Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-10
NEW york LEGISL.dYURE.
GOV. CLINTCN,S MESSAGE.

Iei'otC -citiScnS IF the Senate,
and Of the House IF assembly:
The important & diversified objects of attention
combined with the good government of a republic,
so extensive in territory, fertile in resources &
so susceptible OF Improvement, that i'll which our
lot Is cast, must dcpress you, deeply and solenly
with the magnitude, weight and extent of the iu-
ties assigned ts you by the voice of your country
and inculcate the necessity of improving the pre-
eminent advantages, and of mitigating the evils in
cident TO our situation. The great scourges of man
kind have rarely visited us with DESTROYING fury:
peace, plenty and health have presided or or our
land; war is stranger aud famine, and the pcsti-
lcncc that wakcth i'll darkness, are never expe-
rfenced lnstevd Of a scarcity, there is generally
a superabundancc of subsistence, an excess of pro
duction. The cordial anxiety of Henry ith of
France, that every peasant in his kingdom might
have fowl in his pot, and the benevolent PRAYER
OF sovereign OF Great Britain that his poorest
subject might have sufficient education 10 read his
bible, Were, al the times they were uttered con-
sidcred chimcras of the imagination. In this for
tunate land, they are, far they apply realized
IN the fullest latitude, and 10 the utmost extent
These distinguished dspcnSations of Divine Pro
Sidencc ought indeed 10 fill our hearts ,yiih graft
tude and our lives with devotion to the Author of
every good and perfect gift and the prospects of
the future and IN the distance arc adapted TO in
spire the same commcndablc spirit. Aid in this
view OF our situation, the simultaneous commence
Tnent OF the natural year and your anniversary
meeting Is calculated TO produce emotions of q So
Tenn and Impressive character, and well ADOPTED
10 animate your zeal and TO invgorate your efforts
in behalf OF the best interests of our country.
But it can not, nor ought il TO be concealed, that
our country has been more or less exposed TO ani-
tltions and coInmotions for the LAST seven wears
Party spirit has entered tic recesses Of retirement
violated the Sanctity OF female character invaded
the tranquility Of private life, and visited with Sc
we're infctons the peace ci families: Neither ele-
wilton nor humility has been spared nor the chart
ties of life. nor distinguished public services, nor
the firesidc, nor the altar, have been left free from
attack: but a iicentious and destroying spirit has
gone forth, regardless of every thing but the gra-
tliicatIon OF malignant feelings and unworthy aspi-
rations. The causes OF tlii5 alarming and porter
tous evil must be found in great measure, in the
Incompetent and lnjudicous provisions relative TO
the Office OF Chief Magistrate of the Union. 4
continuance IN chIcc Tor hut one term, would di-
mlnish if not disarm opposition and divert the in
cunbent from the pursuits of personal ambition TO
the acquisition of that fame which rests for It's sup
port upon the public good. The mode of choice
Is also highly eXccptionabic Instead of an uni
form system, there various rules some OF which
are calculated TO secure unannity in the electoral
college, and others to diminish the legitimate pow
or, II not TO anniliatc the real force of the states
And there Is every facility TO bring the final deter
minaion into the House of Representatives an
ample field for the operations of management and
intrigue, and for the production of suspicious and
iinputations, which ought never to stain the cha
racter OF cur country. Nor are the claims of the
national government, in dcrogaticn OF the consti-
tuonal authorities of the States, calculated to qi-
ct the aStatonS OF the times, 20 ranquilizc the
Although
innovation ought ever TO be discouITtcnanced, vet
saiutary imp ovcment ought II be unhesitatingy
cultivated: And until some adequate prcyentves
and efflcaciou5 remedies engraftcd into the
constitution, we must rarely expect n recurrence
OF the same tranquility which formerly shed its
benign influence over our country.
Considering the high reputation and the great
revenue which this state has derived from her in
ternai Improvements, il IS equally astonishing ard
Notifying to observe elaborate and systematic at
tcmpS to dcprccatc their utility and to arrest their
progress. 1t IS Tnan;fcstly aud uncandd and SUI
peifical view Of tc subject, to conine an estimate
OF its benefits 10 an excess OF income above the
interest OF expenditure, and yet this standard Of
appreciation mas been adopted. Artificial naviga-
ton established for the public accommodation;
far the conveyance Of articles 10 and from market;
and revenue is a subordinate object. 1t was never
intended, as primary consideration, 10 fill the cot
fers ofthc state, butt augmcntc gcH- raj Opulence
20 animate all the springs ofndustry and cxcrtion &
TO bring home 10 every mans door, an easy ard G.
economical means Of access 10 the most adyan,n-
gcous places OF sale and purchase: And 70 narrow
down this mOmcntOu5 aud comprehensive subject
% mere question Of dollars anu cents is 10 lose
sight of the great clement Of individual opulcncc
of public wealth and national prosperity II c7:-
Guides from consl..cI ration, tie one hundred mil
lions ofdollars, which have, in all probability been
added 70 tr value Of real estate, the immense ar
probation Of al tic products &c agriculture aud
fabrics Of manufactures, which were formerly shut
out IN great degree, from mgTbet--the solid and
extensive establishment q inland trade'he vast
accession to our marketable pro1ucons-the un-
bounded encouragement Of our marine navigation
and external CommcrC.-tho facility rdpi,.ity and
economy Of commandments creation Of
dense population, and Tie erection and increase OF
villages towns and cities, and the most efficient en-
c0uragcmcnt OF agriculture and the arts by cheap
supply Of materials for fabrics and Of markets for
a,commO lation But il VIEW to overlook these
important considerations. and cOuine ourselves 10
the mere question Of revenue, wc will see enough
TO convince the most sceptical, that immense pecu-
mary benefits must flow from new channels OF
hydraulic communicated with the Susquehannah, !
the Allegheny the st. Lawrence, and tie auxilia-
- connecting watcT3--ant b. great land avenue !
or state road, from the Hudson TO Lake Etie.
The Tfie and ChampItin canals have cost be- !
zen % and 10000 dollars mile, and this enor- |
nous expenditure viii never occur again All !
she mysteries o. such operations aS developed & !
al the difficulties diminished; and il may be
confidently pronounced, that the maximum expense
Of any gwen canal wi not exceed $4,000
mile, unless il passes over high mountains by locks
INCLINED planes Or deep cuttings, under them by
extensive tunnels. The opposition to the extension
Of internal navigation, is based upon application
of the same ratioof expenditure Ct TIC construct
I'd, 10 the contemplated canals But admitting !
what IS peremp'Osly denied that the income from
The former does not exceed something more than Z
Der cent yet Is wl even thcn be evident chat the I
state will gain H. Per. cent by tho operation as
loans can be procured on hof credit at IL per (
cent.
cannot without going too nuchin,o detail, re- !
ufc thc cher fallsciOUs statements which have