Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-20

full success to be won from the conflict
Of local, personal and secret interests.
This convention believe that the go
vernment Of the United States cannot
be induced and ought not to be solicil-
ed to invest fund in the scheme as set
forth in the acts before mentioned; they
have no confidence in the idea that the
nation would be willing to placeso large
an amount of capital as this plan re-
quires for its fulfilment, at the dispo.
sal Of an irresponsible company whose
principle of association is private emo
lument; they have no faith in the be-
lief that Congress would consent to
contribute a portion Of the common
means to the execution of a work which
may never reach one half OF its project
ed extent, and by stopping short OF the
base Of the Allegheny, lose all the great
features which render the idea Of con-
Meeting the Ohio and the Chesapeake
attractive to the nation: they give no
credit to the opinion that the general
government will agree to join in the
accomplishment Of work of SO COM
prehenslve and important nature as
this, on terms that will prevent them
hereafter from securing to the people
its full enjoyment with only such bur.
then Of tolls as may be necessary TO
keep it in repair and free from the in
dueements which private companies
have TO increase their own profits by
heavy impositions-thsy believe that
neither the states of Virginia, Mary
land nor Pennsylvania,can be persuad.
ed to supply an adequate sum Of mo-
ney, for the achievement ofthe purpose
contemplated, under such conditions
as the act of incorporation imposes
And it is, for all these reasons, the o.
pinion Of this convention tina, the COM
pany so incorporated can never exc
cute the work committed to them, but
will only prove to be an obstacle to the
future operations Of the general gov
eminent, and the states that may be
concerned in the design, requiring in
the same manner that the old company
has now done, to be bought out at hea
w cost when any wholesome project is
to be. commenced hereafter for effect
ing the same objects by the country,
and consequently that the said act Of
incorporation was unwise, impolitic
and premature, and ought, if it yet be
within the power Of the state, to be an
nulled, or at all events be permitted to
fall to pieces by the refusal of the state
TO appropriate money under it.
In regard to the old Potomac COM
pany, whose rights have been guarded
with SO much precision of enactment
in the said act of incorporation, this
convention are of opinion that it would
have been more prudent if the legisla-
lures of the two states had not made so
formal a recognition Of the right Of
that company to indemnity for former
expendi IL, a recognition , VI, Which no
raj government or the state authorities
shall make the proposed canal the sub
ject ola national enterprise; recogni-
ton too, which appears TO have been
quite gratuitous, since it is, at least, a
doubtful question whether the compa-
ny provided for has not been long since
extinct. If, however, upon proper in
vestigation, it should appear that this
company has either legal or moral
claim upon the justice OF the state, a
fair and equitable indemnity should be
rendered 10 them, or provision be made
for their remuneration before any right
which they at present enjoy should be
infringed.
This Convention are also of opinion
that if the government Of the United
States should not soon indicate dis
position to execute the design, so fire.
quently referred TO, of connecting the
waters Of the Atlantic with the Ohio,
at its own expense, and upon scale
commensurate with the wants Of the
nation, or should resist the persuasions
of the state Of Maryland and the other
states having an interest in the under
taking, TO adopt such measure, that
then the state of Maryland should pro-
pose TO the general government, and to
such Of the states as may be willing to
join in the project, cooperation with
them for the execution Of this work,
putting it, however, under the control
Of public and, responsible agents, and
holding it at all times as the property
Of the governments interested; and also
should make large appropriations to
the full extent Of Her means for the ac-
complishment of the same, the con-
vention holding it 10 be Of vital impor-
lance to this state that this great work
should be commenced at an early day
and speedily finished.
1t is further the opinion Of this Con-
vention, that the state Of Maryland
should, without delay, adopt system
Of internal Improvements, founded en-
tirely upon her own resources, and that
her means should be employed in sue