Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-03-24


reported to-day, respecting iiie Chesa- !
peake Canal.
MIR. H. Nelson spoke a short time .
opposition to thebi!l, viewing Il - rart
at Il system of encroaCtmcut cu STATE
rights, which onghi To- he res sted SOB evcry
stage and under every form.
MIR. Robertson, of Louisiana, supported
the bin against air. Nelson's oh. 4;,ous,
and OH IT'S own merits. lie supperted
IL also on the ground that in this stance,
no authority but The United States rouid
make the road, since IL passed over
tract OF country To whici the lmdian IL
tie is not yet extinguishcd, aud over which
the jurisdiction ofthe United States is 40,
disputed.
Mr. Forsyth and Mr.. Poi,.derter also
supported the bill ON the same, grounds.
and Mr.. Nelson replied.
No amendment ha,in been proposed
10 this bill, the comui,tee proceeded Ia
The consideration of another bill, reported
tins morning, and which had been refer
red 10 The same committee, au,horis-
Tag The subscription 10 the stock OF the
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Com
panY.
The consideration OF this bill gave rise
to Debate, in which the gentlemen named
below took part
Mr.. N Lane explained, AT some length,
the advantages OF The contemplated Ca
nal, as connecting The waters of Delaware
| with those OF The Chesapeake Bay, and
stated the views oil the company in desir-
ing to interest Congress in the work.
From the eiucldaii0n OF this business
By Mr.. MLGne, II appears that the oriei-
nal stock of the Company was 400, 900
dollars, of which about 100. OOO dollars
hos, Il a
state Of Pennsylvania has agreed TO take
an additional stock TO the amount of
70, 600 dollars Mary land TO the amount
of $4,000 and Delaware TO the amount
OF p, 600, provided the United States a.
gree To- take shares 10 the amount OF
100 0G0 dollars. The estimated expense
of the work is SO0, 900 dollars; the balance
Is expected TO be made up by individual
subscription.
Mr.. Basseit, under the belief that Con
gress had not the power To appropriate
the public money for the purpose de
signated in the bill, moved TO strike out
the whole o.! the bill, after the enaciiug
clause.
Mr.. Pithin wished for something more
definite, respecting this proposition, than
was TO be found in the bill He wished
TO know what control the United States
NclC 10 nave ONcT iHc lOCdtlOU or cNDcn-
ditarc on the canal; whether thew we're
to have the appointment of any portion
of the Directors, &c. 1t appeared that
Pennsylvania and Maryla had agreed
TO take certain number of shares, pro-
vided the United States did the same
but, even after these joint subscriptions
were added 10 the funds of the Company,
there would yet be deficiency of three
or four hundred thousand dollars, rs only
part of the subscribed capital was forth
coming. Respecting canals generally,
Mr.. p. did not consider them as objects
or profitable investment OF money vet
he acknowledged, there might be canals
OF such great national importance, that
the Legislature would he Justly induced
TO subscribe 10 them. But, before he en-
listed IN any project of The kind, he wished
10 know The extent 10 which he was go
ing. To afford some time 10 understand
this subject, he moved that the commit
tee rise and ask leave TO sit again.
Mr.. Ballard Smith enquired whether
the committee on internal improvement
intended 10 report any general bill for in
ternal improvement. Whether they did
or not, il appeared TO him that the House
should have before it at one view the
several propositions for great national
improvements, that the merits of each
might be examined and compared, collec-
lively and separately.
Mr.. Taflm0dge stated the views Of tie
committee i'll reporting the bills now be-
fore the House; from the urgency of the
one, and the primary Importance of the
other, they had reported forthese objects
in anticipation of the general system of
internal improvements, which IL was his
opinion that it was the imperative duty
of the committee to report, and of Con
gress TO adopt-such system as should
be calculated TO provide for the national
defence, and which would at the same
time promote commerce between the
states, and facilitate the progress of the
Mails, &c. Mr.. II. entered into train of
reasoning TO shew the importance of this
policy, which he sustained by arguments
deduced from the events Of tie late war,
from the present state of commerce, and
from the necessity of providing for future
contingencies. Mr.. rs. remarks shall
be given more at large, in connection
with the Debate which has taken place
OH the question of Internal Improvement
Mr. Forsyth made some remarks, to
shew the impracicabiliiy Of devising any
general system of improvement To at
tempt to embrace in one bill all necessary
improvements, would be to defeat every
proposition of that sort, since il was i'm
possible 10 reconcile all the Earring inter-
ests of the various sections of the Union.
The House must therefore, TO act with et-
feet, decide OH lie various propositions
as presented TO them, OH their own me
TIis.
Mr.. Talimadge again spoke, and added
some illustrations of his former observa-
tions.
MIR. TucLe, spoke i'm favor of the hill