Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-15
FOR TIE E.NONIRER.
PEOPLE or VIRGINIA.


myself TO address you upon subjects of so much
importance, as those which draw from me the fol
lowing rem 'rks. have waited with anxious So
!ict'de, IN the hope, that Others competent
wei from education as habit, would perform this
duty, nil find myself for the first time in NV life
leaving my agricultural occupation und employing
my feeble pen in task which am too sensible
cannot do justice 10. Ia the eyentfu! period of our
history, however, when the rights of the states are
invaded with more unsparing hand than have
ever Known them, and when the state of Virginia
| Is called upon TO give direction TO her course of
internal Improvement, will offer my little all, I'M
Ger the assurance that you will ex end your indul-
sence Tor the errors which will no doubt be found
In the following essay, and which will be the una
voidaolc result of the limited sources OF information
nave access to- and the want of time for invesii-
CATION.
From the political movements in the western
part oil the State, well as from the operations OF
me Ensineers under the direction of the United
States Government, there j, every reason to believe
maj vigorous cifor, will be made during the pre-
sent session OF Congress, and OF The Stae Legisa-
ure, to prosecute the scheme OF connecting by ca
nal navigation, the Potomac and Ohio rivers under
the auspices OF the General Government and the
James and jackson > river with the Kanan ha under
the direction of the State.
| My views and opinions have been so ably re-
| presented by Others in relation To the sweeping
N''N
raj weliare," that will not presume to say a word
| upon the modern construction which Is put upon
that clause of the compact By which we are uni ed
10 our neighbours, a. had Supposed, for the pur
| pose OF managing such general concerns as the
States TO which we severaly belong, could NJ ma
mage IN their separate capacity, and 10y which am
m de TO pay more tax under the new tariff for the
BENEFIT OF my northern brethren who are manulac-
'ufers, tnan pay IN ny own State upon my land,
10 dciray the expense of the government which pro-
'ecis, and .o"dly nope will continue to protect
| my rights and for which tax l Cannot perceive
that reap reciprocal benefit.
i VIII say no more about this one sided bargain
but proceed to the practical effects likely TO ilow
IRON the assumed power oil the General Govern
ment 10 carry ON the work OF internal Improvement
IN tie States. 10 this end, shall examine the
| last report OF the Engineers upon the Chesapeake
| and Ohio Canal, winch presume, will not be
| materially changci 10 lis route since il was
| considered the best OF nine different views which
they took during the last year. After this, will
| max some remarks ON the James and Jackson's RI
yer improvement, which will probaby be acted on
| during the present session OF the State Lesisa-
ure. will mere take occasion TO offer the tribute
| OF my highest respect TO Mr.. Bower Miller of
Bo!etour, Tor his dslnteresied patriotism in tender
ing his hearty cooperation with his friends to pro-
secute the scheme with our own resources, whilst
he would disdain TO accept the aid of he General
''' ~ tIS SA pCHae Vi me COnStliu
Ii will be admitted By all, | presume, that the
| example of New York las had more influence. in
giving an impulse TO internal improvement by canal
| navgation, than all the " ord besides Whilst we
award 10 her all the credit she deserves and a. The
same lime applaud the motives which give birth to
his spirit OF emulation In our state let US not
lose sight OF prudence. Let us take a comparative
view OF her geosra pnical stua ion and our own
and see how far we shall he justified in following
her example.
The great range OF mountains which separate The
States OF virginia, Mary land and PENNSYLVANIA
Homihe western waters a. 1t spPro aches The north-
ern boundary OF Peunsy lvania subsidies by degrees
Into comparaty ely vel country ill the western
part OF New YORK becomes an extensive and fer
Tie FldI intcfspersed with lakes to which The
Canal mas easy access over summit level at the
head OF the Iohawk, only four hundred end seven
teen ieet above Ide water in the Hudson This
summit level Is siNty-nine miles ali witLouI
lock. 1t lhen varies In elevation from entv 20
thirty iee over the extensive country BORDERING IN
on the Seneca river, and rises again beyond ,he
Genesee, TO another level OF more than ski, miles
without lock, after which il rises % Lake Ere
without ever Dens higher than five hundred and
sixty-our icet above tide water The great VALLEY
OF the Mississippi eX ends Itself beh4d these mon
lalns I'LL II unites with tins plain AID The summit
level oil the canal which is 10 Cunmec, Like e. lie
siIh The Ohio Is but four hundred and fifty feet =,
bove the latter, and three hundred and Is enty
above The former. Thus there - 10 tnou,lai, IN
encounter III the whole rou,e of The canal. from
tide water in the Hudson, through Lake E.ie and
Ihe"ce into The OHIO, aoas the Ohio aud Erie Ca
nal
In going up the Mohawk, the ascent j. continu-
ally diminishing, ill tile canal passes the head
waters OF that Iiver aud enters upon this level and
rich country OF 300 miles extent along its course
Various connexions are, and will be formed Le-
/ ~ nprtf !fG .fr.Af lts.. II l..
and these, together with the extensive coast OF
Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Huron and Ontario.
all which VIII Ue connected with it, will furnish
more commerce Than Can be accommodated by Tie
one canal, and II Is not to be doubted that IL will
at future day he found necessary TO make another
canal parallel with this The opposite SIDE OF the
Mohawk. The Whole amount OF lockage from Al
bdny to Lake ErIe, is onl III feet. At the same
time tina, am not al all di posed to de,racl from
HE merit to winch the ioundc OF tl- scheme are
JIstlJ entitled fof the zeal aud ptfseye rance which
'hey have manifested IN the accOmF shmeit of This
magnificent enterpIIze, must be allow ed TO say
u IS rather TOT CIGeteG a., that the STATE o.
New OK has been tardy m avai,ing herself OF
all 'hese advantages. FO' may .rIly DE said, tha
10 canal navigation his Jeeu effected either IN
Europe or Americ3, under circumstances In all re-
spccIs bearing any coura.i-on uIh desc. Indeed
Tie maps oil Uoth, do moi furnish theatre in which
Tie Douniies OF nature nave UecI bes o Ell with 30
HLef'l e Iahd, and III when 80 many inducements
have been neld out Tor extensive operations OF this
SORT.
Let us now see what are the difficulties TO be
suHnounted 10 connecting the Potomac with the
Ohio by the Chesapeake and OHIO anal
According 90 tne repOr OF tle Cnrei States En-.
gnee.s, ~ appears, tha from tide waller IN the Poto-
mac, TO the top OF the AIcsany, tie elevation is
about 252S IL feet. Bl n oder 10 obtain water
20 supply hecandl a. is summit les Ell, 1t Is propos-
ed to bore through the mountain by tunnel 227