Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-22


plets with extensively interesting conseauen-
c's, required all the III hiS WITHIN the commend
aud reach OF the Legislature. Ii was very
properly deemed advisable that The agents and |
representatives OF The people should act with
perfect understanding OF The subject and with
a fUll and complete view OF the entire ground
The surveys have been made, these lights are
Afforded, the information asked tor has bgen
furnished hy Your engineers, ard we are now
called upon TO carry the design INTO execution.
lhr moment has at last arrived. when the i'm
portrait question Is perhaps forever "a be decid-
ed, whether the contemplated improvements
shall be effected or not. The decision of This
House will e,'ber realize the foudest an,icipa-
tons oi tic pubic, or infiIct blow upun their
best and iaIrest prospects which wall be most
seNtfeis felt. Shdii we reject this bill and all
t0r more surveys and Ieportss Is not the Iegls
lature yet satisfied Have they not vet acunir-
ed an idea of the face of the country, sutfi-
cient'y accurate to enable them 10 proceed
Understandings npOn this subjects Shall Ne
REJECT tbis bill after an immense expenditure
OF public money in the surveys already made
Shali We reject nus bill, after having hitherto
consumed 80 iunch tlms, and employed so mn h
ldEoI IN asceriaihing the pTacIiCabliy and
expectancy OF the pI opposed cOuneXion: Shall
IL he said, that The pubic funds have been
wasted in making useless and Improbable en-
peiimentsf That for the monies thus expead-
ed, the communists have received no proper
| equivalent. Shall we return TO our res ecIive
! homes and tell our constituents thai tie time
/ has hoi Yet arrived, when the Improvement of
soHud policy! Shat much treasure has been
| appropriated 10 examinations aud surveys and
| nothing dones L trust the Disposition which
VIII be made of this bill, Will moi reduce u, TO
| tue painful necessity OF hoidIuy this unpleasant
] iaU- mage.
| Mir. Speaker, ii is "A source OF extreme re-
| greet ard dee modification 10 every Virginian,
iat the subject OF internal impros ement has
| not commanded greater snare OF public AT.
te"tion IN th's state, than 1t has hitherto re-
! ceiNec. Upon what principle are we to account
| fcI ih!s extraordinary Inattention 10 Az object
| so Interesting aud which promises incalculahle
| huNaItastst 10 what specific cause. sir, * NJ
| 10 he tIaced2 ] have too profound a resurct
| ''r The distinguished character U my country-
| nen, i0l q moment tn suppose, that Virginia is
without epete! aud enteiprze She has en-
iPfprZe. SIT, however unfortunately ttue II
! may be, that on this great subject OF iniprnaI
| Improvement, 1t has, perhaps, too loug rcm ,Its
ed dormant and inactive. Her ptide ha-
| AZ last taken the alarm. She sees her s,.ier
| states growing in wealth aud imnoriance She
sees them through the insirunIentality of their
turnpike roads ana navigable canals. sradu-
any preaching the highest point of elevation
10 which their most ardent W sizes could take
| them. Virginia is too proud TO be in the rear
| OF any state. She would feel herself degraded
ia such d situation. She looks within heisrIt
irds abnndant resources and is sensible of
her strength. She sees that nature has placed
within her reach the means OF becomin,s ,
rich and powerful state, the second TO none in
tue uuIon. Yes, Mi. Speaker, il is emphati-
caiiy tue, that nature has done much for The
Commonwealth of Nugi la She has ,oured
IN rich profu>iOn her choicest oifts mon our
blessed and happy country. lake a general
survey, OF the territory emo aCei within the
limits OF our stale aud the Douuiiiul hand OF
nature lsseen exhibited ia The pleasing variety
aud astonishing tertIiity of the soil In The
western section OF Virginia particularly, yOur
attention. would he foIcibly arawu 10 The luXu
mani CROWN OF the country. There the
superior quality of the son STRONGLY invites
| nIlSDdOtuian md n,
rich anu abundant harvest 10 his idhUurs L
making tins survey too, the eve i, ar,tihed
win ,he deiighilm prospect OF hHe majestic
| streams, luSIhudtiIg themselves ti,unsh The
various parts OF The Commonwealth and which
WIN money ana iabonr, might be rendered
cHanneis OF communicable between the ont
itiehi points OF The country OF iDestiuduie
N"ine lheSe are lneAhausiIbie sources oil
wealth. They are blessings of no ordinary
magnitude, ana our highest estimate would
tall very tar S.ort Ut their intrinsic excellence
me! proceed directly iron, the hand OF him.
VINO Is Ue SiVcr OF eVeTN good and pertect
GUT: gratitude for such distinguished fayours
ousht 10 VAIN Tie bosom ut every VUstnlan
III tneih, ht cannot but see God OF Infinite
| wisdom, purity and benevoeuce hnt Mir
Speaker. these ieat natural advantages with
watch our country every where dbouutis re-
q"lIe the fostering and protecting care aud
attention OF the COVE rumenI. DO We expect
! 10 reap tue immense benefits tlicN are capotIp
OF yielding! MONEY and iahour must bs cx-
pended on their Improvement. Do we refuse
10 purchase our prosperity and advance our
INTERESTS. at SO high prIce2 These adj, an
tageS are forever lost 10 US W. tirn orr
backs upon the Iarest prospects. We reiect
the SHeTed beauties OF nature aud declare by
our conduct, that we are mseusibie TO ileiy
value. We reject them too when the advan
taSts they present, are dttaluable with per-
iec' facility. Onr fertile sod and majestic
itteIs ate TO us useless possessions Is such
course OF policy wise and ludIcious? Does il
conporl win The dignity and Interests of the
country
Under existing circumstances, Mr.. SNEAKER.
ara III the present condition of the country
tne people Of that portion or the western
( section oi virginia, through which the con.
tcmpidled improvements are proposed to be
conducted, have turned their attention, ia a
very considerable degree to the raising of
stock wtl tbs article the east rn markets are
supplied. fiom this source their fuhds are
/ principally drawn The pursuits of arrcuI-
! tuTe do not command their attention as exien-
s'tely. nor are its Interests as generally aud
! particularly attended to as in the lower csuu-
tfy. lheif lands Notwithstanding are extremely
| ir'tIit. Why then tiiS partial attention To me
| npi oVement and culture OF their farms? The
rcahon IS obvious. IL rs 10 be traced clearly
| and distinctly TO the morliising fact that they
| have no market for the surplus productions
| Ut their soil Ia the present state OF things
! uley hase 40 iuducemeut 10 vest any very large
! proportion OF their capital ~ tue cuitiyaunn
| OF their lands. That capital Is more proiitn-
! DiS aud USetuliy employed in another way
! nor Will IL be diverted from its ~ esrut .h.,i,.
| nels TO An extensive Improvement OF the i,ce
! OF tlie country, but by SOME certain prospect
| OF advantage. 10 effect lnis diversion, Nou
| must furnish ibem with 4 motive sufficiently
| strong YOU must Siiew them that tlieir inter
| eNts WoulJ Ue best consulted, by prosecuting
their agriCuia'd! pursuits npun d more "a
Id god dud rNttuded scale. This can only De
etecUaiS done, ind clearly shewn ID, opctilug
ara Improving the rivers ~ The heart vt ieII
territory and connecting WIth this improve
! m"Ut an appropriate road, This powerful
sunGaut would BE- -cusibiy felt The industry
aud cner.ttso OF the people would d. aAak0aed,
ts.tr 1,F.f "A