Alexandria Gazette

You will have seen in the newspapers a sketch of the debate in the House on Monday respecting a bridge across the Potomac. This is an interesting subject, and but little understood.

By an act of Congress the President was authorized to make a contract, for building a bridge, according to a model or plan which had been prepared by a scientific engineer. Proposals for erecting this bridge were advertised, and several bids made. The lowest was accepted; but the bidder was unable to give the required security. The next lowest bidder proposed a different plan for the bridge, and offered to erect it after his own model, for the sum of one million three hundred & fifty thousand dollars.

The President determined to alter the plan, and to make the contract accordingly. He was remonstrated with. He replied "I take the responsibility." -The contractor was ordered to proceed with the work. Large expenditures were made. The government engineers expressed their opinions, cautiously, that it would require millions of dollars to build and render it secure, on the proposed model. At length the Secretary of the Treasury sent for Mr. Baldwin, whose talents in that line are well known, and who is employed by government in the erection of the dry docks. He was required to give his opinion in writing. He has done so at great length and in detail. He pronounces the whole scheme impracticable. He thinks, however, that if the work is stopped, and the project abandoned, the loss will not exceed two or three hundred thousand dollars.

His opinion has had no influence upon Gen. Jackson. Congress will not make an appropriation of money to be thus squandered away. But that avails nothing. The President has possession of the public funds, and will use them as he thinks proper. Thus, you see, all power seems be concentrated in the Executive. The prodigality, however, of the General Post Office and other Departments, with the building of this Bridge, will empty the "pet Banks," and the deficiency in the revenue will secure us against the accumulation of a surplus.

Spy in Washington.