American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-01-28
From the National Gazette.


the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal Company,
Respectfully shelceth,
That the predecessors of your Memorialists il
loEice have heretofore at several times presented
, memorials to the Legislature in which the organi
zation of their Company, the object for which it wa
formed and the importance of that object, with thu
E commencement OF the work, its history, and thu
causes of its suspension, after considerable progress
had been made in it, under the farest prospects o
success, for want of private public support wert
fully set FORTH and the patronage assistance %
the Legislature solicited for the purpose Of revi
wing it all which so far engaged the attention o.
the Legislature, that in the session of --A- aC
was passed authorising subscription to number
I OF shares in the company, on condition that The
United States, and the States of Maryland apd De.
laware, should also respectively subscribe 10 it. which
however not done, and OF course the aid so kind
ly intended by the Legislature proved abortive.
/ Your memorialists beg leave 10 state that the
whole history of the work has been brought SO full
ly before the public, as well in the memorials re-
ierred to, as in variety OF printed documents, that
it would now be superiuous intrusion upon the time
Of the legislature to enter largely into their detail
The Importance of the Canal, and its easy execu-
ton, were ascerlained many years ago, and are now
universally acknowledged it is also almost equally
well known thar after being begun by the zeal of
vi itSpGCldOG IdltuTe arose
neither from diminished impression oil its impor-
lance, nor want OF confidence in those who directed
1t, or in its final success, but from oil those la
mentable causes which have tumbled so many other
public designs into runs, viz. the want of funds.
Al that time the demand or money, for every object
OF very extended commerce, and for other purpo
ses, was so extreme, as to offer employment for cap
al 100 lucrative not to engross 1t and this state Of
fairs continued until the United States became
engaged in war, situation still more unpropilious
Tor undertaking important public works. Such
were briefly the causes OF the long suspension ofth
present work, but when these States were again re-
stored to the blessings OF peace every Circumstance
contributed to stimulate the revival of it the fail
lre OF foreign commerce invited to explore and
louTsh the sources of internal wealth, the low price
o which every species of produce was reduced,
made 1t indispensable 10 tighten the expense of con-
'eying It TO market, ev;ry principle upon which
'ublc works are formed 20 relieve and assist the
PEOPLE, came into view at the same time a !
arge monied capital was detached from other OBJ
ects, andremalned unem loyed, while the reduced $
rice of labor rendered 1t at once easy 10 execute
ublic works at price they could be seldom done .
efore, and the employment they gave afforded a e
most sautary relief to the people, thrown into dis
Tess by the failure of other objects. Under these "a
circumstances a rivalship began in the States sur
Shioyl'duid liluSCO W acquire pOWefIh
dominion, but in the most glorious of all ambi- III
on, rvalship in the arts of peace and in those al
uoc works which are the truest proofs of the at Il
ntlon OF governments to the happiness Of the 81
sople. By these, those ad joining States are uni t
hs all their internal resources, to nourish their
5uculture, manufactures, commerce, and to in tl
ease that wealth which is again diffused through At
1t them from the common treasury OF which all ia
artake. The advantages which States thus accu !
'ulate to themselves though they may be envied sa
~ never DC blamed; and those who lose by not Iy
nltatlng them, can only repne at themselves. N
Your memoriasis are sensible that the Legisla- a
re mas evidenced vast ron of this liberal and 4,
ltrotlc spirit, and that great deal has been done
% IS now IN operation, the effect of private zeal
lmulated by public patronage; but your M-moria c;
us are impressed with the belief that there is no
loertakng which promises more advantages to r,
o'ate than the one they represent, for whether
natonal work, or as connecting link between lax
c adjoining States of Pennsylvania, MARYLAND IL
eaware and New Jersey its benefit is great, but y
is ncalcuable to the State of Pennsylvania as the W
cans OF bringing the vast Of its internal pro- ca
ice to the market of its capital. fe
Under these impressions Of its importance the Oh
lzens OF the States Immediately interested in this IN
'rk, have especially during the late year, felt them III
Ives stimulated by fresh enthusiasm for its rey-In
!; but the means OF these being limited the citi- &C
ms OF Philadelphia who originally were the great vi
pporters OF this work, and now are the principal IN
bscribers to it, have expressed their socitude by NJ
rious public acts, and preparing to state theirth
ntlments to the Legislature. Vi
Your memoriass are sensible that the voice o! so M
ge and so respectable part of the people of this
ate will meet with that attention which 1t deserves tn
t they would be wanting in the duty which is pr
;umbent upon them, as the Directors of this ac
'rk, II they did not take that prominent part in On
S"S 80 itS' Sa.S psiote the Legislature, which pc
impressed upon them by the situation they hold In
Durinc, The nreeent y.ar +, co,o,,,,,,., la, Ida
eh-. e ~, Iii - 80 l.'"oe WIN 'te eli
us VI wy poo'.' iefisioh oI tle route, and q co
" survey nave taken place. the result OF which &c
ndrms what has heretofore been so fully set forth of
:: the perfect and easy praccablty of this canal i'm
no very great expense, compared TO its benefit, '