Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-22

the wear 1905 But the very first act OF TINS 20
uer1ment which operated upon the navigation
If the river. inflicted deep and permanent IN
iury upon the citizens of that town. Pilot "
that period the boats which descended Tue lH.i
reached the barbor at Alexandra Wl'nou' uau-
SSv avs;ling themselves of that channel oil the
river. which, passing close under the elevated
land on the Virginia side, afforded compare
tivelv safe and direct course, measuraDly pro-
tected from the exposure OF the more open
mart of the river. In thatyear Congress passed
an act authorizing the Corporation OF GeoIge
town, with view to deepen the chanheI On en.s
Mason's Island, thereby stopping up the chan-
mel, which had been before used by boats com.
inc down the river. Mr. C. said. that the enect
mon Alexandria was obvious ana lmmeoid'e'
the blow was struck, and the wound was deep,
if not incurable Attempts to navigate the open
river in these boats were made but win tne I'M
minent hazard of property and !ife instances
of both occurred, and this trade ceased. Conr
press itself became convinced OF the extern oi
the evil which their legislation had unintenuon-
ally produced; and, by subsequent act, gram!
ed to the people of that city the privilege, II prl,
yilege it could be called, of making canal
around this dam. This act was limited by
condition as to time; the war prevented the
commencement of the work, and the act eXpir
ed by its own limitation. Thus, he said, deep
injury had been visited, by the Legislation OF
CONGRESS. upon an unoffending people. he
did not propose to compensate them for It, lie
did not hold that there was any obligation upon
ne to do so: but he did think that it came IN ald
of other considerations, and that II shouid De
mentioned and remembered, because IL consul,
tuted an item in accounting for the decay ana
ruin which threatened the people OF that CITY,
and which they were now seeking TO avert
Mr.. CHM said that there was another consid-
Grafton which he would take leave to bring to inc
notice of the House, and which he thouSht
should have some influence upon its DECISION
He said, that the Improvement OF the naviga-
ton of the Potomac had been subject OIL ear
w and continued and anxious interest," 10 thoSe
particularly who were connected with the trade
upon that river; and when the present improve
ment upon it, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canai,
was proposed, it was not surprising that the peo-
ple of Alexandria, occupying the favorable posi-,
ton which they did, should have participated
deeply in the feeling and the hopes under which
that work was commenced; nor can common
charity now rebuke them for then bringing all
their means to the aid fthis great work. They
did do this they subscribed largely, Literally;
even burdened themselves with debt. But, sir,
said Mr. c., it would almost seem that every IN.
Huence of this Government upon that CITY had
been whitening and blighting. For will pro
coed to show how by single change In the plan
of this improvement, which change was MADE,
and could have been made only by the prevail
ing influence Of this Government, the hopes OF
that CITY were almost wholly destroyed. The
subscription was made with the certain and posi-
tive understanding that the canal was to stop at
a point above or about Georgetown. AL this
point then, the intended termination OF canal
navigation, all interests were 10 meet In ialr
competition for the trade. 1t was obvious that
all the improvements which Alexandria had
made upon roads leading to the interior would
be Abandoned; her natural advantages by the
river had been INSTRUCTED and this was the only
alternative to meet the trade at the end oil the
canal. But for reasons, into which Mr. u, dld
not propose to inquire, because 1t was lmmateri-
al to Alexandria whether they were proper or
not, the Company determined 10 eXteno 'he Cd
nal TO the basin in Washington. This was done,
and could only have been done. by the vote CIV
en- by the representative of the stock OF this Go
yernment. Thus the subscription of Alexandra
not only failed to bring in return the expected
benefits, but was made to aid in removing from
her even the advantages which she before ENJOY
ed Those who made this change saw It's op-
Grafton. 1t was manifest that all direct interest
in the canal was cut of from Alexandra. inns,
sir, was another visitation upon them, and to
remedy its effects another privilege was grant
ed. They were permitted by those who made
the change to connect canal OF their own, I'd
be made by their own means, to the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal by the aqueduct; IT was agreed
to make the abutment out Of the funds of the
main improvement, and they were favorably re-
commended to the notice of Congress
Mr. G.. said he would not detain the House to
shew the extent of injury resulting from this
change; he would only say, that, in the single ar
ticle of -four the trade of Alexandria had dmin-
ished one half The returns were before him.
MIR. G. said he would repeat that he would not
be understood to assert that, there was any pos
tive obligation upon Government to compen-
safe for injuries ofthis character. The truth was,
that they ought never to be inflicted, except I'M
der the most controlling necessity; but when they
are, they at least entitle those who bear them to
the kinder notice of a parental Government.
Mr.. C. said he would state fact which was
not perhaps generally known to the House, and
he was more induced to do so, because the
complaints OF appropriations for the District
were long and loud, and, in his opinion, often
unjust He said that when Virginia ceded Alex
andria, she also paid out of her own treasury to
the U. States one hundred and twenty thousand
dollars This donation was large, considering
the time at which it was made, and the circum-
stances of the party who made it. He did not
believe it was so intended, nor would ne claim
for Alexandria the exclusive benefit OF this do
b,,t H., h.. Aid think that che at least