Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-10

De In me very hrs cid's OF objects which should
attract the 'ueDlioa OF tbe Government, uuder the
&C of 1924? that 1t had been since repeatedly
pressed upon the present head of that Department,
by he Delegation OF his own State, in coniupc
tlon with other members of Cong ess, bu, tlat no |
survey had yet been ordered, aGd that they we're
now driven to the necessity OF in, oknr the action
oil the Legislative Department npon the subject ? |
Why, Sir, has this grea. link In the chain of
Wes'ern communication, the Importance of which
was, yesterday, empha,cally admitted by the en-
ligh,e'e ed Chairman of the Committee OF Roads
and Goals, been neglected, while objects of in
hnl,ely niericr importance, in other quarters
have been sssiduously pursued? Why, 100, have
those connexions between the Tenne ssee river
and The Tomheckbee, and Coosa on The side OF
the Gulph At Mexico. and The Savannah on the
side Of the Atlantic. TO which that gentleman adj
verted - important national objects, remained I'M
explored. while sch.mts, OF not hall their magni-
'ude, elsewhere, have met with prompt and even
ostentatl attention. Is it because Tenn ind
Alabanis, Georgia an South Carolina, he ,ates
moie particularly interested in these improvements
ere 100 near the Military Chiettain, both in
JeehRS and position 10 admit Of any hope of allur-
lug hem II ON their unfortunate attachment.
What has been the course pursued in relation
TO the Florida Canals We mus, all recoliec, the
general acquiesoe ncs, If not enthusiasm with which
tue sum OF twenty thousand dollars was appro-
pri"ted, during our last session, for examining and
surveying the site of this truly national work la
the very midst OF most interesting discussion ON
subject OF he greatest moment, the usual pro
gress OF business was suspended, for the purpo.e
OF taxing and passing the bill maxim, the appro-
p'iation. This was AT the instance of the gen,Ie-
man, who so ably and faithfully represents the
interests OF that Territory, and ho stated his OBJ
Ject TO be, by procuring an early passage Of the
law, to enable The Government 10 send its Engineers
'he'e before the commencement OF the warm sea
son, When the climate would present many OBJ.
etacies TO the prosecution of their lsbors and in
order that their report might be laid before Con-
etsss, at lie beginning of the presen, session
he law wa accordingly passed, with this view
at an early period OF the session I appears
however, from the 'nn usl report OF the Chief En-
gineer, that officers were despatched on this
service I'LL he month of June, and their examine.
uons, II ~ presumed, have not yet been compile
Ted Other complaints, which IL is not necessary
to detail upon the present occasion, have been
made OF he neglect OF this OF ect BY The Govern
insnt. Here, then, we have an object Of an uue-
qiI'oc"i national Character, singled OUT, from all
o'hers' icr it' peculiar and paramount importance
oil which Congress have manifested their sense BY
special appropriation # tweni y-ihnusani dol
i'rS Tor lis examination, and yet has been pos,
poned, in the o. erstions OF the Government, 10
mere neis hb0rh0od projects How Is his neeIect
to lie accounted fol! Is il because FLORIDA hap
pens t. be Territory, whose inhabitants are not
even counted n ihe rank aud file Of Preside iiial
vo'er>. and whose representative, on this floor,
has no voice in any question, affecting the interests
oil the Administration?
bnt, Sir, need MOI pursue this inquiry fer the
purpose OF proving the policy whict las eoyeio-
ed the administration in the exercise OF this mower
x Is ddmuted by the document, which tbev
themselves, have laid before US There il, uoou
the very II mt OF that document bold avowal of
The policy have inquired them. Oppo ie to
the several surveys, of which a list is given. we
ma note OF the authority or application which
induced the survey. In but two cases, and those
occurring during the period of the las, aCninistra
ton, Is the independent and unbiased decision of
the President upon The - national importance of
the oJ'ct, as contemplate Ell By The act of 1924 s-
signe'i a Tie authority for H. liking the survey, In
ai' 'he ohef cases, The surveys are sta ed TO have
oeen made on The application Of members of Con.
'g'es'' or Governors or Legislatures of particular
Staies-the Honorable such an one or his FIR
ceHs''cy such saoiher. Now, Sir, is there not
here, PLAIN avowal that the Just fication of these
surveys Is to be found, not in the GO national i'm,
poftance OF The o Jecs estimated by the Pre-
sident himself bat In the number and official cha
rAc'ei OIL Inc persons who have asked Tor them IN
other ords, that the object ha- been not 10 di.
chAIbe PUBIC trust with single regard TO the
principles upon which that trust was confided bIi
to make ii the instrument of gratifying isfuen,,sl
men and concliatIng their good will of adm, tho
views Of political friends, and of propiiiating par
ucH!tr sections OF the community. Sir i sureIv
Tiil not be pretended, that WIEN a high discretion
airy authority !" contided the President 10 be exer.
cIsed upon broad national considerations. he il ot
d1erty To surrender the exercise of that discretion
TO the Paflis Or interested views of others and IN
substitute the wishes opinions of members of
congress- "oyerntrs Or State Legislature Tor ms
own unbiased and responsible Judgment
Having seen hat the pow er IN question ;s ono
oil dangerous influence in the hands of The exscu.
tive, which not only might be, but has becn ~
ioT purposes othe than those for hich II was con,
ieTfeH, lei us advert. for moment 10 some coI
futcT0f W'SchIcjS, which attend the present mode
OF exercising u. The numerous SURVEYS which
nave oeen ordered here and there, without refer.
e"ce to the national character of the objects snr-
Veyed, are calculated to delu lie the ne0nle ,yi,b
hopes aud expectations, which can never no ,sal
iZed' Let any gentleman estimate the number ~
miles Oh road and canal routes which have been
surveyed and then multiply thai number by the
ave age cost per mile OF executing sucb ,yorL.
and he will find the amount called f,r M, H.
Jects already surveyed, vastly beyond any sobsr
view OF the resources of the government To
th's source OF disappointment, Is 10 be added tho
0cdE character OF large MAORI of the objects
"hch uust, Ultimately, shut them our from
ADOPTION by the national authority Bat. In the
mean TIME, hopes will be entertained bv ali r.
~ neIghbofhood, and county and STATE viii as,
yer itself that It's own fayorite project il nao.,
oDlect, and that Il ought and will recejv. the ,o
ference ~ TOE application of he national resour
ces; and II IS part of the present s,sts,, - -.
courage these decisions VIVA, is tho ia.,i,.Li
effect OF this state Of ,hines2 10 arrest tho GO
grss' OF those very Improvements, bicb the adj.
COATES OF this system profe $ 20 have So much =,
heart. While the people Of ,hs STATE. ,re -, .