Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-20

not those ranks, and who had furnished him salts
factory reasons, for accepting the call Mr. G.. said
that the gentleman from Louisa, had said, that he
believed this work could not be done Mr.. e. would
ASK why could it not be done: With the same
PHYSICAL means, or means that were at least suci-
ent-encouraSed by the known praeticability of the
scheme, and the certain benefits which might be M
ucipated LON It, why could we not complete ca
nal as well as New York; Mr.. G. said he thought
such an opinion an imputation on Virginia. 1t was
"ue tue work had cost so far, more than was cx-
pected. Was any Thing else TO have been expected
from me total absence cfexperience, and the
city Oh that class of Individuals, whose pursuits had
inada them acquainted with the sciences necessary
IN ITS successful prosecution But would not the sc
dhhcultics vanish with the ligh,s that experience
would reject upon Tie codrct of such an undo .tak-
ing and was the country to be deferred from the
iarther prosecution of the work, because so far il
had cost u few hundred dollars more than was ex-
pccted 1.-THE canal is TO Stop at Mailcu's Atycu-
tuIe, what benefit would it distribute 10 those situa-
tea above that pniut? What benefit could be ex-
pec'ed from IT, adequate to the money already ex-
| pended Ii said Mr. q. the population above tl,a,
place derived no benefit from the canal with what
Fropriety could the Legislature levy an additional.
Toll on them The part of the distance caualled
was precisely that, which least nc.lcd canalliug.
h''Stu'it ol Augusta, next addressed the Com
m.'ee- lie SAID he was one, who hoped the spien-
ana scheme ofinternal Improvements which refect-
uu soh,ucn honour upon Virginia, would not be re-
lhqus.icd. He was however, opposed in one par
ticular, to the substitute of the gentleman fo, Am
hefst (Mr o. and If that single feature were ex-
puhge he should prefer it TO the substitute prcpos-
ed oy sir. fhncey. lie though, a prejudice had
be n created against the lii, by the mode i'm
| winch At was drawn. From the prospective mode,
| In which 1t was proposed to borrow the money to
carry %" The canal, lie though, it looked like an in
ten'ion 10 tie up the hands of future Legislatures
Inc substitute instead of providing for an appropr-
atio' - he directed ut Oucc, the prosecution of
the woii, provided for borrowing S50O000 per am
mum, Until the sem of 100000, had been borrowed
ma appropriated. The contractor might anticipate
me receipt oil this money, and by making contracts
beyond the appropriations of the current YEAR bind
the faith of the State to fulfil them and leave the
next Legislature no discretion on the question of
conthuiiS or ciScontinuing the prosecution OF the
| OK. Mr. >. here offered an amendment to Mr.
IS. substitute, but it was declared out Of order By
echair& Mrs. proceeded To enforce the propricty
of an immediate, instead of prospective appropria-
ton.
Mr. 5. also objected to the 10Th section of the SUBJ
sttute, which gave to the President and Directors of
tue ." Ii. u The discretionary power, impose and
graduate the tolls so as to produce interest of
per cent. on the capital expended until the whole
deot has been discharged and one per cent. after
YARDS TO Keep the canal in repair. Mr.. S. was OPP
posed TO the abatement of tolls, when the object OF
extlnguishi the debt had been affected. He wish
cd thi' lea:ure to DE expunged, that the State when
me work Fad been completed, might be at liberty TO
sell out The stock, and then at once free herself from
| the whole debt.
MIR. Taylor was surprised at the objection of Mr.
Sto the 10Th section of the bill. He could not a.
gree to part with it. The State had only pledged
teir faith for the repayment of the capital and the
interest-it had itself advanced no money, and af-
ter the James River trade had paid the intermedi-
ate interest and extingushed the capital, he could
not perceive the justice of still exactng from it, the
payment of duties Was it just after the j. r. trade
had paid the whole debt, that it should still be tax
ed to free the Treasury.
| MI l. denied that this mode Of legslating, was
tying up the hands of future Legislatures. Mr. r
entered into an argument to prove, that from the
time OF the year, at which slaves were hired, &c. il
was necessary that the appropriations should be
made prospcctvely, TO authorize the supernendants
TO contract, and TO enable them to laborers
&C. He did not consider it as controlling future
Legislatures, because subsequent Legislature could
repeal the enactments of preceding.
Jur. Stuart, again urged his objections to the 10Th
section. He said that Mr.. Taylor had in fact adj
mitted, that the provisions of this substitute would
controul subsequent Legislatures, by the argument
ne had used against his objections. For if it was
necessary to enable the superntendants to contract
In anticipation, then il empowered them to con-
tract, and by those contracts the Legislature would
be bound. Mr. S. illustrated his objection to the
| lOfh section, by asking if a private company of
individuals would consent TO be chartered on such
terms! To be deprived Of the benefits of their
charter, the moment the work upon which they had
| expended their capital, had refunded them their
charges and nothing more' He thought the Le-
gisature ought to act, as if they were iegisIating
| for individuals. New York looked forward to her
CANAL the fruitful source of future revenue to her
government. He hoped that the state wonld go on
with the canal for years longer, for if Virginia
Is he Sfotoc Tho ,th bo.
were interested in the Potomac and Ohio canal
would be unwilling to embark in great enterprise
with people, who evnced such fuctuating co,nseIs
Mr.. Yancey said he had been charged by Mr. Gar
land, with having proselyted him to the scheme of
| Internal Improvement. If he did so, he was igno-
rant OF 1t, and it must have been when he himself,
was under the influence of deluson and infatuation
He said he was now, and always had been, acting
IN obedience to his judgment That judgment might
have misled him, but he was sincere in his former
friendship and inhis present opposition the canal
lie likedprudentles islation-he thought this scheme
heavy and expensive--he had heard of, and seen
Rne schemes on paper he had heard enough of them
and wished to be deceived no longer. He was for
stopping the canal at .Maidcn's Adventure falls
| The gentlemen from Botetout and Amherst, had
said that this would be worth nothing. Be it So,
said hr. Y. 1T would cost less money to stop there
than TO 20 further.
Mr.. Winston said, that as to the Importance Of
the canal, his feelings went far the gentleman $
from Amherst We all knew that il would be of in
finite Importance. But the question was the y,,o
rrodoF How was it to he completed? He differed
with the friends of this scheme as to the propriety of
the means they had selected. He was not for the
final termination of the canal at Madens Adven-
ture falls but he as in favor of awaiting the results
| Of that event.
The original proposition of this bill was to borrow
3,T5O,OOO-a debt that it is not pretended Virginia
but for the interest which, she had pledged