Sen. & H. of R.] Suppression of Piracy-Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

and he is hereby, authorized to purchase a steam boat of the largest size, and arm and man the same in such manner as he may deem proper; and also to cause to be built four barges or launches, each to mount a gun on the bow, of a calibre to carry a shot not less than six pounds, and capable of carrying thirty men."

Mr. LLOYD, of Massachusetts, also laid the following section on the table, which he should take a proper portunity of moving to insert in the bill, viz:

[JAN. 21, 1825.

from ten to fifty millions to complete it. Mr. T. saw no reason to justify the proposed delay, and urged that such arguments ought to have no weight with the House. This canal, he said, was equal, in point of public utility, to any other of its length in the country, and, in his opinion, was much more important, as a national work, than any of the canals connected with interior navigation op-coastwise. It was a link in the chain of interior intercourse, that would afford facilities for the trade of all the "And be it further enacted, That, for every pirate, United States. In fact, it was of the highest utility for who shall be captured by the officers or crews, or any commercial purposes, and not less so for the purposes of part of them, of vessels belonging to the United States, national defence. In peace or war it would be equally and brought into the United States, and who shall be useful to the country-and it was almost impossible to convicted of the crime of piracy by any competent tribu-imagine a broad scheme of national defence without nal, the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he hereby is, including this canal in it. The effect, in times of war, authorized and required to pay, or cause to be paid, to of various outlets to the sea, was too obvious to require the owners, officers, and crews of the vessels capturing | elucidation; and the rapidity with which men and means such pirates, or to their agents, the sum of one hundred could be transported through it, from place to place, dollars, for each and every pirate captured and con- and concentrated for active operations, would be a first demned as aforesaid, to be divided among the parties rate advantage in all army operations, as well as naval receiving the same in like manner as is provided in the defences. fifth section of the act for the distribution of property captured from pirates; and that the sum of ten thousand dollars, from any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated for the object aforesaid."

Both of these sections were ordered to be printed; and then the Senate adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES-SAME DAY. CHESAPEAKE AND DELAWARE CANAL. Mr. TRIMBLE, of Kentucky, rose, to say that the House would not have the pleasure of hearing the gentleman from Louisiana, (Mr. LIVINGSTON,) as was expected when the adjournment was moved on yesterday. That gentleman wishes it to be known that the state of his health prevents him from being in his seat this morning, and, it is said, that he does not desire the vote upon the bill to be delayed upon his account. As to himself, Mr. T. had not intended, nor did he now propose, to engage in the debate upon the bill, believing that it would be better to leave it entirely in the hands of those who were best informed upon the subject, and, therefore, better qualified to explain its merits to the House. But, as some of the friends of the measure (alarmed, probably, at the small majority in its favor, on the last vote,) were of opinion that a few words in its favor would be useful, he was willing to say as much as would show his good will and best wishes for its success. He desired it to be understood, however, that he would not enter into a formal argument, nor attempt any thing farther than a few hasty suggestions.

But, to return to the system. We want, said he, three things to begin it; 1st, Surveys, plans, and estimates; 2d, Money; 3d, Civil engineers. We can easily get plans and raise money, but civil engineers do not spring up spontaneously, and we cannot make a fair start with the system without them. Surely, no one would be willing to hand over ten or fifteen millions of dollars, to be disbursed by incompetent engineers and raw agents, ignorant of the business about to be undertaken, and from whom nothing could be expected but the most ruinous and wasteful prodigality. Before we begin the system, we must create a corps of scientific engineersmen of practical knowledge and experience-men of competent skill to manage and direct the application of public money to the best advantage, and with all possible frugality. If he was asked, how such a corps of engineers could be formed? He would reply, form them as you do military engineers. Make a school of practice for them. Take the army, for example. Why are military schools established? Why do you want a school for practice for the artillery? Why is a school for naval tactics applied for? What are the arguments in favor of those institutions? To teach the art of war; to create and preserve naval and military skill; to form a corps of scientific officers, who, in the event of war, shall lead our armies and command our navies. None of us would consent, if we could help it, to put the honor of the country and the lives of our fellow-citizens under the command of incompetent officers. But the art of making roads, canals, and bridges, is as useful, and as much wanted, in time of peace, as military science and tactics in time of war; and there is as much practical The power to make roads and canals, appeared to be good sense in forming a corps of civil engineers as any at last conceded. The constitutional question had been other corps. A large corps will be wanted to begin barely mooted, to mark the old line of partition and the system of national works; and the canal in question, preserve the corner trees. Public opinion was embody- and the proposed extension of the Cumberland road, ing itself in favor of roads and canals, and during the will be excellent schools of practice to form such a corps. last year, had made so many demonstrations in favor of It would be a service in which the science and the pracinternal improvements, that Congress might consider tical knowledge of making roads and canals may be acitself called upon by the nation to begin the work inquired and diffused throughout the states. If we have good earnest. It is now agreed on all sides, that, by and by, we must make national roads and canals; but some members want us to wait until we can commence the system, as if there was some magic in the word system, without which nothing could be done. Mr. T. considered this canal as a part of the system of internal navigation, and could see no reason why the Treasury should not lend its assistance in the undertaking. He could but notice that the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. MCDUFFIE,) made it a special exception, insisting, at the same time, upon his protest against the Cumberland road, and all other internal improvements, until plans and estimates are procured for the whole system; and he supposes the system may require disbursements of

