"Secondly. Of the Journal of the Federal Convention, of the Secret Journals of the Old Congress, of Pitkin's Statistics, and of Seybert's Statistical Annals, one copy to the public Library of the Legislature of each State in the Union, and one copy each to such Universities and Colleges as may not already have receiv. ed them, and one copy to one incorporated Atheneum in each State Provided, There remain a sufficient number of the said works beyond what are needed for the use of the Library. "Thirdly. To the United States Military Academy at West Point, one set of all the works of which copies have been distributed to the Universities and Colleges Provided, There remain any copies of the same deposited in the Library of Congress, beyond the number reserved for the said Library. "Fourthly, That, of the three hundred copies of the laws now ordered to be deposited in the Library of Congress, fifty copies be furnished to the Library of the House of Representatives, in addition to the fifty,copies already ordered for the said Library; and that the Clerk of the House of Representatives be, and he hereby is, authorized to receive the same. "Fifthly, That, of the Journals, Documents, and Reports, heretofore ordered to be printed by the Senate, and of which copies are deposited in the Library of Congress, and of the Journals, Documents, and Reports, which may hereafter be ordered to be printed by the Senate, five sets be furnished for the Library of the House of Representatives; and that the Clerk of the House of Representatives be, and he hereby is, authorized to receive the same. "II. And be it further resolved. That the Clerk of the House of Representatives be, and he hereby is, authorized and directed to deliver to the Department of State, properly prepared for transmission, by mail, or otherwise the copies of the books mentioned in the second and third paragraphs of the foregoing resolu tion. "III. And be it further resolved, That, instead of the twenty-five sets of the Journals, Executive Papers, Reports of Committees, and other Documents of Congress, authorized by law to be placed in the Library of Con gress, ten sets only, well bound, shall hereafter be deposited in the said Library. "IV. And be it further resolved, That the Joint Libraty Committee be, and they hereby are, authorized to remove from the Library of Congress, and dispose of, in such manner as they may think expedient, any duplicate, imperfect, damaged, or other work or works, not wanted for the use of the Library. Mr. BASSETT said that he liked the resolution better, or rather disliked it less, in this form, than as it was at first presented, but he was opposed to it in any form. There was no need to send these books away, while so many vacant shelves remained in the Library, where they might be placed to advantage. Mr. WEEMS said that the remark of the gentleman from Virginia reminded him of the story of a farmer, who, understanding it was a good thing to have a Bible in the house, bought two, and put them on the shelf, suppo, sing that this would double the benefit. Mr. BATES preferred the resolution in its original form, as the best mode to distribute these works for the general good. H. OF R. zen years, would, by that time, have acquired a snug little library out of the gifts of Congress. Mr. SUTHERLAND opposed the amendment, and advocated the original resolution. He, for one, avowed his wish to have a copy of the Register of Debates, that he might refer to the arguments of able men on our public measures, and thereby be better fitted to discharge his public duty, should he again be honored with a seat in this House. The expense was already incurred-the books were printed-and the distribution would not increase the expenditure, but only make it useful. He concluded with demanding the previous question; but the call was not sustained-ayes 56, noes 60. Mr. LITTLE, preferring the original resolution, and believing that the House were prepared to adopt it, requested Mr. EVERETT to withdraw his amendment, and Mr. E. withdrew it accordingly. Mr. SMYTH then offered an amendment, which he accompanied by a few remarks, when the hour allotted to morning business expired. But, on motion of Mr. EVERETT, the Orders of the Day were postponedAyes 99, Noes 42-and the discussion continued. Mr. SERGEANT supported the original resolution, on the ground that the distribution to members, was the best mode of circulating the information in these works, which, having been subscribed for with a view to aid their publication, (otherwise impracticable) were the property of Congress, and at its disposal, just as