Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-12-02
MEMORIAL OF THE LEWISRuRC
CONVENTION.


10 the General 44ssenGly Of the Common
wedlh Of Trginia
Convention Of Delegates from divers
counties of the Western division of the State
assembled at Lewisburg, for the purpose OF
consulting on the great questions of internal
improvement, which have SO long attracted
Puoiic attention; very earnestly, but most
respectfully beg leave to bring TO tho con
alteration ofyour honorable body the Ian
gushing state of tho leading public works in
which Virginia has heretofore engaged; the
necessity OF resuming their execution with
terminated efforts and Of authorizing and
AIDING IN the construction Of others still more
important.
That commercial roads and navigsble ca.
nails, ccntribste greatly TO national wealth
ana prosperity, can scarcely be questioned
with the lights of history, and the examples
OF other nations now before US The canals
OF Holland, with the railroads and canala oi
Great Britain, have demonstrated in the
Eastern Hemisphere, the influence which
tney exercise over the destinies of CONNER
cial states
In our own country tho canals and rail-
ROADS now In successful use, amply and adj
Vnntageously test their infinite value. in Gre
a'ing and sustaining the commerce of the
communities which have wisely called them
ihto existence. Under the influence of these
nooern out important agents in the diffusion
oiWealth and happiness, the mountains of
Wales, proverbially sterile and inhospitable
nave become populous, and now form one Of
the principal sources Of the influence and
The power of The British empire. With the
examples before u.s. thus furnished. both Inv
Europe and America, we have remained
stationary koreign commerce has deserted
Wy LOT states less iavorably situated. but
"hlcn nave purchased it by their enterprize
anu expenditures for its accommodation
Cur agriculture IS languishing for the want
o. avenues and markets for lis nr,ducts
Our mountain districts of fertile soil and D.
pounding IN the most important fossils and
minerals, are comparatively yaueless. with
all the varied elements CT an ENLARGED apri-
culture, extensive manufactures and rich
commerce, we have been as indifferent TO ina
deielopement OF those important sources or
individual and national wealth, as if our geo.
graphical situation denied us the benefits of
interior and foreign commerce, or forbid
commercial relations with our Weste1.,
nelghools This apathy and delay en- tho
part oi virginia, In improving the geograDil-
1cal ana natural advantages which Benign
Fro'losnce has placed before her, cannot
AN0NitSD ~ clA Nt.t tNdusUubCH OF tka
lives which have invited har exertions In
addition 10 the incaculable advantages which
lines OF commercial Intercourse w0uld con.
fer on the Industry, enterprise, and capitaI
oil her own citizens in home operations. the
value, extent and still increasing importance
oil the western trade which ought TO rass
through the centre OF The state, in senrch OF
eastern markets, and the diversified charac
Ter OIL The commerce which ought TO flow
westward by the same channels, are familiar
10 all, ana can De appreciated by the costly
works already executed, and tho stunendeus
Efforts now making 10 control their direction.
Inc commerce oil the west was formerly
CLAIMED ty cur statesmen, as the reculiar
md Ert;st important field OF Virginia enter
prize, but TIA Mississippi and the s.. Law
FENCES til Watt rich portions Of the products
OF tka'r egias1 upon their bosoms: the New
ferk,t rs Heliand, the Ohio, & tho Penn
sylyanl2 crrals are now laden with il. sta
pies. The Chesapeako and Ohio canal. and
the Baitine-e railroad, arc pressing " it'll
meritorious ardoF towards this rich Geld. and
VIII, ere long, 6e prominent competitors in
the golden harvest; while Virginia has paus-
ed, deliberated, and done nothing.
The high desiinies 10 which the orduous
efforts OF her sister states are conducting
SSOiAi iOh W nave BuUICiGnllX aroused
her from her slumbers of some wears mast
or to have awakened her exertions for re-
covery Of the prize which ia passing from her
In reviewing the course pursued by the
Government OF Virginia within tho last 10
years, it is extremely difficult 10 reconcile
The zeal & ardor, with which the great work
OF opening lines Of commercial intercourse
between the James and the Ohio rivers. was
undertaken, the pledges given for the entie
execution, and the expenditures made in ;he
early prosecution of the enterprize, with the
subsequent abandonment of this important
and once tavorlte measure of The Common
wealth. This course could not have been
Occasioned by physical distractions which
genius and science could not overcome the
volumes of reports from the public Engi-
neers, now resting qnietly in the archives OF
state, repel this conclusion. Virginia has
not wanted sages and patriots TO point her The
way, which is now leading other states TO the
highest eminence which wealth and num-
beers, enlarged mental culture, and general
prosperity, Can confer. The letters of Wash-
ington, the sdmonitions of Jeferson-the e.
laborate report of MurshGlL-and tho able
memorial If the Charlottesville Convention
presented through Madison, it's organ, ali
rise up TO reproach her with the Indifference
with which those appeals have been heard.
Have the resources of the Ancient Domin-
ION, either in men or money, been inadequate
TO the opening Of commercial lines between
her eastern ports and her western border
The example of the state Of Ohio presents
itself III reply to this enquiry. Rescued from
savage occupation os late az 1906, and ad-
mitted into the Union in 1902, with popu-
istion Of about IS 900, she now presents a
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