such a corps in the country, they ought to be kept in employment. If we have none, or but a few of them, let us hasten to form an efficient corps, and have them ready when the system is prepared. Their practical knowledge may save us millions in executing the great scheme in contemplation. The public debt has been referred to in argument. It is to be paid up, they say, in ten years; and if so, the sinking fund of ten millions per annum will then be liberated from its pledge, and the Government may thereafter disburse ten millions, annually, upon national objects. But when the debt is liquidated, the stockholders will want to invest their funds in some profitable scheme; and what so likely to attract their attention as roads and canals? The invest

ment would be perpetual, and that would recommend it to men of large capitals. But would they venture to place their funds in the hands of incompetent, unskilful engineers? Would not the general ardor in favor of internal improvements be severely checked for want of proper skill and practical experience? In the run of ten years there is to be eighty-millions thrown into the market to seek such employment; and, at the end of those years, the Treasury will be able to disburse ten millions per annum. The future prospect as to means, then, is as flattering as the nation could desire; but, when the time comes, we shall have no engineers to use the money. These and similar reasons might be urged, he said, to show the policy of passing the bill, even if there was no other utility in the measure. He congratulated the agricultural interests of the country upon this happy conjuncture of affairs, by which they were likely to profit in a high degree, and hoped the House would avail itself of every suitable occasion to form a class of civil engineers, without whom nothing useful could be done.

It would be difficult for him, he said, to say more on the subject, without drawing himself into a full explanation of his views upon the policy of the system referred to; but, as that was not his intention in rising, he would suppress such other considerations as had weight with him, not doubting that the same ideas had occurred to others, and would have their due influence.

[H. of R.

the surveys were completed for the whole road, he would vote for it in connection with the great Southern mail route. He would submit to the House the justice with which the gentleman had stated his argument in relation to this subject.

Mr. GARRISON, of New Jersey, observed, that, as he was peculiarly situated with respect to the present bill, he thought it was incumbent upon him to offer some of the reasons which governed his vote respecting it. He was as friendly to a general system of internal improvement as any gentleman in the House could be; yet there were some principles which applied to the present case that would induce him to oppose the bill. He never could consent to appropriate the national resources for any object of improvement, however import. ant or valuable, which could as well be accomplished without it. This bill proposes, that the Government shall subscribe for 1,500 shares of the stock of the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal Company. And the reasons offered in its favor, when stripped of every ornament of rhetoric, by which they have been adorned, amount to this: that the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, united, are unable to cut a canal across an isthmus fourteen miles in length, one third part of which runs through marsh and bogs. He must confess that the arguments had entirely failed in convincing him that such was indeed the fact. The gentleman from Delaware, (Mr. M'LANE,) says, that on the subject of inter Being on his feet, he would say a word to the gentle-nal improvements in general, the people are far in adman from South Carolina, on his left, (Mr. HAMILTON,) vance of Congress. It might be so; yet, he should supwho, in his speech upon this bill, had turned the edge of pose, that, if such was the fact, the legislatures of Pennhis argument against the Cumberland Road. He put sylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, might have finished the question to the House-where shall we begin_the_the canal before this day. An honorable gentleman from system? And then answered it by saying, that the work Pennsylvania, (Mr. BRECK,) informs us that great exerfirst done ought to be at the place where it is most want- tions had been made, in Philadelphia, to obtain subscriped; and then brought himself to the conclusion that tions to this object; and expressed a very decided opinroads and canals on the Eastern side of the Allegany ion, that, if Congress does not aid the undertaking, it mountain would be more useful than on the West. The cannot proceed at all; and, by way of accounting for people of the West were left to understand that enough the fact, that no further subscriptions are to be hoped had been done for them, and the gentleman had more for in that city, he tells us, that its citizens now hold than intimated his serious misgivings that members from unproductive stock, to the amount of $4,000,000. the West would refuse an appropriation to aid in making a late estimate of the total amount of real and personal a canal on the Catawba. property in the city of Philadelphia, it appears that that amount is $158,000,000, and when he looked at this amount, he could not subscribe to the opinion, that the holding of four millions of stock, that was, as yet, unproductive, was sufficient to prevent further subscrip tions to this canal. The argument did not appear to him at all conclusive; and he felt persuaded that, should the Government refuse the present application, the stock in the canal would nevertheless be taken, and the design proceed with success.

