Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-15
INTERVAL LMPRoYEvENer

E.N
Inc Remarks of Mr. Randolph Harrison nm
our hrst page refers 10 Repor, made bv Mr.
BFyce.-lt Is as follows.-It is right TO add. thu,
the preamble and RESOLUTIONS, a, finaIl, adon,.d
by the Legislature are published in Mr. Harrison },
Speech, save only that an amendment Wa. ,do,,-
ed, at the instance of the Senate, eoing to avoid
commitment on all the parts Of Mr.. H's Pream,
bic:
REPORT
" the Committee of Roads, &c. upon The ;,.
Proremenf cf tie Navigation of the James
ana Jockson's Riuers
After due consideration. your Comu;,,..
thought 1t their duty. in this investigation. 10 -.
sew The various plans and schemes which have
eeen suggested, or partially, or in whole. .dopted
.ne state tor the Improvement OF the James and
Jackson's Rivers, and the connection of the cas-
'Tn aod western waters; and the poiicy of Ie.v-
ng to individual enterprise and capital the execu.
ton OF me works OF public advantage, or of com.
nning and directing. by Legislative wisdom. the
wnoie resources and energies of society for their
accomplishment. The different views taken mon
these several points, seem to render il
!hst your Committee should briefly examine them
ueiore they proceed to develope any scheme n,
tue further extension of these works Ard in
THIS examination, the last point, because Of n.
preoominatlns influence and control over the boI,
SUBJECT claims their first attention The L.p;sI,-
.are' In the year 1890, for the purposes despnea
oS tne enor's to unite the waters of the James
anu Asnawha Rivers, thought it expedient TO re .
aume the rights then vest cd in the lance R;,.,
company upon certain terms which they offered !.
ana undertook the improv ement upon STATE =.
count. The public mind, with calculating snnro-
Da!on' acqulesced in this determn alton of the t..
s'siature; until the large expenditures upon the
WORKS pressing heavily upon the resources of the
otate-the difficulties of the financial arrange
ments to sustain the contemplated proiec,s-ib.
oouo'iui expediency OF an Independent canal.
"nen eonsiaered In connexion with its enormous
cost and the possibility of accommodating the
oi 'he commerce OF the rivers, in a way
less expensive, and suited to navigation ca,,,sd
on Dy means OF steam power-haye produced :.
hesitation which has almost SUSPENDED orr g..
S'es. The dlthculties to be met with in sucb an
extensive and important under, akine. op.b, n
have been anticipated. and it now bebooves Tho
wisdom OF the Legislature to assign them 70 ,bs;r
proper causes, that clear conceptions NAV mall q
way Tor a fair decision on this subject. The GREAT
hauonai and commercial purposes of an extended
ssne Oh Improvement, however justly they
ought 10 claim the deepest attention of The
ment, do not necessarily define the mods IS ;,s
accomplishment. In proportion 10 Their ;rnnor,
vance, tney should ensure the patronage of a wise
I1sSisia'ure. But the great variety of interes,s
Wn'cn VIII necessarily enter into one grand scbem.
ior an Improvement, extending from one end of
the State to the other will tax the severss etc.,
OF wisdom to promote each, without sub.ctino the
whole to the oppression of inexpedient and swL-
arrangements atfoiding just ground of dissa-
t'sisction and complaint.
The msgni6cence of such sebem. sbo,,a 49,,
peguiie our judgments; for your Committee .on~
ceives that the dignity of the State would he more
displayed in judicious action than in snen.
o,u projects When some great mine of wealth
u Whatever consisting, is found to exist in any
political society, locked up from the hand of indus,
try and not to be opened without the exnend;,ur.
OF so large sum as to render it improbable ,ba,
individual interest will ever produce an ,d.ou.,a
combination of capital, then, il is obvous ,h.,
..e oaneo resources OF the whole under the direc.
lion OF Government, should be emploved in die
perslng its advantages. Such, perhsps was m.
situation OF New York when she under,ooL h.s
splendid canal, and the success has " ell ius,i ed
her wisdom The benefits of such an under,.kioo
VIII wore IMAM compensate the waste occ.sioned
" remote responsibility, the difficulty of raising
Pecuniary means, and the dissatisfaction, of ionoo
rance during the progress of the work, l1rsaf No
cun'a,y prohfs, upon an expenditure on any sub
Ject' however alluring to Individual cupdty. nre-
pau no peculiar consideration to engage the ex.
e,u:vs action OF government: And the evils un.
a'o'uaoiy attending such interference in the
pursuits within the reach of individual effor,
SHOULD aomonsh the prudence of a wise Leeisl,.
.o'e 10 De slow and cautious in interposina he
tween Inc prize OF industry and the RESTLESS .c,;-
witty OF man. a''-
Inc case, II such one should ever exist. of a,
extensive project, bearing generally upon the int.
.es's OF society, giving increased activity q. il. Ia.
wi, sDo augmentIug its wealth, without welding
:" siu''ne proht upon the capital putting il Ia ex
scutioo, might call for the aid of (,overnme,,
hfsrn
Heaaes confidence will be given, and the deens.,
respect paid to that government which mnves
".Ss'y' cautiously, and vigorously 10 the accom-
piSnment oil It's legitimate ends, unibhuenced nv
.ne temptations OF avarice, the promp,inss of am
Dstion, or the intrigues of faction. Glsoc,py mn
the relations which Virginia bears TO the Govs,n.
ment OF the Union, the propriety of the foregoins
considerations is clearly seen and felt For ybile
rue political principles, which should limit & direct
VAC exercise OF governmental power, are embodied
IN constitutional regulations, their pfacticaI an
phcation deviates from their true pofiev. ia nro.
ouc.Ive of confusion of opinion, dstrus, and on
position. These principles are not les true and
oo'gstory upon the State, because thew are no,
expressed in our Sia'e Constitution; and should
give tone TO that policy which would afford the
most efectye opposition to federal encroschmsn,.
lhey constitute the basis on which on, Fuod for
h,e'hsi Improvement was rssed and, it is thought,
'noicate me course which would secure the truest
economy In the administration OF thai fund: and
give the most judcIous encouragement 10 the oro-
sJess OF public opinion, aud the extension of en-.
'erpnse IN the Improvement of our State. II is
not easy to conceive a condition of society. si,u-
sted as Virginia is, in relation 10 the III. states
when departure from such course of polic,
would be advisable, unless that condIiion we're
brought about By some direct operation OF govern
ment From laudsble zeal TO promote the pub
NC good such stuaion may be produced BY
arrangements so deeply involving the resources of
nation in grand scheme, as 20 prevent the ssso-
citation II individual capital for us accomplish