Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-05-26

hig opuh ollfcts alike permanent und iWpof-
tanf, shcai ever look ~ r-moie periods aud
by her prudence guard alike through all In.
,erseniog time her sysof vigilance shouid
exclude the lens, probability Of error.
\ In case The state rsiains The work In her w
hands. by jndicious, liberal expenditure,
many ofthe present burdens OF taxation wouii
undoubtedly be removed but there can be no
prospect OF the sort. should n corporation con-
trout the expenditures, aud absorb the profits.
u being the honor and interest Of the state,
forms Of ilselfs conclusive argumen, against
| corporate powers; for, who would place
the honor aud interest ofths Commonwealth
In the hands OF cupld,y or who would com.
pei the most diguhed officers OF the state 10
become members Of a corporation
Wealth has great power; AMI. when in the
hands OF wisdom, IS justly entitled TO i,s share
| of influence aodImeed OF respect; but the hap
piness, aud l am led to believe, eventually the
existence of the Republic, mainly depends, not
only upon an approximation IN respect 10 g
quality of intelligence. but OF fortune md OF
morals. Whatever has tendency to euriail
! the extremes, aud enlarge The medfoerty. will
| serve 10 strengthen he bands aud perpeiusie
the nniou. Ibere is 40 trait IN honsn nature
more fnrctble than its proneness TO extremes
/, operates upon all classes while the COM
psraiye'y uniformed, when reused by feel
ing, Hrs Il TO despse the wisdom ot prudence
and reae c,ion. Even NJ this day, the intellI-
ge"ce aud virtue that justly belong to the
character OF Nav York, could scarcsly res
train her citizens from violence. was her enor-
nous income arising from her canals IN the
hands OF corporation. The wisdom OF the
| counsel that led 10 The conr,e she has pursued
! IL so manifest, that no statesman Gnu overlook
| her example III tins respect, or fail 10 ADMIRE
The teoius that Infused tina energy oil her ac-
J ~ la II Ht mi m md
tes are alike the bane al knaw dge,--the dos
trnctio0 OF liheriy and uoih,ns seems To M
| ,rtase those evs TO much, as tue ciItta,fing
| OF intercourse aud ths cophne ent OF i1slrue-
| ton.
The spirit AMI energy ofthe country will
4 certainly lie reused when both the capital aud
| abouT OF the state are directed 10 an object
| that promises reward commensuia ate with
the mag u,inde of the undertaking. The people
eill generously support whaievei wise iegis-
lat,on shall adopt, when their confidence - M
splred hy the prudence aud skin oi those on
| whose integrity they rely. When toey know ~
! fee the advantages TO be derived rom oOy pub
lie work 10 belong 10 themselves, they viii rn-
| courage aud support whatever tends'to the ac-
! compishment Of SO desirable an end. But ~
| tn hands ofa corporation, none of that public
spirif so essential 10 all ~ otks Of Improvement,
| would extend beyond the confined sphere oil
acts upon liberal minds With power cpmmen-
surnie with the object III view, While nothing
more eieetualiy destroys public spirit than p,I
vaie CLAIMS iteqenily urged upon pubic boan-
~.
Whatever is the property of the State, bo--
longs 10 the people aud they are ever y,gi-
| Ian, in guarding, and jealous ofpower.- Ihey
would never be content 10 see corporation IN
posses sion of what they hive lbesaliy eoniri-
Uuted 10 btstow--ex.rcising power beyond.
their control, and, perhaps, Injurious to their
rights.
All public works of magnitude under re-
publican government should ever beloog 10 The
State. Political considerations alono are suili'
| cIent Ia lead TO this conclusion and seem to
| me to Indicate course so plain and important
| as TO remove all manner oil doubt. Motives OF
| honor aUd interest are also urgipg,-aDd are
perhaps of themselves sufficient, bat no re-
| llpcting mind can deem either 50 important,
! nor o lie compared with that political connde-
ration which regards the prrpeinty OF our
| rights aud iibertieS,-our republican govern
mem, as the first and the last, the only true
criterion, by which to test every important
measure OF legislative action Upon 'h's eon-
eIaiioo, and Ihis alone, the mind OF Ciin-
ION rested his claim to the TILE OF a statesman :;
while those who were immediately beoeh'ied
hy his labors, regarded ouly the pecnnIafy adj
vantsges resulting from his political fore i-hi.
| So much are most men bl,oded by prejudice
or governed by an immediate prospect OF gam,
that they are unable TO comprehend the e1-
tended views, the grasping powers OF an en-
Iightened mind.
| II seems 10 be admitted on all hands, iha
fund sufficient for the object. cannot be pro-
| cured without the aid OF the State-and thar no
private company will under,akea work OF that
nsgui,ude without large contribution from
the treasury OF the Commonwealth. Since
| nothing can be accomplished, unless she prof
| fers, " Ith an act OF incorporation, The resouT-
| us Of the Stale--hohiiug in one hand char
| ter O, perpetual and enormous powers, while
the other urrsfhts the key Of her treasures il
seems 10 me ause Inconsistent and derogato'y
! to the character Of virginia. TO thus compton,
ise the paramount claims OIL per dhhfesi interest
| her indubitable rig ats with bIi6e he!i ioiih
10 the cupidity OF monied moncpolists. The
| str. myth and keenness of peculating foresight
can be cqualled only by the tenscity OF her ev-
| er grasping hands while divided RESPONSE
! b,lity regards the CLAIMS OF jasuce and morals
" MS the noisy ciamor OF the victim oil her un-
| reientng veIousoess. ave Regarded cur
funds, and we will reap the harvest Of our
ad,entarous tolls" Will he the only reply, that
the owners ola future and immense income
will make to that oppression the people will
feel under an iniudIcious act of the pres ut
age-WIll the erlig htened counsels Of the State
Consent o entail upon their children rent,
growing out OF the estates ofihe prudence and
Industry Of their fathers o. shall every com
modify of agricultural product and mechanical
skill-and the minerals emb0weied in our
mountains, be taxed in the form OF tolls to
iich those who feel no interest Ia the prosperi-
I, OF The Stue? trust and beIiese, hat 'h'rr
are few, or none, who, on reflection, can ad
wise to a measure leading TO such IastiOg e.
VII | cannot for moment doubt the wisdom
Of he State aud veIiy believe, that it she en-
gaees IN the work, she will SO do without the
aid of corporations, and upon System that
will insure to poste,hy tho frurs oil her own
planting. Yours DC
HENRY B. ELY.