The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1824-03-24

'nst especially he thought the congress
ofthe u. States would not consep. to
participate in such plan and on such
terms as the bill held out that he be.
iieved the incorporation of a private
company unwise--as there was no, un.
der existing circumstances a remote
probability that subscriptions to any
considerable amount could be obtained:
or, IT obtained, that they could be paid.
For these and other reasons he thought
the bill unwise and impolitic-but, ne,
verthelcss, as it was the plan of mspy
respectable gentlemen, deeply interested
IN the project, he would vote for the bill.
as it had been reported, making only a
more definite provision for the state to
make what was called the lateral canal.
His opinion was, that the wisest course
would have been to have passed short
law, in general terms, authorizing the
making Ofthe canal on such terms and
in such manner as congress might pre-,
scribe. But he yielded without hesita-
ton to the wishes of those who claimed
to be the more immediate and particular
friends of the bill.
When The bill was acted upon in the
senate of Maryland general Winder
was not present: but majority of that
body amended the original bill, as passed
by the house of delegates, by adding a
provision that in case the state of Mary
land should wish to make lateral ca,
nal, the president of the United States
should appoint three persons from the
corps of engineers to examine and de.
termine whether such lateral canal
would be injurious to the navigation OF
the principal canal, With this addition 10
the original bill it passed both branches
OF the Maryland legislature and became
law, so far as their sanction could so
make its
Shortly after this bill had been thus
passed, copy Of the law passed by the
Virginia assembly was received a, Anna
polls. This bill, as reported to the Vir,
sinia assembly, was the same as that
which had been reported to the Mary
land assembly. In the progress of its
consideration in yirginio, the assembly
thought it wise and proper to add clause
to the bill, to the following effect, viz i:
that the assent which was required from
the congress of the United States to the
professions Of the bill was expressly un.
derstood 10 be an assent in ther character
OF the iocoliegislature OF TIE District Of
Columbia.
Upon the reception OF the Virginia
law at Annapolis, short bill was intro
duced into the senate, ratifying, confirm.
ing and adopting, in all things, the Vir-
gina law. A large majority, if not the
whole senate OF Maryland differed in OPT
MON with the Virginia Legislators in
their construction OF the constitution of
the United States as to the power of con.
gress III making roads and canals But,
in addition te this, which put it out of
their power TO agree TO this new feature
of the Virginia law, general Winter was
of opinion, and SO stated, that, iDasmuch
as the acts respectively passed by the
legislatures of Virginia and Maryland
were, word Tor word, the same, with the
exception of the amendments above
mentioned as having been made by each
and as neither of these amendments ap-
peared to him TO affect or concern the
great object OF the law, these two acts
must necessarily be considered as the
reciprocal assent of the two states to the
provisions Of the bills passed by each
other respectively and that, therefore,
the conhrrnatory law was unnecessary.
1t was for these reasons he opposed the
law. He never did. and we
arc confident never will, oppose the OIL
giDaI bill, nor any law for making the
canal upon the grounds and principles
ahcva st,,eI