Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-26

friends of this important wufk, that the corn
monwealth has not abandoned her leading mra-
sure for the Improvement o. the condition OF hCr
commerce and of her people; but that her
suspension Ofthe undertaking was with views
to the ifore perfect maturAtion of the plars for
it's execution. Willingly couliding in ths in
depreciation of the Governmental intention.
your MemorialistS anXiou~ly Look To the next
session of the Legislature for the resu,nrtop of
the work upon this important line. lfauy doubts
were ever entertained of the praClica bllitv, oi
utility Of the measure, they persuade themselves
| that the professional cvidenc" now the pos
session of the government, will put them to rest;
and that six years Of elaboration will enable
the General Assembly to act dcintivcly on n
subject, deeply Involving the future fortunes
of The Commonwealth.
Your menorialIs's avail themselves of the
p escnt occasion, TO make on earncs, appeal to
t Legislature on behalf of the great interests
| of in erEal improvement, because the general
| opinions and feelings of ,boir How citizens
seem to be at this time peculiarly favorable to
| undertakings of this kind, and upon plnns wor-
thy ofthc former character oi the State. which
| If cher she'd must contribute largely in giving
her an elevated rank From Byuchburg To the
south western boundary, very animated effort
is making to accommodate the trade of that i'm
| pottant portion of the Commonwealth as well
as the commerce OF Eas, Tennessee and North
| Alabama, by rail road leading 10 James river,
|
| the support which it receives, and the public
patronage which its friends expect.
On our northern border, the al and resour-
ces of our fellow citizens are i'll requistion to
create rail rad from Winchct,cr ia The Poto-
mae. The Chesapeake and Ohio canal CONT
nucs 10 call forth unrcmittcd exerions. in has
ten ng that impor:an; line of intercourse to its
| ultimate DIES, nation, and will, in It's progress,
confer great and lasting advantages on the en-
tire North and Mort h-wcst sections ofthe state.
emitting this work to the most favorable consl-
deTation ofthe Legislature. The central cOun-
ties of the Shenandoah valley, have been ear
nestiy employed in attempts to give effect to
the act OF LAST winter, having for is ohicc, the
construction Of rail road from Stauntun To the
Potomac. measure of great interest to II e
commonweal II as it looks to the opening ofnew
and important markets TO n large portion of her
| agricultural aud manufactured product and #
/ IL have not succeeded 10 the extent of filing
II the stack of the company, the failure may be
Ibtraced 10 he refusal otIhe Legislature 20 rXcenl
"A h line which would have secured large com
mercc frcm the West, ind given ample and
cerlam returns to investments.
/ In the Eastern DIVISION, public spirit is appa-
rem ly eiGvatmg its tone, and ralvihn the en-
terprise OF the country IN favor Of its improve.
mcnt ny roads and canals The great vauc ct
the Dismal Swamp canal, the encouraging com.
mcrc mcnt Of the Peter, burg rail road the com
p!"tion of the lower section of the Rapp9hau
mock canal with the movements last summer
| at Richmond, LynChburE and other places
strongly encourage the hope that the ,ecresen-
tatlves of the people of that part OF The com
m7n III will cooperate III ml;nrnp and car
rylng lit effect, the LIBERAL and patriotic views
of the constituent body.l
In contemplating Is general rcviva of a sp;-
rit 50 favorable, ana of etiJrts 81 important to
tHe march Of Virginia in attaining tho elevate. !
rank which she ought to hold, your memorial
| lists confidently anticipate that, when sha en-, ers
lIn,, ,l,rr "A Il
Improvements, the great artery Of the Common
| wealth, the line passing mainly along the val
/! lies Of her two noh!nst rivers iii receive hni
earliest care. The james and kanawha rivers
since the first exploration Of the American wi,
derness, have constantly attracted public after.
uon' as presenting the most cIegi-lc coutc for
conE2;cIai purposes across the Appalachian
range The surveys of Alexander and Of
Moore Of CroZct and ofMcNeil, all attest the
superior facilities and advantages of this line
and clearly d-Won- rate She Importance OF its
Improvement; while the highly improved chan
nels OF intercourse already open to the weSter,
trade, or IN course ofeXecution for It's accom-
modallon. clearly Indicate the necessity of 0iv
ing to the FirgIHla line, equal If not superior at
fractions, TO ensure re enable success iii the
composition which slle must encounter
With these convictions strongly inp;e :seI
| upon their minds, your mcmorGlists earnestly
invoke the General Assembly to resume the
Work on the 'ng contemplated line from the tide
wa err CT James river to the Ohio g. that its cx?
cntI II may include the deepening of the presen;
James flVer canal, the conIinu ance of that ste-
cics OF Improvement and of adeqn1te width and
depth, 10 Lymchburg or Gown cton, and pcr
nance. linc OF rail ways from the western ter
mlnatl'n of tho canal, 10 the Ohio river; unless
| II should be fund more eligible to unite III G
railroad with the great Kanawha rlvcr AMI
| improve The navigation of that stream SO as &c
'ehhcF II safe aHd convenient for Steamboats, q
ali seasons
This measure, dcaply connected with the
best interests of Virginia, has ever been regard
cd as property and appropriately S, ate work,
ana Is certainly worthy OF the Immediate care
and constant attention Of the representative.
OF the people. Your Me;noria!ists. thcrs-
tore, most earnestly hope that it VIII be OK
ecuted by the resources of the comm ,nwcal h
and under the direction of the Govern
neni Should this long cherished expectation
however be disappointed, by a refu- al of the
Legislature TO provide the necessary funds and
TO direct the execution of the work, you- Meme
ria!Iss think that the hopes % the Lnnit-v ouuhi
not TO expire, but that an appeal should ne
hadc I" private enterprise and capital. TIE
Certainty OF ample returns, by moderate tolls
on The amount Oft Investment, the extent OF
unemployed capitol, both IN Europe and Amer
ca, awaiting opportunities for saf, ard proG-
table empio! mcnt, with the bold spirit Of enter
prize which distinguishes oar count-yinen; all
unite ~ warranIDg the Conclusion that bv IRA n
uHg CHARTER with adnqIltc provisions, and
yielding the entire line TO individual resources.
AIDED toy the commonwealth 10 the usual extent
me execution Of The work might Ee secured.
Your !ncmor"I's's, Therefore. pray that IN the
event Of the legislatures declining 10 undertake.
tff.rs1f Of I