Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-12-16
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FRIDAY MORNING. DEG. 10 1925.
ron ruE uNsrIrUrIoNAL " mIC
70 TEE PENHLE OF NINnlNIA

TO The PEOPLE on VIRGINIA.
II IS with un!rIyucd reluctance that persuade my
self address YOU upon subjects of So much inheritance
as those which d'a'v from the following reIArks.
have waited with anxious solicitue. in the hope that
others nue competent well from oduCationas habit
would perform this duty, Till lind self tor the FIRST
time IN my hic leaving my agricultural occupation and
eInPl iug feeble pen in a task which | am too
sensible cannot do Justice TO- In the eventfll peri
oil our history, however, when the rights OF the States
are invaded with uusparing hand than have
ever known them, ana when the state of Virginia is cal
cd upon 10 give direction 10 her course of internal
inprov encnt, will oier my little aid under tie assn
rance that YOU viii extend your ndug, nee the err
rors which will doubt be found the GLOWING Is
say, and which Will he the unavoidable result the H.
United sources of information have access to- and the
want of time for Investigation
From the political movements in the western part OF
the SA,a as well us from the operations of the Engi
nsers under the direction Of the United States Govern
nent, there is every reason TO bclieIe vigorous
etI't will be made during The present session of ON
5'ess, and OF the State Legislatures to prosecute tin,
scn2mc OF connecting by canal navigation, the Potomac
an Ohio rivers under the auspices the General Go
I'm mt md tn James and jack on river with the
hanlwha. under tho direction OF the State
Ny views and on'tioas lave been aoy represent
Cd by others III :e!on To the sweeping clause of the
constitution "o provide tor the general welfare" that
"li not presume Ia say word upon the modern con
s!fuc'n which is pu' upon that clause oil the cU,,act
10y which we are unite! 70 our neghhonrs had sup
P'aed' Tor III" pnrpos" o! managing such ge0cral
cclS as ne states 10 whch severaily belong could
not manage ~ tier separate capa ty, and bv winch
81 made made 10 pay tax under the new tariff tor
t!'' hencl o! ms nOrthcrn brethren who arc manuiac
turers, tH7n nay in my State upon my land TO
tetraT the expense Of the government winch protects
anu tJrdiy hope viii couiinue protect my rights:
and Tor T!ch tax cannot perceive that reap recip
rocal benefit.
| witt say about this one sided bargain but
proceed To the Pracnca effects likely to flow from the
assumed power of the General Government to carry on
nj INN H.,
this end, shall examine the last re3ort of the Enri
neer' upon the Chesapeake and ONO Canal, which |
presume. VIII not be materially CHANGED rs 10 its route
since il was considered the best Of nne different views
which they took daring the last year. After this, will
make remarks the james and Jac;sons rive.
Improvement, which will probab, be ac ed on ;inrinr
the present session of the State Legislature Twill
ore take occasion to offer the tribute of my highest
t To Mr. Bower Miller of BOetour!, for his DIS
d patriotism IN rendering his hearty co opera
Il his friends Ia prosecute the scheme with ou-
sources, whist ne would dsdain to accc., tie a,!
the General Government at the expense of The Con
.siilution.
Ii VIII be admitted by ALL presume that The evan,
NC OF New York has had more influence in giving IN
7uise TO internal impror emcnt by canal navigation,
all the world besides. Whilst we award 10
al the credit she deserves, and The same time an
Ih The motives which give birth TO THIS spirit of emu
laA IN our state let lose sight OF prudence
Let take comparative view of her geographical 81
tua' on and our own, and see how shall be iust
| ned IN following her example.
IbL great range Of mountains which sc,orato tho
states ot Virginia. May land and Pennsylv ma from
INC western waters, as approaches nos hcr bonn
HarF OF pennsylvania subsidies BY degrees into a GONNA
Ta'WeF level country, till the western part OF New
York becomes extensive and fertile n,an intersoars
eA "ith lakes to which the canal Ina, easy access oyer
summit level at the head Of the Mohawk only to,,r
hui ei ahd seVente Get above tide water IN tcI 5u
SUI ms summit level Is sixty nine miles and half
without lock- 1t then varies in elevation from trvcn
I fhp
upon the Seneca river, and rises again bcvoD tho r.,
sSee, 10 another level of more than sixty miles with
on a lock- alter which it rises TO Lake Eric without
ever being higher than five hundred and sixty four feet
above tide wafer The great valley of the Nissisepn;
extends itself behind these mountains till untos MI
'1is FaIn ana Tie summit level of the canal which is m
connect Lake Erie with the Ohio Is bn C,nr L,,n,J
ana uy 'eet above the latter and three hundred and
twenty threc above the former. hus there is n,
mountain to encounter in the whole route of f,e canal
from tide water in the Hudson through AXE Eric and
!!lcnce mo t'Ic Ohio. along the Ohio and Eric Conl
In gong up the Mohawk, the ascent is continuaIly
diminishing, til The canal passes the head waters f ,ta
river ana enters upon hs level and rich counfr, ofI
700 miles in extcut along its course Various co,no
'ois arc and VIII bc formed between this canal and to
small lakes on either side and these, together v tho
extensive coast OF Lake Erie. Lake Michigan Huron
ana ONTARIO all which Will be connected with il vi;
furnish more commerce than can be accommodated he
Tue ono canal and If not 10 be doubted that :, ,v
at future day he found necessary TO mako .,oti
C""a parallel with Tbs on the opposite side OF the Mo
hawk The whole amount of ockagc from Alhan, T.,
Late Erie is only III feet. At the same time that
an NOT al all disposed TO deract from the merit 10 hic
'"e founders OF tins scheme Justly entitled for tho
Zeai ard PERSEVERANCE, which they have manifested in
Tue accomplishment of this magnificent enterprze
must be allowed to say, il is rather TO be wondered n
ha Tie State OF New York has been so tardy i'm avail
ing herself of all these advantages. For il NAV truy
be sad, that no canal navigation has ever been effected
elmer IN Europe or america, under circumstances in
all respects bearing any comparison with these Ira
deed the maps Of both, do furnish theatre in which
The bonntics ofn1ture have bcca bestowed with 81 bs
rat hand, and IN which so many Inducements haze
been held out for extensive operations Of this s1ri
LEI rs now see what the difficulties TO be SIR
mounted IN connecting the Potomac with the Ohio by
the hesapeale and Ohio Canal y
according 10 tie report of the United States E,oi
neerS. appears that from tide water in TIC Potomac
70 ,le top OF Tic Aleghany, the elevation is about
<'S" iect But in order 10 obtain water TO spn,I
we canal at ITS summit level it is proposed 10 bore
,n'og1 the mountain by tunnel 227 feet belo,v its
summit me summit level Of the canal will then nc
<<'5 feet above tide water viz:
1" Underwater to Carabcraud 1G2 miles, 537 T. rise
HpnCc tO mouth Of Sav1ge river Oztl, 70'