Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-16

cuatcd to sever all conpexIon or interest between
the two sections, until both were completed Tie
consequence ofthis was, that the western section
would never be completed-perhaps that Object was
desired by crtain persons i'll the District OF Coum-
bia--hc did not know, but there seemed some incii-
nation Of such u state of feeling
| The amendment of the gentleman from Fred aim
ed blow in his opinion at the western secton--and
he would rather the bill should receive any late ad-
verse to its passage-tlian witness the passage oil
the bill with those amendments. a
Mr.. Rices of p. u, replied to Mr.. Etgington
and recaptuated and explained the opinion he had
day or two since, expressed of the character OF the
President of Tie Ohio and Chesapeake CaE;l Com
papy, (Mr. Mercer.)
Eir. .Uason of Frederick, said in substurcs-Tlat
the bill authorized the company to open books to
receive subscriptions of stock, to &c expended III con-
sructing the western section; and should such stock
be subscribed those stockholders were to be placed
on the same footing with the present stockholders:
and further authorized the company to commence the
western section before the eastern was finished He
said, that tho charter sought to be amended,
prohibited the company from commencing this west
ern section, before the eastern was complced-that
this probitory provision had been put there after
mature delibcraton, and he thought wisely. lie was
present at the deliberations of the committee in the
winter, he believed, of 1925, which brought in the
tlrst canal BILL Lie remembered it was then proposed
by gentleman, then member from Brooke. to re-
qure OF the company, that they should begin the
eastern and western sections at the same time, OH
the ground that the interests Of the Gust and west
would thus be united lc opposed amongst other
reasons because of belief that sound policy dictated
they should begin at tidewater AID dig westwardly.
the canal after certain extension would thus pay
toll as It advanced-and further, because if thew
begin on both sections at cncc, public confidence
would be discouraged at least suspended until it
vas ascerraiued whether the Allegheny mountain
could be passed by canal &c and if he rcmen1-
hered correctly, the member from Brooke acquiesced
IN such views. He nstanced this, to show that the
part OF the charter now TO be amended had been
provided after much dcliberation
Mr. VI. said farther, that if the bill was TO pass it
ought, he thought, to take the amendments be pro-
posed, along with that engrafted by the Senate phe
amendment of the Senate prohibits the expenditure
OF any part of the money subscribed, upon the
western section, should that section be commercial
lie thought, without such provision, the law would
be IN bad faith to the stockholders who had subscribed
under the charter as it now stocd-thoush he meant
to lmpute no bad faith to the company.
The Cd amendment provides, that until the western
section shall be connected with the EASTERN sub
scrbers to this western stock should not be entitled
to participate in dividends derived from the eastern
section lie thought this but right.
Phe Sd amendment provides that the law should
nave no effect until approved by 5s of the stock.
holders at a stated meeting. lie thought this nc.
cessary guard III SO material an alteration of the
charter us that proposed by the bill and the more
especially as it appeared from the printed report of
stock subscribed, (S3.6oO,e0O,) the United States
owning 81 100000, and the State of Virginia owppp
$1,000, was not represented in the meeting which
instructed the directors to make this application TO
amend the charter.
In reply to Mr. Edgington, Mr.. H. said that he
by no means meant to make this eastern and west
ern question, or TO array the against the other.
The gentleman did him injustice if he supposed So
Those interests in this great Work were and ought to
remain united. lie hoped that the western section
might be found practicable. LIE did not mean to
doubt It, But that N so far as The eastern section
was one OF great moment to Virginia, running it
did along her whole Potomac boundary, from tide
water to the Allegheny mountain) he thought it bad
policy IN her to Jeopardize that BY any premature
commencement OF the western section. The fund
even row subscribed, was inadequate to reach the
town OF Cu9berand, as he apprehended, far less the
Alleghany and in his opinion, all our efforts should
be dlected to the eastern section until was COM
pieted This eastern section would in itself be of
great moment to that part of the State-whereas
the western would be of no value until the eastern
was complete.
The western section, it was estimated would cost
S8,O43,673. and the Allegheny was pierced by
tunnel, that alone of but four miles in extent was
estimated to cost 81 ,6l0.82I Ard by the same
estimate, Thirteen years would be REQUIRED to max
the tunnel. Under these facts, lie thought that the
western cton, if now commenced, rni1ht (wthout
the guards provided by the amendments he proposed
prejudice the eastern operations-without them, he
tnought the bill might have mischeyoIs effect
In further reply, Mr.. NJ said, he should much re-
gret IT his intercourse, personal and political with
pir' LG9ingtoh, should not exempt him from srspi-
cion that he could be actuated by any views Of mar
row or local policy, in regard to this measure mr.
Edgington here disclaimed any such meanine7 He
believed the western interests could only be sub
served by he successful prosecution Of the eastern
canal-when completed, The tide-water of the Poto.
mac would titus be brought, Us it were, to the foot
OF the ALLEGHENY; and every nduccment which such
success would offer, would irnpe the west to such
come ctlon. Until this was done, legslae as we
might, he did not believe that either the State of
fennSyivania or Ohio, or any of our western citizens
would subscribe to commence the western section in
advance.
mr ar Cabe said he was against the amendments
proposed to the bill by the gentleman from FEEDER
lck--shoud they prevail, he was persuaded, they
YIN as e!teetua!y, defeat the objects desired by the
friends OF the bill, as would the proposition to post
pone indefinitely; and if they do prevail, ne would
unite with the gentleman from Prince George in sup
port OF that notion Allow me Mr.. Speaker, (said
MT % to present my views of the merits of this
question The report of the President of the
chesapeake and Ohio canal company, read at gen
eral meeting, on the LIST day of June 1929, page Is
states Tho condition attached TO The act of Penn
syivana, Incorporating the Chesapeake and Ohio ca