Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-17
PUBLISHERS OF THE LAWS.
Mfr. WRroHr's remarks in the House Of htpresen'
tafipes concluded.


Mr.. VproYr's remarks in the House Of Rtpresen-
tafiues concluded.
The gentleman from Tennessee says was
ensipeered into Congress, and sneeringly re-
marks. that corps of Typographical Engin-
GERS was sent to my District to secure my eiec-
,ion. He makes this charge as of his own
knowledge and on his own responsibility.
shall say nothing now Of the gross disregard OF
iecorum that distinguishes the remark, nor oil
the total want of truth 10 the charge. II the
gentleman intended TO convey the idea that
owe my sea, here to any influence OF Depart.
ment Of the Government, through any corps OF
Engineers, the charge is disgraceful TO himself,
10 me, to the House, and 10 the District repre-
sent l know not on what authority he utters
this charge; but put him at defiance to pro-
duce one little of proof to support it. The
charge supposes the Secretary of War corrupt,
in despatching corps Of Engineers for such
purpose; the electors to have been drilled and
corrupted by such means to vote for man they
otherwise would not have voted for; the House
TO be corrupt in allowing man, so elected to
hold seat here; and, lastly, the gentleman him
self to be corrupt in acquiescing IN so much
corruption, and making no movement TO bring
il TO light. II is true sir, that, until very
short time before the present session OF Con-
press, few men in the district come from ever
saw an officer of the General Government ex-
cept for the purpose Of collecting taxes, or i'm
posing some burlhen upon them. The People
had seen tax gatherers, and heard OF other offi-
GERS; they had heard of Improvements being
projected and carried in other parts OF the
country, but OF the practical operation OF any
scheme of the kind, they knew little; they con-
sidered themselves within the pale oflhe Union,
r n Lad ehrtpr
alacriiy in exposing their lives in its defence.
They had long petitioned you for aid in con-
siructing a road from the Ohio, to and through
the Black Swamp, without success. Last Win
ter, we got report Of committee in our favor,
setting forth the advantages of the road, and
It's national character, and recommending SUR
On this Is2ari. .a2Rlleali0p vas mads IS! 20
application was pressed during the recess Of
Congress corps OF Engineers were engag-
ed in surveying canal route from Pittsburg to
Erie, In Pennsylvania, and when the season was
too far advanced to prosecute that work part
Of the corps was detached on the reconnaissance
we had requested. They arrived in the district
about month after the elections were all over,
and slightly reconnoitered the routes. They
have, as yet, made no report. No survey has
ever been. had. i understand, but do not know
the fact, that the commander Of the corps, if
not the others, agree with the gentleman from
Tennessee in his opinions on Presidential mat
tiers. The location of the road, instead Of be-
ing calculated to advance my popularity, direct
ly tended to excite the local prejudice Of a ma
jority Of the People against me. Now, sir, if
this plan was set on foot TO aid my election, it
was very badly conceived and most bunglngly
executed. This small benefit; extended to the
district I represent, it most probably never
would have received, had the gentleman's can
didate for the Presidency succeeded, and will,
no doubt, be withheld Immediately after he
does succeed, if that event shall ever happen.
This boon to the People might, one would sup
pose, have escaped the censure Of the gentle
man. Had he possessed 1.-THE Of the know
ledge Of the geography Of his own country, or
OF the events Of the late war, of which he makes
such frequent mention, as he has undertaken to
exhibit TO You, Of ancient and fabulous history,
he could not have been Ignorant that the road
alluded TO was decidedly national in its charac.
tef, and oil great impor' aace in military point
OF view. Had this road been constructed before
the last war, the saving 10 the country would
have been immense: many times more than suf-
6cient TO have made the road; and the com.
mander Of the Northwestern Army would have
been enabled to supply his troops. The essen
iial article OF -four cost the United States. at
the Miami Of the Lake, one hundred and twen-
ty dollars barrel, whilst, in my district, abou,
900 miles distant, il could have been supplied;
in any quantity, at from FIVE to seven dollars
the difference was the expense OF transportation
through wilderness and swamp. good road
would have reduced the price, at head quarters,
TO about ten or twelve dollars
Sir, neither the gentleman from Tennessee,
nor any other gentleman, shall attack my con-
ssituents with impunity while can defend them.
/ represent $4,000 free People-hard working,
industrious, and independents People tina, are
no; to be bribed nor drilled by Engineers, nor
dragooned into submission to the will Of any
one, whether he be a Military Chief or not-a
People, no one Of whom would feel lat,ered BY
being placed on footing of Equality with the
gentleman from Tennessee Let him come a.
mongst them, view them, converse with them
They win compel ham to respect them-,hey win
put 10 shame his ealumnious accusa sion, and
silence his slauderous tongue. Let him try hi.
skill and influence in electioLeering with, or in
engineering or dragooning them, even in favor