Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-02-08
respect, with which have the honou
to be, your obedient servant.
LA FAYETTE.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
December 80.


Mr.. Cook offered the following re-
soluIo
Resolved, That committee be ap-
| pointed to inquire whether any, and 1t
any, what provision it will be proper and
practicable to make to aid the State OF
Illinois in opening a canal to connect
the waters of Lake Michigan and the IL
| liuois river; and that said committee
have leave TO report by bill or otherwise.
| In explanation of his resolution.
| MIR. Cook stated, that the State Of IL
linois wanted means to carry this desira-
BILE measure into effect-If no other
way could DO devised, Congress could
appropriate the land now devoted to
school purposes, to this object; and re-
munerate the school fund by tolls on the
canal There were other views, which
would be laid before the select commit
tee proposed by the resolution.
Mr.. Allen, of Mass. moved to amend
the resolution, by making the reference
10 the Committee on Roads and Canals.
Mr.. Cook would have no objection to
this amendment, il he thought that Com
mitiee had not already as much business
on hand as it could get through. He re-
peated the grounds on which he had
thought il desirable that select commit
tee should be appointed, and to which
be hoped the House would agree. He
thought the Committee of Roads and
Canals would not be DESTROYS to have
this subject before it.
Mr.. Cooke asked if this was the Ca
nal which provision had been already
made by, a grant Of mile Of land on
each side Of it. fit was the same Canal,
he thought it had already had sufficient
provision made for it.
Mr.. Cook replied that it was the same
Canal; bot that the land alluded to. was
merely a reservation on the part of the
Government of tract of land Of a mile
! Oh each side, with view to the sale of
that reservation hereafter, for the exclu-
sive benefit Of the Government. Con
gress has given nothing to the State tor
the construction Of this Canal, but this
reservation for roads
Mr.. Clarke said there was a resolu-
ton before the House which would test
the principle of making appropria-
lions for these subjects, and he would,
until that resolution was disposed of,
move to lay the resolution on the table
but withdrew his motion, while
Mr.. Mercer said few words, with a
view to induce the gentleman from Hi
bois to suspend his resolution, until
some general system of internal improve
of the House,
The question was then taken on the
amendment OF the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts.-Ayes 65. Noes 81
The resolution was then, on motion
of Mr.. Cook laid on the table.
Wednesday, ia mary IL.
The Speaker laid before the Honse
communication from the DEPART
ment of the Treasury, enclosing a
report from the Commissioners of The
General Land Office on the question
whether the number Of Land Offices 10
the United States may not bediminished
by consolidating the Land Districts
which was referred to the Committee on
Public Lands.
NATIONAL ROAD.
Mr.. Beecher moved that the House
resolve itself into committee, on the
bill for the continuation Of the Cumber-
and road.
The House then went into Committee,
Mr.. Sterling in the chair.
On the first section being read, which
appropriates- for the con-
tinuation ofthe road to Canton, in Ohio
Mr.. BeecAer stated that the contiau-
alton of this road was a subject of the
highest interest to the community. The
execution of tina. part Of the road which
had been completed was such as to re-
feet the highest credit Oh those who
had been concerned in it, and upon the
country. He adverted to the power of
the House to adopt sytem of internal
improvement, Of which he Entertained
no doubt. He thought there could be
no objection to acting on this question at
this time. and hoped the House would
cooperate in measure ofsuch general
importance. 1t had been said that this
road was western object, but he con-
tended that it would be productive of as
much advantage to the eastern section OF
the country as TO the west; and that it
would more properly deserve the appel
lation of a national object. He replied
to objections which had been taken to
this measure. and remarke ed unon The