surrendered her rights as a sovereign state, (the right to tax lands for five years after sale,) on condition that Congress would apply two per cent. on the sale of public lands to the construction of roads leading to the state. For his own part, he was not so sanguine as to the prospect of seeing a great national turnpike completed, as the gentleman from Ohio seemed to be. He did not expect that that object would be accomplished in his life time, should he reach the ordinary age of man. Nor was he willing to postpone the road to his own state till that national object was accomplished, and the present generation had passed away; and he had long since made up his mind not to vote for the appropriation of any more money which was to be charged on the two per cent. fund, unless it went to carry the road entirely through. Congress had appropriated two per cent. to the making of a road leading to Illinois. The gentleman from Ohio proposes to pledge it for a road three hundred miles short of the bounds of Illinois. I will not consent to this. If I did, I should be censured, and justly, by those who sent me here as the guar dian of their interests. The Legislatures of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, had each passed resolutions, calling on Congress for an appropriation to this objectit was an object of deep interest to all those states, and he should be departing from the instructions of his constituents, if he gave his vote for a road in Ohio only. In order to bring the subject fairly before the House, he would now move to strike out all that part of the bill which follows the enacting words, and substitute therefor the following:

[H. of R.

and marking the said road, and for compensating the said commissioner, for superintending the construction, there shall be, and is hereby appropriated, the sum of six thousand dollars, to be paid out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated.

"Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That, for the purpose of defraying the expense of making and bridging said road, there shall be issued, under the direction of the President of the United States, in certificates or scrip, the said certificates, or scrip, to be of the nominal value of one hundred dollars each, an amount not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars, to be receivable only in payment for public lands at the several land offces in the United States; which said certificates, or scrip, shall be paid to the contractors employed in making the said road, so soon as their several contracts shall be complied with, and not before.

"Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the money hereby appropriated, and the certificates, or scrip, hereby authorized to be issued, shall be a charge upon the two per cent. fund, heretofore set apart and pledged by the several acts of Congress authorizing the admission of the states of Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, into the Union, for the construction of roads and canals leading to those states, and shall be retained by the United States out of the first money coming into the Treasury, and applicable to those objects."

Mr. BEECHER rose in reply-he declared himself to be disappointed, both in the quarter from which opposition had arisen, and in the principle on which it was founded. He thought he had stated, when first up, with sufficient distinctness, that the appropriation for this part of the road was a matter entirely distinct from the two per cent. reserved from the proceeds of the public lands. The gentleman from Illinois cannot but know that that is already pledged, and already expended; it had been laid out on a road "toward" the state of Illinois, which was the very language of the very act pledg

"That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint one impartial and judicious person, not being a citizen of either of the states through which the road hereinafter mentioned shall pass, to be a commissioner: and, in case of the death, resignation, refusal to act, or any disability, of any such commissioner, to appoint another in his stead, who shall have power, according to the provisionsing it. He would not, however, cavil about this little two of the act, entitled An act to authorize the appoint- per cent. fund-he wished to place the present measure ment of commissioners to lay out the road therein men- on a broad national basis-on the general principle of tioned,' approved May the fifteenth, one thousand eight internal improvement. He was surprised to find that genhundred and twenty, to complete the examination and man limiting his views as he had done, and narrowing survey heretofore commenced by virtue of the provi- himself into a mere agent for the State of Illinois. If evsions of said act, and to extend the same to the perma-ery gentleman on this floor is to act on such a princinent Seat of Government of the state of Missouri; the ple, this House will be converted into a hody of disorsaid road to conform, in all respects, to the provisions of ganizers, and its acts must tend, not to union and nationthe said recited act, except that it shall pass by the seats al strength, but to separation and national weakness-it of Government of the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illi- was by adopting larger and more noble principles that nois; and the said commissioner, and the persons em- this nation was to grow and flourish. The gentleman ployed under him, shall receive the same compensation insists on a road that shall reach Illinois-but how will for their services, respectively, as is allowed by the said he get it there? on the mere two per cent. fund? That recited act. whole fund was not sufficient to make the road through one county in Indiana-it would not even mark the road through that state-if this road is to be gone on with at all, it is to be done on the funds of the nation, and not on a pittance of a two per cent. fund. The gentleman wants to lay out a grand national road 500 miles long, on a fund that will never raise one million of dollars; no not more than 700,000. But $1,600,000 has already been expended, on this same fund, whether properly or not, is not the question. No, sir, said Mr. B. I ask gentlemen, and I ask that gentleman, to meet me on principles upon which alone either he or I can be benefitted in this matter-on grand principles of general national advantage-principles which animated and gave success to those who first broached this measure-principles on, which had been based the acts of 1803, of 1806, of 1812 —and on which all that had been done to this day had been avowedly founded. For himself he had candidly placed the object before the House in its true light-as requiring a distinct appropriation for which there was "Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That, for the pur- to be no return from the two per cent. fund, or any othpose of paying the said commissioner, and those employer. The nation is about to make a road; and if the naed under him, for their services in laying out, surveying, tion shall say it is best to begin it at the Mississippi river, VOLI.-13

"Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That, so soon as the plan and report of the commissioner so appointed, shall be made to the President of the United States, and approved by him, he shall cause the said commissioner, as soon as may be, to issue a notice, to be printed in at least three of the public newspapers published within the states aforesaid, and for at least three months previous to receiving the same, that proposals will be received by him, at the places therein specified, and in such manner as the President may deem it most advisable to order them to be received, for opening said road, and bridging, with wooden bridges, such streams which it may cross, as shall be directed by the President to be bridged, or such part or parts thereof, within such time, and in such manner, as shall be specified in said notice, which shall be, in all cases, let to the lowest bidder: Provided, however, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the construction of a turnpike road.

H. of R.]

Western National Road.

[JAN. 12, 1825.

I will give that gentleman my hand to support the measure; but I presume it will be the opinion of the nation, nay, I do not doubt the gentleman himself will allow that it is better to begin where the road has now been discontinued. This is the day to act; the season is now as favorable as can be expected on any future occasion; if any improvement is to be made on the national road, let it be done where the road has been already surveyed; when this has been effected, it will be time enough to give pledges for more; unless it is intended to go on and build the road, it will be unnecessary to carry the location of it any further; it is now impassable where a commencement only has been made; this must be first finished, otherwise nothing will be gained, but he trust-gether and deduct that of the lands sold, he will find ed it would be gone on with-and conducted as a great national object for the general good; not for this town or that town-for this state or for that state-but for the whole Union. And he begged of the gentleman from Illinois to give an opportunity to its friends to try whether or not the nation is now ready and disposed to make a road, and whether it will appropriate for the completion of that which has already been surveyed; and he felt that, by supporting the object, that gentleman, instead of compromitting, will be advancing and securing the true interests of his constituents.

debt incurred for carrying on the road. If so, it was idle
to pledge that fund; and, as he now understood that the
gentleman was willing to strike out so much of the bill
as pledges it, and ask for an appropriation on national
grounds alone, he should have no objection to the bill.
But, as the views of the gentleman may have exc.ted
some prejudice against the measure, he must take this
opportunity to protest against the view he had ex-
pressed of the two per cent. fund. He says it will never
yield above $700,000 Now, the extent of the three
States of Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, is pretty well as-
certained. It is to be found in any of our statistical ta-
bles-and, if the gentleman will add these amounts to-
that, in those three States, there remain yet one hun-
dred and one million of acres to sell; which, at the mi-
nimum price fixed by law, will yield, when sold, to the
two per cent. fund, about two millions and a half of dol-
lars. (It is not an extravagant calculation to suppose
that all the lands will sell at the minimum price fixed by
law-because that portion which will not bring that
price will be at least made up by that which brings a
greater.) As to the pledge of this fund for the payment
of the Cumberland road, he had already insisted that it
was in direct violation of the compact of Government
with those States. The words of the compact were ex-
plicit-it was reserved for a road from the Atlantic wa-
ters "to" those States. If the doctrine of the gentle-
man from Ohio, (Mr. BEECHER,) is sound, the road might
have been begun at Boston, and, if it only pointed in a
direction towards Indiana and Illinois, the two per cent.
fund might be expended upon it, though the road ter-
minated at 500 or 1,000 miles from the bounds of either.
Such an idea never so much as entered the heads of the
members of the convention who assented to that com-
pact. He had not the honor to be one of them, but he
was present during all their proceedings and well knew
that they never could have conceived that such a mean-
ing would ever be given to the instrument. They did
not suspect that the Congress of the United States
would ever attempt to deceive them with words.
long as the pledge of this fund remains in the bill, the
gentleman who introduced it would find him perfectly
unyielding: but, if he will strike out that pledge, and
leave the House free to act as they may judge proper,
without any such engagement, he would lend the mea-
sure his support. But, if Congress should not consider
this road as a general national concern, and a benefit
due to the country through which it is to pass, but shall
insist on those States fulfilling the bond on their part,
he should, on behalf of his own, insist upon the whole
compact being fulfilled.

