Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-01-05


the Convention, to the letters of General Wash
mg,cn. The father of his Country scarcely re-
cved from the tolls of the Cuup when i'm writing
the then Governor of Virginia he urged the neccssi-
ty OF connecting the Eastern and Western waters of
the Commonwealth, ut the most practicable points,
particularly enforcing the practcability and great
Importance OF drawing the Western trade into Vr-
gina, ny the kenawha and james River. In 1910
II, Lowland Legislature organized n commission,
Tor the examination of those rivers, whose report
gave to the country the most atterng prospect, of
securing very important share of the Western trade
by that route-The strong and powerful reasoning
employed in that report, gave increased vaue to
the enterprise, in the minds of every onc and he on
y felt restrained from speaking of it. with the warm
feelings which it produced, by the presence of the
distinguished individual, at the head of that cou,is-
slon The subsequent reports ofthe Civil Engineers,
continued to increase the confidence, felt in the prac
ticabity and value Of the work But in this. as in
many other splendid projects he feared that due re-
gard had not been paid to all the ecnens which Gu
tered into the consideration of the subject r. was
then supposed that the use of Steamboats,, could not
under any circumstances reduce transportation from
New Orlcuns, to the mouth of kenawha to less than
from 4o to 500 ner ton; and upon this estimate of
freight was the conclusion ufainy formed, that the
Virginia line OF proposed communication, might sue
ceSsiuly enter into competition with that through
the Gulf Mexico Untor unatcly for this hypoth-
esis he had been assured by merchants of respecta
billy, that their goods had been brought from the Gil V
of New York, TO point the Ohio river. near the
mouth ofthe Kenawha, at dollar and seventy five
cents per hundred, including port charges insurance.
falls at Lousvle.-This single fact, had gone far
to remove from his mind, the diseuafying passion
supposed to be felt by the western people.
In looking through that district of the common
wealth but few objects of internal Improvement pre-
sented hcmse! YES. of character, warranno public
expenditure Phc forming and graduating few lead
ing roads, comprised the principal benefits which he
Thought could now be conferred on that quarter of
the State, with prospects of adequate returns TO the
1reasiirY. The attempts Improve the rivers had
as yet proved abortive particularly i'll relation to
the great Kanawha lie then Gdverted to the omar
tiers of the State, where public improvements were
most required, and where, under any system, hnvinn
for its object the development of the RESOURCES Of
he Commonwealth, they were most likely to take
place.
In doing so, he called tue attention of the Ctauven
hon. to the connection of the upper branches of the
Roanoke, with New River, and to the important in
tuence OF such a conucucton. upon the growth and
prosperity of Norfolk Yhe Eagineers in the ser
vice of this State well as those in the employment
OF tue United States, had concurred in the rcason,
Die PracucabllIty of this connection, without tunneilnr
or deep cnttlngan advantage peculiar to this line
And II, Ill his humble Judgment, any portion of the
people OF tire commonwealth, had deeper interest
tuah TIER FELLOW CITIZENS generally, in liberal and
OF Norfolk, and those interested in It's wealti, aud
extension.
As to james River, he said, that although no ade
9i'S motive may exist, Tor niinglng it's waters with
tue hanaWha yet 1t had high claims upon the restr-
ceS OF the State, for further Improvement.
The Canal of James River, although now connpu
l"they uhProauctiVe, would, he thought, produce
ample retnrns if extended to Lynchbur9 it's salutn
ry effects, upon the trade aud commerce of that in
teresting town. could not be doubted The Salem
turnpike now langnishing for want of funds, might
receive an invlgOration which would shortly extend
1t to the Tennessee line, rendering it sonrc.: of mnc
wealth to the intermediate countless as well as to
Lynchburg. Pile Rivanna and the Rappahanuocl
he said, also looked the naronao ore of he State for
the extended benefits, which, he hoped they were
destined hereafter to confer the Agriculture of the
| country. The Valley Country, tie said, would ex-
pect, as the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal progressed,
some application of the funds of the State to the i'm
proVenaent of the Shenandoah aud South Branch
bat when the whole field of operation was passed in
review and the objects of internal Improvement fully
ne thought every mind must be satisfied
that the West could find no motives, for favorinp
rigorous and unjust system of taxation TO garry into
effect objects, In which they could have but com
mon interest and in relation to which, the Midland
ana eastern District must fell deeply concern
ed than their Western fellow citizens Yhe yarons
ana varying views of gentlemen, in relation to this
SUBJECT OF internal Improvement, wonld furnish he
thought, some illustration of the weobt dine 70 tho
argument which denied to the western penple tbnr
due participation 10 the legislation Of the country be-
cause OF their passion for internal improvements
oonIe rev years since an enterprise was determined
upoh IN tne town OF baltimore, having for its object
tue connection OF that city With the Ohio river bv
ran road. Among the authors of this enlightened
Undertaking. was found the venerable Carroll of Car
foiton, and William Patterson who ,nirbt bo alnos,
regarded as the father of that citv uIese gente.
men, with eight others subscribed about half million
OF stock Their example vas followed, and the re-
snue OF the capital Vas taken With avidty by their
fello"-townsmen. Application was made to the I,e
gslatqre OF Virginia for permission to conduct the
road through nor territory. This boon, which was
70 orlhg no Charge upon the Treasury of the State
out which looked to the expenditure of large sum of
money among Its citizens, granted, but coupled
W"h prohibition against uDiting the rail road with
me Ono river, at any point below the Little Kama
"hs- This reservation, as he understood was ma,s
LOT the avoWed purpose Of improving by yirpf1fa
lneuIS ana Virginia resources the line of the Great
lAanicWha ana james River So strong was the pas
sion for Internal Improvement with the louIond a
tEirn' that they reserved this entire line for their
own especial operations In the course OF the sue
IICtun" eiaSon, reconnosauces we're made by the
I'"''eers OF the Company, who directed their exa-
mutations 10 tho valleys of the Shenandoah 81 Soufh
DraIch; as well as to the valley of Grecubrier and
hahawDt. Their reports were sufficiently favorable
~ i,in,e tne company TO determine to submit the line
" cI'!IeaI survey and examination. if the Virginia