Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-13
From the National Ietelligencer.

g The brave revere the brave.
From the National IntesIigencer.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
IN SENATE.
Tuesday. Mag 9. u
Mr.. Dickerson. from the committee
of commerce and manufactures report
ed : hill authorizing the repair Of sea
wall at the Isle of Shoals, and bill for
the relief of'Jacob Babbitt; which were
read.
ATLANTIC CANALS.
The Senate resumed, in committee OF
the whole. Mr.. Morril in the chair. the
bill to authorize the appointment OF
commissioners to survey the routes OF
certain canals--Mr. Burrill's amend
ment being still under consideration.
MIR. Trimble hoped the amendment
would not be adopted. The committee
had reported this bill in such shape
az 70 make it unexceptioaable to the Elk.
III +. =
gcutiye, whose opinion on the SUBJECT
had been officially ayowed. The opin-
ion Of the Executive was, that Con-
gre IS had no power to convert the pro-
3 Of individuals to public uses, but
that they might Subscribe to the stock
#of companies formed for eHeeting pub
lie improvements. This amendment
would conflict with that opinion, and
might, if adspted, defeat the OBJ
iects Of the bill.
Mr.. Burrill could see no difference,
except in favor of the amendment. The
fact that the stateof Massachusetts, bad
not taken up this object was reason
for its being done by this government !;
it was as important. as well in regard
to the public security asto other adsan-
tages, as any ether the objects con
templated BY the bill had been common
ced by the states, and from their great
value to the internal communication
and their vicinity to the great cities OF
the sea. board they could be accompli h
ed without any aid from tie general
government. The object OF the amend
ment was differently circumstance.
This for local reasons. had not been
considered important by the state OF
Massachusetts that state had directed
its attention to a different object-to
the canal Into Buzzafd's Bay. The
route contemplated BY him in offering
the amendment was trem the waters OF
Taunton river to Boston Bay. and tho
the river Tell into Naragansett Bay,
the canal would he wholly IN Massa-
chusctts, and excluded the interference
of any other state. But MIR. b. said,
the United States had just as much
right to order survey in one3state as
in another; the permission of state
was no more necessary IN one instance
than in another; and, in fact. the per-
mission of a state gave no fIghi TO the.
general government, which was not
possessed without 1.-THE states indiyi-
dually could not confer, any more than
they could withhold, powers and he
hoped, as this object was not Inferior
to AIRY other in importance, tat the a.
|meMdment would be adopted.
Mr.. Smith offet ed a few remarks a
gainst the amendment; and Mr.. Wilson
few in favor Of the amendment; ana,
On taking the question. the amend
ment was agreed to-ayes IA, nays y.
The Senate proceeding to iiil the
blanks in the bill, and some debate a.
rising
MIR. Mellen conceived that all this
discussion was useless, inasmuch as, #
the bill were to be matured and TO pass
this House, there was little chance Of
its passing the other branch at so late
period of the session. He therefore
moved the indefinite postponement OF
the bill.
Mr.. Dickerson acquicsced IN the
reasons against prosecuting the, mea-
sure any further in this House at the
present session, and seconded the mo-
ton.
The question was then taken, and
the motion was agreed to--so the bill
| was indefinitely postponed.
WESTERN CANAL.
The senate took up in committee of the
whole Mr.. Horsey in the chair, the bill