Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-04-05

e"zen, s'd 10 re cue mis- good old commorwestb
rom her present condition ef rciai ioferic ry
And. Sir what the ndiea ed by your ststute
70 sfset h-se eat and amisbis objects, Joint stock
Ms oeiaons. Yes. is through the insrume ntaiiy oil
joi.t sock s'sociatonsits ty union OF Sta fnds
and individual efpsr, tia, the great and impor.
tan objects are to fc ed and f. is the provisions
n"v p law WIN II We n, W ssk you TO extend 10 ID.
P,ur,turx Ra-R ,sd Company Foe GU have th.t. :.
Ia 'aij r ,s. in terms tn cannot be msvn ~r.tood
mat u we wonii a'socia o ourselves in;o company
I" tn purpose OF COT sammanng ri grsa, In pr
men hat 20 soon as we should ave .unsr,ibed r.
hfhs Of The caii stock, and secured he same 10 be
paid, tbst thery you be StGte) oud suhsc the
en'an'ng two 6''h. s. neou'ageJ by these IA,
'eriog induccm NJ, we hare subscribed the thte,
hf hs- we have cured tn, same 10 be rad and w,
ow eonhienty peat T. the only security offered in
your eta a'e 10 WI: The Pedg ia IN OF IN a. tia,
sbr viii perform her pa I Of he .on'sae,.
But this is not the only ground upon which we RELY
Tor the passage OF the BILL The communication of the
Executive OF this Commonwealth and the report of tho
President and Directors u the Board of Public Works
both testify 10 the importance Of the work and
mend to the serious aud attentive consideration of the
Legislature as an object worthy their patronage.
In addition to that, sir, submit il TO the canlour am,
intelligence OF gentlemen. il the novelty and mapn-
ude OF the enterprize separate and apa from the
cia provisions Of the bill. do also recommend il to
favorable consideration! When 1 sneak of the novel
y Of the enterprise, speak ia reference to our
try only; for, although the experiencof other co,,n
tries most orciby recommend the introduction of Rail
Roads here as mode of improvement which in future
times must OF necessity supercede all others; yet in
this our State, tits matter OF and un;red expert
ence. But although unred, find large norton of
citizens animated by commendable shirt of enter
prize aud looking forward with confident antcipa,ions
TO the advantages likely TO arise, only to the COM
pany, but TO that whole section of country through
which II Is contemplated TO run this road, ready and
"inHg 70 embark large amount Of individual capital
and only asking the Of the State 10 the
mount OF $4,000 year-an amount much less than
,aat whch you promised In your statute and your policy
But sr TO the magnitude OF the enterprise! know that
this consideration has operated on the minds of
some gentlemen and rather inclined them TO withhold
.her cooperation Rut sir when they shall take closer
ana more intimate view OF the subject, far from its
producing thar effect think il well calculated 10 Sc
cure their confidence and their appreciation And how
ask gentlemen they can believe, that large por
ZION OF our citizens, COOL calculating, practical expert
enced aye and responsible too in their could
be induced to adventure large amount of individual
caPaa' IN wild and visionary scheme OF improve
mem; or rather would they not look well before they
leaped and calculate not only the probable cost of the
enterprise but the probability OF success too with a
certainty almost beyond the possibility OF doubt SIR
upon this subject, there cannot be diversity of opinon
shall proceed therefore, examine the spec al pro
visions OF the bill itself. Aud what do then procai,nI
ihey even go beyond the acquisitions OF your statute
establishing the fund for internal Improvement They
not only require the company subscribe g. 5hs of the
caP s'ock anu secure the same TO be paid but they
even onu the company to expe nd every dollar Of the
o-ohs mus subscribed, before they shall be
ed to call upon the State for single cent of her
ulou'ion' And, sir, ask gentlemen, put it to them
10 say'if they can require any thing more! Dees not
the hberaliy OF the proposition satiafe and even orf
~ cupidy in her last exaction and rob scepcism of
every doubt Is il indeed procaimng TO the world
mat this company designs in good faith 10 undertake
commence, prosecute and finally to constnuaf, ,bs
work. ' inns
But Mr.. Speaker, there is yet another aspect in
winch THIS subject deserves TO be considered / have
heard II ntimaed, il not this floor certainly else
where, that the slow advancement Which Virginia has
made In ,nternal Improvement, has resulted in great
degree from the opposition which has manifested itself
on 'he south side as is technically called Sir whe-
Their this mputaon be deserved or undeserved inst or
unjust, my legislative experience has not enabled me
70 determine But suppose-if you please, it be
rue, That the whole southern section Of country
alter having contributed her full portion towards
the establishment OF that fund.- and having Derry
ca me advantage resulting from the expenditure
oil single dollar, has become dsaecive towards your
system oil improvement it be desirable either for
the sake oil unanmty, for the sake of continued and
more vigorous oil schemes that the sup
port oil That section OF country should be obtained
ask you, in what attitude does that consideration place
,n1 sup]ect now before us! Suppose you reject the
oii what VIII be the inevitable consequence You
WIN out aiienate these people still further and further
from you-you will but widen the breach-But sun
pose you pass the bilI what then? You will almos,
immediately Afford them ocular demonstration of the
advantages oil internal Improvement will almost
Immediately place them in the enjoyment of the dispen-
saions oil that fund-You will Immediately obtain their
approoauon, and secure their hearty cordial CO.
operation IN continued, renewed and more vigorous
prosecution not only OF the schemes which YOU now
have on hand, but Of those which YOU NAV hereafter
undertake.. Sir, hope shall not be misunderstood
on inns point do not urge this argument for the pur
pose oil having any unjust influence the mind OF any
gentleman. But il is view of which this subject is
so iary and clearly susceptible, and intimately con-
nected with the merits of the subject that in nv hum
BILE estimation, it is entitled its fair and its proper in
huence -"
Again, sir, the gentleman from Albemarle (Doct
Cooked the other day, in the discussion of another sub
Ject, with fervor of Imagination and a viyiduess
oil decription, which did great credit to himself and
whch is lar beyond my emulation, most beautifully de-
scrbed 10 us the advantages OF internal
IN binding together the various parts Of the State nv
me hdissoiube ties OF identified interest and ae ction
~ demonstrated that il the duty of every state
10 avail herself not only of the advantages which ma
lure hau given her but TO endeavour if possible in the
race OF lar and noble competitions 10 render the ,,enI
aye and the d6or too, of her sister state tributary to
her own Improvement, and the aggrandizenent of her
own commercial prosperity Sir the correctness of
these views, tender that gentleman nv most hearty
acquescense and ask gentlemen if they do not apply
with peculiar force TO the subject under c6nsdera-
non strange as II may seem ,is nevertheless fact
,ha large portion OF the produce which is brought
10 me town OF Petersburg is transported from the State
oil North Carolina. Yes, sir, she commands portion of
the trade oil that State as far south Raleigh distance
oil lou miles And, ii it be desirable for the reasons
urged by that gentleman, and now alluded TO by NV
SELF that The trade Of that State should be retaned ask
u there are any means well calculated 10 eTecf,fne
mat object, as the establishment of the Petersburg Rail
Road! Sir, there are none.-But, Sir, not w outstanding
there are so many strong, and think, irresistible in
ducements to the passage of the bill, hesr it eaauired
What will be the probable profits arising from the
subscription! In anticipation Of this enquiry | have
prepared statement, no based on imaginary data,
out on communication prepared with much labour
and attention to the subject, by very intelligent Off
Ger, mean the present collector of the port OF Peters
ourg showing the quantity of produce annually
ed and exported from that town. and also the amount Of