Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-13

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WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER Is, 1895.
From The National Journal
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL CON
VEN1ION.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9.
The Convention assembled in the Capitol at
10 o'clock.
Gen. Mason, OF Georgetown, submitted the
following resolutions.
Resolsed. That the Committee appointed TO
nresent a memorial to the Legislature oil the
State Of Maryland, be instructed to invite the
attention Of that Legislature 20 the inefhcacy
Of the clauses in The act of the Sth OF March,
1926. providing Tor subscription to the stock
Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company,
so tar as il is made 10 depend on law oil the
United States that may authorize subserIp-
ton for certain number OF shares" of the cas-
tern sections Of The Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal" and so far as il IS made 70 depend on
the sum estimated by the United States Board
of Engineers, to be adequate 10 the completion
of the eastern section OF the said Canal, and re-
specially to request such alteration IN the con-
ditions Of the said act, as may produce prac-
tical result
The resolution being under consideration,
Gen. Mason said, in support OF his resolu-
subscription of stock 10 the Canal, was defec-
tive in several important particulars. That
law he said. as it stood, would have an inJurl-
Gus effect upon the progress OF the subscription.
He did not believe that the highly respectable
Legislature Of Maryland was aware OF the ex-
istence of the detects, and he was quite certain
that thew would readily remedy tnem upon tHe
suggestion Of this Convention. Gen. Mason
here proceeded to point out the delec's 10
which he alluded The 6rst error was IN The
manner of making the subscriptions as proPos-
ed in The law. lie showed that the mode thus
established was incompatible with theterms OF
the Charter Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Company, and therefore, that this part of The
law was but dead-letter. He next showed
that, by the terms ofthe law, the Executive oil
the State Of Maryland could make no subscrlp-
lion at all until the sum estimated by the Unit
ed States Board of Engineers as the cost oil the
Canal. e. eight million Of dollars, less Sl,-
500. 600 The amount OF the Maryland suoscrlp-
ton. had been first subscribed,
Gen. Mason said that the Maryland subscrip-
lions. .pon these conditions, would never be
made For the Canal would not cost eight
millions of dollars. and Of course, the oondi-
lion nrecadent 10 the Maryland Subscription,
was not likely TO be complied with. He bellev-
ed thar the estimate of the Central COMMITTEE
was toe high: 10 this belief he had been LED oy
the statements OF gentlemen IN the Conventions;
men of intelligence, integrity, and praclicai eA-
perience, who lived in the parts oil the country
through which the Canal is 10 pass; besides,
the Charter ofthe Company limited It's capital
stock to $4,000, 900: SO here again, the law was
Inconsistent with the Charter, and, in conse-
ouenee. null and void No subscription TO the
Canal stock can now be made by the Executive
of Maryland. His hands are tied by this law
He hopsd that the defects IN the law would oe,
as his resolution proposed, pointed Out IN the
mos, respectful manner to the Legislature OF
Maryland.
MIR How,Rp. Of Baltimore, in reply, stated
that the charter contemplated the comPietioh
Of ,te eastern section Of the canal, separately
from the whole work, and therefore the act oil
MARYLAND was correc, III its view. his was
evidently understood, when the application to
the Legislature Of Maryland was made for the
ournose Of carrying the canal through that
State. before The assent OF Pennsylvania was
asked. He did not wish 10 oppose the resolu-
ton. but merely 10 give his view OF what was
the opinion of the Legislature, OF Maryland, on
the subject, when the question was before 1t.
Mr.. KENNEDY, Delegate from Washington
county, MARYLAND, expressed his regret tnal lhe
resolution had been introduced. He had mop
ed that the proceedings would so on harmon
ously, and not be OF any tendency 10 have an
injurious effect. He stated that there had been
great difficulties in inducing the Legislature oil
MARYLAND 10 pass the law Of March 4, 1926,
that the balance was nearly equpoised; and
thati. was only turned infavor OF the law, ny a
gentleman who, discarding Local feelings ana
iealousies, had voted in It's favor. He heleyed
tina, the State Of Maryland would never refuse
any cooperation in the completion OF the work
and that she would never break her faith, once
n,edped.-He moved that the resolution be IN
Gen Mason remarked, that the object OF the
resolution was respectfully TO invite the Legis-
lature TO remedy certain defects III her statute
nassed 10 aid in the undertaking; tha,it was not
10 amend The charter, and thatit was approach
ing them with respect, TO ask them 10 revise
what had been done by them TO ala iA.wnst The
provisions Of her law were certainly fnsufil-
Gent
MIR. KENNEDY considered that 1t was RAIN
4 cr the duty of the Central Committee to MAKE
the application; and repeated his apprehension
that the effect, as contemplated, would be inJu-