The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-04-30
The Aqueduet Question.

"Ion," the intelligent and observant corre-
spondent of the Baltimore Sun, in his letter
yesterday morning, says:
There ia no occasion, as l learn, for any appre.
hension of the failure. in the Maryland Legislature
of the application of the United States Govern
ment for the right of way in case they supply the
city with water from any place within the limits of
Maryland. learn that the bill laid on the
table merely for the purpose of further considera
ton, it being then on it's third reading.
A doubt has been raised whether, under the au.
hority given to the President by the clause in the
General Appropriation bill of the late session, in
relation to the project, he can make arrangement
for supplying Georgetown, as well as Washington,
with water. In the clause referred to Georgetown
is not mentioned. This defect is remedied by the
bill Incorporating private company, which is also
before the Legislature, and which is transferable
with all its privileges. If the Government desire
it. that BILL with the right of condemnng property
which the Government does not possess. and which
no State would grant to the Government, can be
made to serve all the objects of the Government"
sion" speaks by the card, and seldom blum
ders in his advocacy of whatever he under
takes; and in the above we doubt not he has
done full justice to the "private company" for
whom he appears to speak. Their whole eff
forts, we are called upon to believe, have for
their end simply mercful provision for the
welfare of our brethren of Georgetown. Now,
we will undertake to say that there is not
one citizen of Washington, nor one member of
Congress who voted for this great project, who
desires to deprive Georgetown. of the benefits
of the improvement. II the defect spoken of
really exists, its correction, as our Georgetown
friends are no doubt we'll satisfied, is as GER
talnly to be made in legitimate manner as
any one can possibly wish it to be. The
doubt, therefore, if any such exists in any can
did mind, does not justify the now confessed
act of this ''private company" sohose bill sis
also before the Legislature, and Uhich is trans
ferable aoith all its privileges"-of course for
the highest price that this cunning chartered
monopoly may be able to extort!
But the conclusion of "Ion's" letter reveals
most admirable instance of ingenuity as well
as of honesty; for it tells us how Maryland
may be jockied; that, eff the Government de-
sire it, that bill, Nth the right of condemning
property ,ulach the Government does not pos.
sess, and which no State would grant to the
Government, can be made to serue all the OBJ
jects Of the Government ~
This thing can hardly be patiently consid
cred, whether in view of the facts now re-
vealed, or of those of which we all had prior
knowledge, namely, that in the inception Of
this scheme, as is VIGOROUSLY true, many Of
our citizens were deceived into signing me-
mortal to subserve the interests of "private
company" when they thought they were only
asking for an improvement by the General
Government itself; and secondly, that among
the leaders in this scheme, SO prejudicial to the
public welfare, are men whose past and present
official relations to the General Government
render their conduct peculiarly high-handed,
and reprehensible. Our Georgetown friends
should look earnestly to this matter.