The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-03-18

deeply concerns the whole people of the
Commonwealth. To involve them in so
costly an enterprise rashly, without the
best assurances that they would, in one
form or another, be indemnifed for the eX-
pendlture, would be gross violation ofpub-
lie duty, while, on the other hand, TO reject
without substantial and satisfactory reasons,
a proposition which promises so much adj
vantage, would he to show an equal disre-
gard to the public interest. 1t is unques-
tlonahly the duty of the Legislature to
weigh this subject cautiously, to scrutinize
the statements and calculations of their
agents and engineers, and to come DELHI.
erately to the conclusion which their best
judgment, aided by all the means of intor-
nation which can he obtained, may lead
them. 1t will he useful, not only for ascer-
tanning the wishes of the people, but for
forming a satisfactory Individual judgment,
to observe how the statements and ealcula-
tons of the Report of the Directors, are
received by an intelligent public, who, on
subject of this Importance will not fail to
detect any errors of fact or fallacies in ar
gument, into which the Directors may have
been led. 1t will he important also to OBJ
serve how high an estimate may be placed
IN the public opinion, on the various advan-
tages anticipated from this improvement,
after their nature and extent shall be more
clearly understood, from the specific des-
rrlptions and calculations, in the Reports
OF the Directors and Engineers which have
been recently published, and extensively
distributed. The Directors recommend
that these works shall he undertaken solely
at the cost, and on behalf of the State.
Such an exercise of the powers Of the gov
eminent has not been used in this State,
and it therefore becomes the more impera-
tive, that in the adoption Of so important
measure, involving large expenditure, and
introducing new system of public improve
ment, the Legislature should no; act de-
cisively, until they shall have had the best
opportunity of ascertaining the wishes of
the people. These considerations appear
to suggest sufficient reasons for referring
the subject to the next session Of the Legis-
atuIe.
AS, however, the subject has been for
three years under the consideration of vari-
GUS Commissioners, appointed Ivy the Leg
islature, as great pains have been taken,
and large cost incurred, in the investiga
tons which were thought necessary, and
all the Investigations have now been made,
which those who have been entrusted with
this duty think would be useful, and no adj
ditional inquiry is proposed, there appears
to be no other reason for any further delay
IN deciding upon it, than the expediency of
allowing a proper time for examining the
statements and estimates presented in the
Reports now laid before the public, and for
ascertaining the public sentiment in relation
thereto. 1t is Of great moment if these i'm
provements are to be undertaken, that it
should be done with as little delay as posi-
BILE. If the advantages anticipated from
them are sufficient to induce the undertak-
ing, they are too great to be lost. If these
advantages are not over-rated, they are
such as will give a new value to the re-
sources of the Commonwealth, and a new
spring to the enterprise and industry of its
citizens.
Tho Ca,annit4nn hAlinrn that 4his BOARD
are already prepared to adopt the opinion
that it is expedient for the State to aid and
encourage, by its funds, in some form or
other, the construction of these works, and
that while they refer it to the next Legisla-
ture to determine in what way and to what
extent this snail be done, they will recon-
mend the subject to the serious attention of
the people of the Commonwealth, and of
the next Legislature. They therefore rec
ommend the adoption of the following Res
olutions.
All which is respectfully submitted.
By order of the Committee.
NATHAN HALE, Chairman.
RESOLVED, That it is expedient for the
70 old o0d apoourana hI, tic funds tho