Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-07

and the restraints upon the powers oil the practical
government. FIRST, Individual, more extern
sive than governmental internal improvements. {
being left fiee with their own means
OF internal Improvements, will spread them over
the whole extent of the nation. Each individ
ual improving his particular spot, the improve
,nents become general throughout, the nation. cor
responding with the residence OF each individual
whereas all governmental improve
ments are local in their positions, and partial in
their effects. Second, Individual internal improve
ments more valuable to the nation than gov
ernmental ones, according to their respective ex-
penitures. The building of house, a mill, labor
saving machine, cutting ditch for the reclama-
ton of lands, fertiizng lands, and all others of
the like descriptions, are more valuable in them
selves, than governmental internal improvements |
OF any kind. according to the sums respectively
expended upon them. a census OF such improve
Inents tor each ten years, would prove an aston
ishng superiority of individual over governmental
improvements, both in extent and utility. Third,
Individual internal improvements are of positive,
whilst governmental of comparative good. An
Individual, in building house for his comfortable
residence, benefits himself, his country and posteri-
~, whilst he Injuries none Canals, the chief OBJ
lects of public internal improvements, being local
in their positions, and almost always partial
in their effects, whilst they benefit some, do inju-
ries to others. Thus the great canal of N. York,
internal Improvement ever made, appearing, from
the peculiar topography of the country through
which it passes, to have been intended by the crea
tor for calling into activity the energies OF man,
rs yet partial in Its operations. 1t has opened
market for the products OF vast extent OF country,
ha. Been 10 1 stassen the price 81 ftsgi 81 which
article othe country, wheat, and OF course to work
injury to those farmers, who before had
access To raarket; the reduction in the price of
,Ioat tba orica nt apAa
all the wheat-growing country. At present. when
grain is raised in the country, than is wante
for its own consumption, and the export demand is
limited, ii is doubtful whether the comparative good
of the great canal, is greater than its mpartive
evil. In the event of an export demand, its com
paritive good would be greater, but in the pre-
state of things, the INCREASED quantity Of grain,
beyond the wants of home consumption, brought
10 market through that canal, is affecting materially
The Of cultivation in this part of the country
although so remote from its local position. Far
are now celebrating upon the policy OF chan
glHg IN wheat cultivation for some other This
canal also offers another douceur, in the cheapness
Of grain to the favored manufacturing class
This great canal therefore, is entitled in its prac
teal results, only to the comparative good
over The comparative evil produced by it,
But this is giving tie best example in favor
OF internal improvements and even in this most
successful and splendid public work, it is much
questioned, if the individual citizens of New York
had been permitted to apply the money expended
upon it in Improvements OF their own, whether
the state and nation would not have been more be-
nefi;ted by such application of it, This view of
the subject also shews that there must be in the
nature Of things injustice done some, and favo-
fitisln awarded 10 others in The execution of all
great public works Of this description. The wheat
farmers nhabi,ing the lower part of the state of n.
York, have been taxed in common with others, for
the means OF making this canal; when, go far from
receivinS benefit from lis operations, they are at
this moment sustaining material Misunderstanding
access 10 markets before, the canal affords them no
additional facilities, whilst il affords great facilities
10 vast extent OF country before excluded from
market, benef.tins its inhabitants at the expense
OF others This inequality and injustice will attend
almost every great public internal improvement
and the limits OF each state are extensive enough
for the operations of this local inequality and inius
-tire There is no need for extending their ope-
ration throughout the limits of the whole u. s.
THESE considerations prove too, beyond all doubt ,
The great superiority of the wisdom Of our fathers
who framed the constitution, the superficial
chimerical, unsubsianiiai schemng ultras of the
day. Those having left this csnal-makng power
with the state authorities; these blindly endeavor-
ing 10 tear it from Them and place in the general
government. Fourth Individual improve ments
are more certain in the utility OF their results than
governmental ones. 1t is very seldom seen, that
an inli vduai undertakes an improve ment without
producing some benefit 10 himself, or others. But
government seldom realizes equivalent for the
expenditure upon public internal mpro ements,
and often fails altogether The James River Ca
nal it is feared. may be given, as a recent and
conspicuous example of total failure, Of total
foss OF all the money expended upon it, and of
great injury TO the country through which passes
Many other examples Of failure loss in public
undertakings might be given. Even G.. Britain,
Ire renowned country for internal improvements
has just di-avowed, that great portion of the as
tonshing expenditures upon her canals, and other
impro enents have been thrown away the an
plieation OF the power OF steam; and raim sys hay
Ing rendered them useless, or at least materially
ies,ened their utility. Fiffh-The money expen-
3ed by individuals in internal improvements is both
more judiciously and economically applied to its
objects, and the objects themselves of more value
according to their COSTS, than in the case of public
expenditures for public works. Thus money expen-
ded in retaining, and fertilizing lands, will produce
more beneficial effects according TO the amount of
the expenditure, than will be produced by perfora-
ting the Allegheny mountains in that case even
ii the inten4eJ effect should be ultimately produced
the labor employed 10 produce the effect, must be
Of the most unproductive character. Money ex
pended too by the public, becomes very much re-
duced by filtration, in coming into, and going out
Of the treasury, whereas, when expended by indivi
duals, it is done under the eye of the owner; the
beet security for its udicious aud economical app
cation to its object. Sfrth-Tn the common and |
beneficial Of things, individual precede 90
vernmental, internal Improvements. Govern !
mental internal improvements can never be much !
required until the country becomes filed with in |
diyidual internal impro emenis In this country.
there beng still vast scope for individual internal
Improvements, governmental internal Improve
Inents cannot be much in demand for at least a CEN