Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-01-18

into the expedicncy OF discontinuing the run
| ming OF the stage from Fredericksburg, by
Halifax, in Virginia, to Greensborough, in N
| Carolina, and chat the mail be transported on
| horseback.
On motion of Mr.. Mccoy, the bill
entitled IAN act in addition to an act,
for the more prompt settlement ofpub
lie accounts, and for the punishment Of
the crime OF perjury was read, and
ordered to be engrossed for third
reading -
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
The House then resolved itself into
committee of the whole, Mr.. Wood
cock in the chair, on the bill to provide
for procuring the necessary surveys
and estimates for certain roads and ca I.
mails.
C'This bill proposes to provide +" That the
President of the United States Is hereby autho-
riZed to cause the necessary surveys, plans,
and estimates, to be made for national road
from Washington to New. Orleans; and for
canals, from The harbor OF Boston, to the
south, along the Atlantic sea coast and TO
connect the waters of the Ohio above, with
those below the falls at Louisville; lake Enc
with the Ohio river, and the tide waters OF the
Potomac with the same stream at Cumber-
land, designating what parts may be made ca
pable of sIoop navigation and tor communi-
cations between the Susqashanna and the riV-
srs Seneca and tennessee, which empty into
lake Ontario; and between the Tennessee and
Savannah, and between the Tennessee, Alaba-
ma, and rombeekby rivers; and for such 9th
er routes for roads and canals as he may deem
of national Importance in a commercial or MI
ltary point OF view. The surveys, plans, and
estimates for each, when completed, to be laid
before Congress
Sec. 2. ind be IL farther enacted, That
to carry into effect the objects Of this act. the
President be, and he is here y authorized to
employ two skilful civil engineers, and such
officers ofthe corps Of engineers, or who may
be deta led to do duty with that corps, as ne
NAV think proper and the sum of - dol.
lars be, and the same is hereby appropriated,
to be paid out of any moneys in the Treasury,
not otherwise appropriated"
Mr.. Barboor, lSpeaker.) rose to
make a motion. the object Of which,
he said, was to test at once the princi-
pie of his bill. This motion was, to
strike out the fret section Of the 6,H.
He did not propose to enter into dsS'
euSsion of the principle OF the bill.
The subject had been So much dIscns-
sed IN this House and this nation, that
he took it for granted Congress was
prepared to determine at once whether
it would OF would not commence sys-
TEN of internal Improvement. This
hin, Mr. Il. said, was the means where
by to attain that end, tho object OF 1t
being to cause surveys and estimatesto
he made, with view to that end. 1t
could not be necessary, he said, for him
to remark, that the House ought not to
pass this bill unless it was disposed to
commence and prosecute system OF
internal improvement. Being decided
ly OF the opinion which he had long en-
,srtained, that this House has no con.
stitu,ional power on this head, and that
he attempt to exercise it would give
rise to feuds and jars among the mem-
bers Of the confederacy; being opposed
TO the establishment of system OF in
ternal Improvement, and considering
the measure proposed by that bill as
means to that end, he moved TO strike
out the epacting clause Of the bill.
Upon this motion being announced
Mr.. Henphill rose and delivered his
views OF the bill, as we'll on the grounds
Of expediency as on those Of constitu-
tionality. OfMr, He elab crate speech
Astounding with facts and calculations,
&c. 1t would 70 unjust to attempt here
to give a synopsis. 1t shall DO publish
ed hereafter.
Mr.. Mitchell, Of S. C.. also support
ed the bill.
Mr.. Wright opposed it.
When Mr., Wright concluded
The question was taken OF Mr.. Bar
bour's motion to strike out the first
section Of the bill, and decided as fol-
lows:
For striking out the section Sc
Against 1t 62
So the motion was negatived.
1.-THE House being thinly attended,
this vote was Dot regarded as a dse'-
sive one.
The committee then rose end re-
ported the bill to the House.
And the question being stated on or
der,ng the bill to be engrossed and read
third time
Mr.. Edwards, of n. c. moved to Tag
the bill or the table.
On this question Mr.. Nelson, of Ma
rylsud, required the yeas and nays to
be taken.
MIR. Hardin asked if it would be IN
| order so to amend the motion as to lay
3 tho hill on lbs Ia HE until dav beyoDd