A. L. Bishop — The State Works of Pennsylvania. 185 



The Plarrisburg convention was a decided victory for the pro- 

 gressive party. It was now felt that the legislature had, in the pro- 

 ceedings of this body, the fullest evidence of the wishes of the 

 people. To its action, the public mind was now directed with con- 

 fidence and pleasing anticipation. 



On the 6th of December the legislature convened. With refer- 

 ence to internal improvements, Governor Shultze's message* was 

 conservative ; but it was regarded as "susceptible of no misappre- 

 hension. "f Referring to the much agitated canal, he stated : — 

 '^Desirable as it is to facilitate intercourse between all parts of our 

 Commonwealth, and to do it speedily, still this desire will not 

 induce the representatives of a prudent people to engage in such 

 great enterprises without having before them all the information 

 and the knowledge which are essential to entering upon and com- 

 pleting the work in the best, most durable, and most economical 

 manner." No time was lost in bringing to the attention of the 

 legislature the wishes of the populace. The day after the opening 

 of the session a resolutionlj: was introduced in the house looking 

 towards the commencement of the long-desired canal. The manner 

 was afterwards referred to from time to time. On the 16th of 

 January, 1826, the "Committee on Inland Navigation and Internal 

 Improvement" introduced a bill§ entitled, "An Act to Provide for 

 the Commencement of a Canal, to be constructed at the Expense 

 of the State, and to be styled, 'The Pennsylvania Canal.' " It 

 passed the third reading on the 2d of February by a vote of 61 to 

 32||. The bill passed the senate|[ on the 22d of the same month 



- 



* See. J. H. Rep., 1825-26, II, No. 1. 



f From Editorial in United States Gazette of December 13th, 1825. 



t See J. H. Rep., 1825-26, I, p. 11. 



§ See J. H. Rep., 1825-26, I, p. 192. 



II See J. H. Rep., 1825-26, I, pp. 310-311. Tlie vote shows that the oppo- 

 sition included all the members from those counties that voted "nay" at 

 the Harrisburg convention, also the representatives of several counties 

 between the Delaware and the Susquehanna, already provided with adequate 

 means of transportation. All the members from Adams, Bedford, Cimiber- 

 land, Franklin, Lancaster ('vitli one exception), Lehigh, Lebanon, Northamp- 

 ton, Perry, Pike, Union, Wayne, and York counties A'oted against the bill. 

 Berks, JNIontgomery, Schuylkill. Westmoreland, and Philadelphia counties 

 were divided. Mr. Heston, one of the members for Philadelphia county, 

 voted in the negative, in opposition to his colleagues, and to the sentiments 

 of his constituency. — Caiey, BriJ'f View of the System of Internal Improve- 

 ments of the State of Pennsylvania, p. xv. 



^ See Senate Journal, 1825, p. 363. Ilie vote was nineteen ayes — fourteen 

 navs. 



