from the finest rivers leave to read a brief passage from the report of the enin the world, with the powerful agency of steam, propel-gineers; we shall then be able to judge of their views as ling boats hundreds of miles in the twenty-four hours, to the commercial importance of this road. with a mere "earthen" road! When the mighty Mis- I read from the report of the engineers, which may be souri shall turn her current back upon her source, and found in the 9th volume of Executive papers, session of force a passage through the Rocky Mountains, and empty 1825-1826, document 156, page 22. "In relation to exher vast tribute of waters into the Pacific, and the beau-ternal commerce, say the engineers, "it appears to us tiful Ohio shall be brought through the tunnel proposed that a road from Washington city to New Orleans will not to be cut by the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. MERCER] afford, as to transportation, advantages of national importand pour her waters into the Chesapeake, then, and not ance; for the road will cross generally all the main watertill then, let the gentleman propose the construction of courses perpendicular to the coast; and in the directions roads through that region of country for commercial and by means of which all the transportations are effective purposes. which relate to operations of external commerce." But what kind of road have we proposed to us by this "However, we have remarked in the foregoing part of bill "An earthen road," sir. Yes, sir, a miserable, pal- this report, that the main watercourses were crossed by try, earthen road. The honorable chairman and his com- the eastern route at the head of sloop navigation, and by mittee have not only fallen far in the rear of the march the middle route at the head of boat navigation, therefore of science and the arts in road making, but they have a road in the direction of either will accommodate the disgone entirely back to olden times. Earthen roads were tricts through which it passes, for the transportation of the first system of intercommunication known to man. their products to the navigable streams. Under this local They were superseded by turnpikes, as they are called, (mark the words, gentlemen, local, not general) point of which consisted in the application of stone, gravel, and view, the external commerce will become benefited to a other materials, which improved the foundation, and made certain extent," &c. it capable of bearing greater weight. Mr. McAdam has improved upon those roads, by a peculiar and regular method of preparing and applying the stone; and from his celebrity in his improvements, has arisen the name of McAdamized roads. But, above all, is that highest effort of the human intellect, in perfecting a system of road intercommunication, which, for ease, safety, and expedition, challenges the astonishment and admiration of the world. Thus we see that, in the view of the engineers, this road would not ensure benefits general in their character, but such as are merely local; and even that, no further than to afford districts through which it may pass the advantage of transporting their produce to the navigable streams. This being the case, is there any one who will press the application of the national treasure (which should never be disbursed only with a view to national objects, wherein all the parts are equally benefited) to purposes local in their character, and that to a limited extent? It would be merging the "general welfare" into local welfare, and, against all principle, the greater into the lesser. That system which has outstripped canals, and ruined their stocks in England; and that system which will supersede canals here, as well as all other systems of the kind, which have been devised by human ingenuity-yes, Next in order are "political considerations." I shall be sir, the honorable gentleman from Virginia [Mr. MERCER] brief upon this branch of the subject, as there is only one must hear the appalling, the heart-rending fact, that this prominent consideration, in a political point of view, which mighty monument, (Chesapeake and Ohio Canal,) which, can be urged, which is, that roads and canals will operate for years, he has been laboring with a zeal and exertion to as bonds of union, and more strongly cement us together, erect to his memory, and which, no doubt, he had fondly and prevent a falling off of the parts. Without stopping hoped would transmit his name down to the latest posteri- to controvert the correctness of the position, it certainly ty, must fall, and must give place to the superior improve- presupposes one of two things: either that there is a disment of railroads. I could sympathise with that gentle- position in the States to fly off from the centre, or a re pulsive action at the centre to throw them off, and hence the necessity of these additional bonds of union. Nothing, in my opinion, is to be apprehended from the former; would to God I could say so much for the latter? If ever the calamities of disunion should be experienced by this nation, the causes, proximate and remote, will be traced to the action of the Federal Government. The mismanagement of this central machinery, so beautiful in its conception, and so perfect in its structure, and which worked so harmoniously whilst kept within the legitimate sphere prescribed by those rules expressly laid down for the government of its action, will alone produce those fatal consequences. By overleaping here the constitutional boundaries so clearly defined, by throwing the whole machinery out of gear, and giving a looseness to our operations, propelled on by the force of combined interests, composing a majority, against a