He expresses great respect for the West-kind words, but no money-no aid for the road. I have nothing in reply, said Mr. T. but will remind him of a Fable: Prometheus, (if that was the name of the old heathen,) sent Jupiter a present of two slaughtered bullocks, sewed up in their hides, but the crafty old knave had put all the flesh in one hide, and the bones in the other, and offered Jupiter his choice. The only difference in the two cases was, that the gentleman offered the Western people nothing but the bones, and no choice whatever. As to the Serbonian bog, Mr. T. had never seen it laid down on any of the maps, nor was he sure that it belonged to either Ancient or Modern Geographyperhaps it existed only in the fancy of the poets-but, if it was a real noun-substantive, he was confident, from the mere sound of the name, that it must be impassable for man or beast, and if it lay any where on the stage road from Washington to Charleston, he was sure that a good stone road ought to be made over it, and he, for one, would vote an appropriation for that object, in the full hope that the mail would be expedited by the

By

The gentleman from Vermont, (Mr. MALLARY,) had told the House that there would certainly be a canal from the Raritan to the Delaware; and he seemed to take such a canal for granted, in tracing the line of internal communication of which he had spoken. But Mr. G. did not feel quite so certain as that gentleman seemed to be, that such a canal would go into effect; and he doubted greatly whether the gentleman's expectations would not be disappointed. But, if otherwise, and if there were so much redundant capital in the country as to induce capitalists to give a bonus of $100,000 for the privilege of cutting such a canal as that between the Raritan and Delaware, was it credible that a canal so Mr. HAMILTON said, that he was really sorry that much more important, and likely to be so much more the gentleman, so happily witty himself, should not, at profitable, will be suffered to fall through for want of least, in the present case, be the occasion of wit in oth- pecuniary means to carry it on. For his own part, he ers. But the gentleman seemed this morning to be could not believe any such thing. But, if the Legisabounding in fable, and without meaning to impeach lature of New Jersey gets one hundred thousand dollars his veracity, (for he would put it down to the account for cutting the canal between the Raritan and the Delaof mistake, a want of recollection,) he had been not a ware, what ought the Legislatures of Delaware and Malittle fabulous in stating his argument in relation to the ryland to get for the canal now proposed, while the one Cumberland Road: for it would be remembered by is only fourteen miles long and the other twenty four? many who heard him, that he had declared, that when The present was the first bill which had presented itself The district from which Mr. G. comes, is in the immediate vicinity of the canal. VOL. I.-21

measure.

under that construction of the Constitution which was adopted at the last session of Congress. The first, at least, in which that construction had been clearly and distinctly recognized; for the bill passed for removing the obstructions in the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers was of a compound character. Its object was not exclusively to facilitate commerce, but to preserve the lives and property of our citizens. He had another objection to the bill: In carrying into effect the system. of internal improvement, he thought it was wise, nay, indispensable, for the House to legislate on correct data. In this case the Board of Engineers, who had been organized under the act of last session, called the survey bill, had not made any report or presented to the House any opinion respecting the general route of this canal, or any of its details. In his judgment, Congress ought never to appropriate unless upon estimates first submitted to them by judicious and experienced persons. Besides, he did not consider the finances of the country in such a state as to warrant this appropriation at the present time. There was, indeed, a sum of money in the Treasury; but the officer at the head of that Department had informed the House that every part of it was already under appropriation, and several acts had already been passed the present session, granting different sums to the amount of at least one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars. He could, therefore, see nothing in the state of the finances which was calculated to induce any gentleman to vote for the present bill. Mr. G. observed, in conclusion, that he lived nearly opposite to one of the points where the canal was to pass, and he was himself a friend to the canal; but he did not conceive that the General Government was called upon to engage in the undertaking, as it would, in his opinion, proceed, and be completed, by individual enterprize.

