Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-10

which were wholly unnecessary 10 the sustaining
OF IL Perhaps the gentleman was not aware ti,at,.
in what he had said. he reflected not only on the
Executive; but on thirty forty of his fellow mem
bers of this House. The proceedings Of the Adj
niinsiration IN this matter, whether right or wrong
Were had i'll pursuance Of the recoinme alton Of
between uiirty anu forty gentlemen who had been
members oil former Congress. 1.-THE gentleman
before he uttered the remarks he bad lust made
had taken the trouble TO read the documents which
mad been furnished 10 the House on this subject
he would have perceived that the applicatioH of
those gentlemen TO have this survey effected, pro-
ceeded on the grounds of the compact between the
United States and the State of Ohio, (the same in
strumcnt which was in fact the foundation of th.
Cumberland Road,( aud two successive rcsolu-
tons oil the House of Delegates of Virginia Zone Of
which was likewise concurred in by the Senate of
That State) Oh the same subject. The compact he
alluded TO contained provision that " one or more
lines Of connexion should be established by roads
between the Atlantic and Western waters, lead
ing towards the State Of Ohio The road from Cum
bertrand TO Wheeling formed one of these lines of
communication; but the instrument equally sane
| tons another between the waters of james and
| the Great kcnawha rivers. So much. therefore
for the right Of Government 20 order these SURVEYS
But further In the year 1915, the Legislature
| oil Virginia invited the General Government, as
well as the Governments of Kentucky and Ohio,
TO unite in the construction of a Canal, or Rail
| Road, between the two rivers last mentioned
And, IN the year following, similar resolution
was recommended 60 the Legislature of Virginia
| by the Board of Public Works for that State and
was passed almost unanimously. 1t was, indeed,
true, that the same route had been examined by
a very distinguished gentleman i'll Virginia, Che
did not know whether he very skiiul and cX-
iperienced i'll Civil Engineering but he certainly
was a most accomplished Military Engineer,) Mr..
Crozet But, II was nevertheless true, that, since
the year 1917, 1t never could be ascertained whc-
ther the proposed connection was, was not prac-
ucabe, until the recent survey by the u States
Engineers. Mr.. NJ. said, he felt the more cnt-
tied to speak with confidence on this subject, since
he had himself been one of the Commissioners ap-
pointed by the State of Virginia, to make the ex-
| animation. And he had performed the most haz-
ardous part Of that duty, and he could declare
that he was now as fully convinced Of the pract-
cability OF the undertaking. as he was OF any fact
| IN Natural history. He had made the preceding
remarks in order that the responsibility of origi-
mating those surveys might rest, where il ought TO
rest, on himself and the other gentlemen who had
recommended the measure TO the Executive.
| Mr.. Floyd spoke in reply, declaring that he
I should not retract word of what he had said
when last up. His colleague the right must
himself be convinced that, in what he had lust adj
vanced, he was under an egregious error. 1 said,
| observed Mr.. L. )that the waters of New River
| and of James River might be united-but how
could this connexion be contemplated by the con-
tract with Ohio, when, according TO the gentle
mans showing, II is now first ascertained that
such a conneXion is possible The Engineers of
posed. Here MIR. Mercer, speaking across in an
under voice, said, they never touched it'll They
have touched it: and they did examine it. Besides,
this canal is on the same route with the contern-
plated road TO New Orleans (that is If the Presi-
dent had yet determined on which side of the
mountains that road is 10 pass.) But though scve-
raj different surveys have been made, the Engi-
neers are not yet done with it. Now, what are we
TO think of this, A bill has, TO be sure been re-
ported this morning, OIL the subject of the Few
Orleans road, but (by reason of the new practice
into which we have fallen, Of not having bills read
through or their first reading) do not know what
haV road .of ~,
| mountains, or up the great valley. | presume il
Will go through the valley and if So then this ca
nal Will be almost Immediately in the route. But
this Is not road 10 Ohio: il runs through Tcnnes-
| See and Alabama. What then can this canal or
this road, have TO do with the contract between the
United States and Ohio? But, am told by the
gentleman, that some members of Congress petit
| toned the President for this survey. / was ap-
prlsed OF that fact hut had thought that tue Cum
beriand road fully satisfied contract with Ohio
This, however, will say-and l say il that the
Administration may hear it--that do know much
more OF their operations in the upper country than
they think for, and, at suitable time, shall dis
close what know, let the consequences fall where
| it may.
| Mr. Mercer insisted that his colleague was mis-
| taken as TO his facts The practicabiiity of con-
Meeting the James and Kcnhayya rivers by nayi-
gable canal, had been first ascertaned by the u.
States Engineers. The report of Mr.. Crozet on
tue subject, was subsequent 10 that of the United
States Engineers. His report threw doubt over
had arrived. AS TO the compact with Ohio it pro-
vided for one or more" roads between the West
ern and Atlantic waters; it must, therefore of
course, comprehend road between the Great
henhawa and the James rivers. But the route in
question had nothing to do with the road to New
OTleans the former would ntersect the latter at
right angles, and of course, the two routes could
not run over the same ground. OF the road TO
Orleans, the present Vice President was the origi-
nal mover; and Mr.. Nj said he applauded his sa-
gacity for suggesting it. Three different routes
Tor this road were originally contemplated; they
mad since been surveyed; but no report in relation
TO either had been made at the last session. be-
cause the Committee Of Roads and Canals had
been overburthened with business which had the
precedence bill for the construction of this
road was now, for the first time, reported The
route OF the road could not have been earlier fix
ed by the present Executive. 1t could not there
fore, have been sooner determined. Mr.. NJ. said
III conclusion, that he had not riscn the present
occasion, with any view OF protecting the Execu-
tive from censure but merely to vindicate himself
and those gentlemen Of the House who had been
! associated with him in the recommendation of the
survey referred 20. The very first time he had
raised his voice i'll debate in this House, more
than ten years ago, was in favor Of the power of
Government TO make roads and canals and for
many years, as was known to his friends, all the
energies of his mind had been constantly and faith
fully devoted 70 this subject. He cared not who
ruled, so that his country prOsperod.
Mr.. Bartlett rose upon point Of order, and
suggested a doubt whether the amendment pro-
posed by MIR. Floyd, did not so far differ from the
resolution of Mr.. Maxwell as to be nadmissble
under tie 40th rule as being a substitute for it.
The Speaker decided that the amendment was in
order being only an extension of the object Of the
resolution.
Nj. Floyd again rose. lie said that his col
league had totally changed his ground. He now