much as the printed documents, the newspapers, the station. ary, and whatever else was provided to enable members to discharge their duties with all proper facilities in attaining the knowledge necessary to perform it with understanding. The distribution laid no burden upon the People, but only took books which were now deposited in damp vaults, and in danger of decay, and pla ced them in the hands of those whose duty it was to use them for the public good. As to being compelled to hold them for the use of their respective neighborhoods, he objected to it as unnecessary. No gentleman would refuse to his constituents the liberty of consulting these books when requested; but he had no idea of being oblig ed to open his house as a circulating library. Mr. ÉVERETT replied to Mr.POL.K, when Mr. BRENT terminated the debate by calling the previous question, which was sustained, Ayes 110. The previous question was put, and carried, and the main question, on the original resolution, being put, Mr. MITCHELL, of Tenn. demanded the yeas and nays; they were ordered by the House, and being taken, stood, Yeas 102, Nays 53. MONDAY, MAY 19, 1828. RETRENCHMENT. Mr. WICKLIFFE, from the Committee on the subject of a retrenchment in the expenditures of the Govern ment, reported, in part, a joint resolut in relation to the manner of executing the printing w red by either House of Congress; which was twice In support of it, he made a few remarks and exhibited a printed document to show the saving that would result to the United States from having it printed in a more compact form. He referred to the inconvenience of searching through a number of volumes of Executive communications to find a particular report from one of the Departments. Mr. POLK warmly opposed every part of the amend ment, except that which proposes to distribute Gales & Mr. STRONG, of New-York, observing that this reso Seaton's Register of Debates to the Governors of the diflution proposes effecting almost a total change in the ferent States. If this mode was pursued with the other present mode of executing the public printing, and wishbooks included in the resolution, he should have no ob- ing further time for considering it, moved to lay it upon jection to it. But, as it stood, the books would be voted the table. by members to themselves; and a gentleman who was fortunate enough to remain in Congress for ten or a do The motion prevailed, and the resolution was laid upon the table accordingly. 11. or R.] Surveys in the Pacific-Delaware Breakwater. SURVEYS IN THE PACIFIC. Mr. REED moved the following resolutions: “Resolved, That it is expedient for one of our small public vessels to be sent to the Pacific Ocean and South Sea, to examine the coasts, islands, harbors, shoals, and reefs, in those seas, and to ascertain their true situation and description. Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to send one of our small public ships into those seas for that purpose, and that he be requested to afford such facilities as may be within the reach of the Navy Department, to attain the object proposed; provided it can be effected without prejudice to the general interest of the Naval service, and provided it may be done without further appropriations during the present year.' The SPEAKER having risen to put the question on the resolution Mr. HOFFMAN, (Chairman of the Committee of Naval Affairs) moved to lay the resolution on the table. Mr. REED begged him to withdraw that motion, to give him an opportunity to explain the reasons that in duced him to offer the resolution. Mr. HOFFMAN withdrew his motion. [MAY 19, 1828. occasion of complaint or amendment. It is the mere expression of an opinion that it is expedient to make the proposed survey and examination, provided it can be done without prejudice to the naval service; and provided it can be done without additional appropriation for that service during the present year. I forbear to say more. I hope the resolution may pass. Mr. HOFFMAN observed that he was opposed to the resolution, and before it passed, he should feel bound to present his views upon the subject to the House, as well as his objections to the manner of introducing it. Mr. REED asked leave to explain, and said that he was authorized to say that every individual of the Committee of Naval Affairs was in favor of the resolution he had offered, except the gentleman himself; and further, that it was their wish that he should present it. Under these circumstances, he trusted that it would not be considered obtrusive on his part to have offered the resolution. Mr. CAMBRELENG observed that he