minority, the latter will be compelled to take refuge under the old relation in which the States stood to each other; that of separate, distinct, and independent sovereignty. The States themselves will cling to the Union whilst there is a hope left to rest on; the oppressions of this Federal Government can alone drive them off. [MARCH 25, 1830. So far from New Orleans being in an exposed situation, I do say, and I say it without the fear of contradiction, that it is the most strongly fortified place in the nation. Every pass leading from the Gulf of Mexico to the city, is well secured by the best and most costly fortifications. There are no less than five forts (I believe I am not mistaken in the number; if I am, the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. WHITE] will correct me) erected for the security of that city against maritime or other invasion from the Gulf. These forts are capable of mounting some hundred pieces of ordnance, at least enough to sink any fleet that would ever attempt a passage up the Mississippi to the city. We have already expended near two millions of dollars in defending the territory of Louisiana by permanent fortifications, and estimates are now before us for a continuation of those works. The following is a statement of those expenditures, politely furnished at my request by a gentleman of the Engineer Department. (Mr. C. then read the following letter:) "To the Hon. S. P. CARSON, House of Representatives: ty nearly the cost of defending the territory of Louisiana Fort Wood, at the Chef Menteur Fort Pike, at the Rigolets Pass, Amount appropriated, $411,673 11 359,393 14 624,064 53 96,447 80 16,677 41 1,508.255 99 264,517 52 77,810 79 $1,850,584 30" Perhaps if there were ever a crisis in the affairs of our Government which required additional bonds to hold us together, that crisis is now at hand. But if this road is to be the remedy, the committee have certainly mistaken its proper location. Western Virginia and Eastern Tennessee are not about to fly off from the Union, and therefore do not require this work; if danger is to be apprehended, it is from another quarter. The South is the point to which we should direct our attention. Certainly every political consideration would direct us to the metropolitan route. We must encircle South Carolina with some band, or she, from report, will be off at a "tangent," and that suddenly. But let me seriously ask of every member of this committee, what stronger bonds of union do freemen need, or the States require, than those forged out, wrought, and put in order by the master workmen of the revolution? Link connecting link, forming a chain of Government more beautiful in its principles, and beneficial in its results, (whilst acting within the limits of the original design,) than The estimate for one of those works, (Fort Jackson,) any ever devised by the wisdom of man. What was this for the present year, is eighty-five thousand dollars. Thus design? It was, that all the parts should share in equal we see, sir, that the attention of the Government has been proportion the benefits or injuries resulting from the com-directed to the defence and protection of that point, and pact; a perfect reciprocity was to be observed and preserv- that the fact, as stated by the honorable chairman who ined. Under a strict observance of those sacred principles, troduced this bill, with regard to the "exposed situation" sir, what have we to fear? I answer nothing, either from of that city, does not exist. Now, as regards the necessity external or internal causes. If fears are to be entertained, of this road for the transportation of troops and munitions they are upon the other side of the question; and let me of war, I here take upon myself the responsibility of prohere admonish gentlemen who are seeking to provide ad-nouncing, although in contradiction to the position of the ditional bonds of union, by cutting canals and constructing gentleman who introduced the bill, [Mr. HEMPHILL] that roads, to beware lest they by their operations cut the liga- no such necessity exists; and I further say, that it would ments of the constitution which now binds us together, and not only be idle, but the extreme of fully, to expend mowhich forms the only sure and certain ties by which we can ney upon this road with a view to military advantages. remain united. No political consideration, therefore, in my What say gentlemen who urge this branch of the opinion, does require the construction of this road; but, on subject? Why, "that New Orleans must always look to the contrary, eminently demands the rejection of the bill. Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, &c. for men and provisions "Military considerations" are the next in order, and to to protect and feed them in time of war." Well, I grant which I shall ask the attention of the committee. this; but what further do they urge? Why, "that this The honorable chairman [Mr. HEMPHILL] set out by tell-road must be made to transport these troops and proviing us that the two points to which this road is contem-sions upon." Now can it be possible that any man, in his plated to be run, are dangerously situated, and eminently sober senses, and under the influence of reason, can, for exposed in case of invasion, &c., and that this is important one moment, entertain the belief that, if this road were as a military road for the transportation of troops and mu-made, even one soldier or solitary barrel of provisions, nitions of war. With regard to the exposed situation of from Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, or any other State north New Orleans, I beg leave to differ entirely with the honor- of those, would