Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-06-16
~1NTERNAL IMpRoyEArrN,e

place at five o'clock 'A'''' '0'A
Joseph Tate the Mayor Of the City, was, on Mr..
Chapman JohnSon's motion, called to the Chair-and
Tho. Richie appointed Secretary.
th'et Justice Marshall from the Committee of Thir.
lcen appointed a. The former meeting, made the fol-
lowing
The Committee appointed to "colcct information and
prepare Report upon such measures IS it may Seem
cct Tor our fellow citizens TO adopt for the purpose of
promoting Internal ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS report
fhat they have entered upon the duty referred to
'cm with fuli sense OF its Importance. No measure
can moro certainly promote the prosperity of any peo-
pic than the Improvement of internal intercourse. No
SUBJECT appeals more forcbly the interest of all
Nome can feel stronger motives for attending to this
appeal, than the people of Virginia !nhabitinp Gil
extensive, fertile country, Astounding with rich but
Ponderous articles, which must seek distant market
remain useless; transportation by land in the present
state of the roads, burdosome al and impractical
bic to many. The noble rivers which border on or
rehcce INC state while LETT almost nature formed
tcn' furnish means OF conveyance that far from
beng adequate 20 the necessities oftrc public Their
Obvious capacity TO be rendered equal to the these
coSsics holds forth the strongest Inducements the
labor of man, and invites the most earncet attention
Of tho patriot statesman These rivers pass through
different parts of country, affect less
erous Popuation and all entitled the protecting
care of the Legislature. But the attention of Your
committee is particularly directed to the james
This fine river takes its source in the Alleghany
Alonains, passes through the of the State
washing extensive region rich in mineral and vere.
table productions finds its way through magnificent
Bay of Chesapeake TO the Ocean. II is the natural
channel of transportation for largo portion Of the
country East of the Blue RIDGE and Of the fertile val
ley between the Blue Ridge and AIleghany It pre-
scnts the nearest point of communication through the
hanawha with the rich country of West thus offer
ing of the readiest and convenient links of
connexion between the Atlantic and the Mississippi
Its advantages to the more remote inhabitants, may
be greatly extended by roads, which will facilitate the
Conveyance of their produce the villages on its banks
But these roads, however valuable of secondary
Importance because their utility depends OH the state
OF the river. They may be considered as branches
which will be more or less fourshing as the som NAV
VII Irnrs ga,
extent in which they will be uscd-rust depend on the
Improvement of the river. If that great highway to
INC ocean be neglected, roads leading 20 it will avail
but little The facility of transportation down It. fur
nsiics the strongest if not the only motive that can
attract produce to its banks The river, therefore, is
and ought to be the first object of solicudc
The river has become the absolute propcrty of fine
State. - ~
II had been vested in Company on terms prescrib-
Gu In the act OF incorporation But in the progress of
events 1t was perceived that these terms even if faith
fully executed, would leave the navigation in too mn,y
iect state to afford the advantages which might be
reasonably expected from it. The advance of science
had been such, and the application of that science by
other states had been judicious demonstrate to
virginia the insiciency of the system she had adopt
Gu IL had become obvious that much more was prac.
ticapie, and much more demanded by the public
tian the existing law required To turn our natural
advantages to the proper account, the Legislature made
an arrangement by which the Company received ample
compensation tor It's right and consented hold the
property OF the river in trust forte Commonwealth
ne Whole subject is transferred the State and no
Individual interference is admissible
y new and more enlarged scheme adopted, and
Tor short time prosecuted with vigor The contcm
plated work, after being partially executed was sus
pended. large of money has been laid out for
which the Treasury cannot be reimbursed in tolls nor
tho people benefited unless the plan some other DC
carried further into execution.
We perceive with much qualification, that the atte,
Ion Oh the Legislature Is again seriously directed
TINS most interesting object. But it is of vast mar
niute and the soundest wisdom requires that future
measures should be devised by integ ence and adopt
ed on the fullest uttanabe information Aware OF
obtaining this information, and entrusted the execution
OF 1t to the Governor. Your Committee is informed
that has endedvors TO obtain Engineer 10 make the
requisite enquiries have not vet proved successful
lis applications to gentlemen OF emnence in the pro-
nave been declined In conjecturing the
Which have produced this failure, they think it proIa
bic that the Inducements offered by the Legislature NAV
be insufficient to attract distnl shed Individuals and
that the information deemed an Indispensable nre,;mn
airy to the action of the Government may not be acour
ed in time for the next Legislature. The consequences
OF thu. will most probably be, that things will continue
as they are at least another year. The James will still
remain, in great degree closed, while other channels
are opening for the transportation of that produce which
could most conveniently be foacd down its stream-
he people, to whom the James offers the most direct
cheap, and convenient channel of convcyance viii be
at the same time invited and in measure forced
to other markets through other channels The adyan
ages which naturally belong TO Virginia will be incvita
bly, transferred to other States
YOUR COMMITTEE perceive other mode Of q void
ing this danger which is in the power of their fellow
QUEENS but the raising sum of money which, i'll addi-
tion to that offered by the Commonwealth may engage
talents to unite in the execution of the law OF the last
session. which will command the confidence of the Ia
gisliuTc When in possession of the requisite nfor-
atlon the Legislature win, it is earnestly hoped pro-
coed with that great work III which the State generally
and the central parts of it particularly vitality
Interested.
YoUR ComNrrTEE cannot doubt the adequacy OF the
resources OF the Commonwealth to its accomplishment
1t not on the plan already adopted other which
tire wisdom of the Legislature instructed by the infor
nation already Ill its possession, and that may te OBJ
tained shall deem more eligible If, however the Lc
gislature should be of opinion that all the nds which
This great work may require, ought to be drawn
from tho Treasury, and the participation Of individuals
ought to be invited your Committee feel persuaded
that their fellow citizens will readily engage to the cx
tent OF their ability in any just aud reasonable plan
which the government may devise
YoUE CONMwrEE recommend to the meeting tho
adoption Of tho following resolutions:
Reso!Ucd. rs tho opinion Of this meeting That the
Improvement OF the navigation Of James River and Of
road TO connect it with the Western waters are OBJ
locts of the greatest Importance to the Commonwealth
we'll Us TO the individuals who may them, OF which
thc prosperity Of both essentially depends.
Rcsoircd, That the river, being the exclusive propc
~ Of the State, be improved only in such manner