Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-07-26

CO, has least suspended the execution her great,
est wor--'ha' from winch The important advap-
cages were anticipated win true wisdom Justify the
c0H'inuance OF this pU!c}?
We have only TO cast our eyes on the map of ,he
lined States 10 BE- assured that the natura! ad-
Yantages of FjJglnla al, very great The CHG
is"Peakc, oue OF the nubles bays OF the world,
receives her mag l.lHccn; and pouIs them
into the atlantic. lrdepeDdeBt other vslua-
Die streams, her northern frontier washed by thePo
tomsc, her southern by the Roanoke, aud her centre
IS pierced by the James. These great rivers pene-
tTate The Allegheny mountains. aud afford the shortest
channe! Of water communication with several Of the
western states. They pass tn Cugh country rich in
"iiefa! and vegetable productions which the labor
and Ingenuity of could not fail 20 turn TO vaua
ole account II those means onansporsticn were az
'Nrutl her which these waters would nnqutstiooaby
! iurnwh II Why then is Virginia less pupuluus and
cAIiehl than many Q. her sister states? Why the
tate of the Chesapeake transferred entirely neigh
Perhaps even the number OF our rivers NAV have
hid some Tendency TO prevent the accumulation of
capiai al any one place; and perhaps the policy of
pTGceo may have contributed .-.ya trade d-
rec:Ion into other channels But ,y,huuG panly repi-
MN" at the past 1t 'he par of wrslo, 10 ADOPT
md pursue that system which is best FOR the present
/ ami the future
what then Is ihc course which is advisable Tor
Virginia. Does sound policy, does judcious survey
oil our situation IN all respects recommend the total
Abandonment or even further pension OF those Mans
OF improve Teit which are progress, especially
thato our most important river, does ,ecommena
an immediate resumption Of them modified perhars
] experience III
ed2
The advantages Of IN improved naviea,ion of our
rivers are too obvious and universally admitted to
require that they should shown or enforced by ar.
gument That this impror er,ent is IN isp pos,,,ve
good the acquisition of which oreatl, TO be esired
Is truth winch all achnuw ledge The only
"hlecoh which the immediate Of tins good has
encountered is the enormous with hlch II is
offended. II has been urged and m the op,,,iou OF
tanv successfully, that its advantages 90 not comnen
safe 'or Us prce; That neither the public tduas
| inf ~
dad
That the past gives too much councnancs tl.is
objection is acknowledged and Iau,euted If the
same scale of expense 10 be attached rabg
10 any plan which might De devised, Virginia might
pause and enquire whether prudence and regard to
beT real Interests would justify perseverance, hcr
course.
! But n the commencement Of a great nd untIiej
work, many errors may be expected which will not
recuT IN ITS progress. Experience much; and
among us other valuable results ascerains the price
aoorur; and Suggests the best and cheapest mode of
applying it tc its object The last report Of The priu-
cipai Lngineer contains suggestion this subject
! which worthy the attention Of those who may be
entrusted with the ecn'icn Of t business, should IS
be revived.
Bat, independent of the beneficial changes which
may be made ,;2ol. CT appIying labor TO ,te Oh.
iccl. change of plan has been srrge.ted hch is
recoan'onied b its dIroinution OF oxperce w uay
therefore DISMISS al! calculations founded the cnojr
nous expenditure u:ads shat Eari yyo,!. which
has been already executed, aud direct views 10
that cheaper system OF operation which is suggested in
the last report OF the principal En"neet On his
Inmates may, il IS presumed saie, RELY They an
pear 10 be made with fairness without any Intention
OF presenting too fateTug view OF tie subject Il.
suming them 10 be correct may0,ot FtrgiDa proceed
with Some confidence to the completion Of those am
pTovemeuis inch aic afro; dy pIcgIess? IRE no
lier resources adequate 20 the object ard does not the
soundest policy ADVISE the application OF them?
In rejecting OF these mrrnrn'oT4 questions, il viii
feaig occur 20 The leg stature that money eied I'D
productive una may be replaced at t,e Will OF the
proprietor lie does not acquire dead capital, bat
subject capable ct c''co'a0n CAPABLE Of beng again
converted INTO money at pleasure 1t VIII be al Tie
option OF the legislature 10 retain The p! Jpctty il,
which the dividends, If any reliance is 10 be placed
on the estimates OF the Principal Engineer vii meet
the interest; or TO sell go uUCh stock will DISCHARGE
the principal a loan then thus cf.poyed does rns
impose continuing burrhen The people bat be-
comes an active fund, having The double operation Of
reproducing itself and OF dispensing benefits 10 the
state at large as well as 10 great number Of IFS ipab-
itsn;5.
THIS convention will engage in tho task for
winch perhaps IT IS not we'll fitted If calculating the
expense or the productiroues OF the improvements
"hlch we recommend. These calculations have bec,,
made officially By the person those duty is 10 OH
tam the requisite nnformatnD and whose professional
;aeni ought TO enable bin, and we believe do enable
hn to decide upon the Subject. To them we refer
and the Judgment OF the Legislature will be exercised
) upon them To thei judgment we submit with npli
CIT confidence.
J There iogever one nJyious cireumsfencn n
] Which We viii AXE the liberty advert.
RIoeyery proposition 10 commence tnor c ons,, q
III and more benoGCIa syssi of improvements the eoiy
laiUrc VIII undoubtedly take INTO It's view the ccpar
aive Yaine OF he object WITH The expense s aairr-
Z, mems. In making tbs comparison, future dibu,se-
mems "ond be opposed 10 future advantages and ne
other item would be brought into the amount Even
IN these cases, an enlarged policy hlc conter,plates
Tie future as we'll - The present, would We pe,tosdd
ourscIvcs perceive IN tie pccuniary returns WHICH
might reasonably be expected, and still more IN The
YaS' accommodation To lis citizens, and The CONSIGNMENT
increase ~ articles Tor rket and Of the gcnernI pros
N''fF' 'HH e'n''rP' aticn FOR present sdyancfs Al
experience slo'7 bat ludCicns and permanent mr.
r e"e"s ~ int"tn"i navigation continually dsc;oo
new snutces OF wealth, furnish addition II employ mon,
Tor industry and thus add 10 the population and sienrt
OF county. a
p'', as TesPefis the navigation u James river 1ra
ono more oeuehci7 system Il ~ already begun ard
~ u L. L. =