hoped his colleague would withdraw his opposition to the resolutionthat he was sure there could be no reasonable objection to it. That the Pacific Ocean might emphatically be called the American Sea; and he expressed a strong hope that the resolution would pass. Mr. HOFFMAN added a few remarks. He could not say what might be the private opinions of the committee, but that it had not been so decided at any meeting. He concluded by moving to lay the resolution on the table. The motion was negatived without a count. Mr. SAWYER now made some remarks in favor of the measure, which he thought was due as our contribution to the general stock of geographical and nautical science. Mr. GILMER rose to address the House: but the SPEAKER announcing the expiration of the hour for morning business, the debate was suspended. On motion of Mr. McDUFFIE, the House took up the joint resolution granting to Charles Carroll, of Carollton, sole surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, the privilege of receiving and franking letters and packages, and ordered the same to a third reading; and it was subsequently read a third time, passed, and sent to the Senate for concurrence. DELAWARE BREAKWATER. On motion of Mr. SUTHERLAND, the House then went into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, and took up the bill from the Senate making appropriations to commence the erection of a Breakwater in Delaware Bay. Mr. REED then said, that he offered no observations explanatory of the reasons which induced him to move the resolution at the time he offered it, because he had hoped it was unnecessary, and because he was fully aware that the House had at present no time to spare. I will now, said Mr. R. since it has become necessary, explain my views upon the subject very briefly. Some time ago, petitions were presented to this House from the inhabitants of Nantucket, and also from New Bedford, in Massachusetts, praying that the Pacific Ocean and South Sea might be explored, and that the islands, shores, reefs, and shoals, might be surveyed in an accurate and authentic manner. They further stated, that their voy. ages have been extended, within a few years from Peru and Chili, to New Zealand and the Isles of Japan. The risk and losses have thereby been greatly increased. A number of ships have been lost, with their crews, no doubt upon the rocks and shoals, without one person's escaping to tell the news. The insurance in those seas as I am informed, is nearly twice as much as in the Atlantic. The amount and value of the whale fishery is not inconsiderable. There is now engaged in that fishery, in the Pacific Ocean, one hundred and fifty ships, amounting to more than forty thousand tons, requiring a capital of more than three millions of dollars, and employing more than three thousand seamen. Those engaged in the fur trade, and all other commerce in the Pacific, Mr. SUTHERLAND declined making any speech in which is now very considerable, and is rapidly increasing, explanation of this object, but declared his readiness to are deeply interested in the resolution now under consi-give any necessary explanations, when the bill should deration. Commerce, the farming interest, and manu- come into the House. facturing interest, are all deeply interested in the safe navigation of those vast seas; in fact, our whole country is directly or indirectly interested. The proposed mea- Mr. SERGEANT, in reply to this call, said, that the sure, therefore, one well calculated to save lives and report, documents, and, in general, all the information on property, and arther and extend our prosperity. I the subject of this important national work, had been colhold in my han continued Mr. R.) a chart, on which lected and published in a pamphlet, intended to be placis traced the rates of the whaling ships. They extended in the hands of all the members. He had hoped that from Cape Horn, in the Pacific, six thousand miles north, and westerly, ten thousand miles to the Japan Isles, Asia and New Holland. I also hold in my hand a newspaper, printed some time since at Nantucket, giving an account of two hundred islands, reefs, and shoals, never surveyed or laid down on any chart, These islands and shoals, &c. have been discovered from time to time by the whale ships, but they did not possess either the means or time to survey them with accuracy. But I forbear, said Mr. R. to trespass on the patience of the House, by going into the consideration of the subject further; I know our time will not justify it. The resolve now under consideration I drew up with care, endeavoring to avoid all Mr. GILMER