So

Mr. JENNINGS, of Indiana, observed that he regret ted being obliged to oppose the bill; but he believed that the history of the measure, in its earlier stages, was not generally known or understood. In the original compact between the state of Ohio and the United States, two per cent. out of five per cent. of the proceeds of the public lands was reserved for the purpose of making a road from the navigable waters of the Atlantic to the navigable waters of the Ohio, and thence through the state of Ohio. The compact did not prescribe what kind of a road it should be, nor with what views it should be constructed, whether with a national view or not. Congress, in fulfilment of this contract, had thought proper to make such a road as was not to be found elsewhere in the United States; and they continued to carry it forward without considering what the fund pledged was likely to yield, till it came west of the Allegany mountains. They then found that the whole proceeds of the fund had been swallowed up, and more. Then an appropriation was asked to complete the road on the same scale; some difficulties arose; and, in 1819, the appropriation was made, with a proviso, the effect of which was completely to violate a contract with the state of Indiana. (Here Mr. J. quoted the act of 1819.) The compact with Indiana was not similar in its terms to that with Ohio-it prescribed a specific location for the road-but the appropriation could not be obtained on any other condition. Two years since a bill was intro- Mr. M'COY vindicated the Government from the duced into the House to repair the Cumberland road-charge of a violation of good faith. The fund had been and he had offered an amendment to it, with the express pledged to make a road toward Ohio, not from Boston, view of removing the restriction imposed on the fund but from this city. The Congress had done it not by the act of 1819; which, however, he was induced, through any oversight, but deliberately and advisedly. by the solicitations of his friends, to withdraw-he had Some difficulty was experienced in getting the money always thought, however, that the Government kept-none whatever in getting the pledge. The road does bad faith with the State of Indiana. He had a reason and lead toward Ohio. He concluded his remarks, (which an object in wishing that the road may be located, and being delivered in a very low tone of voice, were imopened afterward. The whole of the fund pledged has perfectly heard by the reporter,) with expressing a hope been expended, and the road for which it was first pledge that the amendment proposed by the gentleman from ed is not even located. The State of Indiana has no au- Illinois would not prevail. thority to locate it. That can be done only by the General Government. So that all is kept in a state of suspense, and nothing can be done for want of a location. But, if this were once effected; if an appropriation were granted, first to locate the whole of the road, I would then be willing to give the gentleman enough to carry the road in a complete state to Zanesville.

Mr. COOK again rose and said, the gentleman from Ohio, (Mr. BEECHER) and himself did not differ so widely as that gentleman seemed to suppose. He says the two per cent. fund will never be adequate to pay the

Mr. TRIMBLE said he had risen, not with any intention of detaining the House, but for the purpose of shew ing that the gentleman from Illinois had entirely mistaken the compact respecting the two per cent. If there was any one point in his whole argument which went on an entire misapprehension of fact, it was his view of this subject. When the original bond, as the gentleman from Illinois had called it, was entered into between the United States and Virginia, territory now occupied by four States was but a wilderness. It was yet under territorial government when the act of Congress passed al

JAN. 12, 13, 1825.]

Western National Road.-Suppression of Piracy.

[H. of R. & Sen.

