Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-16

loans asked ior' Is thor, nothiog duo to those
pledges' And how is the debt otherwise to be paid
Are gentlemen willing to go into the Treasury at once
Tor the deficiency! L, for one am willing TO charge
upon the trade what is fair aud just and repeat a.
GAIN that the toll on tobacco is il any thing, under
lair average.
enlsmen may talk much as they please in deri-
aion and di.parasensnt Of the grand and magnificent
scheme. Sir, it wa. great aud magnificent scheme,
in the best sense OF those terms, and thought by
many oil the best men in our country; but said be
FORE these genemen and their predecessors abandoned
IN its utmost need; and for the honor OF Virginia
hope yet to live to see the day when will be accom-
pshed. Sir. the gentleman from clsou has mentioned
the case oil joint-stock partners must lie permitted
tn tell that enteman, that the County which l have
The honor IN part TO represent. pays one-'hird
than the county OF Nelson, of tn tolls charged pro-
duce passing down and up James River. Sir, am
for lair and equitable rate Of tolls and think the pre-
sent nearly a. il can he made except that tobac
co is not charged high enough and hope, the House
will not agree with the Committee in reducing IL on
that article alone.
The reader will be pleased to notice, that Mr.
White addressed the House twice on this subject, and
the above contains the substance OF both his Speeches.
But II IS necessary to remark the circumstance to ac-
count Tor his referring Mr. Mller's Speech and Mr.
Mier's referring to Mr.. Whites Speech
Mr.. MILLER said that he wished TO make one or
two remarks upon the subject OF the James River i'm
provement, the history of which seemed TO be but lit
lie understood Ii did not commence, nor was the
scheme carried through by the influence Of the Jane
River people-Mr Nj. said, that he was in the House
at the time, and he haZarled nothing i'm saving that
it was emphatically Western measure The great
inducement TO IT, was, that it would cement the East
ern aud western Interests, by increasing the
ncaeon between the two sections, and bring into action
the supposed resources OF the country, and
Of the West 1t had been urged upon the Legisla-
ture, by the combined efforts of Western men, and
the Board OF Public Works-At that time one mem
Der oil The Court OF Appeals, President OF the
James River Company, and another gentleman, who is
now one OF that Court was member Of the Board of
Public Works.-Ali these great names were brought
to bear on the subject, and told besides that
the Engineers were most competent--that they had
been long engaged in such business and that one of
them had participated in the laying out and construc-
ton of the Great New-York or E,ie Canal-that all
their estimates might be implicitly relied on because
they were much above the actual that Canal !:
Still, the James River Delegates below the mountains
would not to the scheme until it had be IN spe
cal'y agreed, that the Tolls the River should not
De increased, until the price OF ranspor had been
diminished; and then, not more than one third the
amount OF that reduction. This reduction was to BE-
ascertiined by Commissioners actually named in the
law Yet, Sir, Notwithstanding this express clause in
your Notwithstanding this plighted faith of tn
State, to the James River People, (wtaout which, the
law could Fever have been passed0 our Tobacco is
heavily taxed when we derive not the least be eft
from the improvements. | speak of those who live
above the termination of the line OF Canal. The Toll
on Tobacco, has been raisel from 2, 81 per bundled
TO one dollar than hali.-ls this rights il Just
ST!-SupPose the Old James River Company had un-
hsrtaken this work, under the provisions of this law
do You think they could have exaced any ncre ased
tolls until they rendered correspondent advantage.-
Suppose the Legislature had passed law authorizing
an increase of their tolI, when no bens fit had bean
derived from the improvements which they made
Would not thu law have impaired the oh alton of a
contract and nav. been pronounced unconstitutional
ny our Courts! Is the principle, the Justice of the
case altered, bv the CONFERENCE.-The stepping into he
shoes OF the Old James River Company, ami nndertak
in to do the work-to make the Improvement! Sir
put the case to tbs justice OF evary member Of this
House ask, il he will conaent, that merely to raise
iVie money, to help to cover scheme, which has
proved ahorive, he will that tn Legislature
should violate the plightsd faith OF tn. as VIII CHI
under like circumstances, he would punish in a Cor
por"Iion' Every prlcios OF justice AMI comfort re
qrres that this toll should be reduced 10 il, former
standard Give increased farilities Of transaorta
uon, anu we are really to pay for them.-Bu, "a YOU
have rendered us no benefit seek make us alone
pay Tor your Encouragement, and wrong calculations
Sir the worthy gentleman from Rockbridge says the
B1'rd OF Public Works nded this increase of
Ton on Tobacco. May ask, Sir, what this Board OF
Public Works has not ended. tell the ger
usman, they have ceased, for a long time 10 be any
authority for ms.-Dd he ever know tn m to oppose
any scheme. however wild and visionary! | rsmem-
Der non'-Sr, il would take the mines of Mexico and
reri huch less all our resources to execute all The
schemes OF Improvement they have r.c,nme ndsd
havs sometimes thought, that if this House were to
ask Tor road to the Moon they would report it fas-
BILE repeat, Sir. that they authority for mo
do not believe they have done any good. and
should much sooner tru't 10 the Engineer AMI Join
Committee OF the two HOu.es Of Assembly. They
got the Legislature into this difficulty about the James
River improve nents, by their recomme nd ations-and
to soften the matter, suppose they recommended to
tax the poor growers of Tobacco against every prnc-
pie OF justice and the pledged fa of the Common
wealth This is the whole of the matter.
Oher gentlemen, NJ .-srs. B yce Eppas &C. par
ucpated in this discu'on--hut the omission did not
u' till ii was too late to supply it, The above
Sketches however, will b. suicien 10 show the rea-
der the most important points made in the of III
argvmsntF
FINALLY. or taking the question upon thu resolu-
ton OF the Committee of Finance, IL toas rejected
f ErPEs opposed the reduction toll until some
plan substituted Tor raisiag fund IN place. supply
detective Revo1ue tho interest the loans fund
Internal Improvement.