travel over it? What! bring men from the able chairman. As to Buffalo, I know but very little about State of Ohio across the States of Kentucky and Tennesit, nor have I sought to know, because I looked upon that end of the road as having been tacked on by the committee, mearly as a means of buying up votes, and not that the necessity of the nation required the work. I shall leave that end, therefore, in the hands of others. see? Aye, and across the Ohio river, too, with its current teeming with steamboats, ready to waft the soldiers and provisions to the point of destination. But no, they must trudge through the muds of Kentucky and Tennessee, by marches of from ten to fifteen miles per day, till they in MARCH 25, 1830.] Buffalo and New Orleans Road. [H. of R. tersect this road (after crossing navigable and inviting by roads, for they might lead to defeat as well as victory. rivers) at Florence, Alabama; and then they will have the And here let me remark that those facilities to military peculiar advantage of travelling this superb national earth-operations are always occupied by the strongest; and such en road from thence to New Orleans. a work might prove a curse, instead of a blessing, (as was I invite gentlemen who think despatch and saving of proven, said a gentleman standing near Mr. CARSON [Mr. time important in military operations, to calculate how DAVIS, of South Carolina] upon the Bladensburg course long it would take troops to get to New Orleans by this last war.) Yes, [resumed Mr. C.] but I would rather lose "national road" from Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, &c., the argument afforded by the mention of that disagreeaand compare it with the ease, convenience, and despatch, ble subject, than wound the pride of the House by recallafforded by steam power on the navigable rivers which ing their recollection to it. pass through those States and empty into the Mississippi. The "transportation of the mail" is the next and last It cannot be denied that troops from any part of Kentucky consideration to which I shall ask the attention of the comor Ohio could get to New Orleans by steamboat convey-mittee. ance before they could reach Florence, in Alabama, the I feel that my strength is failing me too much to go into point of intersection with this road. Under this view of this branch of the subject to the extent I had desired. I the case, the positions laid down by the honorable chair-will lay it down as my opinion, however, that the framers man, [Mr. HEMPHILL] with regard to the "exposed con- of the constitution did not intend, by the words "establish dition" of New Orleans, and the necessity of this road as post offices and post roads," to confer the power to conaffording means of defence, fall to the ground, and the struct roads, &c., but only meant that Congress should dewhole superstructure of argument based upon them falls signate the roads over which the mail should be carried, and the points at which it should be opened. I shall not also. If further arguments were necessary to show the impro-attempt an argument, sir, to prove the correctness of this priety, nay, the excessive folly, of making this road for construction, but it being mine, it is sufficient to govern me. military purposes, they would be found by a recurrence The first inquiry which suggests itself with regard to to the history of our last war, particularly in the opera- the expediency of constructing this road for the transporttions in the southern section of the Union. There was a ation of the mail, is, does any necessity for impediment time when New Orleans was "dangerously situated and exist to the transportation of the mail, which requires the eminently exposed;" there was a time, sir, when that city application of this sum of money to remove or remedy? was invaded by a powerful and well disciplined army; an Has the Post Office Department complained of a want army, too, stimulated to action by the "booty and beauty" of facilities in this particular, and asked the construction which were promised them. This was a case of great of a road at our hands? Or have they even suggested the emergency--this was a time of deep and dreadful anxiety; propriety of the appropriation of any sum of money for but sufficient for the occasion were the spirits convened, purposes of the kind? and hastily convened, for the defence of the city. Yes, They have not; but, upon the contrary, we are informed an army was convened, defeated the enemy, and saved by the very able report of the distinguished gentleman who New Orleans. What military road, made at vast expense presides over that department, that the facilities are now of time and treasure, were those troops transported over? ample, and will be increased as the means of the departNone; yet they got to New Orleans, fought the battles of ment will justify, or the public interest shall require. I their country, and got home again; and thus will it be ever; ask the attention of the committee while I read part of that this country will always find security in the strong arm of report, which treats of the very subject now under conher "citizen soldiers." Dangers may stand thick around sideration. them; they only stimulate to exertion. The noblest deeds are done upon the most dangerous emergencies, and the glory of achieving them is the strongest incentive to action. "The mail communication between New Orleans and Need I say more? Does the history of all ages that have the seat of the General Government, by way of Mobile gone before us, present a solitary example of a nation, at and Montgomery, in Alabama, and Augusta, in Georgiapeace with the world, and whose policy it is to cultivate will, from