The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-11
Communications.
FOR THE MADsoSUN
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CHESAPEAKEA AND

/ n
OHIO CANAL MEETING
| In looking over the proceedings of the meeting II
the stock holders in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Company, on Tuesday last. | not little sur
prsed TO find that the company representing the
poraton Of Washington, not only voted against the
reduction of the salary of the president of the com
pany, but in faror gf remoring The e6fee 10 Fred
rick. What could have been their motive for doing
so, | am at a loss TO conceive They certainly were not
in my humble opinion consulting the interests Of the
company or Of the city which they appointed 10
represent by voting they did 1t will be recolleceI
that when the salary Of the president raised 10
$4,000, il was done upon the express condition that
this officer not to remain in Congress; but to de
vote his mhole lime to the duties of the Office With
that understanding, the late amable and excellent
president ceased TO be member of the House of Re
representatives. and gave his whole attention to the bu
| siness of the company. When the present president
elected it by party vote and the reward of
party scrviccs-but, STILL under the expectation that
he would not remain in Congress; and what has been
the consequence Dissatisfaction, embarrassment
disorder and almost entire stoppage Of the work
thus rendering the capital vested in ii unproductiye
and postponing, for some time, all the advantage
that may reasonably be expected to flow from the
completion of the canal The salary of $500 pro-
posed by Mr. Mason, would be more than just com
pensation for the services of who is, or ought
TO be- at least months Of the ~ in the House to
which he has been sent do the business Of his con
sttuents and the nation How is he perform al one
and the time the duties of president of the com
pany and member Of Congress- Will he not Be
obliged to neglect the the other 2 Can he be
| 4. wv
| the same time and the business and interests 81
the company to be sacrificed to those of his constitu
ents the latter TO he neglected laid aside for the
demands of the forner2 The board of directors
meets weekly, and how can he leave the House two
days in each week to preside at its meetings for he
cannot conveniently go to and return from Frederick
| in one day, and must therefore while he remains 4
member lose the oncthird of the time he is in honor
bound to devote to his legislative duties he must
equally neglect the important duties devoving upon
him as president of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Company. do not ask, il under those circumstances
Mr. Thomas will demand his per diem allowance for
the days he looses, if he looses none his full com
pensation from the company for negecting their hus
ness. That he must settle with his conscience But
IT'S very extraordinary that the corporations committee
Should by their vote, have aided MARYLAND in placing
TINS individual in so awkward condition, and have
manifested such anxiety TO shuttle off this company 10
Frederick The citizens Of Washington, have al
ways thought that little advantage was derived
from the meetings Of the board Of directors being held
IN this city, and have therefore, been SO kind as to fur
nsh the company with Office gratuitously for 10
years past The board has not only had rooms in the
City Hail. for its own accommodation and that of its
clerks and treasurer but also for the accommodation
of the stockholders, when they thought proper to
meet and these rooms have been furnished by the
corporation, free Of expense Mr. Keys notions Of
economy, in proposing the removal were very much
those of the party to which he belongs-merc hum
bug. He talks about economy, and advocates and
votes for high salaries he busters about retrench
ment in the expense Of committee that, except in
particular cases cost the company nothing and moves
for the removal Of the office Frederick where the
annual rent in all probability will be or 400 dollars
But did nc and our committee not that they
were excluding the private and corporate stock holders
of the District, from all participation in the affairs Of
the company; or if their interest required Them
tend, TO great inconvenience and considerable cx
pense : And why all this done Was it to ac.
commodate Mr.. Thomas TO the injury Of the District
where two millions of dollars have been sub
scribcd to afford the committee a chance of visiting
the city of Frederick three times year at the
expense of the corporation? The stock, too, amount
ing to near millions of dollars owned by the General
Government, the three corporations Of the District
and private individuals is not represented in the board
of directors There u.s. believe but single direc-
tor from the whole District, and he is not its choice
Maryland has assumed through its Loco Foco agents,
the entire control of this work and like every thing
else this party has touched has bghted its prospects,
and retarded and checked its progress by the ntroduc
ton into its concerns othe bacful and poisonous spirit
of party. Under such management the stock holders
have nothing to expect and till change in the policy of
that State shall take place, all hope of successful
completion of the canal will be utterly vain From
thorough and complete party hack the present
president of the company, nothing but disaster and
folly need be expected; and from The ncxperienec and
ignorance of his associates in the affairs of the
pany it will be absurd to look for any thing but sub
servcncy to his wishes, and an indifference and apathy
to the best interests Of the company.
A STOCK HOLDER
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