Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

270 ABRIDGMENT OF THE H. OF R.] Western National Road. [JANUARY, 1825. the public good. On the present subject, it Another consideration was, the great accomwas his opinion that the States who had been molation which such a line of road would furadmitted under the stipulations which had been nish to all the Western States. With respect to stated, had, in fairness, a right to expect the those States, the object was strictly a general Government to proceed with this road. one. Let me ask, said Mr. W., if Government Taking the different statutes together, it were about to erect a fort or an arsenal, or to seemed to be holden out, that Government build ships of war, and it was possible that any would make a road, leading to those States. of these objects would require so small a sum Congress had acted again and again on this as that now asked for, whether anybody would idea; and, he asked, Where was the difference then hesitate? If, then, the object was legitibetween the present appropriation, and those mate, if it was useful to all our citizens, and which had been formerly granted for this same especially so to those who now ask it, might road? All that can be said is, that the Gov- not Congress lawfully make it? As to the inernment has made advances on a fund which cidental advantages accruing from the expendiis incompetent to repay them, and so the present ture of so much of the public money as was amounts to a direct grant. Well. I-Had not now proposed to be appropriated, he was confithis been done before? The appropriations for dent they had been overrated. The expendithe Cumberland road had, many of them, been ture of 150,000 dollars could be no great boon made when it was known that that fund was to any of the States. For his own part, he inadequate. The case is no worse now. The felt glad that this money was to be laid out degree only is different. The principle is the beyond the mountains. He did not hesitate to same; and he thought that the Western States avow that he should be yet more glad could might fairly expect this object to be effected, more of the public money be expended there. on the ground of their several contracts. The Such were his feelings whether right or wrong, next question was, is this a fit object for which and such his views, whether correct or erroto appropriate? Gentlemen say it is not a neous. national object. But he knew of no work And here he would state what he conceived equally beneficial to all the twenty-four States. to be the true situation of that part of the What, asked Mr. WEBSTER, is anational object? Union. The people he considered as being Is nothing to be so denominated except what substantially rich, yet, having no markets, they benefits every part of the United States? Con- were without the means of converting their gress last year voted a sum to improve certain riches to many desirable purposes of common harbors on Lake Erie. Was this of any benefit life. And, in such a situation, the expenditure to Alabama or New Orleans? They had ap- of comparatively a small sum of money might propriated money for the repairs of Plymouth do much in promoting the comfort of the peoBeach: could this be any benefit to the citizens ple. There could be no doubt, if gentlemen of Indiana? Works surely may be denominated looked at the money received into the treasury national, which are of extensive importance, from the sale of the public lands to the West, although the benefit may not be strictly univer- and then looked to the whole amount expended sal. The fortifications, for instance, which had by Government, even including the whole of been erected on the Chesapeake, are national what was laid out for the army, the latter must only because many have an interest in it. The be allowed to be very inconsiderable, and there degree of interest in these works between those must be a constant drain of money from the who lived on the shores of the Chesapeake and West to pay for the public lands. It might, the shores of Lake Michigan, was so widely indeed, be said, that this was no more than the different, that the latter may, in comparison, refluence of capital which had previously gone be said to have no interest in them. Yet, cer- over the mountains. Be it so. Still, its practainly, those fortifications were a fit subject of tical effect was to produce inconvenience, if not appropriation, and it was the duty of Congress distress, by absorbing the money of the people. to erect them. It was as true of the West as of all other parts With respect to the present road, he asked of the country, that the consumer pays the tax. how did the concern of the General Govern- The public revenue was not raised in Boston, ment in it begin? He presumed the origin of or New York, or Charleston. The West paid that concern was to be found in the connection as much of that revenue as the East; in proporof Government with its great territory of pub- tion to its consumption; nay, on a strict calculic lands. This was the idea out of which grew lation, something more. They pay the tax, the reservation of the two per cent. fund. It and a profit on transportation. True, indeed, was intended, doubtless, as an inducement to the money was collected in the custom-house, the settlement of the public lands, and none, yet it was first paid where the imported articles surely, can doubt that Government may right- were consumed. It could not be paid in the fully hold out considerations calculated to bring seaports, if it had not been first received in the public lands to a better market. The rea- the interior. Some gentlemen say we must son for making the road is still the same. wait till a system is formed-that is, some sysThose lands are still in market, and every rod tem of internal improvement, so equal in its which is added to this road, increases the value, bearings, and so satisfactory in its details, that and is calculated to raise the price of those lands. all shall agree in adopting it. I-Ie feared if gen

Pages

About this Item

Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 270
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

Technical Details

Collection: Making of America Books
Link to this Item: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/ahj4053.0008.001
Link to this scan: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/ahj4053.0008.001/272

Rights and Permissions

These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Please go to http://www.umdl.umich.edu/ for more information.

IIIF

Manifest: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/api/manifest/moa:ahj4053.0008.001

Cite this Item

Full citation: "Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856." In the digital collection Making of America Books. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/ahj4053.0008.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 21, 2025.

Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

Annotations Tools

Actions

About this Item

Technical Details

Rights and Permissions

Related Links

IIIF

Cite this Item