Mr. McKAY moved that the bill be postponed. After some conversation, it was agreed not to consider the bill at this time, but suffer it to lie over till the next session. The committee then took up a bill to rebuild the frigate Congress, which, not being amended, was laid aside to be reported. The next bill considered was "A bill to provide for constructing three steam batteries;" which was in like manner laid aside. The committee then proceeded to the bill establishing rations for the navy. [JUNE 26, 18 Mr. WATMOUGH said it was with some difficulty t he brought himself to entertain any discussion of this m ter. The gentleman from New Jersey might conce that he had a warrant in his gray hairs for making ass tions which had such a bearing on the veracity of o gentlemen, and the gentleman was perfectly safe in wh ever he chose to say. If, at a time when Mr. W. had been present, the gentleman had picked out this part the general bill, with a view to bringing it forward by self just at the close of so long a session, he had not be aware of any assent of the committee to such a proced ing. He would not appeal to his colleagues on the co mittee. He stated it as a fact that the committee b expressly resolved not to bring the subject forward, a press it at this time. He repeated, however, that t gentleman was safe, perfectly safe, if he chose to sta the contrary. Mr. PATTON here interposed, after some confusio and stated that further explanations between the gent men were needless, and tended only to produce a great aggravation of feeling between them. They were, fact, both right and both wrong. The gentleman fro Mr. WATMOUGHI moved that it be postponed. Pennsylvania was perfectly right in saying that the co Mr. PARKER hoped not. He called for the reading mittee had resolved not to take up the general subjec of the bill. It was read, and its culinary details about and insist upon its consideration at this time; and the ge pickles, cranberries, rice, and cheese, occasioned much tleman from New Jersey was equally right in stating the laughter in the House, (insomuch that the Clerk himself he had brought forward the present bill in committe caught the infection, and was with difficulty able to pro- that it had there been discussed, and determined that t ceed.) gentleman might bring forward the bill, but that Mr. P. said he was pleased to see the House in such a members of the committee would not hold themsel good humor, and hoped they would continue so until pledged to support it. For himself, he was decided they had passed the bill. He them explained why this opposed to the bill. He was not disposed to empow particular feature of the general system of improvement had been selected and placed in a distinct bill. It was mainly with a design to second the laudable efforts of the Secretary of the Navy in discouraging the use of ardent spirits among our sailors, by allowing them substitutes more conducive to their health, comfort, and morals. the commanders of our public vessels to compel Jack part with his grog, and eat double rations of pickles cheese. He moved that the bill be postponed; whi motion, after a good-tempered explanation on the part Mr. PARKER, was agreed to by the House; and the b was postponed accordingly. The committee having then taken up a bill to impro the navigation of the Hudson river, Mr. BURGES, admitting the great importance of the subject, regretted that it should have been put off till within a few hours of the close of the session. He was Mr. HUNTINGTON, of Connecticut, moved to ame opposed to any thing like precipitation in attempting so it by inserting an appropriation of $25,000 to improve t great a change in the habits of our tars. He especially navigation of the river Thames, between Norwich dreaded any measure in the form of positive prohibition, New London. He said the appropriation stood precis lest it should produce reaction, and only confirm the evilly on the same footing, and had received the same pre which it sought to remove. Mr. WATMOUGH, with some warmth, objected to the consideration of the bill. He said the gentleman from New Jersey had picked out this particular item concerning rations from the general system of revised laws for the navy, which the naval committee had resolved not to touch. It could not be essential that such a measure should be brought forward at the present moment, nor did he consider it at any time expedient forcibly to deprive our Jacks of their grog. The bill had been brought forward in direct opposition to the opinions of the committee. ous sanction with that in the bill. Three reports been made in its favor, and it had twice passed House, but, in consequence of other items in the bill, b fallen under the presidential veto. The amendment was rejected. Mr. SUTHERLAND, chairman of the