The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-08-07
.44',st.& VIZ GI2rIA IT.
LlNGHBURG. AuGUsT7, 1896.
FOR THE yIaINIAN.

Ll NCHBUit,i, ACGUST7, 1896.
ron THE yIGINIAK.
.Messrs. Editors Il have seen, with
much pleasure, that our aniahle and pat
flolic chlef magistrate has lately visited
the Dismal Swamp Canal. -Such visits,
furnishing official with individual approba-
ton. are productive of pablo. benc6t.-
They give ardonr and spirit and life 10 the
Efforts AT Internal mproNement-chrrr on
the company and ITS managers, lhr con-
tractors and their hands and promote and
concentrate that public feeling aud enthu-
sasm Indispensable, IN u republic, to the
successful prosecution of great undertake
lngs.
But, why does our worthy Governor
cnnfne his official appreciation 10 the la
bours OF a company, nrgecting or slight
ny the great state work now ~ proSress !?
Is not this parilal-na inyldious? Espr-
clally the chief magistrate is, ex oiKelo,
! President ofthe "Boart of Public Works"
aud of the " James River Compan5."
! Do, Messrs. Editors, suggest to bis excel
lency that there Is a small portion OF Wv
/ gina above the head of tide-water--that
the jackson aud kanahawa Turnpike, and
the Canal through the mountains, are OBJ
Iects moi undeservlns his notics--thst the
| heavy sums expended and eYpendlng on
those works form no slight call on his off,
ciat dutteS-that greater attention on his
part to these object would increase his
claims on the gratitude of the
UPPER COUNTRY.
RPMARKS
We publish the preceding short article
with pleasure. We know but little Of the
duties which may render il impr ctleabe
| that the Governor should be so long all
sent from the Capitol as d trip To the
mountains, with the object of examining
the great state works in progress, would
doubtless render necessary. But we can
not conceive that they are either 50 var-
Gus or important as to require his undi-
vlded and unceasing attention. The State.
Constitution it appears to us, is very mer-
-iful TO its Chief Magistrate, throwing SO
small share ofpubc duty % his shoulders
as completely 10 divest him of every thing
| like responsibility. If therefore, Gov.
Tyler, of his own accord, prompted by
that noblest of all feelings, a desire to SUBJ
serve the interests of the Commonwealth,
which has 50 often manifested DISPOSE
iron to honor him, would examine person
ally the great state works which have So
long been amusing our imasinatlons and
eluding our hopes, and decide, from that
examination, as to the probability and the
ton, he would deserve and would receive
the lasting gratitude of the State. There
is an old, and very good maxim, which
instructs us, that if we wish any particular
object effected slowly and indlfierently,
we have only to set about its accomplish
ments through the agency of others. II
we wish it effected with expedition aud
with fathfulness, we must go about it our.
selves. A practical demonstration of the
injurious consequences of the former
Course and the beneficial effects of the 9TH
er, is at this moment exhibited by the
great States of Virginia and New York.
Virginia has trusted entirely to dgents--
some, if not all of whom have demonstra-
ted their utter incapacity, beginning the
dupes of their own falaoious calculations,
and ending by making dupes of their en-
ployers. She has had no Chief Magis-
trate of energy enough, in his er-QDicio
character of President of the Board of
Public Works, to bestow upon the pro-
! jected Improvements the smallest mite OF
/ personal attention. 1t is therefore that
millions have been uselessly squandered,
without object or end. 1t is therefore that
Virginia finds herself ia 1926, almost at
the very point from which she started 10
1915. New York, on the contrary, in the
same time, has completed one fthe great
to the difficulties Of its execution, or the
advantages which will flow from it, of
effected than even the warms.t friends of
the scheme originally contemplated, aud
the hootinos aud reyilnss Of its opponents
have recoiled with treble force upon them
selves. Why is this Because New York
was governed by Clinton, aud because
he did not spare his personal eAerlions.
How often did he traverse the State, from
one end to the other, gathering aud i'm
parting Information, inspiring the mere
dulous with nope, cheering the timld, and
| confirming the wayeIiug, thus "maldns
assurance doubly sure" And now, look at
Virginia and New York Virginia is yet
almost as rude as she was fashioned by
Nature. Efforts at improvement seem To
have been utterly idle and useless. The