Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-01-08

certainly the right aud the duty Of Congress, as
tire Legislature for the District TO do 80. But,
while he admitted this, he must be pardOned tor
suggesting another course. which was more agree
able to his views of expediency. 1t the bill
were To lie taken from the table OF the House, II
was impossible to say when 1t would ind ITS way
back again. 1t was an unusual course, to say the
least of it, to re-cOmmit bill when 1t had arriv-
ed at the stage Of the che now referred to. He
saw no difficulty in the way of modfs ins the bill
if it was desirable. One amendment had alrea-
DIV been offered by his colleague, and others
could be, by gentlemen. 1t 1t were desirable,
without recommitment. He asked it the pur-
pose of the Chairman of the District Committee
would not be as well answered it the bill were
made the order for some particular day; and in
ia the mean time he could prepare such amend
ments as he considered desirable. which could be
offered when the bill came up for consideration.
Mr.. H. said he was for the road and nothing else.
He consulted the interest IF no particular com
panv or corporation. nor did he care by whom it
was constructed. He earnestly desired to see
the work completed. The reason why he vas
opposed to taking the bill from the table was. be-
cause of Its great impor ancc, and the necessity
there was for its being acted upon al an early
day A great deal was to be done before opera
tons cou!d be commenced upr.; the road aud II
was highly expedient that il should be commenc
ed by the latter end Of the Winter. or early part
of the Spring. If the operation was delayed to
the Summer season, there was reason 10 tear thai
the work would be retarded !or whole year -
The suggestion he had made. il the House should
concur in the proprietv OF motion 70 that effect,
he thought. would enable the Chairman OF the
District Committee to give the subject all posi-
Bile attention and examination, aud lie hoped he
would not press his motion for recommitment.
Mr.. DaIdridge sand. that he could not yield
to the wish of the gentleman from Maryland;
nor could lie understand BY what reason gentle
men assumed to say that reference would de-
feat the bill. Such was not his desire. nor would
it be that of the Committee on the District ur its
inhabitants. So far from this he intended to
propose to ask leave Of the House to sit during
its sitting on Monday next. and to devote that
day to an examination of the subject, and to a
hearing of the parties.
He Thought he could comprehend another
suggestion made by gentleman from Maryland
without much difficulty. He has said that unless
the bill shall pass soon, and nearly in its present
shape, the road cannot be made In reply to
this remark. he would say, that in its present
shape, he did not see how any man who properly
respected the interests of this City, who would
pay proper regard for the public property in it,
could vote for it.
Mr.. Brown said he was opposed to both mo-
tons. He viewed the matter in this light: there
was struggle between two sections of the cOun-
| ty of Washington, to see which could reap the
greatest benefit from the construction Of the pro-
posed road. The fact was, if the road was not
speedily constructed, it would not be made at all,
nd c.t nf fho Scf Il lnSn
the benefit of it. The Corporation chartered
by Maryland was willing to make the read-they
had the means to do it, and would do it without
any expense, or any injury to the property Of the
inhabitants of the District. II it was desirable
to the people of the Metropolis to have the road
constructed, now was the time for the action of
Congress, as their Legislators. Pass the present
bill, and do it speedily, and the citizens would
soon reap the benefits of the proposed measure.
Mr. Semmes opposed the motion for Commit
ment There was great necessity he said, for
acting the bill as speedily as possible, not on
Y on account Of the Importance of the proposed
work, but there was danger that If the bill was
taken from the tables of the House, it would be
long time before it would regain ITS present sit
uation. The was number of subjects likely to
come before the House--the proposed amend
ment of the Constitution; the bill to apportlon
representation under the fifth census; perhaps
the Tariff question, and no doubt others; the dis
cussion of which would be likely to retard the
action of the house on this bill, if it was re-
committed. For his part he should prefer to
make it the special order Of som. day certain,
and in the mean time, by consultation and exam.
ination of the various interests concerned gentle.
men would be prepared to offer such amendments
as were necessary when the bill came up for the
action of the House.
Mr.. Whittesey regretted very much the OPP
position which had been made to the motion of
the gentleman from Virginia by the gentlemen
from Maryland. He thought that the course pro-
posed by the Chairman of the District Committee
was the best. The course pursued by the gen.
tlemen from Maryland who had spoken on the
subject, was in his opinion, incorrect. Hethought
this fair subject for the investigation Ct the
District Committee. The bill was now in the
possession of the House, and such disposition
could be made Of it as gentlemen chose. If the
House was determined to give it the go-by, it
could be done now; but. if it was referred to the
Committee on the District o. Columbia, when
reported bv them it could be made the order for
day certain, and receive the early attention of