Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-12-05

nal do
pencence and thereby to encourage feeling of aGec
lion and regard for each other among the members
'hc same community. 1t intended 10 excite new
spirit OF industry, 10y furnishing market 10 its surplus
! products, and thus 10 awaken new energies and 70
/ open new sources of national wealth. But in is pre,
sent condition. of what avail is the expenditure ,yi,i
has thus been made! The Farmer beyond Coyington
inds himself as absolutely shut from market now
nc was anterior 10 The construction of the roadG,r
having reached Coyingou, e can advance no farther
Petntted 10 remain IN its present condition. ", Id
not Tie Slate stand justly chargeabe with clleness
policy: Would more have been DONE than 10 have
'e"ieu perpetual monument of councils hastily
aud prccpiafely abandoned? But waving all these
conscientious, aud forgetting far can, the
great public benefit To he dispensed by this improve
neh neg leave 10 urge II upon you another
lis prosecution and rapid completion is called for by
mere pccunary considerations. The State occupies
the iooliDS oil company in regard 10 this work. aud it
believes II - enquire the situation of IFS funds and
It's probable profits. Now then there has been expend-
I'd on tbs improvement already s $50, 00O all of
which has been procured on loan, and forms out.
standing debt against The State. The interest that
debt amounts annually To the sum of S7I,673 so. In
order TO meet tins interest, look TO tue tolls
new receivable, which since the imposition of an in
creased toll on Tobacco may be estimated at 1000
which alter deduCting the eXpences of REPAIRS &C. and
the yearly dividend 700 shares to :le former pro-
pretos, leaves applicable 10 the payment the interest
on the loans about the sum of $4,000. Thus there
remains unpaid tue sum of SIS, AIS So which is made
chargeable on the fund for internal Improvement Here
then is debt, which is only To he charged bv n re-
sort TO an increase of taxes, and which, while lasts
operates as moth on the fund SET apart for the bcncG
cent object OF State improvements IN violation of thu
principle which that fund was created and IN tho
great grievance oil other portions Of the State. What
eXpedent then is left but that the scheme of improve
ment should be consummated, and that il sbonIi he
achieved such scale pay the in terest ON the
loans contracted for its competion and 10 afford re
sona5'e prospect of reimbursement the principal of
those loans: That this will be the result should the inn
propement by locks and dams be restored TO- and steam
be successfully introduced is fully demonstrated by t
able Report of the Principal Engineer-l shall find
my apology in the Importance of the subject for uro
Ing still further considerations growing naturally out
OF 1t In all undertakings, calling for the expenditure
OF large sums OF money, and looking re cmhurse
ment from the profits of the work when compleed%
rapidly of execution is essentially important The
expenditure is added To by delay, since il becomes
augmented by tie payment of interest and the loss Of
profit The shortest possible time, then should be ta
Ken tor the completion Of the work. When cornmen-
ced, ii should be prosecuted with untring crerry 10 IFS
completion Tins is the dictate of sound economy.
But IN order TO ensure economy in its execution as well
as permanenCy, the work should be performed under the
direction and controul OF the Principal Engineer All
subordinate agents should be bound implicitly by his in
strucons. Thus he would be made to proper extent
the responsible head-and perfect security would be
provided against all false estimatesbut on the con
rary, subordinate agents TO be permitted at plea
sure, to controu! the views OF the Engineer-f his
opinions TIC be respected by Them dIsregarded at
pleasure, then he relieved from all responsibility and
bound by estimate. Ills office, in short notwith
almost useless. Let me not be understood as implying
censurc, either upon the Engineer any other off.
Ger of the Government by these remarks. My sole mo-
tive in making them bring about proper RESPONSE
bility and TO afford check the public OK
penditures. And last might by possibility be ms
interpreted, will take upon me here say that re-
gard Virginia as having in the person of her principal
Engineer gentleman Of the most unQucs,o ia
ents-one who uniIes TO diligence in the discharge of
the duties of his station ardent devotion the pub
c interests and to an extensive theoretical knowledge,
; sound practical yeI:s.
In presenting 10 the which have led me
to urge upon YOU the improvement forthwith of the
James and Jackson rivers far as CovDgton, have
not overlooked other considerations of high moment.
The improvement OF the main river would be the siirc
precursor to tue Improvement Of lis numerous trbuta-
ries watering they do extensive and fertile districts
IL would lead time, also, TO the union of the head
waters of the Shenandoah with those of the North
river of those tributaries whose near approach
would seem To promise easy conquest over nature;
while the execution Of the work, attended as il would
be with the perfect improvement of the Shenandoah
would furnish bond of union between tie Potomac
and the James, and afford TO the farmer the choice of
two valuable markets for the products Of his industry
In addition to tits il is generally supposed that
the connection Of the eastern and western waters
entirely pracIcablc but that III order 10 effect the
it will be necessary incur expenditure so large
that nothing short Of full assurance of success would
Justify the undertaking. This Improvement as recon-
mcnded, will serve in measure to develop the bene-
fits of that great work, in furtherance of which great
object the tension of the kanawha road to the mouth
of the Guavandotc Big Sandy might be considered
auxiliary by bringing into familiar intercourse
with the citizens of the bordering States. II will
necessarily awaken tie attention Of several of tic west
crn States, ard even if found beyond the resources Of
State, which Go not believe, may in the ullness C
time, be accomplished by union of States. Thus
would bond of connection be furnished which could
fail 10 be productive Of benefits all that il might
embrace, and the work be effected in legitimate mode
! by compact between several States without violating
the constitutional rights of either. Whether this
scheme that other which has been the subject OF
such minnie examination with the Engineer corps Of
Eof the Potomac with those Of the Ohio shall after full
examination be preferred, remains yet 10 be decided
Or, whether still preferable route may not he ascer-
tared to exist between the waters of New river aud
those Of tie Jackson of the Roanoke qucs tions
of deep interest thorough exploration OF thc.s
dacrent sections, by we'll qualified as the
Engineer OF the State 10 arrive at correct and satsac
! tory conclusions, would seem 10 be strongly called
! for.
1t will not escape the attention of tie Legislature