The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-03-27
INTERNAL IMPROpEHEAT.
JUDGE CouLTERs COMMUNICATIONS
From The Richmond Enquirer.
JosFrH {. CAptIt. Esq

Dear Sir - nni mneh Obliged To- yon tor
pntlng into my hnnds the bill Tint has passed
he House oil Representatives, on the subject
of the Baltimore Rh,l-Road, with request
that would suggest any thing which might
occur 10 me as 10 The manner In which II
ought 10 be guarded.
| will not say this course by you Is 0aiter-
ing TO me. for twas not intended, nor Is tts-
ken in nay such way. Non hive long known
my zeal IN regard 10 the Improvement ol our
rivers, aud c4pechlly The james River, with n
view To- thr Western trHde That, rs Prosi.
dent of the James River Company, had vii
messed the efforts and desire of The Slate, 10
grt ciear ofhdf corporation, which stood ms u
barrier To thm Improvement; mud. NJ had
appeared before the Legislature, indiridunHy
demonstrating against the net nj the last SEES
sion, ms eountcractine TINT policy, md uniu''
to Virginia, and petilioninE tor arrpeal there
ot, YOU, 40 doubt, considered II an net III jus
bce 10 mr., rs The soihry Individual, huseOnl-
migcd before the public on subject 50 inter
ting.
In nv address to the members from Rock.
bridge sRv, % will die ~ the Inst ditch ~
dctruce al thiq portion OF our State Rights" |
nm now IN that hitch, aud feel under great
obligations 10 Won for enabling me 10 die
Ike a man. al my post, making what battle
can.
Hitherto. Ind only considered The grent
outlines aud general bearing ofthc ncis con
corning the Rail road on the general interests
OF the State, aud IN particular, ms II regarded
our efforts To secure the just share ot The
Western trnde 10 which virginin, hg one chan.
mel or The oiicr, is undoubtedly entitled.
On these points, | beg leave 10 refer you 10
my petition Ia the House OF Representatives,
aud To my address to the members from Rock
bridge
Your request TINT | mipht suggest such
guards to our rights, us might he proper Ia
Introduce into The bill before you, hns lead
me- tor the frsl time, 10 minute rrnntindiiOn
OF the act Of Incorporation. 'houRld II was
proper. first, 90 see what pririitges and fnlmu.
Hiiics ARE granted that we NAV know our
danger n so be better enabled 10 Judge OF the
necessity aud proper manner OF guarding our
selves.
The privileges and mmun,ties granted. may
he SAID To- be nf n twotod character. Such *
may affect The wclfarc-pohhcai and p,elupay
OF the iohGie 5ldte, and such As may have u
vacations harsh, aud even UNJUST eilcei on the
iaa,tidadh, whose property may be affected A.
10 the inticr. except on tho score of example II
future legislation, ihe evil, though consldcrahl"
is not of an alarming character Somo OF hem
however. will bc noticed. incidentally, in thu
course pfthe observations nm about to make
The former causes me, confess, very great de-
gree Of uncasinrss. may he mistaken as 10 Tho
effects but certainly don Jcgit what | dom
! feet
Fust--The capital stock the company is sci
down N three millions There would have been
want oi cnndor in holding this out as The whole
thai would be wanted believe il Is not pre-
tendcd, bat that, even taking the rond by the
| shortest route, th6 cost, including every thing,
| will exceed thai SUN more than fhreeiod. Ten
millions, probably, would be nearer the mnlk.--
| Accordingly, power Is given by The 18Th section
| 10 increase the same, from time 10 timr, 90 The
| full crtcHt il wnuted, OF To borrow the money
| on pledge OF the property They nrc empow
| cred, also 10 uchnse, hold, sell, lease and con
| vry estates real personal nGd mixed go Far Ms
| may be necessary for the purposes OF Their chm
| actrr
What are those purposes To construct q
| Railroad, which, II Is SAID, is not to be pubht
| higbhng, but n monopoly eTcinapey 10 6e nrdb5
| the Company.
| 1his monopoiv will IN all probability, become
! odi0us; aud they mus have thr means OF seq pre-
| sr1rafi0n within themselves. Then expense and
risk VIII be- At md II becomes therefore a
| duty which "a h a ceInpnuy owes TO Itself Io
| abtnin ~ many privileges aud InImunItirs ~
possible On the Other hand. il is the duty %
the Leg stature 10 that the safety ofthc Stat
| is not endangered by the enorIuhIet OF The pow
er, asked
In the 18th section ofthr act, II IS spectre
that they may enter npnn aud use aud excHSht'
ann i0,,ds wanted inr TIN lie Of The road, o. an
erection Of uarehoases N 5tber uorfs nrcc9ary L
sad road OF for any otb'r purpose nee, s,dr} ol
useful ia the construction u rrpHir oisad roads
&r
Har,h0uscg in winch secure good shops 4
factoiir les loi making OF repairing machinery
stables for horses and houses al entertainment
for the accommodation of Their hands, auJ ih,
travelled, ~ thcir machines Will br all urccssnrI
TO road the profits Of which are TO depend ~
u monopoly.
Ifthe goud ofa community requires H10po
min, the law must give the necessary means o
Wij Urese-p"iinH but II ought 70 give no more
aud therefore II struck me rs little singular
that there was no limitation, as We ALWAYS hay'
in this STATE, rs 70 the qpoHtHg Of iaad tbey
might acquire. There : no such limitation
though, except the general words, 3" SO Tar al
shall be necessary &c.
In order to support horses. postsrage, If not
corn land may he found necessary II steam
cnginrs are rcauItcd 10, umher or coal-land'
my be- necessary For suppose the company
MoUtd tfe9Die 0RioUs a. nHpopuiar, &. the people
slonld rufl5c supplies, rhelr HoH0pOiU, AT least
iIsf br Al al t'tltls ~ III INT Hi"'9 VI
supplying themselves,
But Who viii he found, AZ future day, able 70
sand up against the wants rfdt or Pfgtenafd' 81
tins corporation, II We mhy 1"dse rom me as
rondanc, it has already acquired IN this 5tate
They have a night for thr site Of the road 70
sixty.,fx fect 81 land and TO make as many scts
of tracts ns they please. | am not acquainted
with building rai-roads--l wish we hid some
knowledge On thai subject--bu' presume thai
tins space would give room ior two traclst9 20,
and two 10 rcturn--say 10 feet, sill leaving 1t
feet for n tract for travelling carriages, horse
men, & C., to be applied to that use TIE Other
work would perhaps, leave llttc to be done IN
order to make such n road and il might be =
| very Convenient one.
Nv pre- cnt obiectio to ii is, that as this great
! improvement viii supcrcedc navigation, ordlna-
T. turnpike roads, and indeed, all marketing