called for the reading of the report of the committee in this case. a copy had been furnished to the member from Georgia [Mr. GILMER.] If that was not the case, he [Mr. S.] would give him his copy, where he would find the report. He submitted to him [Mr. GILMER] whether, under these circumstances, he would occupy the time of the committee in having the report read? Mr. GILMER thereupon withdrew his call for the reading of the report, and the bill was laid aside. The committee then, on motion of Mr. ISACKS, took up the bill granting a quantity of land to the State of Ohio to aid in the construction of the canals authorized by laws of that State. Mr. VINTON moved to amend the bill by striking out MAY 19, 1828.] Delaware Breakwater. [H. OF R. “500,000 acres," and inserting “ 1,200,000,” and defend-water, he calculated upon the support of a great majority ed the amendment by referring to similar grants made to the State of Indiana. ed. The question being put, the amendment was negativ. Mr. VINTON then moved another amendment, which escaped the ear of our Reporter, but which was agreed of the House, and, especially, of the gentleman from Baltimore. Baltimore was almost as much interested in it as Philadelphia. It was a work completely national, to all intents and purposes. There was not a port in the United States, from New Orleans to the most Northeasterly port in the Union, not a point on the seaboard that was not interested in it. The interior, too, universally, had an On motion of Mr. McLEAN, the committee then pro-interest in it. Scarcely a spot could be named, that might ceeded to consider the bill to aid the State of Ohio in ex- not be shewn to be concerned in the protection to be aftending the Miami Canal from Dayton to Lake Erie. forded by the proposed harbor. Why, then, should it be Mr. BASSETT inquired whether the grant in the form-connected with any other question? to. er bill would not cover this object. Mr. BASSETT persisted in his objections; and The committee then proceeded to consider the bill granting certain relinquished and unappropriated lands to the State of Alabama, for the purpose of improving the navigation of the Tennessee, Coosa, Cahawba, and Black Warrior rivers. Mr. MERCER moved the following amendment, which he had been directed to offer by the Committee of Roads and Canals: To strike out the word "and" from the last line of the 6th section, and add the following clause: Mr. DRAYTON advocated the bill at considerable length, and replied to the arguments of Mr. SERGEANT. The iron masters had themselves admitted their incapaci ty to supply the iron required, and the continual importations from abroad was evidence of the fact. Of the 90, 000 tons annually consumed, only 30,000 were furnished by our own factories. The construction of this rail road would be a great benefit to the iron masters of Pennsylvania, and the remission of the duty would injure nobo dy. Mr. STEWART yielded to no one in zeal for the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road; he considered it not a local, but a national object, uniting the Atlantic and Western States. He was willing to aid the company to the full extent of the national interest involved in its accomplishment. He would vote for a direct appropriation of double "And be calculated for the use of steam boats, accord- the amount of the duties on iron. But, to this bill, he ing to such plan of construction as the United States' En- was decidedly opposed; it was at war with all his princigineers, appointed to survey and report thereon, may re-ples; it was, in effect, offering a bounty on the importacommend, and the President of the United States approve, tion of foreign iron; it was a virtual repeal of the tariff, provided that such plan shall embrace, if practicable, a just passed, as to iron. He suggested an amendment, to connexion of the navigation of Elk river with the said im- pay the same bounty on the use of American iron. This would leave the American and foreign manufacturers on equal footing; as it now stood, it was granting a bounty to the foreigner, to the prejudice of the American, which he could never sanction by his vote. He made some remarks in reply to Mr. DRAYTON. provements." Mr. GILMER inquired what relief had been granted to settlers on vacant lands in Alabama. Mr. MERCER answered the inquiry, but reminded the gentleman from Georgia that this bill proposed to give them no additional relief, and only referred to what had been done, as being necessary to a description of the lands referred to. A steam boat navigation existed both above and below the Muscle Shoals. The