The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1842-02-10

CORGRESS.--On Thursday the 27th
Of January. after The presentation Of me-
MORALS, most Of them against the repeal
or postponemeni Of the Bankrupt law, the
Senate proceeded TO the special order, be-
ing The bill from The House Of Represen-
iaiives for The repeal OF the Bankruptla law.
The repeal was advocated by Mr.. Bayard
and Mr.. Benton, and opposed by Mr..
Choa,e.
On Friday, Mr.. Graham presented a
bill making an appropriation 10 reopen
Roanoke Inlet.
Mr.. Graham said iha,, although he had
given notice OF this bill several weeks
since, he had delayed asking leave to in
troJnce il until he could obtain certain in
formation which he desired from dis
lingnished civil engineer, who had made
survey and report under The direction of
the Legislature Of North Carolina on the
subject ofreopening Roanoke inlet. The
work was one Of deep concern 10 the peo-
pie OF that state, whose General ASSEM-
bly,, al each Of its two last sessions, had
adopted resolutions urging il upon the at
len,ion Of Congress as, in the highest de-
gree, important 10 the commerce and ma
vigalion of the Union. lie held in his
hand a copy Of these resolutions, and Of
the report OF The engineer Maj. Gwynn,)
to which he had already alluded. and
wished To lay these on the table for the
information Of the Senate, and Of the COM
miIiee to whom the bill nigh, be referred.
lie would. therefore, enter into no discus.
sion of The objects Of the bill al present,
except TO remark that Roanoke inlet was
once the direct channel of communication
from Albemarle sound 20 .he Atlantic
ocean; that, in process Of time, il had
been filed up. and the waters Of the sound
were compelled to seek an outlet by Fore
ing their way southwardly 10 Pamlico
sound. and thence through 0cracoke inlet
to the sea. BY the change which had Ia
ken place, vessels from the Albemarle, or
any ofits tributaries, bound to New York,
or any northern port. were obliged to take
this southern direction out 10 sea at 0cra-
coke, and To perform a voy age Of more
than 100 miles TO return to the latitude Of
Roanoke inlet or Nags-head, encounter
ing in its progress the expense Of lighter
age over shadows, the risks Of narrow,
difficult, and often changing channel, be-
fore reaching the ocean, and then the pc
rils Of doubling Cape Hatteras, which
mariners more dread than almost any part
of the American coast. This bill contem-
plates reopening the ancient entrance TO
Albemarle sound, near 60 miles north Of
Cape iaiteras, by forcing passage
through sand beach. about one-half or
three-iourths Of mile in extent, and thus
avoiding all the difficulties and dangers Of
the present course Of navigation. II win
be seen, in the report of the engineer,
that the commerce, now laboring under
these impedimenis, amounted annually to
at least 80. 900 900; that it furnishes EN-
ployment to more than 100000 tons Of
shipping; is one Of the best nurseries Of
American seamen in all our coasting trade;
YET that the burdens under which il is
carried on, and the frightful loss of hui
man life which attend it for want Of the
old inlet, are almost incredible. Whether,
therefore. the work proposed be regarded
rs opening a new harbor of refuge for our
commerce from an enemy in time Of war,
or from the frequent and violent storms of
that coast. as relieving our seamen and
vessels from the dangers of shipwreck, or
as freeing the commerce of one of the
most productive sections of the country
IA section more extensive in territory
and more popnlous than several Of the
States of the Union-lrom burdens Of the
most oppressive character. il equally de-
mande,l the favorable and immediate at
tention af the Government.
The bill was read a first and second
time, and referred 10 the committee on
commerce.
The bill TO repeal the Bankrupt Law,
was again taken up, and Mr.. Benton con-
,.,,ud j his remarks in favor Of the repeal;
closing with an appeal to those of his per.