[JAN. 21, 1825.

into service a greater naval force than our own. The moment such an interruption takes place, the most disas trous consequences must follow. An interruption of regular supplies for a month would produce a greater sacrifice to the manufacturing community, than double the cost of the Delaware Canal. Whatever, therefore, promotes internal communication, adds to the great interest of the nation, and no part will enjoy its advantages to a greater degree than the North and East. As a further evidence of its value, let me refer to a recent important fact. The manufacturer of the North, already sees his fabrics passing over this line of communication as fast as completed, over the Cumberland Road, and dispersed through the Western country. They have already found a market at Santa Fe, in the most distant Spanish provinces.

Again, said Mr. M. let me illustrate the interest of the North in this question. That section is now beginning to be most successfully and deeply engaged in the manufacture of iron. It is second to no production of art to be used in peace or war. The completion of the great object before us, renders the distribution of it at all times safe and economical. Should our coasting trade be interrupted, this great and essential article will be distributed without any hazard. The armories and navy yards of the country would not be interrupted a moment; you could, without the least inconvenience, supply the navy yard at Norfolk, Virginia, with iron from Lake Champlain.

Allow me, sir, said Mr. M. to observe, that the Delaware Canal has always been the favorite object of the nation. More than ten years ago the subject was brought before Congress. It was viewed with a favorable eye. It would have succeeded, had not the delegation of New Jersey been desirous of adding, also, the canal through that state. The original bill was loaded too heavily, and finally sunk. It appeared surprising, that gentlemen now, from that state, should be desirous of defeating the present measure, especially as the Jersey Canal was provided for without the aid of Congress. Nothing could aid the interests of New Jersey, and the value of her contemplated canal, like the success of the bill before us. He hoped opposition from that and every other quarter might prove totally unsuccessful.

nication which had been described, and that the last link in the chain to be made was the Delaware Canal, he should most cheerfully give the proposed measure his cordial vote.

Mr. SHARPE, of New York, said, that, as he was one of the Committee of Roads and Canals who had reported the bill, he thought it was his duty to state some of the reasons which had influenced him in giving his consent to the measure.

Mr. MALLARY, of Vermont, said he wished to make a few remarks, in addition to those submitted yesterday. He referred to what he then observed on the probable completion of the great line of water communication through the country. The Jersey Canal was provided for, and its execution might be considered as certain. It appeared, that,after a great expenditure had been made, the Delaware Canal would be abandoned unless the aid of Government was afforded. This work alone was wanted to complete the greatest internal communication Believing that every portion of the country was deepto be found in any country. It would complete the in-ly interested in completing the grand internal commuternal navigation between the East and South. You may pass from Canada through Lake Champlain-the Northern Canal-the Hudson-Jersey Canal-the Delaware Bay-the Delaware Canal-Chesapeake Bay and waters to Norfolk, Virginia, and thence through the Dismal Swamp Canal to North Carolina. You may soon also pass from the great lakes through the Erie Canal to the Hudson, to the South. The effects must be incalculable. The interests of the North and South, of the East and West, are every day becoming more and more unit. The committee had had many different projects before ed and consolidated. By no effort of Government can them, some of which were on a very large scale. There they be more promoted, than by giving the assistance were many of these which he approved, but which he provided for by the bill now under consideration. Per- should be opposed to undertaking at the present time mit me to refer to the great manufacturing interests of -he considered the present object as standing on a difthe North and East. I do not, said Mr. M. intend to re-ferent footing. The work was already commenced; the vive the discussion on the tariff. I must, however, be company did not ask the Government to embark in this allowed to say that its effects are already most conclu- undertaking as a benefit to them; nor did it ask that any sively proving the wisdom of the measure. New life and sum of money should be appropriated to the object at vigor were already communicated to the industry of the all. But, as the Legislatures of Pennsylvania, Delaware, country. The accomplishment of the object before us, and Maryland, had subscribed in their character as states, must have the happiest tendency. With a view to illus- and as individual subscriptions had likewise been obtrate the importance of this canal communication to the tained to a total amount of $700,000, and nothing more manufacturing interests of this nation alone, he would could be obtained, it merely asked that the General Goconsider the article of cotton alone. This is one of the vernment should do what individuals and states had algreatest materials on which northern industry and capi- ready done to further a great and useful public object. tal are employed. A safe and convenient transportation He did not see the least necessity for waiting for further from the South, was of the utmost importance. This plans or estimates; the plan had been laid and approved. transportation can be at once interrupted, and almost The estimates had all been made; contracts entered inwholly prevented by any foreign power, which can bring to; and one whole year of labor actually expended. If