Committee Commerce, said that he had reportod another harbor and had been somewhat at a loss what course to purse respect to it; but had finally concluded to move it form of an amendment to the present bill. A question of order was raised and discussed on motion, which resulted in Mr. S.'s withdrawing his ame Mr. PARKER said he should admit this to be true, if ment. he did not personally know the contrary to be the fact. Mr. ELLSWORTH now offered an amendment, This very bill had been brought before the committee. posing an appropriation to deepen the harbor a It was a part of the very code, the origination of which mouth of Connecticut river, and sustained the ame the gentleman had claimed, and which, if it were so, re-ment by a short speech, in which he set forth the imp flected great credit upon the gentleman. Would he ob-ance of such an improvement in preserving, not only ject to this bill because it carried into effect a part of his erty embarked in the coasting trade, but the lives of own plan? Or was it because the bill had been brought men exposed to storms in the sound. forward by Mr. P. He repeated that the bill had been The amendment was advocated by Messrs. Hu approved by the committee, and he would go further, TON, MERCER, and SUTHERLAND, and opposed by and state that it was approved by the Secretary, with CROCKETT, to whom Mr. ELLSWORTH briefly replied. whom he had had personal intercourse on the subject. If Mr. HARDIN also opposed it, protesting against there was a single other member of the naval committee gains, &c. that would bear out the assertion of his colleague, he might admit himself to be in error. But the committee had recommended the provisions of the bill, and directed it to be reported. The amendment was then rejected. The committee then passed through a bill for the efit of Nathaniel Tyler, a revolutionary soldier, and ENE 27, 1834.] == Appropriation Bills. [H. of R. ceeded to consider the bill granting additional lands for POLK, on the ground of the great number of light-houses he satisfaction of revolutionary land warrants. already erected, and the unusually large number now proposed. Calculations were gone into to show the expense of erecting and supporting them. Mr. LEAVITT, of Ohio, moved to amend the bill by riking out 150,000 and inserting 500,000 acres, on the round that, since the bill had been reported, a large Mr. POLK moved to lay the bill on the table; but the mount of warrants had come in, and more were appear-motion was negatived by yeas and nays: Yeas 40, nays 97, daily. as follows: Mr. HARDIN went into an explanation of the origin of be warrants, and the manner in which they had been atisfied; when the amendment was agreed to. The committee having gone through the bills referred bit, were about to rise, when, Mr. WHITE, of Louisiana, wished them to consider a to prevent explosions by steam. But his motion did ot prevail, and the committee rose and reported to the lose the bills which had been successively considered. In the House, after a struggle about the order of busirs, it was agreed first to take up such bills as had not etbeen ordered to their third reading. Accordingly, the House took up the fortification bill; and the question being on the motion to strike out the macling clause, it was negatived. The question next recurring on Mr. POLK's motion to rke out the appropriation of 100,000 dollars for a fort ap George's island, the ayes were 64, the noes 55. The CHAIR declared that no quorum had voted. Mr. POLK insisted that it was a quorum, because vacant seats were not to be counted. The CHAIR interpreted the rule otherwise, and decid that a quorum must consist of one-half the entire "umber of the House, without regarding vacancies that Lad occurred. Mr. GORHAM asked the yeas and nays, and moved the previous question; but the House refused to second it. Mr. HARDIN moved to lay the bill on the table; but casented to withdraw the motion, when a debate occurred, the counterpart of that which had taken place in Committee of the Whole. YEAS-Messrs. John J. Allen, Beale, Bean, Bockee, NAYS-Messrs. John Q. Adams, John Adams, Heman The amendment was resisted by Messrs. MoonE, WILDE, A motion, made by Mr. SMITH, of Maine, to strike SALDEN, E. EVERETT, GORHAM, VINTON, REED, CROCK-out an item for enlarging one of the buildings, was nega2TT, and BURGES; and supported by Messrs. POLK, MCKAY, ael CAMBRELENG; when, The question being taken, it was decided in the negatove, by yeas and nays, as follows: Yeas 73, nays 80. So the House refused to strike out. tive 1: Yeas 59, nays 77. Mr. HAWES renewed in the House the amendments he had proposed in Committee of the Whole, first for discontinuing the establishment, after the present cadets should have been educated, and then for requiring the cadets to serve