Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-21
NIONTCHESU.


To the electors Of tie Senatorial District.
composed o. The counties Of Ap,ei,a,
Chesterfield, PowhGtan, Citns-
beriGadS- Notso,eGy.
FEILOw-CITIzKNS,
After a session al .hc Ge-
neral Assembly. protracted To a period bevoud
any former eNampe,it may be well expected
Dy you, That these who have been intrusted
with yonr political concerns, should. after re-
turning from their labors, give you such infer
NATION, as will enable You To Judge how far
the interest OF the Commonwealth has been
protected, advocated. or depressed by the a.
doptiom or rejection OF the important measures
when were decided during the late session. or
that which preceded il.
FMS duty, though difficult To perform, in a
manner, suited even to IN, own taste, never
theiess take pleasure iii diScharying as far as
can, because believe that the safety aud
prosperity ot every state, where free govern
nlent exists, essentially depend upon the
rt@itort hnt inst examination on tie part of the
people, into the conduct of their political d.
gents.
Ii will not he expected that. in A comn,uni
cation Ike this, notice can be taken OF all the
subjects which have been lately debated i'm Ell
ther branch OF the Legislature those oniv.
which consider to be of deep interest 10
the Conmonw eath will DE brought 10 YOUR at.
tcpton.
he fiscal concerns of tie state is certainly
tdremo in fle consideration of every en-
lghtemed people; for, Il healthfnI treasury,
made so, by simple means, and Hgit burLheBs
can seldom fail in giving high character 10
the country, and happiness and prosperity to
the people, the legitimate end of every govern
ment and that which succeeds best, IN the
attainment of these objects is most to be de
sired, and all arguments TO the contrary can
be considered at best, but fancifiil and vi
Sionlry. aud can never be realized0
The finances of the Commonwealth are in
prosperous situation, promising not only am
IN
times of peace, without additional burthens
but a surplus al the end of each YEAR disposal
bic at the will of.the Legislature; yet not
withstandirg this favorable state of the public
treasury. cannot omit whilst upon this mite
resting part OF my communication, to invite
your attention TO the manner, in which large
sums of money have been appropriated by the
Legislature, since the war ceased aud although
the founders OF these vast schemes, have no
doubt, been actuated by principles OF the most
laudable aud patriotic character; il yet remains
TO be known whether these bold and extensive
innovations, will have been wise in their nj
turc, VI beneficial TO the people. Fei my part
doubt the policy, and much fear that these
experiments will end in failure of their OBJ
Jects. and a destruction ofthc immeus funds
which have been created for their purposes
In this, however, trust may be mistaken
but should my fears be realized, whilstI NAV
deplore the mistaken policy of the Legislature
shall never cease to admire the great ma
toEal objects which were sought TO be attain
ed
1T NAV be said, that extensive works of In.
ternal Improvement cannot fail in advancing
the interest Otthc state; To this would reply
by saying, that although the character of the
state may be improved by vast expenditures Of
public money, for internal Improvement III
does not follow that the people, who are 10
bear the burthcns arising from those measures,
are also benefited, the reason is plain; works
OF tlIiS KIND re OF permanent character, and
so is the state, they both endure forever and
cd NytI lSf I'm
The eXpeDces of those Improvements, die auh
leave their works behind, to be foished and
enjoyed by succeeding generations, ii they
shall choose 10 complete what their predeces-
sorS had commenced.
lift DC true That we ought TO legislate priu-
cipally for tie happiness of those who are liv-
ing, then the policy OF expending vast sums OF
public money for the Henetit OF those who are
10 come after MS al very remote period, NAV
he well questioned: and If the. doctrine has no
limit, then il may be urged that each genera
ton ought to impose heavy burthens OH them
selves, for the benefit of their successors. This
reasoning opens wide field of enquiry, and at
| asst leaves the mind in doubt.
Some time about the year 1911 or 1912,
fund was created by law, denoniinated the
Lite rarv Fund, to consist Of all the fines, pc
naities escheats, &c which had heretofore
gone to the Commonwealth, the object of which
Is TO educate tie youth Of our country. An
object SD ! Unable Hnd pllildnthrOI c painted
IN the most glOrg colUrS, which elUuucnce, ge-
MUS and talents could present, did not fail To
tassinate and charm the hearts of those, TO
whom these arguments were addressed and
little difficulty was found IN giving 10 the
scheme, tic form OF law.
This fund, cnnsecrated 10 tie purposes Of p
ducltlOn, has been fondy cherished by the
hand of the Legislature from tie moment of
It's creation, dia IL seems that nothing hat
sum, Large enough, Is wanting, TO rcaIize the
golden dreams with winch its authors have
been dazIled aud anused--tO what extent
this fund viii be required 10 90, is some what
difficult 10 fUreser certain il IS hOt sger, that
many millions OF dollars viii be required 30 an
swer such views as have been developed and
II complete success could he given TO plan az
universal education, il would still remain 10 BE-
seen whether u nation OF Philosophers would
be happier with each other, than udtiOn com.
posed OF individuals, VariouSiy, aud usefliliv
engaged for the comforts aud happiness Of
mankind.
Atthecfose Of the war it was found that the
United States YVES indebted 10 this state for
advances made dutug the war, in Il sum excee.
ding SiG'n.00D. aud although Il is true that
the who & tIis money had been borrowed
by the stale, and about 81 1904 JJ, Of it was
stili unpaid, for il Vas not Gcmandabie in q
shorter tr,e than ffeCn yeas from the dny OF
loau) Vet tue Increase OF the iileraav fund has
been au object so mucli favored by The Leeis-
lalure, that at the session Of 1915, 10 up
wards OF ~ 100000 Of Isis debt, was given TO
this fund bN law, whilst SiiUO,00J OniV, have
been applied TO the discharge Of the state
debts, leaving Of the new debt, created during
tic war, upwards Of 500 .000 unpaid, on
winch We are now paying an annual in-
terest.
IL is very true that the state cannot be CON.
PEELED to pas any part Of the principal of this
debt, sooner than the period before epoh en- Of
and therefore, soud we be fortunate enough
to remain at peace, il existence will impose no