Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-12-02

Report from ne Central Committee.
The Cen'rsl Ccmm,ttee of the Conven-
ton OF Delegates from the States of Virgil
MIA, Maryland, Pennsylvania, aud Ohio,
who assembled at the Capitol, 10 the city
oil Washington, on the 9Th OF November,
1923, have delayed until now any public
communication OF their proceedings 10 the
members of the Convention To obviate
unfoundss1 impressions, they deem il ex>
pedient to state, that, soon after the meet
ing of Congress III December last, the
memorials ordered 10 be presented, IN be.
halt ot Inc convention, 10 TIE Legislatures
of Maryland, Virginia, aud Pennsylvania,
were received by the Central Committee
from the several committees appointed TO
prepare theo,, and toyw arded to their pro-
per destnst,on. Al line same time, a corr
Responsiveness was begun. and afterwards
maintained, between the Central Commit
tee and the friends of the common enter.
prise in those legislatures, until their adj
journmeDt.
Every effort was made to promote des-
patch in obtaining the contemplated char.
ter. A bill, I'D accordance with The reso-
buttons OF the Convention, was prepared
By the Central Committee, and separate
copies OF il forwarded 10 Richmond and
Anna polls before the end OF the year.
Efforts were also made 10 impress upon
the friends of the contemplated Canal. IN
both Legislatures, the importance oil per,
severing exact uniformity IN their amend
ments OF the bill, il any saoul be requir.
ed. The bill was designed 10 create a
new Company. and it was expected that
"a copy OF it which first received legis-
iai,ve sanction would become The basis OF
the charter. and be de6aitiyely ratlhed by
the assent of The other States, OF Congress,
and OF tine existing Potomac Company.
The bill which was forwarded to the
General Assemblies of Maryland and Vlr>
GINA was adapted by its terms, 10 this
mode OF ratification, alter receiving the
sanction Of either Legislature
The Virginia act passed both branches
of IL: Legislature as early as the 9Th oil
January last, though not without consider
able opposition IN the house OF Delegates.
where an apprehension existed, warranted
neither by the language nor the purport OF
the bill, that ii recognised the authority OF
Congress to cut canal through the terri
tory OF a State, or maintained, in some
mode or other, the disputed doctrine, that
the federal government has the constitu
tional power OF instilutIBg system OF 10 E.
ternal Improvement.
To obviate this unfounded objection the
friends of the bill inserted the ED section,
which. regarded in the most untsvorable
light by the advocates OF tins power, was
but surplussage, since no s10scription Oh
money was asked. by the bill, Ot either OF
the States, or OF Congress; and the consent
OF the latter was invited solely because
the intended Canal would pass through
the District of ColumbIs, over which the
United States have exclusive jurisdiction.
Before the Virginia bill had reached the
g. nate Ut that Stats, the Maryland Legisla>
ture had made some progress 10 that which
had been forwarded to AnnapoilS II had
received several amendments, which were
made known at Richmond by the Central
Committee, and were Immediately lncor-
porated in the Virginia bill. AS soon as
this bill had received the sanction OF the
Sena e of Virginia, an authenticated copy
oil was obtained and forwarded 10 An
napolis. 1t did not, however, secure the
purpose oil the Central Committee. The
Legislature OF Maryland proceeded on toe
bill before them. which finally passed, on
the l7th OF February. in TORN differing
in several minute particulars from The
Virgins act, and 10 two material points.
Ii omitted he x3d sectlon OF the latter,
and added 10 the 2lsi section clause OF
some length, designed to furnish speedy
mode of trying any judicial Question whIcb
might arse under the SECTION, but, IN reai>
ity. LonterriDg Oh The President oil the U :.
Sta es novel jurisdiction; and requiring
hin to exercise 1t, at any time. when cali
ed on ry the Stale of Pennsy lVaBia. Ma
ryland. or v rginIs.
n being ascertamed by the correspon-
dence of The Central Committee, that the
Maryland act would not, 10 tins lorm, re-
ceiye the sanction OF the Virginia Legs.
lature, which had, indeed, already passed
two acts, to Ieiher OF which had the as
sent oil Maryland been gwen, farther ef-
fort was made, ty deputIDg highly re
spectacle agent 10 Annapolis, 10 obtain
from the Legislature OF nIarylsnd, stiil ~
session, the passage Oh short bill recog-
nising and sauctloning sbe Virginia char
ter. Such bill was introduced into the
Senate ot ilarylsn |, and there rejected IN
the last week OF its session.
The failure of the States OF Maryland
and Virginia, the proprietors OF the oppo>
site shores OF the Potomac above as well
below the District OF Columbia. to agree
on any charter for the new Company. bal-
fed. IL a great measure. all hope OF eject
ing any valuable purpose for the Chesa,
peske and ONO Canal during the depend
ing session OF Congress.
The Central ComWiitee resolved, nev
ertheless, tsst, 1t Pennsyivania rat'hed