Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-02


to great portion Of the District l respectful
lv ask YOUR serious attention while submit them
TO YOUR consideration. We have now Deen
thirty-four wears under the jurisdiction oil Con-
press. during which time there has been appro'
priated of the public money, for local purposes
for the City Of Washington more than NIL
lion of dollars, besides much larger sum ior
public buildings; for Georgetown one hundred
and ffiv thousand dollars; and for Alexandra
one hundred and eleven thousand dollars, and
twenty thousand dollars a donation TO indlvl-
duals who suffered by the great fire. VI TINS I'M
equal distribution of the public favors, aIthougn
living under the same government ana entitlea
to equal protection, we have not compla'nea.
But we have a right to complain, ana 40 Gom-
plain, that some of those appropriations have
been applied to objects and purposes wnlcn are
in direct violation Of our just rights oes!ruc.se
of our best interests, and altogether unJustlha-
bile in either law or equity. When Congress as
sumed the jurisdiction of the District OF Column
bia. Alexandria was f1ourishng city, possess
ing superior navigation. She was ooihs
large commercial business, both foreign ana
domestic: she was carrying on an extensive
wholesale and retail trade, with many OF the nm
est and weathiest of the western counties OF INC
State of Virginia, as well as the adjacent coun'
ties of both Virginia and Maryland: she was IN
the endowment of almost the whole trade ot the
upper Potomac by means of the Old Potomac
I anal; and i'm her exports, she was the MIN IN
rank of all the commercial cities OF the United
States: her population was industrious and en-
terprising, prosperous and happy. But untor-
tunatey for her, she is no longer Sober com
merce. as we'll as her inland trade, is reduced;
her trade by the upper Potomac has been forced
into other channels, and she is altogether IN
declining STATE; and, If we are asked the
cause, we should be compelled to say, NOR
tifying and huniliatng as 1t may be, maj II
is the legislation of Congress, the guardian ana
protector Of our rights aud interests, when mas
produced it-nOt, however. from disposition
on the part of Congress tn do us injury, we must
readily and cheerfuIly admit; but, 10y doing this
to benefit others. which has been positive IN
Jury to us, and by emitting to do that which
would benefit us, and which will alone remedy
that injury and save us from total destruction
approprating sufficient sums OF money TO make
our Canal.
The first measure which had the effect 10 IN.
lure the trade ofAexindra. was the law passed
by Congress, anthorislng the people OF George,
town To erect caiI>eway across the prncipai
channel ofthe Potomac, between Mas"n's Island
and the Virginia shore. The ostensihle object
held out by them, in erecting this dam, was 10
deepen the other channel next to Georgetown,
as being the most convenient for them; but Inc
real object was to intercept the trade ny Inc "a
nal boats to Alexandria, which they saw pass'
y,
would be effectuay done by the shutting up OF
that channel, as it was the usual route OF the ca
nal boats: and. as they also well knew. that the
canal boats would not be liable TO navigate the
omen river through the other channel; and tnis
being the primary object, it was completely Ell
fected although at the risk Of running the other
channel which has, by the same means, been
also effected. Before this causeway was QUIZ,
large quantities of the produce OF the upper
country was received at Alexandria, by the
same boats that navigaied the old Potomac Ca
nal. These boats, by crossing the river at the
head oftide water where the canal emptied in
to the river under shelter Of the highlands, ana
continuing close along shore, and passing De-
tween Mason's Island and the Virginia shore'
55ats bsas the bes ss3 RgRfpg 1ne.r
nal, arrived safely at Alexandria without diff
Guilty or danger. But these Canal boats were
not calculated to navigate the open river, and
there was not force on board sufficient to ma
mage tirem ia rough weather if they were; and,
therefore, after the channel between MasOn's
Island and the Virginia shore was closed, the
canal boats were obliged to stop at Georgetown,
or the boatmen were obliged tn risk their lives
and property, by crossing the river below the
Island where il is the widest, the most difficult
and dangerous to navigate, and the most TX
posed TO high winds and rough sea; and where
it is frequently impossible to cross over with
good boats calculated for The purpose and well
manned, much less with canal boats. which are
entirely unfit for it, The choice Of markets for
their produce, however, was considered of so
much importance TO farmers trading down the
Canal. that attempts were frequently made by
the canal boats to navigate the river, under all
these disadvantages, to Alexandria; but the dit
ficulties and delays they had to encounter, and
the risk Of loss Of both life and property, to
which they were exposed, was so great, that
they were soon compelled to abandon the trade
to Alexandria altogether. Consequently the
people Of Alexandria have lost The entire trade
of the upper Potomac, and the people Of the up
per country. trading down the Canal. the best
market for their produce. Now, sir, We contend
that Congress had no right to authorize the stop
ping up ofthis channel. The river Potomac is
made public highway to all the people of the
United States and others, by the compaci enter
ed into by the States of Maryland and Virginia.
and distractions to the navigation of the s'id
river (vz. the stopping up the hest channeD pro.
hibited and this right is especially reserved to
the people by both these States in their acts Of
cession, consequently the act Of Congress autho-
rising the building Of the causeway at Mason's
Island, across the main channel OF the river, and
that which was always used by large vessels.
was an Infringement of their rights, and as the