canal necessary to avoid that obstruction would be thirty miles in length, and all the committee wished to secure was, that it should be of such dimensions as would admit the steam boat navigation to continue. The amendment was agreed to, and the bill laid aside: when, on motion of Mr. DWIGHT, the committee took up the bill "to admit iron and machinery for rail roads free of duty." Mr. MILLER having no idea that the House coull ever pass this bill, with a view to save the time that might be wasted in debate, moved to strike out the enacting clause of the bill. Mr. BARNEY opposed the motion with great warmth, attributing it, in part, at least, to a feeling of jealousy existing in Philadelphia, in relation to the rapid rise of Baltimore. Mr. SERGEANT replied, disclaiming all such motives and feelings on the part of Philadelphia; stated the various rail-roads already commenced in Pennsylvania, and inferred the interests which that State had in the bill, but stated the universal sentiment prevalent in that State, as to the ability of the iron masters to furnish whatever would be required by the Rail-Road Companies. He referred, by way of illustration, to what had been done in making cast-iron pipes, for the conveyance of water to Philadel. phia. Speaking of the allusion which had been made to the Breakwater, he said he saw no reason why these two things should be brought, as it were, into opposition with each other. There was no natural hostility between them. Each must stand upon its own merits. As to the Break Mr. BURGES defended the bill, contending that no duty laid on the importation could materially benefit the iron masters in the interior. Of that which was made in Pennsylvania, only one third went to Philadelphia, and two thirds of it to the West, which was a proof that foreign iron did not control the price. He denied that either Pennsylvania or Maryland would suffer any injury, while all who were concerned in rail roads received an immediate benefit. On motion of Mr. GORHAM, the committee then rose, and reported the bills, and they were severally ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. On the question of ordering the bill making appro priations for the Breakwater, to its third reading, Mr. WILLIAMS demanded the Yeas and Nays, and they were ordered by the House, and being taken, stood as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Addams, Anderson, Maine, Anderson, Pa. Armstrong, Baldwin, Barker, Barlow, Barney, Bartlett, Bartley, Bates, Mass. Beecher, Blake, Brent, Bryan, Burges, Butman, Carson, Condict, Coulter, Creighton, Crowninshield, Culpeper, Davenport, Ohio, Dickinson, Dorsey, Everett, Findlay, Forward, Fry, Gale, Gorham, Gurley, Hunt, Ingersoll, Isacks, Johns, Keese, Kerr, King, Lawrence, Leffler, Little, Livingston, Mallary, M'Duffie, M'Intire, M'Kean, M'Lean, Mercer, Miller, Miner, Mitch ell, Pa. Moore, Kenn. Moore, Alab. Newton, O'Brien, Or, Owen, Pearce, Pierson, Plant, Ramsey, Reed, Richardson, Ripley, Russell, Sergeant, Shepperd, Sloane, Smith, Indiana, Sprague, Stanberry, Stevenson, Pa. Sterigere, Strong, Swann, Swift, Sutherland, Taylər, Thompson, N. J. Tracy, Tucker, N. J. Vance, Varnum, Vinton, Washington, Whipple, Whittlesey, Wilson, Pa. Woodcock, Wolf, Wright, Ohio, Yancey.—95. H. OF R.] Ohio Canal. [MAY 20, 1828. Mr. MALLARY replied to Mr. VANCE, but would not oppose the bill. NAYS-Messrs. Alexander, Allen, Va. Archer, Philip | scrupulous in granting her a few thousand acres of land P. Barbour, Barringer, Bassett, Brown, Cambreleng, Car- to aid a great national improvement. ter, Chilton, Claiborne, Clark, N. Y. Clark, Ky. Conner, Crockett, Davenport, Va. Desha, Earll, Floyd, Geo. Fort, Garrow, Gilmer, Hall, Hamilton, Haynes, Healy, Hobbie, Hoffman, Lecompte, Lea, Long, Lumpkin, Lyon, Marable, Markell, Martindale, Martin, Marvin, Maxwell, M'Coy, M' Hatton, Metcalfe, Mitchell, S. C. Polk, Rives, Roane, Sawyer, Smith, Va. Trezvant, Tucker, S. C. Turner, Verplanck, Ward, Wilde, Williams, John J. Wood, Silas Wood, Wright, of N. Y.-58. Mr. MOORE, of Alabama, now moved the previous question; which being sustained, put, and carried, Mr. LUMPKIN, on the main question, asked the Yeas and Nays, and being taken, they stood as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Baldwin, John S. Barbour, Barlow, Barney, Bartley, Beecher, Bell, Blake, Brent, Cambre. leng, Chilton, Condict, Coulter, Creighton, Daniel, Davenport, of Ohio, Desha, Dorsey, Duncan, Everett, Findlay, Gorham, Gurley, Hunt, Isacks, Johns, LawMallary, Marable, Martindale, McDuffie, McHatton, McKean, McKee, McLean, Mercer, Metcalfe, Miller, Mitchell, of Pa. Mitchell, of Tenn. Moore, of Ky. Moore, of Ala. Newton, Orr, Owen, Pierson, Polk, Ramsey, Richardson, Russell, Sergeant, Shepperd, Sloane, Smith, of Ind. Stanberry, Swann, Sutherland, Taylor, Vance, Vinton, Washington, Whipple, Whittlesey, Wolf, Wright, of Ohio, Yancey.