Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-24


Resofred, That the Board OF Public Works be,
and they are hereby request ed to send committee
OF their own body with the Principal Engineer and
the commissioner on the lower section OF the
James River Canal, TO be accompanied by COM
niittee to be appointed on the part OF this House.
and that they do proceed to examine the James
ltiver Canal from lite city of Richmond 10 the
Naiden's Adventure falls, and that they ascertain
the width and depth OF water IN the said canal
also the stale and condition OF the locks, dams
aqueduc's and cuiveris and all other works the
said canal; and that they report 10 this House the
state and condition thereof, with such matter and
things as they may deem pertinent; that they report
now TAR the said works are capable of accommoa-
tins The trade OF the said river, what portion i'll
derive no advantage from HE said impro cement
also the stie and durability of the said works, and,
mat whether In the location OF the said work and
the execution thereof, due regard has been had to
economy and the advancement OF the public interest.
.hr. u. trusted there would be objection To
the adoption OF the resolve. Much money had
been contributed 10y several sections OF the country
and 1t was Important that the manner la which that
money had been expended should be enqured into
lie presumed by employ ing committee from
the Board OF Public Woik-, aud the Priacipal En-
gineer, (who were not BIASED the subiect) the
FACTS and statements necessary to a correct opinion
would be obtained.
| ar. Dromgoole moved to amend the re solution
House
.'h blackburn opposed the amendment lie
soild not zee thepropriety OF the amendment. The
House had 10 act the subject, and it impor-
tant that they should have much Information as
they could get
Nj Oronisooie bad expected that aft er n com
nlee on the same subject had been discharged 10y
az overwhelming vote, The same proposition woulll
not be renewed. Ii joinl committee were 10 he
appointed IN this was, he did not where they
would sop The nex' proposition would be per
hap. To appoint joint committee with one from
the EXECUTIVE, Sc
III. .iiuy moved to lay the resolution on the
table
Mr.. Blackburn said that the enemies of the
JAMES river improv e,nent would carry their pom,
completely by laying the resolu iDn tho table,
Tor the Il. OF p Works were about 10 adjourn this
day.
M Garland hoped the motion W would be with
drawn.
The House ie.used TO lay the resolution on the
table.
M. Garland lhsn opposed tho amendment.
lie said II might suit the purposes of some gentle
men TO legislate IN the dark this subject. When
the Rouse wanted information, it not usual
| to seek 1t by means OF committees OF their own
Body! This course was pursued in relation to The
Auditors, the Treasurer's, and all other public
Offices ut the seal OF government. The House did
I
oiices. The question of great Importance
and he asked If II was 10 be given the go-by in this
manner! The commonwealth had nearly one and
half millions OF dollars investedin the work, and
was 1t not important that she should know who
derived the benefit from it, that she might lay on
item her strengthening hand, and exempt from the
Durthens, those who received no advantage from il
| .Hr. Uromgooie remarked that il was an easv
matter 10 draw conclusions after the premises ha,
been assumed. The truth of this was verified in
Inc course oil the gentleman who had Just taken his
seat He had remarked that it suited the purposes OF
some gentlemen 10 legis.ale in the dark He did
not know what was the meaning of that remark bug
II it was meant Tor him, he scorned it. Herepeated
that on this important subject the legislature had
been leSslating in The dark. y multiplicity of re-
ports had been all eady made the subject of this
Improvement, but, so tar from throwing light upon
Il, they bad Increased the confusion and UNCERTAIN
y in which it was involved He was not an enemy
OF Improvement; but was opposed to all extIaya-
giant schemes which did not confer equiv aent bene-
hts ON society. MIR. o., he said, had assumed the
tact that he had said, committee of the House
we're not 10 be trusted. He had said no such thing
and nothing that would authorize the inference
HIS opposition was founded on the mex pediency OF
sehdiHg committees all the state for the COL
lection OF information. He commented on the
Impractcabllity OF the committees collecting de-
tailed and useful information. Their opinions
and so far from being of any service, they might
havea different tendency. il was owing to e-
glslating on such opinions that the present embar-
rassmcnt and doubt were mostly to be ATTRIBUTED
The precedent was dangerous. Abuses for in
stance, had been heard of in the Monongalia Nav
CATION Company, and II might he proposed with
equal propriety, TO send a committee 10 enquire
into them Ii II desired TO make the subject
oil internal improvement popular, let such course
be pursued would not detaia the legislature her.
at such an enormous and Improbable expense 10
the people. he would carry On the improy enc nj
oil the country with the means OF the state in pre-
ference to permitting the general government
coming among us
Mr.. Carter of Pr. VIM. said, that this is the
peculiar age of exploration Capt. Parry had ex-
tended his enterprises many degrees be, ond former
adventures john Cleaves SHINES proposed even
still more extraordinary discoveries. Our srea,
President himself had set the country in fermen,
by his proposed exploring parties and schemes of
physical and scientific Improvement. In the midst
OF these schemes he had not expected that com
mitlee would be appointed by that House TO explore
the James River Canal. lie certainly had not ex
peeled that such proposition would have come
! from The member from Amherst, (NIr GU MIR
Carter here referred 10 the great vigilance of Mr..
Garland in watching the interests of the
treasury. But if there other objection TO
the expedition, Mr.. Garter thought it sufficient
one that IT would take gentlemen away from the
duties they were sent TO perform by their constu-
ents that noor.
| mr.. Garldnd remarked that the subject had se,
the imaginations OF gentlemen at work, and had
gwen rise TO references 10 the most visionary
schemes oil the age. The proposition lac had sub
nitted was not so novel but that he could. If il
were necessary, cite many presidents for il. Mr.
Dromgoole had said that all reports Of Tie engineers
and public officers had bat heaped mystery on me-,