Mr. BEECHER then moved to strike out all that part of the bill which contains the pledge above alluded to. He stated, in explanation, that the clause had been tak en from the former acts, in all of which it was to be found. When it was proposed in the committee which prepared the bill, to retain this clause, he was himself opposed to it-for he considered the pledge as amount. measure succeeded at all, it must succeed on grand national principles, and on these alone the appropriation must be made. He thought it best to be candid, and at once to place the object on its real grounds. He was confident that such a course in this House could never operate to injure the bill.

lowing the eastern division to form a State Government; viz: an agreement of Virginia with the United States on and by the compact between that State and the United the subject of this road. Now I always had thought that States, a reservation of two per cent. was agreed to on the first agreement respecting it was made with Ohio. both sides, to be used in making roads from the naviga-I never heard of such a compact as that he speaks of. ble waters of the Atlantic to the state, (Ohio, and He ob ects to my interpretation of the agreement of the through the same. Now, suppose those states were a territo- General Government with Illinois, as though I wanted, ry st ll, how would you begin the road agreed upon? You on that agreement, a road to be constructed through my would begin, first, a road to it, and then you would car- own state. But, sir, Missouri lies beyond Illinois, and ry the road through it; but the dividing of the territory if my construction be a sound one, as the fund of Misinto states had not changed the stipulation. And now, souri also is pledged, the road must reach Missouri, and to examine the subject in relation to the gentleman's will, of course, traverse Illinois. I hold, therefore, that own state. He insists upon a literal fulfilment of the my argument has not been shaken by the gentleman contract, and charges the General Government with from Kentucky, (Mr. TRIMBLE) I shall, however, now having violated it by applying the two per cent. re- withdraw the amendment I offered, and allow the genserved to the expense of the Cumberland road. But tleman from Ohio, (Mr. BEECHER,) an opportunity to get what does the contract say? It says the reserve shall go at work upon the road as soon as he can, assuring him to make a road to the state; and the gentleman is that I shall rejoice in his success. pleading that the road must be through the state. It is himself that is violating the letter of the compact. (Nor does this argument, for a liberal construction, come with a very good grace from the gentleman, who himself but lately proposed that the road should be, in part, exchanged for a canal.) But the gentleman must remember that there are two parties-the United States on the one side, and his state on the other. Now the questioning to nothing, the fund being already expended. If this recurs where must the road, according to the compact, be commenced? Shall you begin it at the Mississippi? This would be to begin by making the road through Illinois, whereas the contract stipulates that the road shall first be made to that state, and the two per cent. is so pledged. The construction of the gentleman is against both the letter and the spirit of the compact. Congress is at perfect liberty to pledge the two per cent. if they so please. For himself, Mr. T. said he felt very indifferent whether the pledge was given or not. But now, to come to the good sense of the matter, we have made the road, said Mr. T. as far as Wheeling; this is a road to the territory; we are now to make a road through it. Where shall we begin? At the point where the part already finished terminates? Or shall we go on with the whole at once? Good sense, he thought, would decide that the beginning should be made at Wheeling. There was the great thoroughfare to the West; the country was thickly settled and peopled; and the road would at once produce the greatest benefits. Shall we leave this and go to the sparsely peopled regions of Illinois? He did not, however, intend to enter further into the subject, having risen merely for the purpose of answering the argument of the gentleman from Illinois.

Mr. BEECHER here rose to say, that, if the gentleman from Illinois, (Mr. Cook,) would withdraw the amendment he had offered, he would meet his views by striking out that clause of the bill which goes to pledge the two per cent. tund.

Mr COOK signified his intention to do so, when he should have first replied to the gentleman from Kentucky, (Mr. TRIMBLE.) The gentleman, said Mr. C. has presented certain supposed views of mine about the school fund in Illinois being diverted to canalling purposes, and represents me as being willing in that affair, to violate the compact of Illinois with the United States, although I contend, on this occasion, for its literal interpretation and fulfilment. Sir, this is so glaring an attack upon my understanding and consistency, that I cannot let it pass without reply. The gentleman bas entirely misstated my proposition in relation to the school fur.d. I proposed merely to apply the school fund to the con. struction of a canal, and reimburse it out of the tolls, but I did not propose even this arrangement of mere convenience to be carried into effect without the consent of the state legislature first asked and obtained. I did not, therefore, contemplate the slightest violation of the compact.

He sets out in his argument with a fact of which I never had the good luck even to hear till he spoke of it,

The question was then put on striking out, and there
rose in its favor 53, against it 47; which not amounting
to a quorum of the House, and the Chairman being about
again to put the question, on motion of Mr. BEECHER,
the committee rose, and, having obtained leave to sit
again,
The House adjourned.