-72. The bill authorizing the continuation of the Dayton Canal having come into the House. Mr. McLÅNE made a full explanation of the circum-rence, Lecompte, Lea, Leffler, Letcher, Little, Lyon, stances on which it was founded, and concluded his speech by offering a slight amendment; which was agreed to. Mr. S. WOOD inquired how far this Canal run through the Public Lands. Mr. McLEAN replied, between 70 and 80 miles. Mr. STANBERRY then made a brief statement of the condition of the Ohio Canals. Mr. BURGES supported the bill, on the principle that the State of Ohio having greatly benefitted the public lands, by commencing this Canal, it was fair that the United States should render her an equivalent, to aid her in its completion. Mr. TREZVANT demanded the Yeas and Nays on ordering the bill to its third reading, and being taken, they stood as follows: Yeas 95, Nays 60. So the bill was ordered to its third reading. Mr. McCOY now moved an adjournment, but the mo. tion was negatived, Ayes 78, Noes 81. The question being on ordering the bill granting lands to Ohio, to aid in constructing the Canals, ordered by the State, Mr. BASSETT objected to it, and asked its friends if they had no consience. He thought the House had done quite enough for one day. They had just given away 1,400,000 acres of land to the State of Ohio, and here was another bill for as much more. Mr. STANBERRY explained the object of the bill, which was to aid the State of Ohio in refunding the capital, which she had borrowed for the construction of the two Canals in that State; one from Portland to Lake Erie, by way of the Licking and Portage summits, and the other from Cincinnati to Lake Erie, through Dayton. He referred to the pressure of direct taxes, laid by the State, to carry on this great improvement; he stated that they were, on that account, beginning to grow unpopu lar, and expressed his apprehension, should this bill fail, that one of them might be suspended the next season. Mr. ISACKS said, that the grant of land, in both these bills, taken together, was less than that made last Congress to the State of Indiana. Mr. VINTON went into a full statement of the condition of the Ohio lands, and insisted on the propriety of the amendment he had offered in Committee. To obviate a difficulty started by Mr. SPRAGUE, Mr. MERCER moved the following proviso: "Provided, That, in the lands hereby granted, no lands shall be comprehended, which have been reserved for the use of the United States, as alternate sections in the grants hitherto made, or which may be made, during the present session of Congress, of land within the said State, for Roads and Canals:" which was agreed to. Mr. BARTLETT now moved an adjournment, but the motion was negatived. Mr. VANCE now briefly advocated the bill, stating that Ohio had paid into the Public Treasury many millions of dollars, and the United States ought not to be NAYS-Messrs. Addams, Alexander, Allen, of Va, Anderson, Me. Armstrong, Bailey, P. P. Barbour, Barker, Barnard, Barringer, Bartlett, Bassett, Belden, Blair, Brown, Bryan, Buckner, Burges, Chase, Claiborne, Clark, of N.Y. Clark, of Ken., Conner, Culpeper, Davenport, of Va, Davis, of Mass. Dickinson, Drayton, Earll, Floyd, of Gå. Fort, Forward, Fry, Gilmer, Hall, Harvey, Healy, Hob bie, Hoffman, Keese, Kremer, Locke, Long, Lumpkin, Markell, Martin, Marvin, McCoy, McIntire, Mitchell, S. C. O'Brien, Rives, Roane, Sawyer, Smyth, of Va. Sprague, Stevenson, of Pa., Sterigere, Swift, Taliaferro, Thomp son, N. J. Thompson, of Ga. Tracy, Trezvant, Tucker, N. J. Tucker, of S. C. Verplanck, Ward, Wilde, Wil liams, Wilson, of Penu. Wingate, J. J. Wood, S. Wood, Woodcock, Wright, of N. Y.