JAN. 21, 1825.]

Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

[H. of R.

suitably encouraged, he did not doubt that the whole produce a scrambling on this floor for the benefits might be completed in one or two years. He was as which were to be dispensed, and, instead of strengthenready to vote to subscribe three hundred thousand dol-ing the Union, he was greatly apprehensive that its praclars to this object, as he had been to subscribe a much larger amount to the stock of the United States' Bank. In that instance Congress subscribed very largely, and he saw no reason why they should not subscribe with equal willingness in the present case. It would countenance the stock in market; he did not doubt it would occasion the stock to rise in price, and Government might eventually have it in their power to sell out again, and perhaps with advantage. In the mean while, they would have been aiding a design eminently calculated to advance the general welfare. The gentleman from New Jersey says that a company in that state has offer. ed a large sum for the privilege of cutting a canal from the Delaware to the Raritan. If that company shall come to this House and shew a subscription list of $700,000, and shall ask it to subscribe three hundred thousand more, he, for one, would be in favor of complying with the request. He was pleased to see that the enterprising state of Ohio was disposed to do something for itself, and if the Legislature of that state should do what the Legislatures of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, did for the present canal, and should then come and ask aid of this House, he would be in favor of aiding Ohio

also.

tical tendency would be to weaken, if not to destroy it. Whatever was not just in itself, would always produce dissatisfaction and uneasiness-and he thought it always unjust to take the money of one part of the country and give it to another. The Constitution had made an arrangement proportioning direct taxes to population; and it had declared that all duties and imposts should be uniform throughout the states. But, if Congress was permitted to take the money, thus equally collected from all, and appropriate it, unequally, for the benefit of a few, what was this but to get round the Constitution? Why might they not as well be allowed to tax the country unequally, at once, as to tax the whole equally, and then give the result to one part? He had another objection to the bill: if Government is to patronize objects of this description, the practical effect will be to weaken and discourage individual enterprise; and so, in the end, to retard rather than advance the real prosperity of the country. The spirit of individual enterprise he considered as of more importance to a state than almost any thing it could possess. A system of internal improvement could not be animated by any other principle. Congress' might, indeed, form an enormous man of clay, but there was none who would reach to the sun, and light into life the inert mass.

He would say the same with respect to Kentucky; but the mode in which he was in favor of aiding them was not by donations of money, but by subscribing for stock, which might afterwards be given up to those states. Mr. S. said that he thought it might be necessary to explain what to some might appear inconsistency in him. That, although he had voted against the Cumbers land road, he should yet be in favor of the present bill. But what was the present state of that road, after all the money which gentlemen had laid out upon it? It was fast going to ruin, though the Government had appropriated nearly two millions of dollars to have the road made. The inhabitants who lived in its immediate vicinity would not do so much as lift a shovel to preserve the road that passed their own doors. They had the use of it without toll, yet they refused so much as to keep it in repair. The bill to extend that road appropriated $150,000 in the state of Ohio. When the Go-propriating the public money for what, by a misnomer, vernment went into a system on the subject of roads, he thought the aid they granted should be distributed to all the states. Ohio, he believed, was as able to construct a road as either of the Eastern states, and why should the Government be in advance $150,000 for that state. Had the great and important state which he had the honor, in part, to represent, ever received an acre of the public lands, or a dollar of the public money, to promote an object of this kind within her limits? Not

one.

