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

soners of Virginia and Maryland became
merged and absorbed in the noble work which
was to promote the more enlarged views and
interests now engaged in its behalf. A
In surrendering the project which they them
selves had contemplated, which they felt them
selves competent to execute, and which, TO a
certain extent, would have accomplished the OBJ
jects they de igned, Virginia, Maryland, and the
District OF Columbia could not but acknowi-
edge that another was substituted more compre-
hensive in its benefeent influences, and oeuer
calculated to promote the general good. They
felt that they had right to anticipate from their
new associates a corresponding degree OF effort
i'm accomplishing an object which their interest
had recommended. More particularly did they
consider that inasmuch as the pecuniary inter
ests of the Union. as the proprietor OF the pub.
lie domain, would be largely benefited by this
great undertaking, a liberal aid, in some degree
Commensurate with this benefit, would be sup
piled from that quarter.
The expense attending the execution OF the
canal from Cumberland to tide water, upon the
dimensions which seemed now to be required,
was estimated by the engineers of the United
States at SO, l70223 So. This enlargement OF
plan, and consequent augmentation, OF expense,
had been called for by the new friends of the
scheme; and it was fairly to be expected that
they would literally contribute their means to
accomplish an object which had been adopted
IN conformity with their wishes, and almost eX-
clusively for the purpose OF subscribing their IN
terests.
Maryland, Virginia, and the District. recog-
niZing the advantages which would result rom
this change in their original design. and conhd-
ing in the hopes thus awakened, have subscribed
from their public Golfers and private resources
about SIS 900 900 to this work, a sum amounting
to full moiety of the entire expense oil the east
ern section the canal as estimated in the char
ter of Incorporation and nearly double OF what
would have completed the whole work which
they had themselves contemplated, when they
limited their design to what their own wants re-
CURED and their own resources would enaple
them TO accomplish.
/ These parties looked to the organs by which
the public feeling, the public opinion, and the
public interests are under our institutions, so
faithfully expressed: they found that feeling
that opinion and that interest coincident with
their own. They heard the immediate delegates
of the people, in a convention appointed
to express their sentiments, designate the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal as work OF great
national importance, calling for an approprla-
ton from the National Treasury equal to Its &C
i comp!ishment. They heard the executive otthe
United States recommended it to the earnest
consideration of the National Legislature, as
an object eminently entitled to its regard and
possessing irresistible claims upon the public
means to ensure its completion. They found that
Congress had accorded with these views, had
given charter of Incorporation, by which they
prescribed terms which required ofthe company
4 canal of sufficient capacity to meet the wishes
and the wants of the nation; and, with full view
of the expenses which must be incurred, had
contributed million of dollars towards the
great object. They knew the opinion OF the
distinguished engineer, then in the service OF
the Government, to which this subject had been
specially delegated, and had listened to the eX-
preston of his deliberate judgment, that indie
Of ha NIlI1 M arc
work promised to beStow upon the community,
the national and political advantages which it
held out ought to secure TO II from the puDnc
treasury all the means necessary to It's compile.
ton; and that, without reference to lis political
consequences. the commercial and pecuniary
results which must flow from it, would alone
render it the most profitable investment which
the Government could make ofits means, inde-
pendently of any return in the shape oil tolls
They looked to the government ofthe U. States
as the only constitutional guardians and protec-
tors of the District of Columbia, where this ca
nal was to terminate, and they had reason to
believe that throughout this wide spread empire
every citizen felt deep solicitude in the welfare
and prosperity of the metropolis They regard
ed the United States as proprietors OF nearly
moety of the real estate in the city OF w ashlng-
ington. and as proportionably Interested IN eve
ry measure by which the value OF that property
could be affected. They viewed it as the own
CrS Of COuntleSS WlllOnS OF acres DeyOnu tne
mountains the value Of whose productions
would be indefinitely enhanced by opening so
ample channel Of communication with the
waters Of the Atlantic.
In every view they were able to take of the
subject, with all the lights which their own intel
lects, enlightened by the most gifted men OF the
nation, could cast upon it. they perceived addi-
tional motives for Congress to grant all the
means which might be necessary for the COM
petion Of project embracing such comprehen-
sive interests.
Such, your memorialists submit, were among
the most prominent causes which have induced
the public authorities and private individuals in
Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Column
ba to embark as they have done in the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal. Six years have elapsed
since most Of their subscriptions were made,
and since they have been called upon either to
pay the amount subscribed, or to make provi-
sion for its payment. A much less time had our
hands been unfettered, and adequate means
been provided, would have sufficed for the com
pletion of the entire work In consequence of
our being left to our own means, confessedly
inadequate, and never supposed to be compe-
tent the work yet incomplete. and still yields
no revenue corresponding to our actual ad-