Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-04
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

mo consideration the propriety Of appointing Del
ega'es to Convention TO be held at Charlottes
vliie, on the luh July next the subject OF the
internal improvement of Virginia:
! Robert Saunders, Senr. Esq. was called to the
Chair, and William +. Pierce, Esq appointed Sc
cretary.
onmotion of John Page, Esq. who explained
the object o. the meeting, and the importance of
acting upon this subject, it was
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to pre-
pare report and resolutions, TO he submitted TO
The meeting, and that professor Thos. k. Dew
Dr 1hos. G. Peachy, and MIR. Robert Saunders
IJr compose that committee, to which the Chair
added the Hon. James SeInple, and Col Robert
McCandlish The committee, after having had
the subject under consideration, submitted the fol
lowing report and resolutions, which were read by
the Char, and unanimously adopted
There is no subject, which for some years past
mas engaged more OF the attention, OF both the
ueneral and State Governments, than the subject
OF Internal Improvements. This may be owing in
part TO the splendid success OF the great Erie Ca
nal; which has served 10 stimulate into action the
energies of the Nation. But when the spirit Of
Ienterprze pervades such widespread empire
and the attention OF all is turned to schemes OF
tprovenent. we must look for other causes than
those which are merely accidental; must
search Tor those OF more general nature; must
ook 10 the peculiar nature AMI spirit OF our nsttu
suons; TO the topography of our widespread terrific
iry the different, capabilities and adaptations of our
soil; but above all, To those grand water courses
which pervade our country; approaching each
other sometimes i'll their head waters as at
.once clearly TO point out 10 the duest observer,
Ethe necessity OF improving their navigation, aud
the uuhty oil their junction. While some OF the
States have commenced the great work. and real
zed their most stsuine antcipations; while others
lhaye rushed more heedlessy on, AMI entered up
ron projects which their wealth and industry could
siot accomplish, or which, when accomplished,
Fwould no! compensate tor the labor and capital ex
tpended; Virginia, the extension oil whose terriory
the fertility and variety OF whose soil; the extent
oil whose streams and proximity of some OF them
to The head waters OF iie Mississippi, seem so siIk
singy 10 mark her out "a at subject OF internal
improvement, has hitherto remaiued ia almost to-
tai apathy, unaffected 10y the spirit ot enterprise
which has gone abroad in the land. She, who
was the main pillar OF our cOnlederdcy. during the
arduouS struggle OF the revolution anu Tor so long
time afterwards maintained her ascen,ancy, is nov;
but the third, and ere long may be but the fourth
State, IN Importance i'll the onion. Its high time
jilen that she should awake from that fatal eihar-
5gy, which has kept her stationary, while her Sister
Estates are advancing rapidly around her, and
tter upon that career vi improvement which ciIcum
Istances so loudly demand.
as your committee are OF opinion, that the i'm
provement OF the inland navigation of Virginia, has
hitherto been defeated mainly by the opposition of
Ithe Lower Country; they have determined 10 en-
ter somewhat at aige into the merits OF this sub
iJect-exariine the nature OF the opposition, and
sbew that it is founded in entire sconr eption
io its interests. The general advantages arising
nom system of Internal Improvements, will be
but partially touched upon, except far CON
Injected with the question to which they VIII p.in-
cipaiiy conine ID cir attention.
The general advantage resulting from Internal
Communications, may be briefly stated TO consist
IN the Increased facility and cHeapncss oil trans
portaton OF commodities from section OF coun-
Try to another-irom places where they abound,
10 those where they III deInaud--lom places
IWhere they are produced, to tie market :, here
they are sold 1t Is thus, that every species OF
soil may be appropriated to the production Of that
'comnodIy, ior which IL is more peculiarly adapt
Ied. j he FARMER Will not be encountered with The
,supcriuy OF his products; ior, he has means oil
transportation at hand, by which his superiuities
may be sent Oft TO the most extended market, and
mus thrown INTO the great Commercial World,
where there Is always demand Tor every product.
From the same extension of In1rfet every variety
oil talent and art viii find greater stimulus TO ex =
ertion. frequent communication and Interchange,
rouse into action all the energies of inan and CON
tribute most powerfully 10 the accumulation OF
wealth, and the progress of civilization. In CON
hrInation OF this, we have only TO look to the past
and present history OF our race.
The Nations around the Mediterranean seem
to have been the fra who made any progress in
wealth and civilization. This sea, from variety
OF causes, particularly favorable To the early
navigation OF the World. Egypt seems 10 have
been the first in which Agriculture and Manulac-
turcs were cultivated TO any extent The Nile
winch runs through that country, is broken into
many Canals in Lower Egypt, aud Upper Egypt is
extended but few miles from the banks OF the
Nile, in any place Here then, were great "a,
cties offered 10 inland navigation. Acc0rdnpIy
1t was here that first are Informed Of the
growth of wealth, OF empire, and civilization
he wealth aud power Of Phenica, Carthage and
Babylon, were owing TO similar causes. ii we
look 10 the rise OF Nations since the downfall of
the Roman Empire, we shsll ind similar effects
produced by similar The States aud CT
ties Of Italy, on the Gulf Of Genoa, Oh the banks
Of the ArnO, and the Adratic Sea, were the first
10 rise TO wealth and importance. In Genoa, Pisa
Florence, and Venice, the Arts and Commerce
were first revived.
! Leaving The Mediterranean, and looking along
the Atlantic coast OF Europe, We siai find mat the
same cause which had formerly promoted the
Commerce Of tlic Mediterranean, gave rise IN ihe
Northern part oil Europe to small degree OF traG-
! tic upon Tie narrow OF the Baltic. The IN
habitants OF he Southern Coast Oh Scandinavia,
and The Northern parts OF Germany, being neces-
stated, IN that inhOsptdle climate 20 Tor their
subsistence, became early acquainted will Nayi-
CATION. Erom TIC cUnVeDcnCy Of their situation.
numbers OF people were drawn 10y degrees to To-
side in thcir neighbouihood, and trading towns
were formed upon the coast, OF IN the months of
| the adjoining rivers. They engrosscd for several
[ centuries, Tie trade Of the Northcrn parts Of Eu-
rope, "a tie Italians had that OF the South, aud
| Wisely, the famous capital of Goihland, in the Bal
tic, has given maine 10 Code oi commercial rrn-
uldons, which is supposed by many to be the basis
OF the present Maritime Law OF Europe
/ The great improvement which so early took
place in the country on The Baltic, merits our at
tcnon The more, because the soil was sterile, and
the climate iOhospitabi,; consequently, the pro.
gress in wealth and civilization, can be attributed
/ to commerce alone, arising from the superior ia
ciil,ies OF navigation.
The country situated about the mouths Of The
I Rhine AID the Nacse. which, like The Dcltus OF