Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-12-17

stanced. But when in connection
with this, the Improvement of,he State
rs regarded as the sure means of produ-
cling unity Of feeling and harmoniou.
action between all parts of the com.
munIty, lis Importance capnJ, be ules.
toned, or its Benefits he matter OF srec.
ulatiOn.
In this government there is 90 want
of constitutional power over this sub
Ject-against similar exercise of pow
er, on the part of tho Federal Govern
men', Virginia has t. tuna,ely prntes,
ed-and wisely. Tie exercise OF sucb
power toy that government, has been
regarded. not only as uncon ti,utional
out as deleieripus IN the highest degree
and an attentive observation OF It's
effects, has been attended with tho
rough c"nvicticn vi disastrous t,n,Icn.
cy. 1t Is cause OF sincere urat,la-
ton, that the President shm.lI have
done much in the exercise of his con-
S''tnt'"n i veto towards arrestIng this
unfortunate system We may certain
~ hope. that lmpelled 10y devoted re-
gayd to the interests OF the I'm ted
STATES, manifested by him upon repeat
ed occasions, he will persevere in this
course, until every vestige of this IL
snrpatlon will be obliterated from the
legislation of Congress. The states
are competent To the improvement of
their own domestic condition, and the
oh!l cation which rests upon them to do
81, Is high and imperious.
From the numerous works which
have been brought to public view, those
III which the State has become interest
ed IN part, or undertaken to construct
al her own expense, justifes the public
expectation that they will be resumed
and prosecuted to their final compile
ton.
Although many works have been
projected, highly beneficial 10 large
neighbprhoods and even the countries
IN which they may be situated, yet
there are few Of magnitude and impor-
lance sufficient TO entitle them to the
character of state improvements.
In considering this subject, he mind
cannot !eil to contemplate the great
commercial advantages which would he
derived from the completion of those
works already begun on the James Ri
yer. Heretofore this seems to have
been considered the first object, and
oil importance enough to Justify the
General Assembly in making it the
exclusive property Of the Common
wealth
if, then, private enterprise is pre-,
vented from carrying on this work, the
obligation to finish it, becomes much
more strong on the part Of the govern
ment and was its navigation render.
ed equal to that of similar works OF
other states which are intended to serve
as channels for the introduction Of pro
duce from the rich regions of the west
there cannot be doubt, but that the
exports from this river would be great
ly augmented.
This fine river is the natural chan.
mel and is the shortest, and might be
| the easiest, cheapest and most certain
| route through which the iHexhaustable
| abundance produced from the rich sol
of the Western States could find its way
to the Atlantic.
To invite the agricultural products
of that country TO their large cities, has
been the object OF those vas, expendi-
lures encountered by some Of our sister
States and were success to attend
their efforts that trade would be cheap
ly acquired at the cost OF additional
millions: the products of the labor o
three millions Of people would then be
secured, with certainty OF their in
crcasing SO long as the contederacy cx
listed
The Improvements put upon tin:
great channel to the West not less i'm
poriant to the acquire,nentTof that com
MERGE, than to the trade oil the lnterIo
Of our own country, have been cou
structed at an unreasonable and uDpa
ralleled expense. This is deeply to b
regretted. But il is, nevertheless, be
lieved that, by judicIous change il
the mode of conducting this work
steamboat navigation could be accom-
plishod to Lynchburg, for about til
sum of six hundred thousand dollars.
That part of this improvement whlc
forms the road between CoviCgton an
Kenawha, was never well located, gra
duated or constructed, but with the eS
ception Of a few miles, which it will b
injispensabIy necessary to pave, no eS
pendi,ure will be required, other tina
to keep it in proper repair Tor som
time.
The road which lies between tn
Great Falls Of Kenawba and Charlie;
town has not been finished, owing
the failure Of the constructors to con
ply with their engagements. The nea
J approach of your session induced tn
| J.. D.un. l,.,r,.,,r L., rnGrnIn lrnt