Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-04-17

his bittere-t reproaches preceded the existence oil
the present Administration; and, being made by a
former President, cannot be imputed 10 the motive
| 10 which he has sscribed it.
In ordering he survey of three distinct routes,
ssith uie,o to selecting the most eligible ground
on tohich to locate u ndtiOaat road" between this
City and New Orleans neither the immediate pre-
decessor of the present Chief Magistrate, nor the
late Secretary of War, the present ice President,
could have in ended 20 promote the reelection OF
Mr.. Adams One Of these routes, uDhss)isy pass
ed, it seems. through the District which myaol-
league represents, and which, hope, he may long
continue TO represent, notwithstanding the very
opposite opinions We entfIi2in OF the authority OF
this government TO construct this, or any other
national highway. Bat he has not only omitted
to ao,ice the date of the order for the survey OF
this road, but forgotten that i, was savsriie nea
sure OF the late Administration, as report from
the late Secretary of War, very ably manifested.
And can the national character of this long :
templated road, be so doubtful to involve, in
such UNIV orihy suspicion, the order for It's exsmi
nation and survey? Are the NOS. prominent
vents of the late War totally forgotten, like the
orders and reports of the Department? Had new
Orleans fallen before the invading foe, and that war
been prorscted, WAS once expected, by fail
ure of the negotiation at Ghent, how many rnelsn
choly memorials might we have hsd OF the value
OF closer conneNiou than at present subssts, he
tween this exposed outlet of the commerce of the
West, and the Seat of that Government which
the Constitution has charged with its military de
fence, Its safety rust eminently depend, in any
future with the same maritime Power, it did
in the last, The alscriiy with which the forces
destined for it's protection be concentrated,
quipped, and supplied, as we'll as upon the vaior
and skill by which they ale commanded.
This line of communication IL now subject 10
numerous, and therefore frequent suspen.ions, as
Ill ice nf Iva
freshes of Spring, the sudden rise of river, or
flcod OF morass, the loss of a ferry boat, often
occasion the total failure of mail, the circui-
tous length and ,vretred condition OF the present
road ever co great consumption of time; and,
need add that he failure, or even the deiaY OF
intelligence for few days or, a, critical pc
, Rod, for few hours only, may involve in its
, consequences the loss OF army the total dsap
pointment of the best medIsted campaign, the
pro,rac, ed continuance of disastrous war.
If this road be not national, there is not ma
,icnal obj-c, within the scope of that pow err OF
this Government which under The denomin alton Of
s an authority to make internal improv ements, -
, has been already denounced On this floor by my
colleague If growing perception OF lis vital I'M
porisnce to The union and prosperity of The u. 5.
has aroused The spirit OF inquiry, and occasioned
7 him any annoyance within his district, he must,
however, impuie it TO any o'her agent than tris
, Administration, who were unQuestionably, in this
instance, antit ipated in ~ exercse If that sur.
vey, which above all he has most loudly denounc-
) ed, be the offspring OF abused authority, this i'm
putation rests upon The late President of the u.
States; and ne is the eXecusabIe, since be
: him elf was suddenly called from the Department
of State, by his predecessor, at the moment when
the exposed frontier of Louisiana threatened
, with invasion, to the head OF The Department of
War, and required, a lime OF aNv full uncertainty
calamity, and distress, by exertionsS tina. ulti-
maiey overcame his strength, and endangered his
life, 10 hasten the PREPARATION and union of those
very forces which, under their intrepid commander,
and The favor of Heaven, preserved tie city OF
New Orleans, its wealth and population, from me-
ditated havoc, spoil and ruin.
Having I trust, successfully vudicsted the most
obnoxious exercise OF this much questioned pow er
forbesr to travel over the various apryeys EMU
meraed in this report, with view TO then sepa-
rate yindicaton. | will substitute Tor defence
of each knowing them all to be defensble, def
ance TO my honor able colleague to sdduce soil
tary 'hat does not possess a character s10ici
emily national to warrant the attention which ii has
received.
But lest, after this challenge, shall seem TO
shrink from the wordy comba; have invited,
will adveT. % those which he has ad1rced 10 sus-
tan his o,d accusation. To proceed TO the
most questionable OF them all. WIKI regard 10
hat which has called forth brief notice from "a
mother OF my colleagues, MI. Ialiaiero) ~ who
leas, of all deserved the sllusion which has been
made to him. since like the gentleman himself, be
il, on this subject, OF the orthodox faith, thOugf
of what party, if be has joined the ranks OF any,
know not Il may be allowed 10 bear some adj
ditiona testimony.
u The examination OF the country between the
Rappshannook and the river stretching before ~
with view to their connexon by canal, IL i'm
puted, it seems, 10 desire, common TO two mem
bers OF the cabinet, TO favor the reelection OF tny
smable colleague, sitting my lef, Mr.. Tala-
ferro } because, says the gentleman who makes
the sugs esiion, d" he never heard OF such pro-
ieci until it was set on foot By the present Secre.
tsTy of War"
II Sir, may be supposed to know this country
well, since am native of the chief town Oh the
banks of one of those rivers. As far back as my
ettention could be drawn 10 such topic, and ever
since, ! have heard that il would be an sa-y under
taking 10 unite hem by canal extending from The
head OF the navigation Of one OF hem, scro:s The
narrow intervening ridge.
Seeing that an examination for this purpose had
attracted the attention of the Department OF War,
and not perceiving opposite to The description Of
I it, 10 this report, any notice by which could
trace its immediate origin, inquired personally Of
the Secretary of the Depar mcut for information.
lie replied 10 me, that this was in truth, the only
survey, of all that included in this report,
! which res'ed solely on bis own suggestion That
having long heard the opinion expressed, that the
! waters Of those rivers could be united, by tho
rough cut across the Peninsula which divides them,
he took occasion, during open season OF the
last Wintsr, to order out an Engineer then unem-