IN SENATE.-THURSDAY, JAN. 13, 1825.
The following message was received from the Presi-
dent of the United States, by Mr. Everett:
To the Senate of the United States:

In compliance with two resolutions of the Senate, the first of the 21st and the second of the 23d December last, requesting information respecting the injuries which have been sustained by our citizens, by piratical depredations, and other details connected therewith, and requesting also information of the measures which have been adopted for the suppression of piracy, and whether, in the opinion of the Executive, it will not be necessary to adopt other means for the accomplishment of the object; and, in that event, what other means it will be most advisable to recur to, I herewith transmit a report from the Secretary of State, and likewise a report from the Secretary of the Navy, with the documents referred to in each.

On the very important questions submitted to the Executive, as to the necessity of recurring to other more effectual means for the suppression of a practice so destructive of the lives and property of our citizens, I have to observe, that three expedients occur: one, by the pursuit of the offenders to the settled as well as the unsettled parts of the island from whence they issue; another, by reprisal on the property of the inhabitants; and a third, by the blockade of the ports of those islands.It will be obvious that neither of these measures can be resorted to, in a spirit of amity with Spain, otherwise than in a firm belief that neither the government of Spain, nor the government of either of the islands, has the power to suppress that atrocious practice, and that the United States interpose their aid for the accomplishment of an object which is of equal importance to them as well as to us. Acting on this principle, the tacts which justify this proceeding being universally known

Suppression of Piracy.-Western National Road.

course proposed was the best to be at present pursued. The great system of Internal Improvements ought not thus to be commenced in detail. What had last session been done as a commencement of the system, had been done on a scale, and in a manner, worthy of the nation. The first step in such a plan was to have a full survey of the whole field of operation, and then to consider what parts of the general system require the first attention. The observations which had so repeatedly been made by the gentleman from Ohio, (Mr. BEECHER,) as to the comparative expenditures on the east and on the west side of the Alleghanies, were calculated to shew that the commencement of the plan, in the manner now proposed, or in any manner similar to it, had a direct tendency to arouse sectional feeling and awaken local jealousies. If, indeed, as had been contended by the gentleman, the government is bound by contract to make this road, why, then, it must be made; but, if not, and if this measure stood on the same ground of its own independent merits as any other object of internal improvement, then it was proper to pause and consider

The message was read, and, with the documents ac- whether the course proposed was the wisest and best. companying it, ordered to be printed.

about $1,600,000-which would leave a balance of the appropriation, over and above the amount of the 2 per cents., of $1,407,000, to be made up out of that fund. From this statement it must be plain to every body that that fund would never replace what had been expended already.

[H. of R.

the present as the most favorable period for the extension of this great national work.

Mr. Chairman, those who have travelled this road to Wheeling, or who reside upon it, are only capable of properly appreciating its advantages.

In a favorable season for emigration, the traveller upHe did not see that the claim of Ohio for money for a on this highway will scarely lose sight of passengers, of road, was to be placed before that of the other States. some description. Hundreds of families are seen migratCongress was not yet prepared to enter on the detail of ing to the West, with ease and comfort. Drovers from this system of internal improvement. If in carrying that the West, with their cattle, of almost every description, system into effect, Congress wished to do justice to the are seen passing eastward, seeking a market on this side whole country, the first measure must be a general sur- of the mountains. Indeed, this road may be compared vey. If, when that was done, it should be the opinion of to a great street, or thorough-fare, through some popuCongress that the point now proposed was the proper lous city--travellers on foot, on horse-back, and in carone at which to commence the system, he should cheer. riages, are seen mingling on its paved surface, all seemfully consent to it. He had risen now chiefly to shewing to enjoy the pleasure of the journey, and to have a that Congress had a right to do what they had done in consciousness of the great benefits derived from it. With pledging the two per cent. fund for the Cumberland much propriety may it be called a national road for its road. advantages are so diffusive, that no other term would be found equally appropriate. In another point of view the name is proper-it is the only lasting monument of the kind that has been constructed by the beneficence of the nation, and should this road be completed, and none other of a national character, advancing the internal prosperity of the country, be constructed, it would of itself constitute a more durable monument of its glory, that has been left by any of the free governments which have preceded our Republic.

