Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-30

,bsr aid of Congress for the completion oil the
chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
IN the honorable the Senate and House Of Rep
resentnfirs of the United States in Congress
assembled.
The memorial Of the undersigned, on behalf OF
a conye ,ti,n of citizens of the States OF Ma
rvland. Virginia. Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and
OF the District of Columbia.
ResPecrFuLLY saowErH:
That said convention was called into exist
fence by the spontaneous expression OF the ear
nest desire and anxiety felt by their constltu-
ents that means should be devised and execut-
al nv which the Chesapeake and ONO Ca
nal Company might be relieved from the en-
harras,mtnts under which it now laborS, and
be enabled 10 extend and complete their great
work in conformity with its original design -
This movement was prompted by no DINER
motive than a pervddng sense that such mea-
sures would SubServe every individual interest,
& must be in accord lnce with the most enlarged
and liberal views OF the public good rms con-
yenton represents the Interests and wishes OF
thirty distinct cities aud counties. containing
population of at least million and hall OF cl
tizens of this Union; and its proceedings have
heen marked with unanimity Of feeling and
of opinion rarely equaIled and never surpas-
sed. in any similar body Of men. Those who
have abpointed their delegates on this occasion
pursue occupations of the m )St diversified cha-
racter and entertain political opinions NOT less
various; yet upon tbs occasion, none of these
discrepancIes of interest or opinion have opera
ted 10 disturb the harmony OF our proceedings,
or to divert our minds from the one great object
of ali our thoughts We all concur in believing
the great work whose interests we desire to pro-
mote to be iudiSsoluhly connected win the
prosperity Of thnSe whom Me Immediately re-
present, aud equally SD with that of the entire
Union. 49,.
We have been specially Instructed by this
convention Il invoke the further aid of Congress
TO this great undertaking. In fdihlling the di-
nv which has been cDniided to us your memorl-
alists will abstain from any minute exposition OF
TIN, con s,lerations whether general. or lnhlVi-
dual which have on former occasions been pre-
sen,sJ to your honorable bodies as furnishing
Inducements To the Government OF the United
States to embark in this undertaking rms
snhiect has heretofore been presented to Con-
press with so much ability, and Is now so NOR
on rhly comprehended in all its details, as 10 rem
der any further illustrations from us whohy UNI
necessary.
rahIe bodies certain facts and considerations,
annIicabl. 10 the existing state oil things, Such as
aopsar To the convention 10 furnish lrfesiStaoie
Inducements To the Government OF the Union I'd
lend a favorable ear to our application ior tur-
Their aid , -.
The Chesapeake aud Ohio canal had its orr
Gin in the ENLARGED wisdom of the enlightened
citizens of Virginia and Maryland when DIS
tinctly perceived the prachcaoiilty OF improving
the navigation ofihe noble steam when formed
their common boundary, and the great puoHc
as well rs private benefits which would result
fer, the ACCOMPLISHMENT of this object. The
sIa,ures of those States appointed commls-
sion rs to examine the suOJect ana, 10 enable
them To- perform fully the duty whlch mao Deeh
thus entrusted TO their care, these commission
ers associated with them in their labors, skiliul
and accomplished engineers. Inc report wnich
,vos made by this body fully developed and es-
tablshed the Feasibility Of the project and with
great minuteness Of detail exhibited the eX-
Eense which would be incurred In It's accom-
nlish,nent aud the means by which It's cost might
he defrayed Such was the character OF TINS
paper that il was thought proper by the consttu-
ted authorities of Maryland to submltn To the
c,ns;oeration of the Government of the United
States
A reference To this document cannot but salts
fv vour honorable bodies that the object then
contemplated though in It's seal" TAR INFERIOR
in every particular 10 that tn when your cons'-
deration is invited, was obviously withih the
means of tie parties immediately Interested tn
its ACCOMPLISHMENT. Those parties looked 10
the imnrnyenent ofthe navigation OF the river
potomac ONLY, from Cumberland 10 tide water,
bv a continuous canal OF thirty-feet in width AT
the surface twenty at the bottom, ana three leet
In deptb. The entire costof such work was
estimated at 5 ,57S 9o4 IL cannon De q'esuo''Ic
ed that such work was within the means OF
those who had designed it, without looking
abroad for any aid; aud it can as little De dono,-
ed that such canal would have subserved,
however imperfectIy, the local interests whIch u
was contemplated to advance, and when were
thus enlisted in its support.
The subject however, thus exhibited 10 the
community attracted more general attention;
and speedily drew around it more ENLARGED
and widespread feeling. In the month OF NO
vember 1923, convention of delegates chosen
by the people Of various counties in the States
Of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania. and
Ohio. and bv the corporations and other IN
terests orthe District of Columbia, assembled at
the Capitol. in the city ofWashingion. New IN
terests had now been brought into connexon
with thu subject, and the object to be obtain
ed became proportionably enlarged. NO ion,
ger limited to the contracted plan and local
views i'm which it had its birth, it now assumed
a larger and more imposing character. 1t was
perceived that an opportunity was presented to
effect juno ion betweenthe Western waters and
,those of the Chesapeake, to open great chan
mel of communication across the Al"gany
fountains: and tae citizens ofPennsylvania and
aln inn orf