the commencement of the ensuing year, be efand maintain those pacific relations, preparing for the fected three times a week, affording comfortable convey, transportation of troops by large expenditures of public ances for travellers, and the whole trip performed in the money for the construction of roads in this time of pro- period of two weeks, each way, through the capitals of found peace? But, on the contrary, does not all history Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. prove that the first generals the world has produced, asked "Lines of four-horse post coaches will also be establishnot roads over which to transport troops for the advance-ed, from the first day of January next, to run three times ment of their military operations? Let me ask, what engi- a week, both ways, between Nashville and Memphis, in neers designated the route, or what nation appropriated the Tennessee. This improvement was deemed important to funds, to construct a passage over the Alps for Hannibal keep a regular and certain intercourse between the Westand his Carthaginians, when he pushed his conquests to ern States and New Orleans--Memphis being a point on the very walls of Rome? Or who directed Cæsar to the point the Mississippi to which steamboats can come at all seasons at which to pass the Rubicon, when he pronounced that of the year; it being contemplated to extend this line to "the die was cast," and struck the fatal blow at the liber-New Orleans by steamboats, so soon as the means of the ties of his country? [Mr. C. read the following extract from the report of the Postmaster General:] department will justify, and the public interest shall require it. To give greater utility to this improvement, a weekly line of coaches will also be established at the same time from Florence, in Alabama, (where it will connect with the line from Huntsville,) to Bolivar, in Tennessee, at which point it will form a junction with the line from Nashville to Memphis." But to come down to the present time--to things which transpired but yesterday, on the other side of the water. Did Nicholas tax his subjects to raise a revenue to open those passes through the Balkan, over which Diebitsch led that army which shook the Ottoman empire to its centre? and which, had they not been stopped by pacific measures, and, I might add, by the interposition of other European Now, what more can be required? Does not this report powers, jealous of the rising greatness and resources of also prove that steam navigation will supersede roads for all the Russian empire, the christian flag would this day have purposes, wherever it can find water for the boats to run been waving on the walls of Constantinople? It is by the on? The despatch and quickness of steamboat passage energy of powerful minds and capable commanders, that from Memphis to New Orleans has drawn the attention of armies are led to victory and glorious achievements; not the Postmaster General to that point; and it is already viewed as the route which can be travelled with most ex- I shall now turn my attention to the relative merits of the different routes; and, if this road is to be made, I think I can show the propriety of selecting the most direct, practicable route. For all purposes, connected with the transportation of the mail, the saving of time, cost of construction, distance, &c., the most "direct, practicable route,” as proposed by the amendment, I had the honor to lay upon your table some days since, and which was printed by order of the House, and which I shall offer to the committee before I take my seat, is certainly the preferable one. I lay down, then, as incontrovertible facts, that the route I propose will be better, the cost of construction less, the distance less, and the number of inhabitants accommodated much greater. Now, if I establish these positions, what member can refuse to vote for the amendment, whether he be for or against the bill? [MARCH 25, 1830. Making This shows a difference in favor of the direct route, of one million fifty nine thousand seven hundred and forty-six of a population to be accommodated by this road. [Here Mr. BLAIR, of Tennessee, requested Mr. C. to read further from the report, with regard to the States that would be indirectly as well as directly accommodated.] Mr. C. resumed. I am requested by my honorable friend from Tennessee, [Mr. B.] I say my friend, sir, because I know him to be so, to read further from this report. I will do so, and I assure my friend that due deference shall be paid to his route, (western route.) "But (say the engineers) if we add Kentucky and Georgia, which will be indirectly accommodated by the western route, we shall have for the population accommodated, both directly and indirectly, by this route, Virginia, Tennessee, Total 1,065,336 422,813 127,901 564,317 340,989 2,521,386" The gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. IsACKS] has Now, even with the addition of the population of the clearly established the correctness of my three first posi-State of Kentucky, which they say is to be indirectly actions, (as to the goodness, cost, and distance,) and the en-commodated, there is a balance still in favor of the direct gineers who made the reconnoissance of the different routes route, of a population directly accommodated, of one have proven the fourth, (the number of inhabitants to be hundred and fifty-four thousand four hundred and forty. accommodated.) The gentleman from Tennessee, [Mr. But why does my friend from Tennessee [Mr. BLAIR] ISACKS] said (and I truly thank him for the argument) press this indirect consideration upon the House? Does that on the east of the mountains we had a fine level sur- he