-75. Mr. STANBERRY, referring to the fact, that the bill just rejected had, in Committee of the Whole, been considered before the bill for the Dayton Canal, suggested, that the order had been changed in the House by some management of one of the officers of the House. Mr. STANBERRY was called to order, but insisted on inquiring whether this had taken place from man agement, or by accident only. He said, he was induced to make the inquiry, because the result agreed so ex actly with the views of a certain party in this House, Mr. STANBERRY was here again called to order; When, on motion of Mr. LITTLE, The House adjourned. TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1828. OHIO CANAL. After the reading of the Journal of the preceding day, Mr. CLARK, of New York, rose and said: Mr. SPEAKER: On the question of engrossing the bill granting lands to the State of Ohio, to aid in the completion of one of her Canals, (that from Cleaveland to the Ohio river,) I voted in the negative. I intend, before tion. It is due to the friends of this important work, resuming my seat, to move a reconsideration of the ques that they should have a fair hearing; that its merits should be fairly discussed; that the question should be met openly and manfully; and, if the bill is to be defeated, that they should know on what gronnds; whether it is to fall a sacrifice to party management, or be rejected on House was not usually full, and I have yielded to the re principle. When the vote was taken yesterday, the quest of the friends of the bill, to move the reconsidera. tion, to enable gentlemen who were absent to record their votes. reasons other than those of policy and expediency, I feel Though, myself, opposed to the bill, for MAY 20, 1828.] this is one. Ohio Canal. no disposition to insist on the accidental advantage, which the lean majority of two gives, to the opponents of the measure. I wish the will of the majority of this House, when fairly expressed, to take effect; and, whether that will may accord or conflict with my own, I shall cheerfully submit to its mandate, and lend my aid to its expression. Sir, the people of Ohio feel a deep and lively interest in the construction of this Canal. It is not only of vast importance to that State, but its benefits will be felt by the State of New York, and the Union at large. If any work can appropriately be called a national work, It connects New Orleans with the city of New York by internal navigation. It is the continuation of the grand Erie Canal, one of the great links of that chain of water communication which will bind these States together by indissoluble ties. These canals will continue, to remote generations, to scatter, in rich profusion, the blessings of liberty, civilization, and wealth. The State of Ohio, yet in her infancy, with a spirit and ardor alike honorable to her enterprise and her patriot ism, and with the vigor of manhood, has commenced the work, and the whole of it is now in a rapid and a success. ful progress to completion. In its partial accomplish. ment she has exhausted her resources, and has been compelled to resort to loans and direct taxation. Ohio now asks of Government a donation of lands, to enable her to go on in this meritorious enterprise, on the grounds, both of its nationality of character, and that the Canal has increased the value of the public lands through which it passes. Did the bill propose merely to give a quantity of land equal in value to the amount of tax which the United States would pay if their lands were taxable, I would not oppose it. It would seem to be just that the lands of the Government, which receive a benefit in common with the lands of others, should bear the common burden. The House will recollect, that the bill authorizing the donation of lands for the benefit of the Dayton Canal, passed to be engrossed by a majority of thirty-five. It is not my purpose to speak of the comparative merits of the two Canals, any farther than to show the inconsistency of gentlemen who advocated the one and opposed the other. Sir, I did not admire the manner in which this bill was yesterday defeated. The bill for the benefit of the Dayton Canal, one of less importance than the Cleaveland Canal, and one, I am informed, of doubtful practicability, owing to a supposed insufficient supply of water on the summit level, passed in silence; all was calm and tranquil; but, the moment this bill was called up-a bill depending on the same principles as the former, but dispensing the public bounty to a more meritorious object-all the political elements were in agitation, and the waves of party were dashing it to destruction. Such anxiety, such shuffling, such bolting, such changing of votes I have at no time witnessed. The confusion has not been equalled since the tumultuous and disastrous retreat of the army of Xerxes, after the battle of Salamis; certainly not since the memorable" races of Bladensburg." Sir, I concede the right to gentlemen to change their votes at pleasure, neither do I, in this case, impeach the motives of any one. Those gentlemen who voted for one of these bills, and against the other, may have had good and weighty reasons for so doing, which they did not think proper to communicate to the House. But it so