The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-03

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branch or fill up the harbour of Alexandria,
| Fhoie Who would take view of the Eafterr
branch would be convinced it could make no
depoiit there, 1t being Intercepted or turned a.
! hde ny the point which projected in the Poto-
| mac and as the water of the EaGern branch
was more iIpid than the Potomac, the
! breadth ofthe latter being much wider than the
former, there certainly was no danger to be APP
prehen'ied in that quarter. As to Alexandria, il
was not to be fnppoied that the fold MATS of fe-
dimeTt was TO be- taken off the bar at once, and
lodged IN that barbour the probability was it
would remove gradually and depolit at the ed
dy on each Gde of the river, while the union of
the taen branch, with the Potomac would
cncre1ic the CELEBRITY OF the current and carry il
far below Alexandria.
The compact mentioned BY the gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Randolph) between the Rates
~ Maryland and Virginia he acknowledged 20
exit bat as the meafure contemplated the i'm
proYement of the navigation of Potomac, in
itead of obitructns it; the right of each rate
70 the free navigation thereof remained unimt
paired. He imagined that the inhabitants of
! Alexandria and the citizens of Virginia witheG
tuccets to the ueafure. He knew his conRitu.
ents had it much at heart, knowing that a
choice or markets is great accommodation TO
farmers and if defeated il would be as much
to their advantage to bring their produce to
Diipping port at once BY land, as to uft the ca
ma! recently contributed at fuch prodigious ex-
penie, having afterwards TO go with their pro-
duce to Alexandria by land.
Mr.. Smile ihould not be aganf the bill if up
pom full and fair enquiry it was found proper
to pats Ii. But he could not agree to he hurri-
ed along without allowing time to acquire infor-
nation
He therefore moved that the committee rife
and report progrefs.
Mr.. MACON (Speaker) oppoftd the riliug of
the committee, becauie il was leaving the bnl;-
NETS exactly where it food, unlefs it was moved
to rScommit 1t to fcie6t committee for modi-
fcation. But as he was determined to vote A.
gainft II in any and every ihape, he was prepar-
ed to decide now. As TO the mode he had Ia
ken TO come at his Object, he fhould only Elv it
was a fair one, and fuch az had been the uni
form practice of the houfe Gnce he had feat
in it.
The gentlemen in favor of this dam or caufe
way, fay it will do no harm but where is the
denomination On the other lide, ferious ap-
PROHIBITIONS are entertained gifts injurious effects
upon the United States navy Yards in the eaf-
tern branch, and its cauhng obtru6tions in the
haThor of Alexandria. He would allure the
committee he was ready to promote the vel
rare of any of the citizens but il r'nR IN iuf-
tce be done without injuring any other perfon
whatever
At the la1 felton, an application was made
Tor permanent bridge acrofs the Potomac, with
draw for the pafage Of veGcls; the petition
ers urged the general utility OF the meafiIre to
all perions travelling north or ioath, but parti-
culary the vaf benefit accruing 10 the inhabi-
tantS OF the dlltriet, by afiording fold and fe-
cure mean OF intercourse between its feyeral
parts. This meaiure was oppofed by the pre-
tent petitioners on the ground of the compact
between Maryland and Virginia fecuring the
right OF free navigation to the river. and alfn al
icSiag that their nari Eation to George town
would be lmpedcd. The argument which they
applied then, now applies againit them, and it
ought in the minds of the fame Legislators to an
ply with equal fuccels.
MI FINDLEY was rather in favor of the bill.
believing the mode propofed would be fuccefs
fui I'D deepening the channel, which would GER
fanny improve the navigation TO and from
Georgetown, and in that obietl the citizens of
fome of the wehern counties of pennfviyapia
were materially sintercled feveral of their
boaiab!e creeks nearly interlocking with tholc o
the Potomac. He would however agree to the
committee riiing, with 4 view to,p0ftpone the
bl!,lll gentlemen acquired the Internationally
afled for.
Mr. GOOD ARD hoped the committee would
rife, and the fubjed be pohponed till fuflicient
light was obtained to guide THEN votes to pro-
per decliioo. He ALTO hoped that no meinber
might be coniidercd as the friend or foe of the
preient bill, till he became flich By an examin-
alton into its merits or dement's. He narrated
the courte the buliuefs bad taken lince its intro
duGton into this houfe, and inferred that the
fame deliberate mode ought to be purified TO
the end. Whether the meaiure was good oreyil
could only be determined in that way, and gen
tlemen ought not to reject doing poiitive good,
un!eis it was demonstrated that poitive evil
would reiultto coHnterbaiance the good that
was intended. He conceived the members
ought to enquire for themfelves on thi, point,
and legiilatc accordingly. He would on all oc-
Gallons endeavor 10 promote the interens of The
diituct; and as it had no immediate reprefen-
tatiye on the floor he conGdered every reprefen-
tative bouDd &c ttrye them, while the feat of 20.
gernmcnt remained among them.
mr. @. ~. Cew65eH would not declare whe-
ther he ihould vote for the final paIage of the
bil oratt. But he was difpoled to take notice
ot the applications made from time to time by
Tie inhabitants of the dilriCt whether to re-
dFviS grievances, W procure benefits. But he
by no msans approved Of the principle of legif.
ation without approximation. He regretted
that they were placed in this unfortunate ftua-
Son but he ihould decide on tie preient ogef-
ion according TO its merits; and if /; was found
10 be OF great cOnitqucnce to the petitioners
and not likely 10 work an injury to others, he
pfeiumei the bill would finally pats. But he
wllled TIE committee TO rife, in order to give