Monday, February 13.
Public Roads.
On motion of Mr. Jackson, the House took up the bill making provision for the application of the money heretofore appropriated to the laying out and making public roads leading from the navigable waters emptying into the Atlantic to the Ohio river.
Mr. J. Clay moved to postpone the bill to the 1st Monday of December. Lost—yeas 41, nays 40.
Mr. R. Griswold moved so to amend the first section, as to vest the President with a general power to appoint three Commissioners to designate a route, to be reported to Congress for their ultimate decision; which motion, after a short conversation, was agreed to by a considerable majority.
Mr. Lyon offered a motion for empowering the President to designate the routes. Lost, without a division.
The committee rose and reported the bill with several amendments, in which the House concurred, and ordered the bill to a third reading on Wednesday.