The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-14


-a-<s.-ss-ssssss.s-s-s>a
bearing upon the prop0SitiOns.' The report
recites hurriedly deeds of Virginia in pre-
serving the West and Northwest from the
Frenth and English aid the sayagcs; so that
in the treaty of peace with England in 1888
the right of Virginia to that country was ex-
pressly conceded by the British crown.. The
report continues:
Virginia not only thus conquered the
northwestern country by her own men and
means, but she afterwards ceded that mag
nilicent territory to the Union amounting to
more than 153,000,000 of acres, upon two
soIemnly stipulated conditions-yZ first,
that slavery should be forever prohibited
there; and, second, that the lands should be
held and sold rs common property for the
use Of all The States, i'll proportion to their
representation in the common Government,
and for 10 other use whatever.
After quoting an eloquent passage from a
speech Of the late General Walbridge, i'll
which he asks whether the Congress will
WITHHOLD FROM VIRGINIA,
the mother of States and the mother of pre-
dents, the opportunity of having intercourse
with her daughters Of the Northwest, the
.
"Thc controlling reasons why the commit
tee have been unable to recommend the pas
sage Of either OF the bills referred to the
committee for the creation OF those water
lines for our internal commerce at the pres
ent scssion-t'irst. That the committee do
not deem the survey of every part of the re-
spectivc lines, and the estimate Of their cost
aud the demonstrations of their availability
and practicabiiity throughout such entire pro-
posed line, SO full and complete as should be
in the possession Of Congress before entering
OH such legislation; nor are they SO COM
plcte rs they can be readily made at an carly
day. Second. The committee feel confident
that the time remaining Of the present Con-
glcss is too brief to admit of the hope of ma
turing and passing such important legisla-
ton at the present session, and do not there
fore think that the committee would be justi-
fed in asking the consumption Of the yalu-
atle time of the House in entering upon
legislation which cannot be consummated in
this Congress. General Negley will also re-
port from the committee the following reso-
lutlons:
"Whereas cheap transportation, to aug
ment and facilitate the commerce Of the na'
ton, is pressing necessity at this time, that
all the industrial and producing classes of
the country are demanding at the hands OF
the Government wise, liberal, aud COM
prehensive policy in improving, construct
ing, and aiding the natural and artificial
channels Of water communication between
the interior OF the continent and the sea-
board for the purpose of leSsening the cost
of transportation of the stores of minerals
produce, and merchandise between the va
rious sections of the Union and with foreign
countries: ..
"Resolred, That the proposed works
should be looked TO with profound attention
by Congress; that the mode OF construction
and Improvement should lie in accordance
with plans and specifications approved by
competent engineers of the Government
but its accomplishment ought to be secured
by judcious legislation"
SPEECHES on TIE ERErORT-ENCOURAGISG WORDS
FROM TIE wrST. ..-
ISpecial telegram to the Dispatch.I
WASHINGTON, February 13.-Aftcr the pre-
sentation Of the report Of the Committee or
Commerce to-day Nir. Kerr, of Indiana
made short but most telling speech
on the james River and Kanawha canal
which has produced decided impres
sion on the House. He placed this great
water-highway on an elevated plain o1
imnortauce before Congress and the
country. He declared, in his Judgment
that no measure ever came before Congress
more pure and with cleaner hands and lreel
from every species Of jobSery-tbat it was Z
most disinterested tender on the part OF Vir
rinia. in the interest of no section, but ir
that of the whole country, and should be
completed out of the treasury of the whole
country as free water-highway. Messrs
Duke and Terry also made speeches. The
bill was favorably reported on By the Com
mittee on Commerce, but recommended fol
consideration ut the next session, as the time
is now too short to mature the bill at TINS
i,