Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-17

oi the uicnipiaird Canal. The power OF Congress
regarded as the local Legislature of this District,
hn,horz" such II subscriptions, cannot he inIerur To
that OF tine state OF Delaware, or Of the popu,uis
state OF New York TO provide for the Improvement
OF lis territory, and the happiness OF its people, and
the subscription as well as the loan of the puilir
credit, to the extent invited by the tesout,ons is
not, II tested lay the most sor,d views disp o,or-
iio"ed To The oJe,i to lie sulseiyed by their joint
operation
As little doubt can he entertained Of the reasona-
hie character OF the request, which the resolutions
address,, Tor peruniary and TO The adjacent states Of
Mary land and Vhgin'a. Should the entire eastern
section OF the Canal he Completed without farther
contribution iron, them-and that none will he re-
CURED, am fully persuadcd--few similar public be-
nek's will be found to have been purchased AT cost
So moderate. For, II the canal he regarded as Of
euai value with AN ordinary turnpike, Virginia will
have paid, IL she yield TO our request, very little
more than 500 dollars per mile for her partcipa-
ton in its benefit, and Maryland but ,wo-ihrds Of
\ that sum.
or the of the local irteres, Of thnse states
respectively, in the canal have already very brief
~ spoken oil their common interests, as members OF
the Unon,) single glance at their territory is suf-
cient To apprise us. This Capitol stands what was
| once the soil of Maryland. The Chesapeake which
u Ia receive, aud 10 distribute, At home and abroad
The vast commerce OF the contemplated canal, d
,ides her present domain more equally than that of
Virginia.
Although the course Of the canal above this Dis
irict u not '-hnitvey fixed, said to require
mat Tor some distance, at least, Immediately above
e,
and lis future extension TO the Pa,apsco, or the Sc.
vern, must secure TO her large share Of its cou,-
| metce. Virginia has no city without this District,
except Norfolk, To which il can be invited. Mary
land therefore, apart from all consideration of
mon national benefit, Is called upon by the reso
liiions 10 subscribe murh.
oh the other ha"d should II he complained, rs
do not appr"hend, that Virginia is urged subscribe
more than her sister state, TO the common enter
riLe, this objection may be met, b, ascending
Tue Potomac Undoubtedly, the chief advantage
o. any canal IS realized by the agriculture aud man
nactures OF that territory, whose productions, both
natural aud ariihcial II conveys their destined
market OF distribution, or consumption. All who
dea' ~ the same Market largely partake, indeed,
OF the common benefit Of its extended capital,
multiplied competition, and consequen, stability but
the '"hah''ans OF the territory drained by the cur
rent oi the Potomac, or OF lis tributary eauis along
with their full share of this advantage have siiil
greater ~ the reduction of tie hazard aud labor of
transportation. IL this advantage he divided between
The states Of Maryland and Virginia and be measur-
Ell ny the extern oil their territory, then the Virginia
subscription will not exceed its lust pr oporii TO
that OF Maryland. They are the propreiors Of the
opposite shores of the river Potomac throughout the
whole ext al oi the eastern section OF the canal
30 far, their interests may he regarded rs equivalent
bu', when we compute the relative number and mag
ntde ut the navigabie which pour their cur.
rents from above, through the Opposite banks of the
MAN river, while the smaller made 10
balance each other the Two largest, the South
Branch and the Shenandoah, turn the scale of inter
rs, IN favor of Virginia. Taken together, with the
Western Branch oiihe latter river, they now afford
IN inland igation of three hundred and liy miles
often obstruc'ed indeed, by low wafer, but suscep-
he oi The same improvements with the main river,
at much less cost.