five years in the army or return the ex Mr. POLK then moved to strike out the item of 100,000 ours for the fort on Throg's neck. This was also nega-penses of their education; but thod: Yeas 65, nays 80. Mr. POLK then moved to strike out the item for a fort at Grande Terre, Louisiana. This likewise was negatived, Wout a count. Mr. McKIM moved an amendment, appropriating 25,000 lars to commence forts of the first and second class at timore. Both the motions of Mr. HAWES were negatived without a count, and the bill was ordered to its engrossment. The bill to provide for the organization of the Department of Indian Affairs was then read a third time, and passed. The bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes, and to preserve peace on the frontiers, was also read and passed. Mr. McK. explained the necessity for these fortificaNotwithstanding the vast amount of property in the city and harbor of Baltimore, that port remained precisely in the same state as in 1812, not a dollar having Mr. ADAMS moved to adjourn; which was negatived, been expended since that time. These works had been when Mr. A. observed that the bill contained the principroposed in the general system of fortifications reported ple that the Government should pay interest in a case and adopted fifteen years ago. He had had an interview with the Secretary of War, and the Executive had also been consulted. In both quarters there seemed to be a daposition to proceed with these fortifications, but for a Bear that the finances of the country might fall short. The bill to satisfy the Georgia claims being then at its third reading, Mr. POLK opposed the amendment, and it was rejected. Mr. PEARCE, of Rhode Island, moved the previous question, but withdrew the motion, and the bill was ordered to its third reading. After another struggle as to the order of business, the House took up the light-house bill, which was advocated th great spirit by Mr. SUTHERLAND and Mr. WHITTLE1; and opposed by Messrs. MANN, HAWES, KING, and VOL. X. --300 where an express treaty stipulation provided that no in- No quorum having voted, and it being now ten o'clock, FRIDAY, JUNE 27. After the reception of several memorials, reports from committees, &c., H. OF R.] Statue of Mr. Jefferson--Portrait of Washington. Mr. E. EVERETT, from the Committee on the Library, reported a resolution directing that the STATUE OF MR. JEFFERSON, presented to Congress by Lieutenant Levy, of the navy, be placed in the square at the eastern front of the Capitol. [JUNE 27, 18 The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Whole on the state of the Union, Mr. ELLSWORTH in chair, to consider sundry bills. The bill to remit the duties on locomotive steam gines, either imported or to be imported, having be taken up, Mr. MASON moved to amend it, by inserting there Mr. ARCHER said he had some objections to the reso- cast iron wheels bound with wrought iron; upon whic lution. He conceived that if Congress desired to have a desultory debate arose as to the propriety of encourag statue of this distinguished man, it would be more domestic manufactures, and the right to alter the ta consistent with propriety to procure one for themselves, &c., in which Messrs. DENNY, BINNEY, MCKIM, Fi than to be indebted for it to any person whatever. He MORE, GHOLSON, BURGES, WATMOUGH, CAMBRELE had another objection, which was, that as Congress had P. C. FULLER, DICKERSON, WILDE, and MCKINLEY, resolved to erect a statue in honor of the great and good ticipated; when, with a view to arrest it, father of his country, the immortal Washington, and which was in progress of execution, none other of any other man should be set up until that duty was performed which they had resolved should be done. Mr. LEWIS remarked that, as the debate seen to be interminable, and as the House had a great deal business to get through with in a little time, he wo I move that the bill be laid aside. On this motion the debate was again resumed Messrs. DENNY and PARKER. Mr. LEWIS finally withdrew the motion to lay the He had learned that this statue of Jefferson was not of that finished order which, if a statue was to be put up at all in the grounds of the Capitol, it ought to be. For these reasons, then, he hoped that the resolution would aside. not be passed; and said he would move to lay it on the Mr. STEWART, however, renewed it, that the c table, only that his doing so might prevent some honora-mittee might report progress thereon when it should r ble member from replying to his remarks. Mr. LANE trusted that the House would not reject the resolution merely because the statue had been presented by a lieutenant instead of a commander. Mr. MERCER concurred in the opinion of his colleague, that it was not a good likeness, and he was opposed to the resolution. Mr. E. EVERETT