Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-26

4
containing the load TONS. MILES
On common road, IN a wagon 12
On turnpike road not ex-
ceeding degrees Of ncl.
nation, in a wagon, Il 18
On rail road having rise &
fall Of 80 feet, Tor one third
of degree) to the mile. in
eight cars, 10 p
On the Pennsylvania Canal,
| two boats, 100 "a
The introduction Of locomotive engines and
Wlnan's cars upon railroads, where they can be
used to advantage. will diminish the difference
between canals and railroads in the expense oil
transportation. But the board believe that not
withstanding all the improvements which have
been made in railroads and locomotives, 1t will
be found that canals are from two to two and a
half times better than railroads for the purposes
required of them by Pennsylvania
| The board have been thus explicit, with a view
to vindicate the sound policy Of the common
wealth in the construction OF her canals; yet they
again repeat that their remarks flow from no hos
;ity to railroads, tor next to canals, they are
| the best means that have been devised to cheap
en- Transportation. They are valuable in many
situations, and particularly along courses of great
thoroughfare, which will bear the expenses OF
their construction. They can be made to carry
the United States mails and passengers, and also
light valuable goods, where time is OF more i'm
portance than cost of transportation.
| The name of Macauiey, though new in the
Parliamentary annals of England, is high already
in its literary renown; as those who from time to
time have read the glowing articles from his pen,
in the Edinburgh review, will readily believe.
His career, tho recent in the House of Commons,
bids fair to be splendid. The following extract
| from speech he delivered on the 10th October,
on Lord Ebrngton's resolution of undated con-
fideuce in ministers, and attachment to the Re-
form Bill, will impress our readers with high
idea Of his eloquence. We have rarely seen a
happier application than that Of the Hebrew fable
from the book of Judges. The orator had been
describing the evil consequences of the Peers re-
sistns the popular opinion in favor of Reform,
and the possible outrases such resistance might
give rise to, when he thus contnued:-
| But often high and noble persons tell US let the
| law take its cOurse-the law is strong enough
it has an arm powerful TO put down sedi'ion Sir,
we have heard this clustering before. We know
| its value-we know how long it endured cheers
This, sir, is the language OF little men who have
fallen upon great crisis Ioud cheersl. 1t is
idle. sir, to talk of the power OF law after this
fashions Law has no hands whetewith II ma,
act. Nothing but the assent Of public opinion
| can give it validity and force. An Act of Par
lament is nothing but a piece of parchment, with
| the Kings arms at one end, and the printers
name at the other, until the public opinion has
bre athed the spirit of life into the dead letter
(cheers, See the example: the gOvernment(not this
Goyernment) endeavored to put down the Catho-
| lie Observation-Disclosures were preferred
against the Hon. and Learned member for Kcr-
lry-they were submitted to Grand Jury-they
were thrown out Parliament met-and an act
was proposed to put down the Association. 1t
was passed--and what was the effect? The act
had Just as much effect upon the Statute Book
as one that was made many years back, and vet
slumbers there. and which declares that no man
shall eat flesh meat on Friday or Saturday unless,
he pays fine of eco or be confined for three
months-unless he have special exemption
from the Archbishop Of Canterbury.
The cases are exactly the same. The Assocla-
ton was not suppressed. On the contrary. the
Association threw forth its branches and flourish
ed, and became strong under the Act hear, near!
First there was the election in 1926. aud2 years
after the Clare election. to demonstrate the folly
OI Tue UUtOI 'HdN "'s,i'i hl'Vu ~ ihS'V
wax aud parchment Chear, hear!!l T.e Cavern
ment of the day felt thsy had but the alternative
concession or civil war. For m; self osav,
Sir. that most firmly believe. if the people con.
ceived thai. the opposition to the Bill were deci-
sive and final, they would adopt the same line of
proceeding. the same form of resistance, which
had been pursued in Ireland | do not imagine
they would be so imprudent, so insane as 10 break
into open rebellion. do dot conceive they will
be guilty of any offence which can be defined by
law But still there would be sufficient derange-
ment of all public affairs to weaken the hands of
Government for all domestic arrangements and
for the preservation of eur proper dignity abroad,
and to prevent the possibility Of redress for out
rage, the due observance and authority of the law.
and the accumulation of wealth [hear, hear i
Ought not we then TO endeavOr to avert chance
so disastrous? and who are they who come so gal
lanty forward to express their entire contempt of
Asitators and Associations and Public Meetings?
The very men, Sir, who. t, The force and inlu-
ence of these condemned things surrendered the
1 k.ostad ant CnnS titution Certainly Cir