The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-08
Dehate,
Dehate,
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE UNITED STATES


OF THE UNITED STATES.
De5att on TIE bill. for authorizing the erection
ofn Dam or Cauje4vay. from AEaIon's L2aud 10
tie HeRsrn I5ore Of The Potomac.
rCoNcLuDEDl
Mr.. G. ". CawbeN confiderng an important
principle involved, would offer few remarks
on the point in queftion, namely, whether Vir-
ginia did really intend to cede to the United
states any right of iuritdiction which fhe poi
ieiied over the Potomac, and if fhe did
mean to cede, whether the law pancd by her
is couched in fuch terms as to convey that
right
The principal objection relied upon is that
the right which Virginia had was nothing more
than ute fprnging out of the real property
without any territorial right: yet he UNDERWOOD
that both the ftates of Maryland and Virginia
could iend their civil officers to execute procefs
upon the Potomac. This being admitted the
inevitable concluiion is that the river was with
IN the jurfditton of Virginia for fIch purpofe.
Now look into the law, and fee whether the
terms be not broad enough to cover the iurif-
diction claimed by Congrefs the words are.
that ihe cedes tract of country not exceeding
ten miles iquare, &c. and that Congrefs NAV
exerciie executive juriidiGtion over the foil
and the perfons refidng thereon from theft
words, it is clear that Virginia meant TO con-
vey every thing fhe poIcfied in relation TO
the ioll. He believed that perfon might uis.
exprefiions in deed that conveyed more than
he pofeiied. Although the object did not pafs.
yetit was pr0tanto, good for as much az he did
poiisis, which WAS the cafe with Virginia. He
concluded by obfervng that it was fingular, 70
much danger !hould be apprehended, and vet
no perfon came before them to complain :
there we've no pctititiors either from Alexandra
or the Eaftern branch, nor did he apprehend
there would be any, as he believed that dcepen.
ing the channel would be general good, & not
produce even partia! injury.
Mr.. Macon (Speaker.) Although it NAV be
a good rule, yet II is not a general one, that
people are wellfatisfed when they do not com
!a;f TGt gent ssI1Icrl WHEN rhev are .,;t her
to legiilate mut exercife their own Judgment
on the probable confequences If all the peo-
pie of the dftrict were TO fay this was the pro.
Der meiilre, he ihould fill exercife his own oni-
mon. The gentlernanfrom Virginia (Mr. Iew;sl
had narrated the hiltory of this river, and in
formed us there was no impeachment prior TO
1884. lie did not doubt the correctness of the
tatement but he fhould have gone further.
and informed us what MAS the population on
the waters of the Potomac at that time. and
what 1t IS at preicnt, and likely hereafter 70 he
becaute If iuch mud bank was RATED in the RI,
yer when its banks had little or no cultivation.
what was 1t likely TO be when thick fettled. for
every new arm, every additional cultivation
looiened the earth, which was fwept away bv
every treih, and the mud bank at the head of
tide water would proportionably increaf. in
magnitude. Such had been the cafe with the
RaPpahanock, aud if it ihould turn out that
theft two rivers arc in iimilar fituation, their
trouble would be thrown away.
Mr.. Holland admitted that the quantity of
mud would increafe by cultivation but if the
CHANNEL Is deepened By narrowing the river
the mud would defend lower. and deooGt #,
ieit IN that part OF the bed of the river where
the channel was deeper: he had no douht of
the right OF Congrefs to the executive legination
over the river, as well as over every other part
OF me diit1et ne fhould therefore vote for
the bib believing they had the right, and that
the rneaiure would be greatly beneficial TO the
commerce of the country.
On the queltion being about to be put, Mr..
ppeSrequeited the clerk to read the 9Th article
d inc compact between Maryland and Virginia.
which being done,
The quetion ON friking out the firf fiction
was put and loft, 40 members voting in the af-
hrmatiye, and 70 aeainit it.
| Mr.. Ign propoied new fiction inccrpora-
ting company to build bridge over the Po-
tomac he thought the two objects ought To ,o
together, and unlefs they were contacted he
ihould not vote for the bill.
The Chairman determined the motion No. IN
order, the committee having had nothing rel,.
i've 10 bridge referred TO them the amend.
ment however would be proper in the Houf..
The committee then rofe and reported, ana
the Houie adjourned.