Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-29
C.OAINl.AIC.lTEp.
l,AfI..R0an.

lid and liberal investigation + the subject, 10 con-
vince the state of its true policy
1t seems 20 be admitted by all, that Virginia has
abandoned her grand scheme Of Internal imp,ovc-
Tnent.-That should thcre yet remain a lingering
hope Of the accomplishing OF the original scheme,
that hope mist vanish, when she sees that the
Baltimore Company already have the privilege Of
constructing their splendid improvement, upon a
parallel line and within less than sixty miles Of
the great Kanawha r;ver-this privilege being Sc
cured, (for we cannot believe the State will vi0-
late its faith, by repeating the act OF last SESSION.
should we not unite with Maryland and thus Sc
cure proportion ofthe Western trade. We hum
bly, think the measure not only practicable, but
worthy the profound consideration OF the Lcgsla
cure.
The Western petitioners simply ask that the
Southern route for the rail road, shall be placed ii
fair competition and comparison with other routes;
they have no assurance from the Baltimore Com
pany that that route will be preierrcd they are
appriZed that in matter q; such Importance, the
Company will deliberate, and act with great eau
ton; advantages and localities will be comp1rcd-
every pass thro gh the mountains, every setious
obstacle, will be carefully examincd-and such
route selected, as shall oppose the ewcst difficult
test and involve the least expence.
II is certain that the Southern Fcute, leading
through the rich and fertile Valley Of Virginia,
would be very desirable to that popuious and grow
ing part of the State. That such location would
cause Virginia to forrr lateral railway canal,
TO her metropolis, cannot be doubted. The inlpor
tant advantages OF such conneSion to the cities OF
Richmond and Norfolk, will not pretend TO
calculate. Those cities would become the depOts of
moiety of the Western commerce. commerce,
vast and increasing as already TO give active
employment to more than $50 steamboats, OF the
larger class.
WHY then, we huInbly ask, shall we oppose the
prosecution of this magnificent work within our
State? Should we not rather say TO the Baltimore
Company: $50 on. EXpend your five millions in
Virginia-complete your work, and receive its APP
propriate reward
To cf our we al
the liberty TO subjoin the following extract OF
letter from highly intelligent and respectable
merchant in Baltimore, to his friend in Richmond.
This extract is submitted without comment-it
speaks 10 our sober senses, and points to the true
policy of the OLD DOMINION.
EXTRACT
BA1TI n,oRE, Jan. Is, 1923.
am entirely satisfied that no jealousy exists
here against the State Of Virginia connecting any
road or canal she may make, with this road, even
should such road lead to her capital TO any other
point in the State. There will be trade enough FOR
both Virginia and Maryland, if the work be once
happily accomplished. Nor will there be any OBJ
lection here to Virginia participating in the profits
of the Stock for, although it does not at this time
appear likely that there will be any want OF money
10 effect that purpose, the Stock Of the Company
being already in demand at $l2 per share for
dollar paid, yet there many obvious considera-
tons why the Company would be gratiied by Vir-
ginia joining with Maryland in the enterprise. II
Is a work of common interest to both States, and
The course which the trade of the country has
taken within the last few years, s which has mainly
been directed by the facilities which New York
and Pennsylvania have opened between the com
nercial metropolis of each of those States, and the
interior, by canals and roads, has tended greatly
10 impoverish and distress the South
From the combination of various circumstances
not necessary here to explain, almost the entire
import trade of the u. States, which was former
~ d4fused throughout all our maritime towns, has
been concentrated East of Virginia and Maryland.
The effect of this change in that branch OF our
commerce has been most injurious to the South.
By reference TO the reports of the Treasury De-
partnent it will be seen, that the amount Of manu-
featured foreign goods annually imported into the
United States, exceeds forty millions Of dollars.
These goods WELD not less than twelve millions OF
dollars of duty and the importing merchant re-
Ceives an average credit OF more tll u ten months
upon this twelve Millions and, according 10 the u
sual of trade sells these goods by auction for
negotiable notes at four months credit, il follows
that upon the payment ofthese notes, the importers
are placed in cash Tor the dulles six months before
they become due, and thus constantly hold in their
hands an immense sum OF money, for which they
pay no interest. A large portion Of these goods
being bought up and consumed in the South, we
are thrown IN debt to the East, not only for the
amount of the original cost, but also for the du-
ties and other charges, which duties, is here
shewn, are left without interest in the hands of
the importers several months before they called
upon to pay them, and which, with the importer
p 'oti OF 10 per cent, enables the East continually
10 keep the South in its debt, and to Cypress its
mOnicd institutions. The almost exclusive enioy-
ment of the import trade, naturally brings with it
the return commerce. W e shall accordingly find.
by examining the exports OF the United States that
the single city of New York has monopoized the
export OF nearly one fourth Of the entire cotton
crop Of the whole country, and by means of her
great Western Canal and other similar works
which she is extending towards the Northern
Lakes and towards the West; she is also making.
prodigious efforts TO secure TO herself the export
! OF the productions OF the Western States Should
the Middle and Atlantic States supneIy look upon
these efforts of their rival, without one Struggle to
produce of the fertile and extensive regions of the
West, taken around them to a market 200 miles
more distant than the navigable waters of the
Chesapeake offer for the shipment Of these produc-
tions-the inevitable consequences must be, that
IN few years the remnant of trade which we
still enjoy will be drawn from us, and as our ca
pital will follow the trade, we shall then find our
selves without the means of resuscitation
The importance Of the carrying trade to a nation,
may at once be illustrated by its influence upon
the Phenicians the Jews aud the Carthagenian5 in
ancient times, the Cenoese, the Yenctians, Ho
lander5 and English ia modern fines. No nation
or district in fact ever enjoyed the advantage OF
being carriers without becoming rich, and all ex-
perience shows that the dealers in and carriers of
either merchandise. or agricultural productions.
gain more nett profits than The growers or manu-
flcturcrs.
The consequence Of The advantage possessed o.
us by the East IN the present state of things
must thercioe be, if Efforts are not speedily made
10 counteract il, by retaining and drawing back
Tat portion OF the export trade, which, from our
geographical position, We are entitled to- that Fir-
GINA and Maryland must continue rapidly 10 de-
cline in wealth, in commerce aud in agriculture,
and must finally, with their more Southern neigh