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


hat general principle should be esia-
blished for the regulation of future i'm
prov ements, yet, as a company already ex-
ISIS for opening this canal, aud the work is
already commenced, he thought il might
we'll, considering the great Importance
q! The object, be made an exception Ia the
general provision. Alihoue,, he further
lie should be well disposed 10
vote for general system OF improve
meat very analogous 10 the system EN-
braced by the bill of the last session.
which had been referred 10, he should be
sorry 10 see the Improvement of the roun-
Try restricted 10 the narrow Limits of that
bill lac should be very sorry that the
National s> stem of internal improvement
should movew:tl no greater CELEBRITY than
Nouid he Roduced by the appropriation
to that object of the stock of the govern
meu' in The Bank of the Umiird States.
The objects 10 be effected were of primal
~ importance: and, il restricted 10 the
tardy pac. at which the limited amount
IT llee or four hundred thousand dollars
annually would impel them forward
centuries must elapse before even Il foam
datiou could be laid of a system of inter
nal improvement commensurate with HE
extent and resources Of the country.
Mr.. Sergeant, in "a speech Of which we
have only room 10 state the object, oppo.
sed the motion by arguments favorable as
we'll 10 the particular object before the
house, as 10 canals ( generally. The canal
from the Delaware In the Chesapeake,
being one of unGues'ionably utility, of
great national importance, one to which
the nation would apply lis resources if at
all, if this bill did not pass, there was no
hope Of any practical result from the late
decision of the house, &c. In regard TO
a general system of appropriaiipg money
TO be expended in the states according to
their representation in Congress, Mr.. S.
showed that that system would not am
swer since the proportion of Delaware.
for instance, weuld be wholly inadequate
TO the completion OF this canal which is 10
run within the state of Delaware, and vet
is more important to PENNSYLVANIA and
Maryland than TO her, and is of very ge-
neral Importance 10 the United States.
&c.
Mr.. Pithiu again spoke of the necessi-
~ of a clear view OF the magnitude and
expence of the undertaking. Our re-
dundani treasury, on which gentlemen
appeared 10 calculate, would not last a
great while, he believed. What was to
be the future situation of The country.
who would undertake TO say The Span
isli negotiation, it appeared, was broken
off: the result of that business no one
could foretel, any more than they could
what ether uses we may have for money
hereafter, &c.
Mr.. Lowndes said, that, before acting
OH a proposition of this kind, Tie House
ought 10 have before ii ample iniorma-
l.. II
to the present pecun!ary situation of the
company, the value of its property. the
amount of debts it owes, &c. Whilst he
ment, he thought that, in relation to any
particular project, the House should ell
quire fully and accurately, and have the
facts laid on their table, &c. He did moi
suppose that any member was so much
attached TO the cause of internal improve
ment, that he would rush into it blind
fold, without being prepared by proper
MIR. M'Lane said, in reply TO the eug-
gesiion of Mr.. Lowndes, that the sub
lect had already beeu before Congress,
at different times and III variety OF forms,
and ample reports of all the facts had
been made, whIc IN we're 10 be found among
the records of the House. There would
be found all the facts relative 10 the origi-
nal amount of stock, the amount sub
scribed, the amount paid &c. And, on
examining the statutes of Pcnnsy lvania
and MARY land, ii would be found that
such acts had been passed by them re-
spectively ashe had described. In regard
TO a system, which some gentlemen desire
to see. he said, that il was not possible to
say how far Congress might choose to go,
but each gentleman had il in his power to
say how far lie would go. 1t was no OBJ
lection to this proposition. that gentlemen
did not know how far Congress might
think proper TO go hereafter, &c. Mr..
McLane showed the great Importance of
this canal in d national point of view, as
connecting military posts, and affording
the means of effectual defence. Keeping
up but small military force, it was the
duty of Congress 10 provide the means
by which that force and The munitions of
war could, when necessary, be trans
ported wherever wanted. The canal
could be of little advantage TO Delaware
in any view, but was of great importance
as measure of national defence. To
ob,iatc the expression that some gentle.
men had expressed 10 this appropriation,
Mr.. McLane read proviso, leaving the
at the discretion Of the Pre-
sidenf, after lie shall have satisfied him
self, by enquiring into the charter, &c.
that ile money may be safely invested.
Mr. L0WHdes did not consider il a suf-
ficieut answer 20 his suggestion, that
might be obtained by search
ing tie statutes Of the states, &c. The
very circunvtanre that the bill was ONLY
this morning reported, vas sufficient
reason for dCferring decision on it, He
knew of 10 object of internal improve
ment more wo.thy of attention than that
in question; but he wished TO see further
on tie subject. He should