Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-01-06
FoR THE Vino.


"shed IN me Constitutional Vh,g Of the I6th Of De-
cen'ber, on Zee Ohio and Chesapeake Canal
ne commonwealth OF Virginia has taken upon her
self 10 improve the navigation the James RIVER by
an nePeudan Canal at the of he whole State
ana Tor which every individual is bound contribute
or what the thing funds of the State, which
Inc citizens ot every part of the State had previously
contributed tor internal improvements, taken Tor
that purpose. This II cannot he disputed must be
clusvely o' the bcDeG, of that portion Of the citizens
VINO lnhabh that section of the State which watered
by the James siysS aud its branches above tide-waer
who can use the water OF that stream to advantage for
the purpose of conveying their produce market and
receiving When draw the line of demar
Sat'on around that section, giving 1T It's fullest latitude
1t VIII be found contain not than 939lG white
/ inhabitants, and 30 80 free blacks, making in all
l60.l05. remenbrng al the time, that the whole
population at the State is 0j5 goo, about 100000 OF
whom are whites. Tins can be asCeStaued near enough
~ Taking INTO She computation the different counties
aud parts of counties situated near euuugh to the James
kIver the waters thereof, transportation 90
profit and advantage aud then by the late finding
the number OF inhabitants sa,d counties &c For
| this, II contemplated the original scheme
spend between and tn, millions of dollars;
but at the time well understood by those
who understood best, that it would much
But to gull the simple ones, and make appear great
State affair, there connected with the original
scheme common earthcn road ninety miles in length.
mountains and vailcs rivers and swamps pom
pousy called turnpike But such the manage
nent, and highly IT wrought, that great many
ct the good people of the state both and out of the
Legislature, were persuaded that the OF the
west would descend the Ono from above and ascend
from below to the mouth of the Great kanhawa,
md hen ascend that River 10 be carried this
blaZoncd turnpike road, and descend the James Ri
yer to Richmord, which stood prominent in the picture
as very great and desirable emporium for the rade of
l w@Sl. This pageant of hour has served IFS pur-
pose and is dissolved and gone. The pa5tehoard figures
'"d painted scenery Withdrawn. and So ended
aci III the drama of day dreams. But all those whose
a'd II fas necessary obtaining this pledge of the
State tor James River to be niluenCed; thus
while some others were permitted TO share with the
James River In the treasures of the State tthe fund far
internal luprov cWenI for other schemes of improve
men to tie people Hf the Potomac Section of tire State
solemn assurances give1 by the promoters of the
James River scnelue, that was the ONLY foundation Of
a system winch should embrace every section of the
Safe III ITS turn. aud the Potomac next Importance
and next in orGer should have their cordial and hearty
support aud liberal aid. This pledge OF honour aud OF
Justice received BY the people al the Potomac
ton nth the same spirit whIch appeared 10 be Civ
e1. u, the James River people this with all
that selfish aud insulated regard, which IS the bane
hcpnh cs di the essence OF tyranny, wishing To appro
Piate ie Whole vi the funds OF the Slate themselves
seen anxious when this cai - IF the Potomac pre-
scented, tn find some plea ,rcteXt To avoid this debt
Of superior dignity. Such is the inference which may
fairly be made they accord with the writer Of the
subscribed by A Farmer published in the Coustiln
tt0nal Wing of Dec l6. This writer ems 10 possess
some prominence 10 that scctInn and appears be IA
'nla' with ITS history, topography and satistcks, and
certainly c,anests small desire to the James Ri
yer improved True he does disapprove of part of the
James River plan the alteration il; but this NAV
h@ tn give himself better standing wien he aims tho
blow intended to demosh the Chesapeake and ONO
| | anal rms is certainly the chef object with the
Ft"Dier. But lest his arguments should fail to per
Snade he endeavors TO them with by raising
we fTgNtfui CRY ofSiate Rights being danger But
before proceed further, would ask Virginia and Ma
riand private indI' duals, and the United STATES
were to subscribe tor the shares of stock III this Canal
ompany according 10 the laws IN force, both OF
Virginia and Har,ia where the infringement Of
state Rights orwhat has State Rights do whit? an
s*er jdsi as"nch a the 'tfihas which the Farmer has
also dragged il to his Evidently il was the
Htehsion of the Farmer thus connecting State Rights
and tie Iar'f with The OHIO and Chesapeake Canal
WIN WHICH they have not the most remote connection.
as THIS matter now stands fore the Legislature Viz
gina TO attach TO Us all the udun which could be eXcit
+i b, those tOcsuic words. The Farmer in this
aa' given us such example proof of his of
candnur and fairness upon the subiec destroy all
confidence ~ all his statements and differences IN the
''t"ie production. Gle has exhibited much industry
and Tea ng, and has stated many facts with regard 10
''is '9hI"h cannot be dened is it necessary 10
the success of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal 10 e VI
em But iue Farmer like many British trav ellcrs WHO
nave visited this country, for tie purpose of writing
hooks nniavourabe Us, and have therefore selected
only snch facts and circumstances suited heir ptr-
pose, whist they passed ninety and nine Of a d f
erent character each OF which in the opposite |
scale would have destroyed the effect of the one select
ed so the Farmer in nj. the illustrations he has attempt
ed and IN al hs facts and dIsqusOns upon canals has
c"if brought uto view those which would have an I'm
favourable bearing upon the OHIO and Chesapeake a.
nall whilst he has ON tied all tla, favourable He
places hs most Favourable array front and takes US
at once 20 the summit level But not content with the
rea! difficulties of nature there 10 ne oyercon and not
conten with the Report which the United States Engi-
neer> he most SCI ltiic aud stful men IN our coun-
try, have made respecting them whose honour agi
veracH, stahed upon the result, after spend ng
'nang months calculating and examining every hing
that could b" br1u hit lot the computation and testing
every thing respecting BY rules aud sound
es principles. te undertakes from his closet
IT, tell the public Tor the information OF the Legislature
we aouhi not that the Engineers wrong; that the
aiHcuios there to be surmounted greater than the
Engineers have made them, that ne knows more of this
matter than the engineers, and by the knowledge ex
tTacted from books presume, for he admits he is no
practical Eng ueer AMI ta he was OR the ground
oi which be thus pron0UuCcs. But what is most extra
ordinary. lac takes such of the Engineers report
To- be true, and denies AL such parts does not copor
With his views. he admits The Engineers report as a.
heights and distances, digging, cutting &c but he De
ne. L.g.L c-..-n.-n of M. m