Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-03-12

It.,
ne only only objection to the BILL that had suggested
i.se TO him, was that the was too large and that
migh, drain the fund for Internal Improvement into
the prejudice oil other schemes equally ent tied TO aid
10 remove this objection, he proposed TO offer RYDER
restricting the payments the fund for this object to
a limited sum per annum Mr.. NJ. then submitted the
following Ryder:
BE It further enncted, That the description hereby
authorized shall be paid by ins,amens not exceeding
| SIX thousand dollars per annum.
MT Mcfarland said that the ryder met his cordial
appreciation, as the company could complete the work
dollars. - O'V'O
objections TO the bill would be re moved
he ryder was read twice.
Mr. Rives OF p. G hoped the ryder would be modi-
ned so as to make the annual nstament 900 dollars
which would make the whole amount PAYABLE IN I6
years. He moved an amendment to that effect
Mr. mcfarland hoped there would be no disagree
men among the friends of the Bill. He thought the
sum thus appropriated would enable the company to
complete the work.
Mr.. Rives withdrew his molten.
MIR. Eppes said, that il the gentleman from Peters
burg was willing TO accede TO this proposition he would
not object but he opposed the terms of the ry-
der.
Mr.. Brodnax did not view this subject with an ex-
elusive regard TO the people of Petersburg. They
were interested in III but the people of large tract of
country were equally He could wish the ryder mo-
ahed so as TO provide for the payment of 10 900 dol
lars annually, which would be but little over six per
cent
The Ryder was then read a third time
W.T. NehaDe, In supporting the bill, a history
oil the improvements of the Roanoke. He had been
told improvements by Rail Roads were superior 10 ca
nais but he was not sufficiently informed to form an
opinion The complaints of the gentleman from Har-
rison seemed TO him unfounied. The southern people
mad always been in favor of aording legislative aid to
companies that had paid the two. itths of stock And
the navigation OF the Roanoke had not been improved
soieiy Tor the South Eastern people The extension of
that navigation up 10 the Blue Ridge had been of ben
eft to the West. Flour down from Botetourt and
Montgomery, which proved the extent of the benefit
improvements oughtto go or in this way, and they
would gradually spread every part of the country
1t had been said that 400 900 had been expended on
the Roanoke but $4,000 only of the amount had been
contributed by the State. He knew that the IVES,
wanted roads, but aid could only be given according 10
the law AS far as il could it ought TO be given
Whatever might be the opinion of the gentleman from
Nortok 10 the contrary, the best proof that the Peters
burg Rail Road would succeed was that those who
best acquainted with its locality had subscribed
for three hs OF its stock. The State therefore, ought
to subscribe the two hs asked for and in such ease
he mad never refused 10 vote for the appropriation
Mr. Watkins should have been SILENT had he not heard
trepeaedy said that the people of Roanoke had no in
terest In this subject This was The gentle
man from Harrison had said, that he could cover the
country interested in this work with the county of To-
gan But he was surely in in this supposition
III had been stated correctly that twenty co,,nes wore
directly Interested i'm H. The Rail Road woud also in
! tersect the Rivers Meherrin and Notowav bv which
new avenues OF communication would be formed. The
section oil the State through which il ran was a very
important one, as the only part of Virginia in
which cotton was cultivated. II was also tobacco
growing country, and abounded in other productions
The population probably amounted to 900 OOO RI, :,
appeared that North Carolina was cast out of consider
alton The northern part of that State had no
ana me producers were obliged to bring their products
10 .e h1ahoke ms ira lie was OF great Importance
The produce passing through this State by the Roanoke
was computed at halt million. This was not the FIRST
time that Petersburg had endeavored to secure this
trade; The James River Company had tried it, and
LyhchDurg iad tried II by road TO Salem The peo-
pie OF Norfolk were anxus to secure it, But tbe in
terests OF the people ought be regarded and that
would be advanced by the completion of this Rail
Road.
Mr.. Morris supported the bill at considerable length.
The gentleman from Harrison considered that the lie.
gisature was not pledged to aid all companies that had
subscribed the required quota of stock Mr.. M thought
however, that the policy of the law dictated such !
course in all instances in which the object was NJ nnb
lie Importance The terms of this bill were moderate
and II the tring contribution by the legislature of sy
thousand dollars per annum, could Introduce this impor
tant improvement into the State IL deserved the sun
port OF all He would appeal TO the gentleman from
Harrison himself TO support the bill in its present form
He might hereafter desire the principle applied Ia
his part OF the country If in this case il were denied
they should be playing the dog In the manger and nc
part OF the State would be benefited by the fund
The small annual now proposed for this object
could not surely iniure the West
MIR. Williams of Harrison, said he hoped the gentle.
man from Hanover, would not think him wanting in lib.
crafty when he declared that he could not vote for the
bill
Mr. Preston should for this bill, because he con-
sidered the Petersburg Rail Road State mproveuent
and he should have done the same had the ryder moi
been adopted. He thought this an object of great inn
porance to the people OF the southern side of the State
anu that It's success would determine in liberal course
hereafter IN relation to internal improvements Thew
would ma the advantages of the system, and would
feel dispo on to aid the West in obtaining the same
oehehs ne course OF the gentleman from Norfolk
seemed rather peculiar He was violently opposeJ :,
this scheme, although the Joint stock Man and had
also voted against all other improvements he was one
oil those VINO voted to postpone the Loan Bill From
these facts would appear that he was opposed TO eve
ry description OF Internal Improvement whatever
Ihoe who were in favor OF this bill, had gone with the
advocates OF the Loan Bill, for general system Of
state improvements. And he called on every one whc
voted tor the Loan Bill general measure and mn,
tor logroing purposes, vote for this Bill If tbev do
not, why did they vote for the project when incoypo
rated in the Loan Bill, which included State objects on
~ Ills part oil the country would be very little bene-
hited by the success of the Rail Road But he was
friendly TO 1t, because he believed IL would excite in
another part OF the country favorable feeling towards
Internal improvements in general
| Mr. Maxwell replied at great length 10 the NINA.
rous illusions TO his former remarks. Numberless were
the sales Of wit and argument TO which he had been
exposed Yet he remained firm his former ground
convinced that the Petersburg Rail Road was not a
State object, and therefore undeserving legislative
aidhat instead OF aiding nature, il was intended IN
turn the trade OF the country from liz natural channel
He had been accused all hands of not beino indier
ent in this matter. III true and il was natural a,
he should feel interested in this object when il was A.
vowed by many that a direct attack was intended
upon the interests Of Norfolk that good old Borouob
for which he had great affection: aItbouo no dI
not believe that the Rail Road would in the least nure
Norfolk. II was also said by the friends of the psn
that II would GO on, whether aided by the government
or not and could not therefore be matter Of great
interest 10 him by what means IL was COMPLETED II
IEy4a 9aI fIaaN i.