Mr. McLEAN, of Ohio, then rose, and addressed the Committee as follows:

Coming as I do from a section of the country through which this road is expected to pass, and entertaining the views I do as to the great benefits that will result from it, not only to the particular part of the country through which it may be constructed, but to the United States in general, I feel it to be my duty to contribute my feeble exertions for the accomplishment of the object. The friends of this bill are willing it should be considered by Congress without reference to that provision contained in it, for refunding the appropriation for the 2 per cent. fund. It is presented to the consideration of the committee as a great national object, and, as such, we ask and hope for its passage.

Mr. Chairman, the commencement and completion of the national turnpike road to Wheeling, has been received by the West as a sure indication that a great national road would be constructed, under the auspices of the General Government, through the states north of the Ohio, to the Mississippi river. In the completion of this work, the Western States are not alone interested; the Eastern and Middle States, if not to the same extent, are, notwithstanding, so far interested, as to ensure, on their part, I trust, a most hearty concurrence in support of the measure. It would perhaps be unkind to anticipate any thing like a united opposition from any section of the country; for, so general are the benefits which will result from it, that, to suppose any hostility from the South, or the North, would ascribe to them less liberality of feeling than I am conscious they possess.Sure I am, sir, as it regards myself, and, in this respect, I believe I could answer for the gentlemen of the West in general, a most cordial co-operation would not by them be withheld from any measure calculated, in equal extent, to promote the interest of any section of the Union.

:

Sir, I defy any man of ordinary sensibility, or common patriotism, to travel that part of this road which has been completed, and not to feel proud of his country. I will venture to assert, however strongly it may be controverted, that no sum of money, of the same amount, has been appropriated from the Treasury, since the adoption of our Constitution, so much to the advancement of the public interest.

Sir, all who feel a proper degree of interest, it appears to me, in preserving our Union, cannot be too solicitous to secure it by removing every obstruction to a continued intercourse between the different parts. In effect, the most remote parts of our country are brought near together, and identified in interest, by turnpike roads and canals; and when commercial intercourse is facilitated in this way, connections are formed, and interests become so interwoven, that nothing can separate them. This policy, and this only, can unite the different sections of our country under the adverse circumstances which may befall us. This alone can render our Government as permanent as its principles are sound and favor. able to liberty.

Mr. Chairman, we may theorise as much as we please, and talk of the moral sentiment that every where prevails, in our country, but, unless our citizens are united in interest, there is no ligament sufficiently strong to bind the different parts together. Our country embraces all the varieties of soil, of climate, and production; Mr. Chairman, the claims we have, from the work al. our interests are often variant and conflicting. In some ready executed, are entitled to the respectful considera- conflicts of opinion, and of interest, it is to be feared, anition of every gentleman. But, the general good that mosity of feeling may be indulged, until a settled hostiwill result from the work, is of itself a consideration suf-lity shall prevail, and this may lead to the most direful ficient, it seems to me, to secure the favorable opinion consequences; but, bring the remote parts of the country of every member of this House who is disposed to sanc- together by turnpike roads, and no danger need be aption an internal policy, more calculated than any other prehended. I can name no sections of the country more to promote the great interests of the nation. Sume, per- important to connect in interest, than the East and haps, who may be unfriendly to the policy, or may feel West-there seemed to be a natural barrier to their inhostile to this road, may make some objections on ac- tercourse, but this has in part been done away by that count of the expense which has been incurred in making part of this road already completed-and I trust in this that part of it already executed. This, however, can af- is the commencement of a policy which shall only cease ford no substantial objections to its prosecution and com- after the great objects shall have been accomplished.pletion. If any abuse has existed, the knowledge of The extension of the national road through Ohio, Indiaits existence points out the surest method of guarding na, and Illinois, will extend the advantages to the public against it in future. Some experience has been acquir. in the same proportion as the length of the road shall be ed, which, in making improvements of this description, increased. Every individual who may travel this road, is of incalculable value. The price of labor is now great- or purchased goods which have passed over it; all who ly reduced, and every consideration seems to point out may have stock to send to market, or products of any