would merely remark that, as he had reported the resolution by the instructions of the committee, he would now leave the decision upon it to the House. Mr. CLAY, of Alabama, remarked that the adoption of the resolution would not prevent them hereafter either erecting another statue, or changing the site that was now contemplated. The resolution was finally ordered to be engrossed, and was passed: Ayes 69, noes 55. PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON. Mr. JARVIS submitted the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted: Mr. WILLIAMS inquired if it was in order to have bill so disposed of, without final action upon it? The CHAIR said the motion was in order. Mr. JONES rose to a point of order; but making appeal from the decision of the CHAIR, The vote on the motion of Mr. STEWART prevail Ayes 79, noes 61. Mr. JONES insisted that the motion was out of orde Mr. STEWART contended that the objection came late, the subject having been disposed of. Mr. JONES maintained that he had made the poin order before the vote was taken. The CHAIR, after some conversation, decided that JONES had, under the circumstances, a right to app from his decision. Mr. JONES did appeal, and the committee hav sustained the decision of the CHAIR that the mot was in order, the bill was then laid aside. The bill to remit the duties upon locomotive steam gines heretofore imported, was then taken up, and laid aside. The bill making appropriations for the erection of rine hospitals in the city of Baltimore and other pla being taken up, Resolved, That the Clerk of this House be directed to pay to John Vanderlyn, out of the contingent fund of the House, fifteen hundred dollars, as additional compensation for the full length portrait of Washington, executed by Mr. McKAY moved to amend it by inserting an it him, to be placed in the Hall of Representatives, in pur- for a marine hospital at City Point, Virginia, and anot suance of a resolution of this House of February 17, 1832. somewhere in North Carolina; agreed to. Mr. CHINN rose to state that a bill had been reported Mr. BURGES moved an amendment for a similar b from the Senate for the benefit of the City of Washing-pital at Providence; which was not agreed to. ton, and as it was the desire of the Committee on the District to accept it as a substitute for that before the House, he moved that they go into Committee of the Whole thereon. The motion having prevailed, The House went into committee, Mr. WARD in the chair, considered the bill, and subsequently reported it to the House; after which, Mr. MASON moved that the House resolve itself again into the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, for the purpose of taking up the bill to extend the provisions of the act to relieve from duty iron prepared for and actually laid down on railroads, &c. Mr. PEARCE moved also the bill for the erection of a marine hospital at Baltimore; and the bill imposing an extra tonnage duty on Spanish vessels. Mr. ASHLEY moved to include the bill providing for the extension of the national road west of the Mississippi river. Mr. SMITH moved for the establishment of one Portland; which was carried. Mr. LYTLE proposed an item appropriating $10, to improve the arsenal at Cincinnati; but it was reject The committee then took up the bill in addition to act passed 13th July, 1832, concerning duty on Spar vessels, to equalize the discriminating duty imposed our vessels in Cuba and Porto Rico. Mr. McKIM opposed the bill, as only going, in eff to make war upon the tonnage of the United Stat which was in no condition to endure any reduction or jury. There were more of our vessels sent to the Hav than of theirs which entered our ports; and Sp would immediately retaliate, as she had done on for occasions. The only way to meet the case was to put duty on the products of Cuba and Porto Rico. Mr. PINCKNEY moved to fill the blank with the day of January next, as the day on which the bill was Messrs. LYON, E. EVERETT, and DUNCAN, pro- take effect; which was agreed to. posed to include other bills. The bill was then laid aside. The next bill was for the benefit of W. T. C. Wright, lowing him for his services at the Court of Brazil. It was slightly amended by Mr. ARCHER, and laid aside. Mr. MASON now moved again to consider the bill to remit the duties on locomotive engines. Mr. MASON moved two amendments; which were agreed to. Mr. DENNY moved to strike out the 2d section of the bill; negatived: Ayes 36, noes 90. The bill was then laid aside. [H. of R. West Point was read a third time and passed: Yeas 119, nays 55. The bill from the Senate, for the benefit of the city of Washington, being next taken up, Mr. HAWES made a vehement speech in opposition to the bill. Mr. CHINN said that he had foreseen what would be