Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-03-25
che GomsfifnttomaI 22Ibtg.

providing a Loan for the purpose of Internal I'M
provement, in the House Of Delegates ofYirgina.
During the discussion which grew ont OF the mo-
ton submitted by the gentleman from Mecklenburg.
alr Goodc) indefinitely to postpone the original bill
reported from the Committee of Roads and internal
Navigation, felt inclination to have offered some
rrmurks TO the House; the more so, because OF the
silence of other members of that committee. thought
due the House, and to the people at large, that
the views and motives which led to the adoption Of
that yojet should have been clearly understood and
its merits fully discussed. did not think the bill
obnoxious to the objections warmly urged by the
other side that it was scheme of mere LEGAL and
neighborhood Improvement calculated to dssip1te the
energies of the state, and TO end only in awaste of
the public money. The great of that plan,
the total inadequacy or the sum by which it was pro-
posed to be carried into operation The substitute
now under consideration, seeming to have mot /
more iavoa able reception from the House and enter
tanning as do, the most ardent desire that should
no longer delay the adoption of efficient sys-
ten OF internal Improvement cheeriully acquiesce
IN Its support 1t my deliberate opinion, that should
the molten now submitted by the gentleman from
Pince Edward Mr.. Fenabe) prevail a blow will
have been gwen to the best interests of the COM
monwealth, from which she will not readily recover.
Sir. the period has arrived hen Virginia must de-
termine tor herself whether she will continue to hold
her elevated rank among the states of this great con-
fsdeTacy or whether she is content with the inferi.
ority to which she is rapidly fastening This is the
great question, now pressed home upon the consider
alton ofthIs House Disguise il as we nav Virginia.
1.-THE good old mother of us ALL is on the downward
march say SO with pain; for though the humblest
or her sons yield to none in flial devotion her
interest We may boast Of the traditional glory of
our aDceStOrs-of the talent aud heroism which We
have furnished to the wordof the moral and uoliti
cal influence which upon the destines of
the Union OF all this, as citizen, am proud. vet
cannot but regret the Pha i,acal habit into which
We nave fallen, both at home and abroad, of so much
self praise. That meri. is always questionable which
Is announced by those claiming to possess it, I am
not one OF those who dislike TO hear of Others doing
better than ourselves, TO know that there is anv
thing out OF Virginia, better than may be found in it.
On the contrary, whatever may be our own apathy
delight to witness the gigantic exertons of others
around Us, to ameliorale the natural condition of
tneir country, and view each brilliant EXAMPLE
to ourselves, the influence of Which It il re,tino,
more and more difficult TO resist
by what motive invited 10 enter at oncl
upon bold and efficient system of Internal improve
ment! We are urged by the present lanauishinp con-
dion OF our state by the eorts of others To secure
to themselves the commerce of region of country
belonging naturally to the loss of which is peried
by every hours delay on our part, and nv the cor
talnty OF most abundant remuneration for all that
1t may cost US to etec! it. Yes the most perfect
certainty, so far as The human mind can be certain
OF any event not yet transpred. We are admonish-
co ny every motive which can animate or alarm n
patriot What Sir, is the true condition of this corn
mouweath: Her uncnltIvated fields her pine groves
and tcnan less mansions, afford the melancholy an
sWet' W mere Is the teemng soil, and spicy fra
grahcc. desc lbed by Smith, and Raleluha Go to the
s"ais OF her ancient hospitality, and ask where are
the joyous sp'iIts OF BY gone days. and where the
FESTIVITIES OF The penteous board?-Echo answers
where? Look to her western forests, and the ,nev
hauslIole mineral wealth OF her mum aims locked lin
IN the bowels of the earth and nothing save it, ex
istence' Known. The tide OF emigration from among
u.s. Is annually increasing. and Is destined TO con-
tnue, unuer the present system, until the wave shall
cease only ct The foot Of the Rocky Mountain Ex
anime the liable of your exports and see In. shnr,
catalogue oustrippGd by SIX of the statns If tb;.
Enion, some OF them the children of but yesterday
II
healthy and prosperous condition. The ouly Incre.s.
III our numbers, has been in the western conntias
whefc th' operation Of natural causes have produced
that end, in spite of the unwse uocv which ya h.ua
pursued. Yet with all these facts before rs No
movement rs made to arrest the deSofation which
seems to be coming upon Us. Surrounded as we sre
III Inns eye OF improvements by what would be deem
eG the irresistible example Of other states VIRGINIA
alone seems proof against the aureuents of ug tional
prosperity and happiness. Upon no SPOT of her t,r
rltory, has she a solitary public work worthy of n |
great state. The James River Improvement The !
only one IN which she ever embarked was abandoned
upon the occurrence of the first difficulty: and I'm,
unfortunate issue of that first and only experiment
has been permitted TO paraiIzc tic cnetnies of n
people claiming to be great.
Let IT, examine, for moment The n1erif, IF th.,
portion OF the substitute which proposes IN rasnrTo
tie prosecution of this great work. great because Of
The ln.tnse interest which the people of Viruinis
nave IN ITS successful completion; and great because
OF the influence is destined 10 exercise upon the
1DrtuuHs OF the southern portion of this RepnbIic
As early as 1884, the farther of his country in n
letter to the then Governor of this stato Expressed
his decided opinion that he rivers of Virginia afforded
the most convenient and direct route for the
cfthe western states; and foreseenp then the vast i'm
rortanCe of an intercourse with that fertile rerion
Tad with zeal the connection Of The eastern and west,
I'm waters "Exlend (says hey the inland navpation
at the eastern waters Communicate them as near AS
possible, with those which How westward; omen these
TO the ONO; open also, such as extend from the Ohio
towards Lake Erie. and we shall not enIv drao, rho
produce OF the western settlers bot The peitry and fur
trade OF the lakes also to ports thus addno an
immense increase to exports AND bindin1 ,Roa
people to US by chain which can never be broken"
IN ePfls OF prophecy, he then urged upon Virginia,
work. what has Since been fully realized:-I mean
the measures adopted by New York ard penusvlva
Ma, to DonppDllze the trade of the western sfo,e
and then adyerteeto the difficulty of dra wing it o,n
these channels, after it should once have sett9d down
10 them. with political sagacity worthy the intel
h@ehce OF The present age, and with energy I'm
surpassed either IN ancient modern times these
Two great states have entered the list Of honorable
competition for the commerce of the west; the one |
ny means Of the Bail Road and Canal from Philade-
p1a 10 PtsJuTu Sltuat ed a the head IF