Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 277 JANumRY, 1825.] Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. [H. OF R. made, and the surveys were yet in progress. fits, without any sensible effect upon the means Was it ever pretended that we should not begin of the revenue. to fortify until we could know all that it would The bill before the House conforms to this become necessary to do in this way? Should policy. It proposes a subscription for 1,500 we have refused to fortify New York, or Bos- shares of stock in the Delaware and Chesapeake ton, or the Delaware, or the Chesapeake, till Canal Company, to be paid at the same periods, the whole country could be explored, to see and in similar proportions, as the other stockhow much more might be done? To protect holders, and to give the Government a control no part of the country until we could see how over the company in proportion to its interests. many others might be protected? On the con- The work itself is of the utmost importance, trary, said M3r. McL., determining upon the ex- not only in a commercial point of view, but as pediency of defence by fortifications, we have it regards all the great interests of the nation. proceeded with all reasonable despatch; we Consider it as you will, it is exceeded by no have consulted the particular exigencies of the other work of the kind which has been procountry, acted upon information as to particular jected in this country. It is not a work of explaces, whenever it was complete, leaving periment, suddenly suggested, and hastily adoptothers for future operations. With this view, ed, by the magnificence of its consequences. we have classified our system of defence in It is a project of half a century; has grown up reference to their necessity. One class to be under the auspices of the most enlightened, executed immediately, another at a longer scientific, and practical men for that period of period, and a third still more remote. If this time. A company has been incorporated by work, of the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal, the authority of three States, authorized to be important in a military point of view, and make the work. Individual subscriptions, to he hoped to show it was not less so than some the amount of -- dollars, have been obtained; of those fortifications, why not act in relation and, in aid of these, and in common with so to it upon the same principle? If it be inti- many others, the Government is now asked to mately connected with the military defence of subscribe for 1,500 shares, which, if done, the the Atlantic frontier, and he believed it was- work will be completed. the gentleman himself had placed it on this In embarking in this enterprise, we violate ground-why not begin it at once, with the no State rights-they at least are, in this inother great works now in progress for the same stance, secure. We encroach upon no municiobject? pal authority, because we are acting under its Mr. McL. said, in every point of view in immediate and express sanction. Of the entire which he had considered the subject, the meas- and absolute practicability of the work, with ure proposed by this bill was recommended the present aid, no one who has attended to by the wisest considerations. IIe had always the subject, and to the lucid exposition of the entertained the opinion, that the best mode of honorable chairman of the committee who reapplying the resources of the Government to ported the bill, can doubt. The route has been great national works, would be to come in aid established under the direction of the most of individual skill and enterprise, where prac- skilful engineers, civil and military, in the ticable, rather than to execute the work by the United States. The estimates have been juGovernment. Such works, when undertaken diciously made-contracts for the whole work exclusively by the Govermnent, were always already entered into with responsible persons, more expensive, and sources of constant burden at a sum within the estimates, and the work and expense, in making repairs and keeping is in a rapid and prosperous advancement. The them up. This was a reasonable objection gentleman from South Carolina calls for a sururged to the appropriation for the Cumberland vey. Sir, he has it, and the best that could be road. But, where individual enterprise, always made. The gentleman has not yet to learn careful of its own interests, and not likely to that this work has been surveyed, in two sucembark in ruinous projects, had been led to the cessive years, by a part of the military corps projection of a work of this description, the of engineers of the United States, under the Government might safely embark its capital in immediate direction of the Government, and aid of the enterprise. This would be to cherish, by them approved and adopted. Sir, I should encourage, and sustain, the spirit and industry be safe in saying that, to the judgment of these of the citizens, and, without the absolute gift engineers, the present location of the route of of the funds, conduct it to the mutual improve- this canal is to be mainly attributed. In the ment of the country, and the attainment of earlier stages of this work, a different route great national objects. There could be little had been contemplated, and at a far less exdanger of loss in such a policy, since it rarely pense, within the amount of individual subscriphappens that a body of intelligent men would tions. This route has been changed by the embark their individual means without a reason- recent surveys, and another adopted, requiring able prospect of profitable employment; and, more labor and more money. When I consider the work once being accomplished, the same the character of the men eligaged in this surfunds owned by the Government could be trans- vey, I am bound to believe that their location ferred to other objects of similar importance, has been judicious; but it is, nevertheless, and ultimately attain the most extensive bene- owing, in a great degree, to the decision of

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 277
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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