the consequence of introducing the subject of the canal. He regretted that that subject had been brought into the debate, however delighted he had been in listening to the eloquent appeal of his colleague, [Mr. MERCER,] in rela Mr. JOHNSON pressed the committee to take up the tion to the District. Members of Congress were, in fact, bill to consider the commissariat; but they refused. The committee then rose and reported the bill. Mr. POLK introduced, by consent, a joint resolution suspending the rule which forbids the sending of new bills from one House to the other on the three last days of the esion, until 10 o'clock this evening. Mr. ADAMS opposed it, as unnecessary and absurd. This was not one of the last three days. Sunday was a hy of the session; members received their pay for it as for other days; and business had sometimes been done on that day. After some further discussion, the joint resolution was tead three times and passed. The House then resumed the consideration of the bill providing for the Georgia claims; and Mr. ADAMS had commenced a speech in opposition to the bill, when, the hour of two having arrived, the House took a recess until four o'clock. EVENING SESSION. The House at 4 o'clock resumed its sitting. Mr. MERCER made an effort to get up the Potomac bridge bill, but without success. The bill giving the assent of the United States to an arrangement of the boundary line between New York and New Jersey was slightly amended, on motion of Mr. ADAMS, and ordered to its third reading. Mr. MERCER renewed his motion for the bridge bill, and moved to suspend the rule, but the ayes were 52, (not two-thirds,) and the motion failed. The House then resumed the consideration of the bill for the payment of certain Georgia claims. Mr. ADAMS stated at large his objections to the bill, and was replied to by Mr. CAMBRELENG, Mr. BURGES, and Mr. LINCOLN. its responsible representatives; they represented not office-hunters, not mere sojourners or visiters, but the permanent residents of these ten miles square. As representatives who constitued the sole Legislature of these citizens, it was surely proper and just that Congress should possess and exercise some discretionary power, All other Legislatures had it, and why not the Legislature of the District of Columbia? Were Congress to be prohibited from appropriating one cent directly for their benefit? Surely not. Their citizens were placed in a situation to be commiserated. While they were deprived of the privilege enjoyed by all the citizens of the Uni ted States, of having representatives chosen by their own act, and responsible to them, they are charged with a full share of all national burdens; they had to submit to taxation without representation, and would it be contended that Congress was forbidden to allow persons thus situated from participating with the rest of the citizens of the United States in the ordinary benefits of legislation? During the late war they had been subject to the same ratio of direct taxation as all the other people of the Union; and when a large amount of real estate had by them been vested in Congress, in trust, could it have been intended that they were themselves to be excluded from all the benefits resulting from it? Mr. C. insisted that they were entitled to a full and fair participation. Had Congress made no donation to the new States? By what right was it that they had appropriated enormous amounts of public property for objects of charity or of internal improvement, for the benefit of the people of the West, when a like benefit must be denied to the people of this District? Here was the same fund to draw upon, and here, as there, was a public territory owned by the whole United States, and whose value was to be enhanced by these appropriations. The principle was the same in both cases, and the principle being conceded, the only question was, whether the appropriation was disproportioned and extravagant? He thought it was not. As to the idea that Congress was asked to assume the Holland loan, obtained on account of the canal, it was wholly graThe fortification bill was read a third time and passed.tuitous, and directly in the teeth of the report of the comThe light-house bill was read a third time, and the ques-mittee. The bill proposed to appropriate $60,000 a year, on being on its passage, The latter gentleman was not in favor of the bill, but differed from his colleague on the question of interest. Mr. BARBER, of Connecticut, moved the previous question, which was seconded; and the bill was passed by yeas and nays, as follows: Yeas 99, nays 60. Mr. POLK opposed the bill, as going much too far, and incurring a heavy charge on the treasury. He made a statement, showing that appropriations to the amount of twenty-two and a half millions had already