Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-01-15
Congressional Proceedings.
FROM THE NATIONAL ISTELLIGENCER.
IN THE SENATE.
Thursday. JGnnary IL.
LAKE ERIE CANAL.

LkhE EkfE IAN Als
The Senate resumed the considcra-
ton of the bill to authorize the appoint
ment of commissioners to lay out the
route of Canal from the navigable
waters Of the Ohio to Lake Eric-the
motion made by Mr.. Ruggles to pledge
certain proceeds Of the sales of pub
lands to making the Canal being the
question under consideration.
MIR. Walker, of Alabama. spoke a
gainst the bill. grounding his objections
without examining at all the coEst'-
tutional question. but Only the question
Of expcdirncy-on the belief that such
a work ought rot TO be under'"Sti' W.
less as part of great system "I 'h'er,
nal Improvement; that this. tor seVerai
reasons which he adduced was ho' 'he
point at which such a system ous". ~ /,
commence: that the enhancement -,
the value of the public. was no, d so'u
argument in favor of the bll.c ' ~,
800 81. oo.oi aftor re conrsc was laid
uIdkt Lit CdEldB It's SOu''S
out. and therefore the amendme"t "''e''
ed by Mr.. Rugg'es was fair a ''' Gull
mendable, &c. in order. ho"e'er' '"
+ooto tho o.nse oftbe Senate at once on
the bill. which had been fully discusssd
at the last session. he moved its ihdeh-
mite postpnnement.
Mr.. TrimbIe followed, and spoke IN
answer to the arguments used by gen
tlemen yesterday. and by Mr.. Walker
to day. against the hiIl-reasoni"g to
shew that peonlc would buy the neigh
boring public lands under fair calcu-
lation of the chances in favor OF the
making of the canal. formed on view
of the law, and consequently. no de-
ception would misiead them and rea
soning also against the various local
interests and jealousies which opposed
this bill. and the commencement of the
contemplated work and arguing that
it was only by adopting a plan of this
kind, by the general government, that
the public interest conld be promoted
and the improper influence Of private
interest. which might operate if the
work were left to the state, could be
ayoidcd. &c.
MIR. MorriI was opposed to the bill
as we'll on account of its inexpediency
az from well founded doubts of the con-
stitutinnal power of Congress, t. au-
thorize the work, and also from the in
ability of the Treasury at this time to
defray extraordinary eIpences, pre-.
suming that the cost of the work would
be derived Indirectly if not directly
from the public funds. He viewed it
also as lure held out to the purcha-
sers of the public lands. which he could
not support; and thinking that when a
business of this kind was commenced
it ought to be part of a general plan.
the e1pence betrayed out of general
fund, each state receiving its proportion
of it; that this, moreover, was not the
suitable Elacc to begin the plan; that ii
would probably cost great deal more,
Judging from other pnblic works, than
was now estimated, &c.
Mr.. Ruggles spoke in favor of his
amendment and also Of the bill. and ar
gued to show that the canal would be
made if now authorized; and also to
shew the vast commerce which would
be carried on through the canal. from
and to great part Of the western coun-
try its extensive advantages 10 that
quarter of the Union, and the salutary
policy generally Of authorising such a
work.