Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-02
COMMUNICATION.
TO THE HON. BENJAMIN HARDIN.

In the proceedings of Congress on the lo.n
ult, as published ID the papers, it is stated tna'
in Directing TO the consderation:of the Bill
making an appropriation of one hundred thous-
and dollars towards the completion OF the Alex
andria Canal, you have said" We had area
dy given hundred thousand dollars to this 90
iect, and there was bill before the House 10
give million more to the Chesapeake and ohio
Canal The House was to determine whether
it would 60 on with this wild scheme OF making
Canal from Georgetown to Alexandra, where
nature had made the best Canal which could be
wished for. How much it would cost was un-
known. A bridge, it was said, would cost three
millions if made of stone, and the aqueduct or
stone piers might cost million more" NOW,
sir, whilst lire people of Alexandria regret that
an honorable gentleman, possessing the hgh
character for liberality which you do, should be
found opposing an appropriation for an oo)ect,
upon the successful! completion of which their
prosperity as commercial city entirely de-
ponds; they regret still more, that you should
have thought il necessary to make the foregoing
statements, to create a-prejudice in the minds OF
others against what they conceive to be their
just claim upon Congress, when at the same
time, by making the necessary inquiry, you
might have known that a contract was actually
made, and the work IN progress, to build that
very bridge; for less sum than one hundred
and twenty thousand dollars; and that the most
extrayagant estimate that has ever been made
for the building ofthe aqueduct, has not reach
ed two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. And
although they may not be able to induce you to
approve and support the wishes of whole com
munity, who are seeking some relief from the
difficulties and endorsements they are labor
ing under, and which have been produced in
great degree. by the previous legislation of Con-
gress ITSELF they would be doing injustice to
themselves were they not to attempt to dIsabuse
your mind Of some Of the errors into which It
seems to have fallen. upon this subject, and
which l. on their behalf, will attempt to do.
With regard to the first appropriation, the in
ference to be drawn from your remark is, that
it ought not to have~been made. and, corse-
quentIy,. that no additional appropriation should
be made for the same object, inasmuch as ii
would be applied, as the former appropriation
was to what you are pleased to consider wild
scheme, the making Of Canal, which it seems,
in your opinion, is unnecessary, "where nature
had made the best Canal which could be wished
for"-the River Potomac being just such Ca
mai. Now, sir, if the making OF this Canal Is
really wild scheme and unnecessary as il re-
CARDS the interests of Alexandria. and the River
Potomac is the best Canal which could be wish
ed for, as you seem to suppose, there might be
something in your remarks: but it is not so;-
on the contrary, it ia absolutely necessary that
this Canal should be made, as well to restore to
Alexandria a portion of the trade of the upper
s has efsn lost to her by the acts
bordering upon the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
choice of markets for their produce in the Dis
tflct Uf o~i"nnhia. which they are entitled to, by
restoring to them the means OF safv convey
ance of their produce, which they formerly had,
to Alexandria. which is and always must be,
owing to her superior navigation, the principal
market and shipping port in the Dstrict-un-
less, indeed, she fails to obtain the necessary
appropriations for the Canal; in that event, am
willing to admit, she will no longer be the prin-
cipal market, or market at all. Icannot. how
hold from us the necessary appropriations to
complete this Canal. Ours is just and liberal
government; and when we shall have shown
to Congress, as trust We shall, that we have,
in this instance, not only strong claim upon
their liberality, but also upon their justice, to
make the appropriation now asked for, and
such others as may enable us to complete this
Canal have no fear that it will not be grant
ed But, sir, would have you to bear in mind,
what seems to be necessary to clear under
standing Of the subject, that Alexandria is a
part Of the District of Columbia, and equally en-
titled, with other parts Of the District, to the
protection and fostering care Of Congress- their
local legislature, the only authority to which
they have a right to look for aid in any public
work deemed necessary for their prosperity
and, as such, they are, Of right as much entitled
to appropriations Of the public money to pro-
mote their local interests, in proportion to their
population and other circumstances, as their
sister cities Washington and Georgetown: at
least it should be so considered by an enght- |