happens, that some fourteen or sixteen gentlemen who thus chang. ed their votes, belong to the same political side of the House; and some eight or ten who happened to leave their places, immediately preceding the vote, belong to the same side. Sir, the gentleman from Ohio, who The gentlemen, who voted for the Dayton Canal bill, and against the Cleaveland Canal bill, are, Messrs. Barker, Barnard, Bartlett, Burges, Chase, Davis, of Massachusetts, Dickinson, Locke, Sprague, H. Thompson, Tracy, E. Tucker, J. Wilson, Woodcock-all Adams men. Those who voted for the Dayton Canal bill, and were accidentally VOL. IV. 172 [H. OF R. moved this bill, [Mr. STANBERRY} has good reason to exclaim, "Save me from my" Internal Improvement "friends, I can take care of my enemies." Why did the gentleman from Ohio, not now in his place (Mr. VINTON] deem it necessary to attack his colleague [Mr. STAN BERRY] in relation to a statement made by the latter? Here we see two gentlemen, professing to be embarked in the same cause, and anxious to attain the same object, at odds about trifles, and caviling about straws. The mover of this bill, in the course of his remarks to the House, had stated in round numbers, that about eight millions acres of land, in the State of Ohio, now belonged to the United States. Here then was presented to the gentleman, [Mr. VINTON]a fine opportunity to show his stern regard to truth, and passionate fondness for the Cleaveland Canal! He made a speech; gave a history of the Ohio lands; how many acres the United States originally owned; how many sold; and, by the complex rule of subtraction, ascertained, that the Government still owns seven and a half millions of acres, and not the enormous quantity of eight millions, as asserted by his colleague, [Mr. STANBERRY.] And why all this? Was it for the purpose of furnishing a veil to throw over the votes of gentlemen who had made up their minds to go against the bill? Or was it merely for the purpose of putting the House in possession of this important information As the gentleman voted for the bill, I am bound, in charity, to believe the former. I impeach not his motives, but I must be permitted to remark, that his course was illy calculated to propitiate a friendly feeling for the bill. The gentleman, sir, was not content with this manifestation of his devotion to the interests of this canal. He took the bill to his fond embrace, and gave it a warm fraternal hug. (I thought it looked blue in the face at the time.) In the abundance of his zeal, in the overflowing of his kindness, he proposed an amendment to increase the donation from one half million to twelve hundred thousand acres of land. Was this intended as an evidence of his friendship for the bill, or was it to excite a spirit of distrust and alarm? Disclaiming all intention to impugn the motives of the gentleman, I must again crave the indulgence of the House, while I am permitted to say, that the effect of such a proposition was well calculated to defeat the bill. Then, sir, follows a farce, got up between two friends of the measure, brethren of the same political household-an amicable warfare, a mock battle, is fought between these co-workers in the cause of internal improvement. The gentleman from Ohio, on my left, Mr. VANCE] somewhat cavalierly, and in ironic mood, said, in substance, that a gift, by the United States to Ohio, of a few hundred thousand acres of land, might well be made-it was of no consequence-a mere trifle! "O no," says the gentleman from Vermont [Mr. MALLARY]" though I am friendly to the canal, I can never consent to vote away the public domain as a gift. I support the bill on the ground that the Government has already received an equivalent in the enhanced value of its lands." Thus ends the friendly strife. By this time the victim is prepared for the immolation; the ceremony is performed, and the bill is handed over to its executioners. Sir, if it was right to pass the first bill, the second deserved a better destiny. Whatever merits belong to one are common to both-they involve the same principles, and should go hand in hand to their fate.* out of the House when the question was taken on the other bill, are, and Strong-all Adams men. Some three or four Adams men werenot Messrs. S. Anderson, Ingersoll, Miner, Pearce, Plant, Reed, Stewart, in their seats, when the question was taken on the first bill, and who voted against the last. Mr. Clark was prevented by the "previous question" from notic. ing the remarks of Mr. Blake, Mr. Vance, and Mr. Vinton, made in reply to Mr. C. Why Mr. Blake, who had not been alluded to by Mr. C. and who |