Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-02-28
CHE GomgtituttomaI eaabig.
Mr.. CALpwELL's remarks on Me Debate OH
the motion to postpone indefinitely the
loan Rill

Loan Bill.
Mr. Caldwell s1d:-IIa rose to enter his protest
against the motion for indefinite postponement; and
on tbs occasion, he was compelled to depart from
principle by which he had heretofore been governed.
lie had not been IN the habit Of troubling the House
With his Opinions, or of assigning reasons for any
VIE which he had given; but upon this subject so |
very important, he believed, the interests Of the
81 ate. and too, upon which he bad the misfortune
IN dff.r with his worthy colleagues, he hoped the
House would indulge MIN few moments in assign |
log of the which governed him in sup
porting a Loan for Internal improvements, and con-
krqnen,ly in opposing the motion of the gentleman
from Mccklenburg. He should be brief-not having |
the ability, the inclination TO trespasS long upon
Che patience Of the House.
stand mere unadviscd, said Mr.. c., by my con-
stitutents upon this subj aud therefore lett to
iolow the dictates of my own corscicnce-to pursue
the dim lights of my own iudgment-and they lead
to support the principles contained in that bill,
although its details do not accord with my views II
aware, Mr. Speaker, of the deep responsibility in
Cnrrcd by tins COURSE but ready and willing to
fneet the consequences be they what they may hon
estly believing that the State will be benefited by
jndicous scheme OF Improvement. a crisis has ar
rived, sir, that demands prompt and energetic scon.
SlumbeIing III the lap of incidence during haHa
fury, has benumbed the energies of Virginia. crippled
her spirit of enterprise, and placed her. the
ofimpfovcment an unreasonable distance behind her
sister states Sir is acknowledged by all that
nre hehind-greaty behind our neighbours Facts,
stubborn facts, which stare in The face every day
proclaim it aloud. 1t is Mott be denied thnl
policy did hope that all would concur IN the opin-
ion that something. should be done without delay, to
improve the S,ate-and her 10 that proud emf
nsnce, k,r which she was designed by God and Ma
rure, and which she ought now 10 occupy among the
independsn, states of this great republic. Nature has
llvshed upon us her richest bounties-a coil capable
of producing, IN supera bundance. all the varics of
the vegetable kinsdom-a climate, temperature, fine
and salubrious- streams, like veins in the human
body, penetrating into the very heart of the State,
aud inviting her SONS to Industry and enerprize;-
mines, minerals, and precious metals enrich her noun
TINS, her valleys, and her plaiss. Every blessing
which God even bestowed rpon fallen man, seems To
b. awarded to Virginia by Tho bounful hand of Ma
ture. Bot sir, of Wha, use all those natural adj
vnntages, when neither individual nor governmental
enterprise will improve them for the benefit ofman
We have been told upon this hoor that our own
fertile fields have become barren wastes--,bat
our villages are depopulaing, and that decayed and
c1ynR tenements mark the progress of devastation
and ruin. Sir, tables of population disclose the
melancholy fact, that Of the most healthy and
fertile counties in the State, are decreasing in num-
bers in ratio truly alarnng-almost equal 20 that
winch ought I" mark Its increase. II is our 'let lis
alone" policy, that is driving our citizens to the far
distant West. Shall we be told that they are
worthless portion fthe COMMUNICATIVE we can do
without thcm-"poor devils, let them TO- No, an sir
not So Every principle of political ECONOMY teaches
us that poPuiation-an active hardy, enterpriz! no
anu industrious population, is the wealth. of any
country Productive abourers, sir enierprizinp me-
'cnanic5-the Peus1ntry II you please, are the bone
s;nev and muscle OF every republican community
ontheir happiness property and contenmcn depends
the happiness. prosperity and safety of the State
yes SIR the safety OF any community depends upon
the prosperity ond contentment of the business and
liborng portion OF Its citizens. Most assuredy then
It IS true policy to retain large portion of this
class of citizens with our limits a. nosSihIe rou,
Is this TO be effected answer-by liberal cours,
OF iegislaton-by stretching forth the fostenuo arm
OF government-by arousing the slumbering ENERGIES
OF the state and putting in motion wholesome sys-
tenn OF Internal improvement. But to do this loan
fnaUS-mOncY .,
tho rub--that's tho point that pnches II these
things could be- done "without money and without
price, and might add, without labor to3 then we
should nave friends without number to Internal I'm.
pruuement.)
kbut gentlemen cannot tax themselves and their
Constituents, by borrowing money and involving tbe
Htate3 Dir, ain as unwilling any gentleman on
tn's f'or to tax my constituents myself unueces-
ShHy; but when necessary--when the rood of tho
community requires it-there is DO people under
heaven would more cheerfully beur fair and Just
proportion OIL the 0urtheo, than those whom I have
iie honor IN part to represent. fTaxatjon s moi in,
tended however-she alarm is fnlse-it's oil q buo
oear-a 100 thrown out to the whale. The peope
"Iil never feel it repeat sir if the money sou1b,
ny ths loan, ba honestly and faithfully annie m
Legitimate objects of Improvement, the peope will
meyer feel u No, sir, they will rather feel relief
rom me rising prosperity Of the State-from the in
crease OF wealth and population, and from the conss
quent advance in the value Of property will haz
2hTd the prediction, that udicious investment of
In1s Tor the purpose contemplated By the real friends
20 N''o i'e"sute, WOuIu Oe n pTOhtable One--Whcn
cay Pr9tftabie, do not speak ss stock ,obbor cnu
Iousy calculating the per cent to be gained on The
investment made-very possible that The stock itself
would not immediately yield profit, on the capital
expended equal TO the interest. But, sir consider
The per centum gained, in dollars and cents bv tho
tolls on any great State improvement az tho Ieas,
important consideration The very fact Of disbnrsE
ing TWO millions OF dollars in the State is matter Of
Sfeat pubic interest. The money thus expended inn
The State and for the State, goes into the nnrkos f
her cliizens and the better enables them to contrib
Ute Tor public purposes. The more YOU d,stribute
wealth among the people, and the more Inducements
you mold out for them TO become enterprsinp and in
dnstrious, the more you httnch them to the State
ana me Better citizens they become. Again-the
money thus expended upon schemes OF Improvement
valuable IN themselves, not only retains industry knd
enterprise within your bordevs but INCREASES the va
TIE OF real property, and, in the same proportion in
ercaSes the wealth Of the State--and need add that
population and wealth the true sources Of rev
eRue.D va " '''
1YhustFa'e my meaning more fully. will suppose
" case. suppose then, you have great public i'm
Proyehent III view, say turnpike. canal or rail
N Tnnff