Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-03-26
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL.


CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL.
Now that this work, for 50 many years
conspicuous in the Courts and the legisla-
ton Of the State, SO crowded with political
romance and political stratagem, serves no
great public purposes and is about To pass
with the things that were, something of its
rise and progress just at this time will, We
believe, prove to he not altogether uninter.
esting.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal owes its
origin TO the intuitive mind of Washington,
and dates back to period Of but few
years subsequent TO the close of the Revo-
luton, and before the adoption Of the Fed
eral Constitution and the formation under
ii Of the Union OF the States Of America.
II consequently is the Oldest work of in
ternal improvements In the United States.
The old Potomac Company, Of which Wash
ington was the first President, was chartered
by the States Of Maryland and Virginia, and
was authorized to cut canals, build dams,
erect locks, or such other works as might
be deemed necessary and expedient to open
a highway for transit and transportation
between the navigable waters of the Chesa-
peake Bay and the Ohio river. This i'm
pcrtant grant applied to both sides of the
Potomac river, and formed the basis upon
which was founded the decisions. of the
Court Of Appeals Of Maryland in favor of the
Canal Company In the great suit between
the Canal Company and, baltimore aud
ohio RAilroad Company ~ the Fighter.
- &c Icint nsi.1cks IN 1882. 4
Wasl3hg 5n, upon his election TO the
Presidency of the United States, resigned
his Office as President of the Potomac Com
pany, and the work ceased to prosper in
other hands. Subsequently, about the year
1923, it was merged into the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal Company, With enlarged
powers from the State OF Virginia, which
was confirmed and assented to by the State
OF Maryland, the State of Pennsylvania and
the Congress of the United States, accom-.
panied by subscription of 100000. To
this subscription was added by the City
of Washington 100000; the citizens of
Georgetown and Alexandria, each $3.50, 900;
the State of Maryland, 100000; the State
of Virginia, $25oOoo; private individuals,
$4,000
The prompt and liberal subscription of
$1,0O0O00 by the United States was &C.
cepted and regarded by the friends of the
canal as guarantee Of further aid If neces-
sary, and as insuring the success of the
work.
Never was a people more chagrined, dis.
appointed and mortified, than of sudden,
to find their hopes and main reliance dashed
and swept from under their feet by the veto
Of the Maysville and Lexington bill by Gen.
jackson, who had succeeded John Quincy
Adams, the friend and patron Of the canal,
to the Presidency Of the United States. A
clap Of thunder in cloudless day could
not have more astonished them, for IL was
the death blow to all further appropriations
TO the works Of internal Improvements by
the general government. What shall we
do? Whittier shall we looks The District
cities are already Keeling under the load of
per cent. to pay their annual interest
upon their loan. Virginia, lavish in grant
ing power to the company, yet had shown
no disposition TO. give 1t much pecuniary
aid. Maryland had made her subscription
of 100000 upon condition that the United
49, would doublc the amount already
subscribed-sBe therefore could not be de-
pended upon. What shall we do was the
cry on every hands At length bright
idea struck one Of the friends of the canal.
Gen. jackson had brought with him from
Tennessee warm personal friend, Gen.
Eaton, who on account of some domestic
trouble had got into bad odor in Washing
ton society. Let us elect him President of
the company. twill please Old Hickory
and doubtless in due time he will relent 80
far as the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is
concerned. moreover the General will have
good excuse, because the canal has lis be-
ginning in the District of Columbia, over
which the general government has entire
jurisdiction, an argument which so warm
>aad close a friend as Gen. Eaton will be
able to use with effect-and propitiate the
favor Of the President In the direction of
the canal.
Accordingly Gen. Mercer, the first Presi.
dent OF the new Canal Company, and an
able aud Influential member of Congress
from the old Loudoun district, In Virginia,
was turned out and Gen. John w. Eaton,
OF Tennessee, without one single qualifca-
ton other than that Of being the friend and
pet of President Jackson, was elected In bis
place.
But Old Hickory was Of sternor stuff than
To be governed or swayed by such preteuses,
and whilst he was willing that Gen. Eaton
should receive the salary and occupy the
position which the President of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal at that day offered
him, before it had grown to be the foot. ball
Of mushroom statesmen and pot house poll.
ticians and demagogues. in the City of Wash.
ingion and throughout the country he would
not bend or yield his constitutional convic.
tons to please any man or set of men, and
from that tins forth all further aid from the
general government was at an end and be.
yond the hope OF revival.
The administration of Gen. Eaton proved
sSlbe ashssreR efrssalssas.he motive which
called him TO the Office was low and grovel-
ing.
Once more the tsiismanic name Of Wash.
ington was invoked, and proved 10 be the
magic wand under which money from the
little State of Maryland was made to re.
plenish the dry Golfers of the Canal Com
pany as did the wand Of Moses draw water
from the fiinty rock in the wilderness to
slake the thirst OF the Israelites In their long
and weary march to the land Of Canaan
But like Moses, Washington was only per.
mitted, as from Pisgah Mount, to view the
promised land
Under George G. Washington's influence,
who was then q resident Of Montgomery