passed the House. He demanded the yeas and nays. for three years, to release the city from its embarrassment. Was this an assumption of its debts, foreign or domestic? Was this an entering wedge? How could the present Congress by such an act control or bind their successors. Each Congress must stand upon its own responsibility. If the bill were rejected, it would not prevent Mr. SUTHERLAND replied, observing that Mr. P. the next Congress from making just such an appropria had made again his last evening's speech, and if the bill tion, or a much larger one, nor would the passage of the were postponed the House would have it again. The bill bind them to do so. He thought it was but a fair gentleman, he believed, never yet had voted for a light-share of the benefits which had been conferred by the Faouse. cession of this territory, and he thought the city most fairly entitled to it. Mr. ELLSWORTH asked Mr. POLK to point out to Which of the light-houses he objected, and not to scare the Fuse with ghosts of expenditure. Mr. WISE demanded the previous question; which as seconded: Ayes 109. The question was then put on the passage of the bill, d decided by yeas and nays, as follows: Yeas 105, ys 61. The bill making appropriations for the Academy at Mr. WARDWELL said that he wished to propose an amendment. He was in favor of the bill, but for a reason directly the opposite of that which had been stated by the gentleman from Virginia. If Mr. W. thought that the stock of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal would ever become as profitable as that gentleman seemed to anticipate, he would not grant the city one farthing; it was because [he felt fully persuaded that the sanguine expectations of H. OF R.] Miscellaneous Subjects. [JUNE 27, 1834 that gentleman would never be realized, and that the ments-particularly the Chesapeake and Ohio cana?; it wa stock would not pay three per cent. in fifty years, that he an honorable zeal, but it had cost the people $1,000,00 was in favor of the bill. His own opinion was that the best already. A bill was now before the House for another mode of relief would be to give them a million of dollars at and the bill under consideration in effect assumes the pay once, and take the stock off their hands, and thus free the ment of another already expended. This, Mr. M. said city from the load under which they were now oppressed. was more than either justice to the people we represen But as they only asked for this $60,000 to pay the in- or liberality could require. terest, he was for giving it. The gentleman from Virginia But the gentleman from Virginia reminds me of a pr [Mr. MERCER] had spoke about the rise in price of the cedent in my own State. It is always with reluctanc stock of the Hudson and Delaware canal, in the State of that I speak of my own State on this floor. I remembe New York. But he could tell the gentleman that that well, too well, the condition of that State in regard to the stock was now below par. It was true that the State had Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. The State d loaned that company $800,000, and the same sort of state-loan its credit to that company for $800,000, but not b ments were made then in the New York Legislature as my consent. I am also reminded that the stock of that con had now been submitted by the eloquent gentleman from pany, previously to the aid granted, was very far belo Virginia, and yet the very Legislature that made this loan par, but afterwards rose into great favor, and far abov are now censured, as having squandered away the public par; that, in consequence, a great amount of coal money, and as not being fit or worthy to govern the been produced, to great public advantage, and the gentl State. If there was to be any parallel between the cases, man predicts further great benefits. I hope his preds the way to complete it would be to adopt the plan he had tions will be realized, yet I cannot estimate the interest suggested-to loan the city a million of dollars, and to New York in that company, when considered in a fista take the canal stock as security. This was what New point of view, as of any value. I have understood ho York had done in respect to the Hudson and Delaware that stock was raised above par. It is said that certai Company. Yet, although that company had the con- persons interested in the coal lands at the termination sumption of the whole city of New York for its market, that canal had a contract with the company for the s the stock had never to this day yielded the interest of the of those lands for a large price, (I believe $200,00, money; neither would the stock of this canal. Its dimen- whenever the stock should rise to par value. sions were too large; the style of expenditure was too extravagant. There had been no