Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-22
RIOHMoND, july "a.
CHARLoTrEsYILLE CoNVNN rioN.

We are Indebted TO an obliging friend for the
following sketch of the Results Of the Charlot,es-
willie Convention. We have printed Copy of the
Report OF the Committee; but il underwent so ma
ny changes in its progress through the Conven-
ton, that we have determined to wait for Copy
osthe corrected Report.-Thc subject gave rise 10
great deal OF animated discussion, in which most
OF the most distinguished members of the Convent
on took active part. The Debate on Friday occ,i-
pied 10 or III hours--thc Convention met again
on Saturday morning, and adjourned about 10 o.
clock We shall probably he able TO spread all the
details before readers liz our next paper
The reasons assigned in the Report for going
on with Inc James River improvement aud carry
ing ii as hi2h as Covngton or as high navigable
water will permit, are the follow ing:
"Our observations have been applied more parti-
cularly to James river, because consider it as
claiming eminently the immediate attention of the
legislature for several reasons.
sit passes in its whole extent through the CEN
ire OF the State; and accommodates greater
number OF our fellow citizens than any other river
"ltis the exclusive property of the State and
the whole produce of the tolls may either he
brought into the treasury or applied to other i'm
provements.
1.ltpromises more than any other, TO be auxiliary
70 the extension Of the commerce of Virginia and
the west
~The improvement oil its navigation will contri-
butte greatly to the augmentation of our CONNER
cial capital.
''And lastly, il will save large sum already ex-
pended on that part OF the work which has been
accomplished.
slfwe persist in an almost infinite subdivision of
our funds, nothing great will be completed. II we
apply them first 10 the most important objects. they
will be accomplished; and their accomplishment
will enable us TO proceed with others. IL cannot,
we think, be doubted that by rendering each work
IN which we engage productive, shall be ena-
bied to move on progressively until the whole shall
become so.'
- The appropriations, which are recommended for
the Potomac river, will be- soon called for in the
al ,.p. tI,at.
President of the Ohio & Chesapeake anal who took
avery active part in the Proceedings OF the Conven-
ton, expresses an opinion that the Canal may pos
sibly be brought up to the South Branch of the
Potomac by December neXt.-lt is the calculate
on OF some others, that il will not be carried so
high up until the year after next The Convent
on Of Charlottesville will he seen Recommend tina,
Virginia should begin TO improve the South Branc,i
OF the Potomac and the Shenandoah soon as the
Canal is brought up respectively TO their mouths
The former is now inpeItectly navigabe for
100 miles, and the latter for ZOO The Roanoke
IS also recommended 10 the Legislature of Virginia,
in the way spoken OF below:
"The Convention recently convened at Char
lottesve, terminated its session Saturday last
after adopting memorial and several resolutions
which they directed should be signed by the Pre-
stdent OF the Convention and transmitted to the
Governor of this State with request that lac would
communicate them TO the next General Assembly
The primary objects recomme nded by the Conven-
Ton to the Legislature, lst. The completion OF
tne WOrRS already begun IOr the cOnneXlon OF the
James River with the Western waters; and as aux
Hilary to the the extension of the Kenaw-
ma road westwardly, TO some point lower down on
the river last mentioned, and eastwardiy TO points
at which il shall meet with water transporta ton,
or with practicable and easy routes by land ira
veisng the State leading TO market, facilitating
i intercourse. Next in order they propose that So
soon as the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in its pro
gress up the Potomac, shall reach the mouths of
the Shenandoah and South Branch Of the Potomac.
these rivers shall Immediately he made safe and
easy in their navigation by the lock and dam i'm
provement 3dly, The Improvement OF the Roam
oke is advised 90 soon as the means be OBJ
tanned, and more pressing objects OF internal i'm
provement can be effected. Lastly, The attention
OF the Legislature is invited to the establishment
OF some more judicious and efficient system OF
\ common roads than that now existing. The con-
Vention declare il as their opinion that, by re-
strcting the plans for internal Improvement to the
several subjects enumerated, and by pursuing
those subjects in the order recommended, the
means now at the disposal of the Legislature or
which very shortly will be AT their command.
trCn the different funds destined for those subjects
VIII prove adequate without resort TO faxes TO
farther loans. At any rate that recourse 10 either
will not in all probability, be for some time re-
quisite advisable.
"The chief cause ofdissenion in the meeting was
recommendation in the report OF the committee
who drafted the memorial, that the State OF Vr-
gina should Immediately subscribe $500 900 TO the
STOCK oil the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The pro
very animated debate. Its advocates contended
that Virginia was bound TO advance this stupendous
work, by strong considerations OF pecuniary advan-
t5se to the State and TO her citizens, and also oil
political benefit a member of the Union. its
4 opponents thought that precisely the same con-
sideratons called imperiously on this State re-
Ject and avoid all participation in this scheme. In
the tirst place, they regarded the project Of ca
nal from the waters OF the Chesapeake TO those oil
] the Ohio by means of tunnel through the Allie
2any, as chimerica, and appealed TO the descrip-
lion oil ii by its eulogiSt, Mr. Adams. that its Uasi-
ness was lis strong recommendation, as a sentence
however undesgned) of explicit condemnation
They were unwilling that Virginia should bestow
half million on scheme, in its whole extent,
regarded as irnpractcable and for a corporation i'm
the adoption OF whose plans she had 10 voice, and
IN whose future operations she could have little OF
no control, being always an inefficient minority in
Its determinations. Lastly. they objected to the
cooDexlon which would be formed in this subscrp.
ton with the Government of the u. S.: sO:ne on
the score of policy, others both for the last reason
and because they believed that this connexior
would involve the surrender of a principle bitheT-
TO heIdsacred by them. They had always denied
;hc right Of the federal government, under the con
suiion, levy to appropriate money for interna
Improvement, and they regarded the acceptance o.
money levied and appropriated by that government
for such object implied sanction of an X.
ercisc of power conscientiously believed by them
10 be an usurpati0n. The recommendation Of the
committee was rejected by the Convention.
81 a proposal was also made to reject all The
resolutions tending to designate new particular
objects for improvement TO the Legislature; and 4
conhne the decision of the meeting 10 a reconinen
daiion to that body, 10 persevere in the measure.
andpOcy in relation 10 improvement heretofore
adopted.
"The above is hasty, though, ! believe, fa