Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-20

But we understood that the vote OF the gov
eminent was then withheld from Mr.. Mercer,
not on political grounds, or under any influence
Of the President, who was then in Tennessee,
but from, we have no doubt, an honest conslc'
4 ton Of public duty.
We assert then, most positively. that MIR.
! MERGERS removal from the management OF inc
4 Canal originated in no @ovement Of the admit
nistration, or Of any one connected with It,"
A tissue Of grosser falsehood than is presented
in the preceding paragraphs from the Globe OF
/ the 25th Of June. cannot be imagined.
! The first interference Of General Jackson with
/ the election Of President Of the Canal Company.
! was as far back as the summer of 1850, when
Mr. Iosham. then Secretary of the Treasury, was
instructed BY the President to nominate Conmo-
dore Rodgers, in opposition to MIR. Mercer, who.
received, however. with the votes Of the three
Corporations, those of more than nlne.tentae OF
the private stockholders.
That this opposition did not proceed fron SIR
| Ingham, is manifest from the course OF tie saune
gentleman at the ensuing election in 1851, when
about to leave the Cabinet, in disgust with Major
Eaton and his associates.
AT this election, Colonel Bnmford, Mr.. Ing
hams proxy, nominated Mr.. Mercer for the Of
flee oil President OF the Canal Company. with the
appreciation of Mr. Ingham, and he was elected
without opposition.
It's admitted that the successor of Mr.. Ing
ham, Mr.. Louis McIIane. prior 10 the election OF
the ensuing year. lin 1882. did, very publicly,
declare to various citizens of w ashngton his per-
sonaI preference OF Mr. Mercer; but 1t is denied
that he withdrew his confidence from that gentle.
man for the reason stated by the Globe-which
is, that certain contracts were made 10y the Pre-
sident and Directors of the Canal Company two
DAYS before the Annual Meeting, which occur
red on the I'd of June, 1882 The election was
deferred for near two menths after the com.
mencement Of the Annual Meeting, for reasons
very we'll known to have had no connection with
the cost, the plan. the construction, or the man.
ayement Of the chesapeake and Ohio Canal Com.
panv. Every motion for delay came from the
Agent of the State of Maryland, and was design
ed to force. if possible, the compromise which he
was authorized to effect for the benefit OF the
Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company Long
after the contracts which are resorted to BY the
Globe, in order to account for Mr.. McLane's in
structions to his proxy. Colonel Bomford, few
DAYS before the election, TO vote for any respect
able person tcho might be put in nomination
against Mr.. Mercer. the Secretary OF the Urea.
sury reiterated, on various occasions, the same
sentiments towards that gentleman which he had
before expressed.
Nor is it true that General Jackson did not in
Auence the final determination Of Mr.. McLane,
because he was then absent from Washington
The instruction Of the proxy selected by Mr..
McLane was communicated the day succeeding
General Jackson's departure for Tennessee,
which occurred within the same week with the
election, and many weeks after the contracts OF
the 51st of May, bv which the Canal was ex.
tended above Harper's Ferry.
II is also notorious that at the last period. 1t
was industriously reported throughout the Dis
trict of Columbia, and especially to Mr.. Mer-
GERS friends. that General Jackson had said,
g. that the present capital Of The Canal Company
{" ,Uould be soon expended and he mould sanction
no bill for a further subscription o. STOCK 0y
"the United States, so long as Mr. Mercer con-
.. iinued TO be The President ofthe Company"
As to the contracts Of the SIst Of May, tor ex-
!. tending the Canal 22a miles above HarPer,s fer-
~, to the neytdam and long contemplated Ieeaer
near ShepberdstOwn, advertisements to let out