Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-16


shalt possess the means of constructing both roads
and canals. Are we, really, said Mr. M. 20 re-
duced in circumstances? Is our Treasury,
thus suddenly, 80 exhausted, az to deny to Us ibe
pitiiul svm Of thirty or Atty thousand dollars a
year, Tor acquiring knowledge, AZ essential to our
future career, conscientiousy believe, as 20 our
prosperity and safety? Are We, to encounter,
along with the array OF constitutional objections,
from so many quarters, the embarrassm of a
Treasury exhausted not to spare the poor
sum OF City thousand dollars year, which the an
nual appropriation to this OBJECT has never exceed
ed and, in two years out OF the three in which this
system has been in operation, not nearly equalled?
II has been sought, also, 10 alarm us with the
Executive influence, to be derived from the expen.
di'urs OF this sum, OF thirty or Atty thousand dol
lars; and il is 20 arrest its progress that nv col
league offered, the other day, q resolston, in
sductnS the Committee of Ways and Means TO
inquire into the expectancy Of varying the exercise
OF this power. This resolution, also, Mr.. NJ had
voted for, although it directly encroached upon
the province OF Committee OF which he was
member the Committee on Roads and Canals
He well knew, that an investigation of the subject
would demonstrate the extravaganza to which the
Change OF practice, recommended by bis colleague.
would inevitably lead The waste of time in This
House. in discussing the national character, and
the expectancy OF an infiaity of propositions for
roads and canals, which, In MANY cases mere
examination, or reconnaissance of the ground.
over which they were proposed to be conducted,
would demonstrate 10 be useless, or impracticabIe
lie had not al proved the resolution, 'or the areu-
ment by which 1t was prematurely sustained, be-
cause he confidently believed. az he still hoped
the inquiry instituted by another committee. would
tend, II conducted with The ability which mark ed
all the acts oil the chairman of Committee of WAYS
and Means. to the uodenisble proof of the sound
ness OF the course hitherto pursued and approx ed
by the Committee or Roads and Canals. The Ii
imitation OF the Executive power and patronage,
was to be found in the small sum hitherto appro-
priated, not to construct road or canals, but 10
inquire, by means OF an examination, survey, or
estimate, or all three combined, whether sny road
or csnal was OF national importance, was practi-
cable, aud expedient. Congress would be found to
be incapable, without the information which the an
nua appropriations TO the surveys of the routes Of
such roads and canals were designed TO furnish OF
deciding upon the numerous propositions In relation
to this subject which might be presented to it's
Judgment. Deplorab!e, indeed, must be the con-
diiien OF the Government, when il shall have a
revenue SO crippled as to be denied the means of
obtaining this information. If such truly be i,s
condition. this is not suitable occasion for verify
ing the fact, or discussing for such calamity
competent! remedy.
Mr. McLane said tina, The honorable gentleman
had, he thought, wholly mistaken the object which
he had In view In the remarks be had made when
up before. Ii is unnecessary, (.aid Mr.. McI,N
for me to say that the gentleman from i,einia i.
not sincerer friend TO Internal Improv emen,.
properly conducted, than am: we have hitherto
been on the same side OF this question, and pro-
mise the gentleman that, as far as the means nj
the country will allow US to go, we shall NOT
separate upon 1t hereafter. But the gentleman
from Virginia was mistaken, MIR. Mel said. if he
supposed this object OF Internal Improvement, in
IN ye$n mi altrv a..
dollars. III the gentleman would ook back 10 the
appropriations Of the last three or four wears he
would And not less than million and half of
dollars had been applied, in one way or other 10
this Object. Mr.. Mercer said, he had spoken Of
examinations aud surveys only.l MIR. Mel. said
he knew that the gentleman had referred to them.
when ne spoke OF the particular sum of 80 GOO
dollars: bat II the House found it would be In
practicable TO follow up these surveys, &c. what
would be tine use of spending money in makins
them! All that he meant TO say nov, however
was, that il had become the duty of the House IN
Inquire how tar they will 60 into this system. and
10 ask Tor Information respecting the plans in PROS
pect, not to embarrass them if the Governmep,
has the means of pursuing them, bu, TO enable tbi,
House TO act Understandings on the subject.
Mr. Wicklfe said, he did not suppose ,ba, the
resolution which be had offered could b,v. p,ssi
bly, elected SO much discussion, and still less that
1t should have been met by the animated opposition
which 1t had received from the gentleman from
Illinois, Ills object was not TO encourage furtbe,
applications TO the Department, by sending forth
the letters addressed to il, a. the gentleman seem
ed TO suppose for if the resolution had any sf.ct
at all In that direction, II would be to cut off the
practice OF sending these " able" letters TO the Sc
cre'ary Of War. Mr.. w. was satisfied that the
observations which had fallen from the gentleman
at the head OF the Committee of WAYS and Means
must satisfy the House of the necessity of such
Call as the resolution proposed. The gentleman
from Virginia was mistaken, be said, in supposine
tha, 80 900 was the limitation of the annual =.
mount of appropriations for surveys the first an.
perhaps, 80 600, but the last was
5O,oOo &c. 1t was for this House TO inquire into
the propriety Ga changing the mode of application
tor this object, and as one OF the means OF jpdgng
this propfiey, Dir. w asked for lis. OF appIics
iions which had been made. SC. and not for TO- |
pies Of the letters addressed TO the DEPARTMENT mr.
the subject. II would be for the House 10 in]y.
on seeing them, whether the surveys applied f,r |
were OF a national character or not. What he ask
ed had been the practice under the act of 1924, |
Whenever there were means, and the Engineer.
were at leisure, il was only necessary to get i'm
town meeting TO ask for survey Of q road or a |
canal, and the Survey ors were sent there. If the
mode OF appropriation were changed, Consres.
would determine whether il was proper or not IN |
make any particular survey. And the information |
called for was necessary to throw light on this |
matter.
Mr.. Cook said, he was still not satisfied of the
proprieiy of this call extending, as it does, down
10 the time when surveys were first thought of. /
and embracing every application that has been
made to the Department for surveys This in |
formation was not necessary TO enable the Com. |
mitee OF Wsys and Means to decide any cues, on.
because that which had been suggested could be as
well determined without the information as with