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

ana the baDksof the navgable rivers and il is only
within the period OF about fifty years past, that
population, capital and enterprise have penetrated
into the depths Of the western wilderness.
The prosperity of all the countries which have
been here mentioned, is TO be asccribed TO the IL
| ciics offered to Commerce from inland navisa-
ton; and not 10 the superior fertility of the SOIL
On the other hand, those nations which have been
destitute OF those means for carrying on Com
merce, either by bays, rivers canals, have re-
Named from one aye 10 another, in the same bar
barous and unciviZed state. This ohservation.is
eXemplitied i'll the state OF all the inland parts o
Africa, and OF that part OF Asia which lies at any
considerable distance north of the Euxne and
caspian seas the Ancient Scytlia, and the Modern
Tartary and Siberia. And there can he no doubc
but that the want of an extensive maritime coast
has hitherto been the chief cause of impeachment
to the national prosperity of Russia. :" The great
genius oil Peter the Great, says Mr.. Storch, "was
well aware Of this disadvantage. OF all the enter
prizes oil this monarch, that which he held mostat
heart was TO improve the coast of Russia, and per-
iect It's interior navigation And perhaps by these
means, he has done more for the prosperity of his
Empire, than by all his positive measures, having
for object to transplant into Russia the industry and
civilization of Europe."A
THUS we see, that the prosperity and civilization
oil the world have been consequent on Commerce;
when has alisen either from position naturally
! advantageous to barter and trade or from the art
| and labour of man, which have opened the nayi-
CATION OF rivers, cut canals, established roads;
thereby facilitating and cheapenng the transporta-
ton OF commodities from one section TO another
As TO the comparative advantages of the two kinds
OF communication, by water and by road there can
be no doubt, where there is not a very great dis.
parity OF original expense. " To convey twenty
tons upon narrow canal, the horse and boat gem
orally cost about 4 100, and require only one man
and abo". To carry the weight by land,
| more than twenty such horses are required. and
AT least ten men. The land establishment would,
therefore, cost at least ten times the expense by
| canal. under a PFoport0nably greater wear and
tear
| Your Committee will OF course. forbear TO re-
commend any particular system of Internal I'm
provemeB;; this must be reserved for the Conycn-
tion which will meet in Charlottesville in Jolly
IL will be readily seen, however, by a glance at
| the Map of Virginia, that every efficient plan,
must have reference TO the James River and IFS
branches. This river, with it, tributaries, per-
vaics the most fertile and valuable portions oi.our
State; and III consequence of the proximity of some
OF its head waters TO the Kanawha, one Of tue tri-
butary streams the Mississippi, junction could
easily be effected, either by canal By railroad or
even by turnpike, which would at once open the
market Of the East TO great portion Of the West;
,cice rersd. ] he East and the Yves; would thus
he bound together by The do;lble tie of sympathy
and interest. The products of a large portion OF
our state, which are now almost yauelcss TO the
| producer, would be thrown into an extended and
constantly improving market. a and power
tnl impulse would thus be communicated 10 indus
try the energies OF our State would be called into
immediate and efficient action, and the rapid at-
I
! the sure consequence
! But here met by the oppo son of The in
habant of the Tide Water Country, who asserts,
that man III AS Intercourse with man must be gov
crncd BY his interest, aud that the interest of Inc
, eide " ater Country is entirely opposed to the o.
! pcnIng OF our inland navigation. The objections
urged are two LIST, That the extension of our inland
navigation must be effected by the revenues o tie
state TO which the inhabitant Of the Lower Coun-
Try contributes large portion: aud this will ope-
rate against him direct tax 2dly. That the pro-
ducts OF the Western Country, which are nearly
The same with those of the Eower, will by means
! Of these improvements, be easily brought
into competition with own; and in consequence
oil the cheapness Of labour and abundance of fertile
land III The West, we cannot NEE. the competition;
that an immediate fall in the agricultural products
VIII ensue; and consequently, thatthe Agriculture
! oil the lower country will be ruined, or rreparabiy
! Injured. These objections urged by the Lower
( Country, your Committee propose to examine at
some length, and cndeavour to shew that they are
founded 10 total Wsconception Of their true inte
rest.
| Before entering upon this discussion, however,
| they beg leave 10 remark, that although man
should be governed by his interest, yet it should
be an enlarged and enlightened sell-interest which
| should govern the World; one that should have
reference TO remote, wei immediate good;
one that should comprehend the future, as wella
the present. How many hundreds OF missioua--
rcs and thousands OF dollars are sent off to The re-
mote corners OF the world, TO propagate the Chris
4
the liberal contributor is not actuated by the ex-
pectatiop OF immediate advantage 10 himself but
10y The spirit of benesOlence, united with the CON
hdcnt expectation, that the day will come how
distant soeVeT II may be, when civilization and tho
pure spirit Of Christianity, shall spread over q.
Heaiien world, dispelng ignorance and supersti-
ION. Thus IL often becomes u.s. TO sacrifice some
petty Interest OF Our for tie present, where
the welfare OF the world, our remote intetcsfs
may be more seriously concerned. Even then
surprising portion of the I5ower Country should
receive some slight injury frcm the system OF In
iernai Improvements; must therefore, the great
interest OF large State be wholly neglected; must
the tide OF civilization and wealth which is rolling
Westward be prcmalureiy stayed, because sof,c
triiiing injury may be sustained by some? Tho
spirit OF Philanthropy and Christianity would an
swer, 20. But, happily in the present case wo
mean not TO call upon the charity Of any one sec
ton Of the community. The great principles OF
political economy OF hand, by which we h6pe
10 demonstrate the entire unity oG interest Be.
tween every part Of tie State. The Eowcr
Country will % none OF its present advantages.
Esau Is not required 10 give up iis birthright.
As 10 the lst objection; that the Internal I'M
proycmens vii Operate direct tax on The Eow-
or Country, your committee have to state, thar
, "lhc cost Of every public work or constructions
consists, ls OF the rent oil thc surface wherconir
Is erected; which rent amounts 20 what tenant
would gave for IL TO the proprietor; IDLY Of the in
icrest o tc capital expended in the erection 3dly
Of the annual charge Of maintenance u These are
the three items which tolls should regularly nav;
If they fan short, the Improvement il present
disadvantage at least 10 the State; IL they 90 be-
yond, II then becomes source of revenue 10 tho
State equal to tlie excess. our committee wouLd
rot enter into tIe minutia Of the calculation Il,
afFrs ffraf fs.af -.