Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-09

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! your committee deem IL necessary. Sfure they
present 10 the House the result of their cnqui.
RES, 10 state the prominent reasons, which
led TO that result, upon subject of so mucl,
delicacy and Importance.
Your committee viii, not commune a moment
by entering into any z enc raj observations upon
| The nature OF Banks, or endeavor 10 slew by
what meaus they contribute TO ang me Mt the
wealth. OF nation, in eniAreing the resources
Ut agriculture, manufactures, or CONNIE rec.
Argument drawn from abstract principles,
howsoever well sustained by practical detnc.
ton, is but a feeble adversary against public
excitement: Audit is, al all times. extremely
d,fhcult 10 separate a question, imperious,y
claiming independent ground, from incidents
| involving similar principles, though uncon.
nected with its Intrinsic merits. Ypur COM
mit,ee are July aware OF the strong nrejndices
| opposed 10 the increase of Bank Capital in
| Virginia, proceeding, as they firmly believe,
from the ipjudicious multiplication, aud mall
administration of these institutions, in other
| states, the pressure experienced in mel camille
operati ms, from tue necessary curtailineDt of
accumulated debts |; and other secondary
causes, needless to detail. The wise regnla.
| tions and restrictions adoptedby Virginia for
| The government of her mopied institutions
have inspired general and deserved conf.
deuce, IN their stability and permanent use.
funess. Your committee are satisfied that
theyhave greatly contributed 10 the commer-
ciaI distinction, revenue, and resources of the
state and that a moderate extension OF CAPT.
tai, under similar wholesome restraints, would
farther promote the public interest by giving
commercial facilities TO a large and important
section of country. which has never enjoyed
| amy OF the immediate benefits derived from
that system.
Previous TO the last year. the southern part
OF this commonwealth lying upon the Roanoke
and It's Tributary streams, and between the
Blue Ridge and the Allegheny; noiwithstand.
ing IL possesses, in very high degree, every
| natural advantage for agricultural pursuits,
justified the culture OF tobacco alone, and the
neaN H. al
| nisied By remotcness from market, and the
| bad state OF the roads. The cheapuess OF land
countenanced wastefnl and slove ymoje of
cultivation. and general agricultural languor
pervaded that whole dist ici OF country. Every
citizen of this conmoDw ealth must view, with
the highest satisfaction, the aiispicious results
which are likely TO reward riIe vigorous efforts
| now making to effect the navigation Of the
Roanoke the partial navigation already
accomplished, has caused transition as rapid
| as ii is pleasing, and substantially profitable
new impulse is given to enterprise and
lndastry-manifested by an unexampled rise
In the price OF land lire introduction of NELL
| Grating system Of nus bandry, and the success
fui culture of every article suited 10 the soil
aud markets OF Virginia. independently of
The rich aud populous trictimmedately con-
tlguous TO the head waters of the Roanoke
there is a section ofscountry TO the south and
west, in the states of North Carolina and
Virginia, of several hundred miles in extent.
combining as great fertility of soil, with other
states. From obvious and powerful causes
daily increasing in their operation, your com.
mittee perceive, that this whole range ofcoun-
Try Is, an great measure, shut out from
more convenient market than il now enjoys,
and which may be afforded, by Legislative
interpositl0n, upon much better terms, ar some
town on the Dan river-the largest southern
navigable branch of the Roanoke. Your COM
mittee moreover believe, that no town Oh that
river unites so many advantages for securing
this trade as Danville, situated opposite TO the
great Falls OIL Danriver, at the head or n safe
and easy navigation; surrounded ON all sides
Dy rich and poPulous countryside main
road which leads from part OF the western
and two OF the southern states to the northern
cities, passing though il, over the only toll
bridge across Dan river. The immense faciIi-
ties for milling, and all the diversified opera
tons OF machinery derived from the great fall
OF wafer at this place, present the most favora.
Die prospect OF augmenting, and improving the |
manufactures of Virginia and it also possess
es more POI ulation, and solid capital Than all |
the towns on that river combined. The town
oiDanvIlie has, tor some time past enjoyed |
considerable portion of the benefits Rowing
rom an acIlYe trade and the people of the
surrounding country have experienced similar
Dement'S, from tue stimulus hence derived in
the more ample rewards attending their Fri. |
cultural labours
The benefits resulting to Virginia from this |
valuable trade, in augmenting her fiscal |
resources, increasing her military strength |
&inevery respect enlarging tire sphere of her |
soiid wealth and Improvement, were too obvi |
Gus and allnriBg 10 elude the vigilance of a |
sister state, who, by the prompt adoption of a |
sagacious policy, has already seized "a part, and |
Is further endeavouring, by the most vigorous |
extriions, to secure to herself monopoly of |
these important benefits -Nortb Carolina
regarding the highly favored position Of Dan
vile with Jealous eye, and fearing il would |
become the emporium of tile Upper Roanoke |
trade, determined that the towns on her |
northern border, Immediately below and above
1ftnra Il,
should BE patronised and encouraged TO put |
In their claims: and 10 render The competition !
more formidable, she gave to these rival towns |
all The commercial facilities which bank cani,aI |
coDiers.-At Milton, Is miles below DanyilIe.
ABOUT twelve months past, she established a |
Dank agency two months past an additional |
agency was located at Milton, and another /
agency al Leaksvllie, 30'niles above Danville.
Notwithstanding the first agency at Milton. |
the superior resources of DaDville sustained
ny the energy of her citizens enabled her 10 /
maintain the contest upon equal gIo und. The |
peoPie IN that part OF the Country submitted |
with fortitude aud patience to large sacrifices
IN support of their own, and the interests and |
character of their native state Bnt the
struggle has become 100 oppressive and
unequal 10 De mncb longer maintained, or to
justify further sacrifice. The predominant |
weight OF bank capital, in giving facilities TO
mercantile transactions, under the existing |
state of things, reinforced by the active aud
JeaionS patronage OF great state, present a
'front.' 100 powerful tor individuals to oppose
with Tie fainfest hope of success. Your
committee would not he understood as intend
ing TO cast any reelection On the character or
motives OF North Carolina. On the contrary.
she is entitled to unqualified praise, in pursn.
ing policy calculated not only to inyigorste
her agriculture, and to swell her exports but, |
by iIspowerful influence, to conduct into her
markets the wealth and products of Virginia.
Sens,bly alive to her interest, her political
forecast Is conspicuously displayed in eyery
laudable effort TO develope her resources, ard
90 far from being rebuked for the spirit and /