Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-04
CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS OF YESTERDAY.

OH cAcCuuVe OusiucSSs anu, vi Soo' oS3 wa" WV
ed doors.
In THE HOUSE OF REpaEsENTArIvEs-An
unusual number Of reports was made-o y the
Standing Commi.tees-only two, however, were
of general character
Mr.. Stewart of Pennsylvania, from the Com
mittee on Roads and Canals, to whom was re-
eerred resolution instructing them to enquire
into the expediency OF extending the Cumoer-
land or National Road from Its eastern terml-
nation to the City Of Washington, made the fol-
lowing
In conformity with the seventh section of the
Act of Congress, passed in the year 1902, en-
titled an act to enable the people Of the Eastern
division of the territory, northwest of the Ohio
river, to form constitution and state govern
ment, the President of the United States was
authorised by the act of 1906 to appoint Com
missioners to lay out road from point on the
northern bank Of the Potomac river, within the
limits therein designated, TO the Ohio river
The provisions of this law were promptly car
ried INFO execution by the then President, Mr..
Jefferson. The road thus commenced has adj
vanced, sanctiied by every administration and
almost every Congress since, to point where
no doubt is left of its certain completion, to its
western termination on the Mississippi River.
The beneficial objects and purposes ofthis great
national work-as regards the preservation OF
the Union, the promotion Of commercial and
social intercourse; the transportation Of the
great western mail, and the military operations
Of the government-are so important, SO OBJ
vipus, and have been so repeatedly presented to
the consideration of the Congress fthe United
States, in all their various aspects, as to render
their recapitualion unnecessary. If these OBJ
iects are really national and important, to leave
the road at its present eastern termination,
without extending ii to tide water, would be to
leave the object unattained
So far as internal commerce between the
Eastern and Western navigable waters is con-
cerned, the intervening space of unfinished
road presents formidable obstacles. In the
transportation Of the great western mail from
The seat of government, which is the great foun-
tain Of intelligence upon all subjects Of deep
interes, to the people, and upon which, they
have a right to the earliest information, great
inconvenience as to time, distance and econo-
NV will be materially curtailed II in the mi
hilary operations of the government in time of
danger, celebrity and certainty OF communication
and supply be considered essential, the COM
plelion of the road 10 Washington is of prima
nv importance. 1t has been represented to the
Committee that a distance Of fifteen miles may
be saved by locating the road upon more d.
rect route This road has hitherto, as appears
by the history Of our Legislation, at all times
and under all circumstances been considered
emphatically national in its character and OBJ
ject To preserve its national character, and
to effect its original design, 1t ought TO be COM
pleted to the seat Of the national government
by the best and nearest possible route; for
which purpose the government should afford
every aid and every facility in its power The
economy of time and expense I. numberess in
diyiduals for an infinite period OF time in pro-
spective, necessarily drawn TO the seat Of go
vernment upon business connected with official
| duties Of high interest 10 the nation; and the
important saving Of cost in the transportation
| OF perhaps the heaviest and most costly mail in
the Union from the City Of Washington to the
populous, extended, and extending regions Of
the West, which must necessarily pass over
this road, furnish, in themselves, motives OF
| sufficient importance TO recommend the subject
to The deliberate attention OF the government.
In a. much, however, as the act Of the goth
April 1924. has given power 10 the President
of the Uni;nd States " to cause the necessary
" surveys. plans and estimates to be made OF
Z" the routes of such roads and Canals as he may
g de- m of national Importance, in CONNER
" cial or military point Of view; or necessary
I" for the transportation of the public mai''-
the commi tee, therefore, conceive that il would
be improper md inexpedient to interfere with,
| or in any manner control the Executive in the
discharge of this duty. They, therefore, sub
nit the following resolution:
Resoiced, That the committee be discharged
from the further consideration Of the subje
The report was laid on the table, and ordered
to be printed,
EIr. Merriwether, from the Committee on
| the Post Office and Post Roads-who had been
| instructed 10 enquire into the expediency Of re-
pcaling so much of the joint resolution Of the
| 9th April, 1916, as requires an annual printed
statement Of the state and country where post
masters and mail contractors were born-re-
ported repeating resolution, which was twice
,ead and committed.
| On motion of Mr.. Houston, Of Tennessee, the
Committee of Accounts were instructed to en-
quire into the expediency Of authorising the
Clerk Of the House of Representatives to pur-
chase the Stationary and other articles for the
use of the House, without the intervention Of
contracts.
| In Offering the resolution, Mr. H. remarked,
that his object was 10 obtain better Stationary