Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-03-27

TIC request vi CFQtS, VI Virginia, WiuiureW
his amendment, in order to afford an opportunity
of further discussion of the general question; at
the same time announcing his intention to offer it
In future stage of the debate. Mr. Craig, of
Va. was in favor of the road, as the expenditure
for its construction would be means of returning
to the public from the capital the nation portion
fthat sum which their enterprise and industryhad
accumulated in the public Golfers. The quas-
ton with respect to the merits of the two roads
was merely one of expediency, depending on the
advantages which would be afforded by one over
the other. He argued at great leugth in support
of the measure, as calculated to advance the in
terests and prosperity of the country in general,
by increasing its internal commerce. Mr.: Ram
seq followed on the same side and strongly urged
the Importance of the road, and the advantages to
be derived from it, by the community at la.ge
The government would be enabled, for instance,
to transmit its mails to the North, at time when
the usual route, by Baltimore, Philadelphia, and
! NewYork, was locked up by ice; from which
alone, considerable saving in the public expen-
diture, would be made: and Washington, and
other parts of the District, would become the de-
pots of the produce of the fertile regions of coun-
| try thro' which the road was to pass. With re-
spect to the right Of the different States, in the
interior of the country, to ask for aid in con-
III
title to that aid, with the States on the seaboard,
to claim appropriations for the making of break
waters, harbors, lighthouses, and for the forIna-
ton and support of Navy, to protect their COM
MERGE After some further remarks. he express
ed his hope that gentlemen would vote upon this
question, not from partial views Of sectional in
terest, but i'll spirit of iiberaity, which had in
view the common rood of the Uuion Mr.. Smyth,
of virginia, spoke in favor of the bill. as mea-
sure which wouid be attended with great public
benefit, and in particular, to the commerce of
Western Virginia, and East Tennessee, He
had constitutional objections 10 the exercise,
by the United States. of jurisdiction over the
roads within the States, through which 1t might
pass, but he conceived that those who, in
| common with him, entertained such opinions,
! could not but acknowledge. that by the compact
between the United States and the States of Ala
bama and Mississippi. Congress was authorized
to appropriate money for the construction OF such
i road. After some further remarks upon the
subject, and comprehensive examination OF the
different authorities upon it, he argued, In con-
clusion, upon the eminent advantages winch
wouid result. As he had before had occasion to OBJ
serve. to the commerce of the contiguous regions
BY tracing the line of road west OF the mountains
| On motioa of Mr.. Il. III Shepherd, the commit
tee rose aud reported.
| The House then on motion of Mr., .kDu6fe,
arain went into Committee Of the Whole on the
state of the Union. Mr. Le'cher in the Chair,a and
took up the BIZ! making appropriations tor eXanl-
nations and surveys, and also Tor certain works
of Internal Improvement. The blanks making
appropriations for the different surveys OF roads,
were filed up after various amendments Mr..
W;ciiife, after stating that numerous surveys had
been made of the most purelle y contemplate ma
/ ture, moved an amendment that the sums propos-
ed to be appropriated be expended IN the COM
pletion of such works of a national character as
had been commenced and not finished. Mr. ClGy
, objected to the amendment; ii being intended
| that the surveys should be made for the parpose
of ascertaining to what parts of the United States
iudicious improvements might be effected. It was
! for the House to decide upon the information
contained In reports of these surveys AFTER the
reports upon them had been submitted to them.
Mr.. Mercer cOntended for the appropriation IN
question. Recent surveys. he SAID, ha0 Dce.i me
cause Of saving the Chesapeake and ONO lanai
S15O.0O0. That undertaking was now IN favora-
bic progress; aud Notwithstanding that the En%r
neers who surveyed the line OF route had estlina,
/ ted its cost at S32.O00,OOO, yet the compan had
not found it necessary to call upon the General
Government for any aid beyond the million Of dol
lars subscribed bv the United States to that great
national work. He could state further, too, that
thew should not have occasion to call for any more
for the conn letion of the eastern section OF the
Canal: the cost of which alone would amount 10
! 5000. 900 of dollars Mr.. Wicki6e replied he
stated that he sincerely wished success to that
work: he had been, one of those who voted tor the
subscription to it: but he could not refrain from
expressing his surprise that question of roads,
or surveys of roads, could be raised in that House
without causing his friend from Virginia, lMr'
Mercer to fall into the Chesapeake and Ono
Canal. He was glad, however, to hear it stated !;
on such an authority, that no more money would
be required for that Canal. Mr. Mercer here sad
than no money would be req uired Tor the GomP,e-
ton of the Eastern section of the Canal Mr.
WTckiife resumed. 1t might be wanted thenlt ap-
reared. for the Western section. He (Mr. W } was
no canal digger. but as to the feasibility OF carrying
canals the must a, sSrfssi
had always entertained doubts onuosed to the
: L;,nar;c,l nro;ects for which surveys OF rivers