Yet, while he held these opinions, he conceived that, as a matter of revenue and calculation, it was competent for Congress to invest the public resources in any fund which they might deem the most advantageous. He believed, by the constitution, they had a right to do so; and, though he held that it would not be lawful to pass the present bill for the purpose of aiding this or any other canal, yet they might pass it as a measure calculated to benefit the finances of the country, and so promote the common defence and general welfare. In this view of the subject, he thought he could see his way clear to give his vote for the bill. He considered the case as a peculiar one, and resting on very different principles from the bill to continue the Cumberland road. Of all the exceptionable things which the House had ever done, he thought there was none more so than aphad been called a continuation of the Cumberland road. It was, in truth, no such continuation-it was a new road in the state of Ohio. It had, indeed, been christened the Cumberland road, and perhaps there might be poliey in calling it so; but it was no more the Cumberland road than if it had been made in Massachusetts. Mr. A. concluded by observing, that he would not longer detain the House, and should not have risen at all, but to explain the reasons why, with his views of the constitution, he should, nevertheless, vote for the present bill.

Mr. ALLEN, of Massachusetts, observed, that no gen- Mr. LITTLE, of Maryland, rose to state, in a few tleman could be more decided in his conviction, that words, the reasons which would influence his vote. He the Constitution granted no power to Congress to enter owed it to himself to do so. On the constitutional powinto a system of internal improvements than he was. He ers of Congress to legislate on these subjects, he had came to Congress with no opinions on this subject. At repeatedly expressed his opinion in this House. This an early period after he became a member of this House, bill presents itself in a new shape, the policy of which that subject had undergone a very full discussion: he he doubted, from the past experience in the state, part gave his undivided attention to the arguments on both of which he had the banor to represent. At a very early sides, and he formed, at that time, an opinion which he day, the state of Maryland subscribed largely towards had never since seen any reason to change. He was en- rendering navigable the Potomac river. This kind of tirely satisfied that Congress had no right to take the co-partnership was entered into with individuals to comcommon fund and appropriate it to any local object. He plete the work, all resulting in little, if any benefit. If would not now enter into the reasons of this opinion, but we are in a national character to enter upon the work of would say, that he was as much opposed to that system, such improvements, let them be done by the Govern on principles of policy, as on the principles of the Con- ment exclusively; let the general interest be the ruling stitution. He apprehended that many and great mis- principle; it is admitted that the Chesapeake and Delachiefs would flow out of any attempt, on the part of the ware canal bears that character, so does the great CumGeneral Government, to carry such a system into effect. berland Road, so much spoken of. Did the Government It would produce collision between the feelings and in- enter into co-partnership with states or individuals to terests of different sections of the country. It would complete that great work as far as the Ohio? We have

voted a continuation of it without such a co-operation, but a few days ago. It is national; no compensation for the use of it is asked, more than to preserve and keep it in repair. So let it be with the work this bill contemplates the completion of. I may be mistaken in the views I have taken of this subject, and briefly stated. They govern me in giving my vote reluctantly against the passage of the bill.

[JAN. 21, 1825.

wanted. $700,000 had been subscribed. If Congress subscribes $300,000 it will make up the million only.— Who is to subscribe the rest?

He would add a condition to the bill that no money shall be paid on the subscription of the General Government, till the $350,000 had been subscribed by others. And he would also insert a condition, that the Government shall not pay in any greater proportion than other subscribers, and that all shares subscribed, but not paid for, should be forfeited; and further, that the control of the Government in the concerns of the Company should be in proportion to the stock it holds.