not know, sir, that Kentucky cannot be benefited, face; that nature, in her works, had been kind to us; we either directly or indirectly, by this road? And does he had nothing to do but throw up a little sand, and we had not further know that the State of Kentucky would never fine roads, &c. With him, [he said] and his constituents, have been mentioned, if it had not been to effect political and the people along the route selected, it was very dif- results, favorable to the men in power when this report ferent; they had mountains and limestone to contend with, was made? Does my friend recollect who was Secretary and natural obstructions, which required the hand of art of State at that time? and the exertions made to continue to alter, and render them in a condition for the use and ad- his influence and control over the State of Kentucky? vantage of the country, &c. &c., and therefore the west-Was not every branch of the "American system" brought ern route was the proper one. In answer to this argu. to bear upon her, and particularly this branch of internal ment, I have nothing to offer; the gentleman has granted improvement? all I ask--nay, more, sir, I did not intend to disparage his Those were the causes which produced this report, or route, by portraying the lofty mountains and the quanti-the name of Kentucky would never have been mentionties of limestone, which it would cost millions to make a cd. But the times were dangerous, the "line of safe preroad over, but only meant to urge, what cannot be denied, cedent" was threatened, and every nerve was exerted to that the direct route is unquestionably the nearest; that arrest the blow; but all, all would not do; the line was the east side of the mountains afforded abundant materials broken, and it is matter of deep surprise to see those who for the construction of a road; that the surface was better, gave their aid in producing the result, now using the same and the graduation more easy, than on the west side of flimsy, futile, and disingenuous arguments which were the mountains; and that the cost of construction would be resorted to by those persons, with a hope of continuing much less. The engineers support me in these positions; their power, merely to effect sectional objects, or with a and what they have failed to do, has been abundantly sup-view of producing benefits to themselves and their conplied by the gentleman from Tennessee, [Mr. ISACKS.] With regard to the population, sir, to be accommodated by this road, I beg leave to read from the report of the engi neers, (the same as before recited,) page 22: "Leaving out the States (say the engineers) of Louisiana and Mississippi, and the District of Columbia, the States accommodated directly by the eastern and middle (or direct, as I propose) route will be (census of 1820)- stituents. The gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. BLAIR] also said that nothing had ever been done to advance the interests of his constituents, or his State, by this Government. The gentleman has surely forgotten that four hundred thousand acres of land in Alabama, equal to six hundred thousand dollars, were appropriated by this Government for the opening of a canal round the Muscle shoals, on the Ten Buffalo and New Orleans Road. [H. of R. nessee river; and that the completion of that work would ceeded in my feeble effort, I must leave to be decided by admit steam navigation into East Tennessee. boat has already been (as I am informed) so high up the hearing. One steam-those who have been so indulgent as to favor me with a Holston as a place called the Boat Yard, which is the district of my honorable friend, [Mr. BLAIR.] [Mr. B. here corrected Mr. C. and said the boat had only ascended as high as Knoxville.] But, above all the reasons which have been urged against yet another, which should sink deep upon the minds of the the expenditure of public money at this time, is there not I thank the gentleman for the correction. Lhad mistak-gistrate? Does he not stand pledged to this nation to pay off friends and supporters of our present illustrious Chief Maen the point, but it does not weaken the argument; for the public debt, and to exhibit the proud and sublime specthe streams leading from the district represented by that tacle to the world, of a nation out of debt; which, indeed, gentleman to Knoxville are navigable, and boats are daily sir, would be " passing them. I heard a fact stated the other day, by a he not pledged by his friends, in anticipation, to effect this something new under the sun"--and was highly intelligent gentleman who resides near Abingdon, desirable, this important object? What said they, sir? Virginia, while conversing with the Vice President and Why, elect the plain, old republican, Andrew Jackson; some other gentlemen, "that he had started at one time he will bring "order out of chaos;" he will restore reforty boats, cach containing one hundred barrels of salt, publican simplicity, will pay off the national debt, and refrom a point on the north fork of the Holston river, fifteen lieve us from the necessities of high tariffs, &c. miles above Abingdon, which salt was probably to supply what are those very men doing, who were foremost in exNorth Alabama, and part of Tennessee. I mention this citing those expectations, and pledging him for those reAnd fact, as an answer to that part of the argument of the gen-sults? Why, sir, we now see them willing, nay, urgent, tleman from Tennessee, which related to the transporta- to squander millions of money, because perchance their tion of salt from the salt wells in Virginia. Certainly, if immediate districts may receive some little benefit. In my this road were