economy in the construction, and it never would pay three per cent. In the mean while, what were the people of the city to do? Their taxes were enormous. No community could exist under such a state of things, and he was in favor of giving them the proposed relief. When Mr. CHINN had concluded, After this loan by the State to the company, by one those stock-jobbing operations which have so often c graced Wall street, this stock was blown up into a bubb above par. This, sir, is the reason why this stock excited the attention and surprise of the gentleman from Virginia. Again: Mr. Chairman, I am reminded that the State New York applied here for aid in the construction of he Mr. MANN said he would make a single remark, in re- magnificent works of internal improvement, now so pr ply to the honorable gentleman of Virginia. He feared ductive as to excite the jealous admiration of her sist the attention of the committee had been diverted from the States. True, sir, I confess it with humility; and wi question before it, by the eloquent appeal of that gentle- answer did you give to her application? Did you unloc man. It was not a question whether internal improve- your treasure, and pour into her lap from your bount ments should be carried further, but whether Congress and abundance? No, sir, you told her that you could no should assume the payment of the debt of the corporation favor her with your liberality. The gentleman from Vi of Washington-a debt created for two or three different ginia, [Mr. MERCER,] however, argues that the canals i objects, amounting to more than $1,500,000. He feared New York and in Europe are productive, and therefor that his previous remarks in opposition to this bill had that the Chesapeake and Ohio canal will be profitable. been misunderstood; he had not intended, by what he fear that the gentleman and the public have long labore had before said, to censure the conduct of the gentlemen who were charged with the management of the concerns of this corporation; he did not now intend to do so, for he was deeply sensible of their condition, and he knew no remedy; it was not for him to propose any. The question now to be determined was, whether it was wise, just, and proper, that Congress should assume the payment of this debt? under a delusion in regard to that subject. Great an productive as those canals are, embracing an extent shore, from which the tonnage is derived of more tha 2,000 miles; a soil, climate, and population unsurpasse by any portion of the continent of the same extent; these canals, considered as a mere fiscal operation, hav never, until within the last two years, produced a netti come sufficient to pay the interest on the cost of constru It cannot be denied that they will do so, if this bill tion. The whole expenditure, up to the period whe passes. The report of the committee expresses the hope those canals were navigable in the whole extent, s that the financial condition of the corporation within three $11,416,000, (I speak from recollection,) borrowed at a years will be different from what it is at present. On what average interest of 5 per cent., or more than $600,0 does this hope rest? It is mere hope. What reason have we annually. The nett proceeds of tolls have not, until f to indulge such anticipation? I have not examined the cently, equalled this sum. I do not mention this to der act by which the corporation was enabled to borrow this gate from the great value and importance of those works money; but I am told that the President is authorized and but merely to show their fiscal results. Independent required, on a failure of the corporation to pay the inter-all pecuniary considerations, those works have ever com est, to order the sale and conveyance of individual prop-manded and received my humble support; but it does n erty to meet the deficiency in payment of their foreign follow that, because those canals are productive, a debt. It did not appear to him sound policy for the nation others will produce like results. If the honorable get to assume this burden. Why should they do so? It was man from Virginia will cast his eye over the map of the a concern between individuals, with which the people had habitable globe, he will not discover another spot where nothing to do. They ought not to be burdened with the canal can be constructed with the same hope and prospe payment of the debts of individuals, whether contracted of success as from the Hudson to the lakes. All res improvidently or otherwise. He was aware of the zeal ing, therefore, by analogy with these works and their re with which the honorable member from Virginia [Mr. sults must prove fallacious and illusory, because the analog MERCER] approached the subject of internal improve-in extent of shore, fertility of soil, extent, value, and |