Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-01-16
CONGRESS-
Tuesday December 81.
IN The SENATE.
CUMBERLAND ROAD.


Tie Senate then took up, in committee ct
the whole, the bill making an appropriation for
the repair Of the national Road from Cunber-
land to the Ohio riyer-Mr. Barbour in the
chair.
On the question Of fiIlrg the blank left in
the bill for the amount Of the appropriation
Mr. Talbot said he was not abe, from his
own observation alone, 70 say with confidence
What sun would be adequate 70 the oplect 81
the but. At the last sess.on The sum OF 9J0U
dollars would have been sufficient; but such
had been The injuries and dllipldanoa Suffered
subsequently by the neglect 10 make the re-
pairs In time, that be was induced To believe
il would row require not less than $4,000 dollars
to pnt th. road ia good condition on its whole
extent The opinion was founded NOT on ms
own obserya;ionsalon as he had stated, but
on the information Of gentlemen OF judgment
and yeracity who had recently travelled me
road. lie therefore moved that the blank be
Sled with 50 0C0.
MIR. Macon thought itwould be best not to
decide this question by guess, but endeAvor to
obtain information to govern the Senate Ia vot.
ing the appropriation /; and for the purpose OF
giving time for inquiry, he moved that the bill
be osponed to Thursday.
Mr.. Talbot had no objection to the postpone
ment: but he was not aware Of any means by
WHICH tue oenate CCultt Mcguire moiC PiCNl9S
information than il now had in its posses
sion-the opinion which he had given, being
derived from the reformation of intelligent men,
who had just passed over the road.
Dir. Smith, of Md. thought the sum
proposed rather large and suggested
whether the gentleman had not better in
form himself, at the Treasury Depart
meat, what sum would probably be ne
cessary for the object.
Mr.. r. NJ. Johnson, Of Kentucky,
would not object to the postponement, If
gentlemen would point out any resources
of positive information; but he was con-
WINGED, after all their enquiries, the ques-
ton would be entirely conjectured. 1t
was impossible for the Senate, for such
question, to proceed with mathematical
certainty; he wished them to vote, at
once, the sum which appeared to them re-
quisite either $4,000 or Is, 900 dollars,
but not procrastinate the subject without
any probability of acquiring more pre-
else informtion. His colleague had con-
yersed with intelligent gentlemen well
acquainted with the road, and the in
formation derived from them was as good,
he presumed, as could he obtained; ifany
better were expected, he would thank
gentlemen to point it out. Although he
be!ieycc that $4,000 dollars would not
be more than necessary, he would rather
take 10000 than postpone the bill, MIR.
J. remarked that the Senate had been
liberal to the West at the last session, on
similar question, and he hoped they
would now shew towards that section of
the country feeling not less kind, but
vote sum adequate to put the road in
repair.
Mr. Ruggles would merely suggest, be-
fore the question was taken, that the Cd
and sd sections of the bill, (Which provids
for the appointment Of an agent to SUPER
intend the repairsI were unnecessary,
as he believed the superintendent who
heretofore illed the appointment, Sir.
Shriyer,)was still in office-for he, al
though the road had been completed some
time, had been retained for the purpose
of closing the accounts and a better or
more faithful agent, Dir. Il. presented
could not be obtained
The bill was then prOstponed TO Thurs
day
The Senate went into the consideration
OF Executive business---atter which, they
Adjourned to Thursday.
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