of one share,) in order that they might ascertain how many of those subscribers intended to continue their subscriptions. But Congress had no official information of this. The book says, that of the "available funds,” (a phrase from which it would seem that they too had some notion of funds which were unavailable,) 700,000 dollars had been raised. Of this, $100,000 was obtained on the old subscriptions. Mr. M. wished to know wheMr. MARVIN, of New York, observed that he was inther, according to the present plan, all those old subscrifavor of a system of internal improvements; but he en-bers were considered as members of the company, and tertained no constitutional doubt or scruple respecting had a right to act as such? and whether the necessary it, and even if he did, should consider it no objection means had been taken to forfeit their shares where pay. to the present bill. Yet, he professed himself not pre- ment had not been made? Mr. M. said that he would pared to vote for it, and would briefly assign his reasons. have Congress observe the same prudence as the LegisHe thought, in the first place, that this was not the pro-lature of Maryland had done. In the original act, that per time to go into such an appropriation. He had no Legislature made it a condition on subscribing, that the reference to this particular year, nor to the state of the Legislatures of the other two states should subscribe in public finances; but, Congress having passed a bill pre- proportion. The Legislatures of Pennsylvania and Deparatory to a general system, he thought they ought to laware did not comply, and that part of the act was afteradhere to the course they themselves had adopted, and wards repealed. [Here Mr. M. quoted the act] From ought not to act upon the system, until they heard what this act, it appears that the Treasurer of Maryland was those persons had to say whom they had employed to col- not to subscribe for that state, till 225,000 dollars had lect information, and present surveys and estimates to the been subscribed elsewhere. This covered the whole House. The Secretary of War indeed, in his report to amount then supposed necessary to carry the canal into the House this session on this general subject, had told effect. Mr. M. said, he would make the present act conthe House that the engineers, under his direction, hadditional also. Congress is now told that $1,350,000 is made no examination of the route of this canal, because the canal was actually begun; but he took it for granted, if that intelligent officer of Government had known beforehand that Congress would now be called upon to subscribe $300,000, in aid of the object, he would doubtless have caused some investigation to be made. From a little book which would seem very opportunely to have been put into the hands of gentlemen, he learned that several engineers had been called on to examine the route. Why then had the House no official information from those gentlemen, as to the plan of the canal; the advantages possessed by it, &c. Is the plan a proper one to promote such objects as belong to the General Government? This was a point essential to be known. If Congress passes the present bill without any such investigation; without any official information of its own, they will do it because they have been applied to, and because, from the representations of the applicants, Congress is inclined to believe that the object is one of public utility. This lays the foundation for innumerable applications from all associations of persons, who shew, or think they can shew, that they are engaged in an undertaking of public utility. The government, on the contrary, ought to let all corporations know, that, in granting money, it will go, not on their representations, but on official information, obtained by its own authority. This will prevent endless trouble, and give the government certain grounds to go upon. The chairman of the committee who introduced this bill, had informed the House that the three states concerned in the canal, had early passed laws incorporating the present Company. This was true; but the law passed by the state of Delaware, contemplated raising only $500,000, which, it was then thought, would be sufficient to complete the canal. No money was given by the state of Delaware; but 2,500 shares were subscribed for. A great many individual subscriptions were obtained, but a failure of payments occurred respecting so many of these, that only $100,000 was raised, and the design fell through. In 1823, the undertaking was again revived; but no new act of incorporation took place. All the subsequent acts of the Legislatures had reference to the old act. Mr. M. insisted that Congress ought to know how far those who subscribed, when the design was first set on foot, had complied with their engagements. The little book, indeed, to which he had before referred, says, that, in 1823, the Company required the former subscribers to pay five dollars per share, (out of two hundred dollars, which was the price

Mr. M. observed, in conclusion, that he had no doubts of the utility of the Canal, or of the authority of Congress to aid it; but he objected to the bill, as not founded on proper data, and not containing the requisite checks.

Mr. STORRS said that he was reluctant to say any thing on the subject before the House, yet it appeared to him that one class of those who objected to the measure, had founded their opinion on a mistaken assumption of its interference with what has been called the general system. It seems to have been considered by some as a premature commencement of that expected plan of national improvement. Mr. S. said that, in his judgment, the proposed Canal between the Chesapeake and Delaware bays might be considered as the completion of the first and most important work which could be embraced in any such system. A company has been already incorporated by the state of New Jersey, and about to commence its operations, for opening a canal navigation from the Delaware to the harbor of New York.Simultaneously with this work, will be the completion of the Delaware canal navigation. When these works are finished, a secure inland navigation is presented from Taunton, in Massachusetts, to North Carolina, and yet this bill is objected to because it is supposed to be a contribution for a local or partial purpose. Sir, said Mr. S., I beg of gentlemen to extend their views, and consider the subject on a larger and more expanded scale.— No less than ten states are located on, or intersected by, this great line of internal water communication. These, too, are the Atlantic states-the holders of your commercial capital, and nearly the whole of your navigation.The coasting trade is chiefly, nay, almost entirely, indebted for its activity and prosperity, to the natural advantages and enterprise of these states. It is their great interest which is most deeply concerned in the measure before us. Its magnitude deserves our serious reflection