Al The source ofthe Potomac, Maryland has bu,
single county, while, beyond the Allegany Virginia
has many, who look with deep anxiety TO the Poto-
"ac, rs their natural outlet TO market
Ihe instrument, by which the resolutions propose
10 ehect Their purpose, is, moreover, joint stock
company. The contribution of it's partners, ifneces-
sary TO the success OF their joint adventure should be
proporiioned TO their respective capitals. Since the
profits OF their respective stock will be in like pro-
portion, all apparent inequality between them ia COM
pleely obvialed.
am as Ear, Mr. Chairman, from intending TO dis.
parage the resources OF Mar yan 10 boast of those
Of Virginia. How the former can be best develop-
cd Tor The advantage at our purposed enterprise,
leave 10 the suggestions Of her respectable delegation
on thus floor Bat know they will accept, in good
part, the friendly counsel of AN experience, which
prompts mr TO say, that, II obsirucied III their views
by The rivalry OF contending interests, will be ex-
edent TO ground upon those interests their plan of
hnance. New York, SO happily situated as 10 have
hut one great market, towards which all her rivers
naturally iead was, never lleess, compelled TO begin
her TWO great canals, almost az the very same mo-
neni. Either was an enterprise worthy Of the wis
dom anu opuience ol great state and she did not
commence them together, because she had resources
nj command Tor the completion of BOTH but because
nF'her would have succeeded, without IA provision
Tor the other.
In like manner The Virginia FIND for Internal I'm
rrovemen was set apart from her ordinary revenue
ny ihe united influence, and Tor the fuiuIe benefit OF
all her rivers and roads In the ordc, of their a,ti
icial Improvement by canals aud lurapikes The Ios
Obvious policy, indeed, requires that they he not all
begun at one time ut the interest of all in the
common fund is secured, by exact uniformity in the
terms OF its appropriation while its growing magni-
tude opens to all, the hope of participating At some
period or other, IN lis heDc6I WHY may not tile
SuSquehannah and iiLe Potomac advance their nutu-
al interests by friendly cooperation, IN promoting
the wealth and population OF Maryland
In Ihn tlAln n
Mr. Chairman, br permitted 10 say, that Com
mon~ealth was never more f,vorabiy circumsianced
'han III present, Tor The vigorous prosecute OF her
great system Of Internal Improvement Nithou,
touching either OF her large aud growing funds for
the education OF her people, the Improvement OF
their internal intercourse funds amounting Al pre-
sent 10 yeIy near three millions of dollars without
adding one cent to the Of present taxes aln-
pie means within her reach for the ,apid adj
vancement Of Two Objects, alike important TO her fu-
lure weIi'Te--i mean The James River and Potomac
CahaIs, nose twin "hspr ng at the patriotic
c'l4 Of our illusrioms Washington.
ln the yehr eighteen hundred aud Iweniy-six q re-
venue oil ilOOOO per annuHi, hitherto applied To
the payment OF the interest aud the reimbursement
ri the principal of the debt contracted in the late
war, and OF he smaIl remnant, then unpaid, Of the
ceI IA ATE dfht of the Revolution, will have fulfilled
IT'S purpose, aud wnud amply provide for = subscrip
ton Ia each ot those great canals, Of equal
that which the resolutions ask Tor the eastern section
Ui The Unun Canal. Should IL bn the pleasure of The
State 10 give to This Teveune such destination, II
will not br lie least of the benefits thence resIiinc
that thr fund for iniern: iparovenent will e Jeff o
provide f,I he get furiht ex enson of the James
river canal--for the Brper Roanoke, the Appon,ai-
tox, a"d the other giea rivers, as well Us tic roads
Of the Commonwealth. (K.)
WIN regard ~ that portion Of the g 10000
which Vet remains TO he obtained, aud for which The
resolutions call upon The CITIES of this District con-
fcs-, Mr.. Chairman, that I would greatly prefer
drawing upon some olherinierest. Nh, sir, because
doubt, ~ The least, tie ability or the patriotism
which would prompt oar feilow-ciiizen of this DIS
tiri 10 contribute TO our enerptize. Though often
represented to he DISTINGUISHED, their affection Tor