made, no one would think of transporting opinion, if ever there was a man anxiously desirous to fulfil salt by wagons, incurring the expense of teams, &c. which the just expectations of his friends, and to advance the could not haul more than ten barrels at most, when they general interest of this nation, Andrew Jackson is that man. could send one hundred barrels by one boat. But why But, if we go on in the manner we have started, how can talk of those considerations which are merely sectional in he discharge those obligations, and meet the expectations their character? They should have no bearing in this case, of the American people? if, indeed, the work is national. But, who will say, after witnessing the whole proceeding of the committee which current expenses of the year, so much of the money which Is not every dollar which we appropriate beyond the introduced this bill, that national considerations were the would otherwise go to the payment of the debt of the causes which induced them to report this bill, and to make nation? If we appropriate these two millions and a quarthe selection they have done for the location of the road? ter, where will the surplus be, or where any money, exNational considerations have nothing to do with it; it is cept the sinking fund, to apply to the payment of our the offspring of a combination, based upon local consider- public debt? Nay, the sinking fund, also, is to be broken ations, for the accommodation of gentlemen who compose in upon; that sacred guaranty, pledged to the creditpart of the committee, and through whose districts this road is to run; and the location fixed on was for their accommodation, not for the nation. Yet we are called on now to appropriate millions of the public money (two million two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars is the sum wanted for the present) to promote the interests of certain sections of the country, and to subserve the views of combined interests upon this floor. and, if any have doubted the fact before, has not the introduction of this bill, for a lateral route, leading from "Zanesville, Ohio, to pass through Lexington, Kentucky, Nashville, Tennessee, and to intersect this road at Florence, Alabama," put the seal upon the arrangement, and develop[Mr. ISACKS said he did not vote for the resolution.] ed the matter, in bold relief, before every eye not blinded is going on, and the effect it will have upon the adminisNor did I charge the gentleman. I only speak of what by interest or other motive? tration; and I must further tell the gentlemen from Ten ors of the nation, must be taken also, and distributed among the States for purposes of education. [Here Mr. ISACKS said he was not aware of any such intention on the part of any one.] Mr. C. resumed: I allude to the resolution passed by this House, instructing a committee to bring in a bill for the distribution of the nett proceeds of the sale of public lands among the States for purposes this Government to its creditors, and belong to the sinking I say combined; of education; and those lands were solemnly pledged by fund, and should not be touched till every farthing of the obligation is discharged. But look who compose the committee who produced nessee [Messrs. BLAIR and ISACKS] that if they desired these bills. See the States they are from, and the sections (which I know they do not) to ruin and blast forever the of States they represent; then couple the routes and cir-hard-earned fame of that best of men, who, upon all occumstances together, and tell me if there is room left to casions, has proven his disinterested devotion to his counentertain a doubt as to the causes which have produced try and to his friends, they could not have fallen upon the effect. I will push this subject of combination no fur- a better plan than this, of appropriating money, leaving ther, lest the feelings of some personal friends might not him powerless, and without the means of doing that which escape unscathed. I desist, therefore, not that I fear the he stands pledged to do. contest, or doubt the results, but for the reason just mentioned. Are they prepared to hear him exclaim, as did Cæsar, I have endeavored to show that the considerations urged and you, too, my son?" Will they bind him in fetters, (when he was struck by, as he thought, his best friend,) by the supporters of this bill did not exist, or at least did and leave him, mangled and bleeding, to the mercy of his not exist to that extent which required at our hands the political enemies, who would glory in the spectacle? If I application of the public money. How far I have suc-believed them prepared for this, the line of separation The Committee on Internal Improvements is composed of Messrs. Hemphill, of Pennsylvania, chairman, Blair, of Tennessee, Haynes, of Georgia, Leteher, of Kentucky, Vinton, of Ohio, Craig, of Virginia, and Butman, of Maine. ported the election of General Jackson, because I believed should be eternally drawn between them and me. I suphim honest and meritorious, and I shall support his adminThis route passes directly through the districts represented by Craig, realize the expectations of his friends throughout the of Virginia, and Blair, of Tennessee. The lateral route from Zanesistration, because now I know him to be so, and he will ville, Ohio, and passing through Kentucky, is Messrs. Vinton and nation, if his friends here, by their misguided policy, Letcher's part of the system. The Buffalo end passes through Penn: do not prevent him. My strength has failed me; I am ylvania, the State which the honorable chairman, Mr. Hemphill, is done. I only ask leave to tender my thanks to the from-Note by Mr. C. VOL. VI.-85 |