Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-03-29
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, MARCH 60 1881,
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
HOUSE OF DFJECATES

proriding Loan for purposes of Internal Improve.
menf, delivered IN the House Of Delegates Of Pr
gfnid
During the discussion which grew out oe the motion
submitted by the gentleman from Mecklenburg, (NIr.
"oode indefinitely to postpone the original bill report
ed rom the Comintce OF Roads and Internal Navica
ton, fell an inclination have offered some remarks
TO the Houses the So because of the silence of o.
.her members oil that committee. 1 thought it due to
ne House, and to the people at large. that the views
and motives which led to the adoption of that projet
should have been clearly understood and its merits
fully discussed. did not think the Bill obnoxious TO
hc epecuons so warmly urged by the other side, that
IL was scheme oil mere local and neighborhood i'm
provement, calculated 10 dissipae the energies of the
state, and to end only in waste Of the public money
ne great error OF that plan, the total nadequacy
OF the sum by which il proposed be carried into
operation The substitute now under consideration
seeming TO nave met more favorable reception from
the House. and entertaining do, the most ardent
oesHe tnat we should no longer delay the adoption OF
some ehcent system Of internal Improvement, cheer
iuy acquesce in its support 1t my deliberate OPT
noh' mat Should the motion submitted by the gen.
ueman from Prince Edward (NIr. Venable) prevail,
blow will have been given 10 the best of the
Commonwealth, from which she will not readily recov-
err Sir, the period has arrived when Virginia must de-
termne Tor HERSELF whether she will continue TO hold
her elevated rank among the States of this great confe
deracy or whether she is content with that neriorty
TO which she is rapidly fastening. This is the great
question, now pressed home upon the consideration of
nls rouse Disguise II as may, Virginia "the good
old mother OF us ALL is on the downward march. |
say so with pain for though the humbes of her sons
u
boast oil the traditional glory of the
talent and heroism which have furnished to the
world--of the moral and political influence which we
exercise upon the destines Of the Union OF all this
as citizen, an proud; yet cannot but regret the
Pharisacal habit into which have fallen, both at
home and abroad, of much self-praise That merit
rs always questionable which is announced by those
Claiming 10 possess ii. am not of those who dis
like TO hear OF others doing better than ourselves or TO
know that there is any thing out of Virginia better
than may be found in it. On the contrary whatever
| nta ~ ha nfrrO Ali
NC exertons oil others around ameorate the ma
tura condition OF their country, and view each as a
brilliant example to ourselves the influence of which,
it getting more and difficult for us TO resist
by what motive are invited to enter at once upon
bold and efficient system of Internal Improvement
We are urged by the present langushing condition of
our Sate by the efforts of others TO them
serves me commerce OF region of country belonging
naturally TO us, the loss Of which is pered by every
hours delay on our part and by the certainty OF most
abundant remuneration for all that it may us TO eff
tectl Yes the most perfect certainty, so far as the
human mind be certain of any event not vet trans
PRED. We admonished by every motive which can
animate or aiarma patriot What, sir, is the
dion oil this Commonwealth! Her uncultivated fields
her pine groves, and tenaness mansions afford the
melancholy answer Where is the teeming soil and
spicy fragrance described by Smith, and Raleigh Go
to the seats OF her ancient hospitality, and ask where
are the joyous spirits OF bygone days. and where the
festivities oil the pleneous beard?-Echo answers
where's! Look TO her western forests, and the nexhaus-
tlbe mineral wealth OF her mountains locked up in the
bowels oil the earth, and nothing, save its existence
known Inc tide OF emigration from among us, is an
nualy increasing, and is destined TO continue under
the present system, until the shall cease ony at
the foot OF the Rocky Mountain Examine the table of
your exports, and the short Catalogue ou;sripped
by six oil the states OF this Union some of them the
children oil but yesterday Does the recent census fr
nsh any evidence OF our healthy and prosperous con-
diton! The only increase in our numbers has been in
the western counties, where the operation of natural
causes have produced that end in spite of the unwise
policy which we have pursued. Yet with all these
facts before no movement is TO arrest the de-
ISOLATION which seems TO be coming upon u.s. Surround
ed as are in this age of Improvement nv what
would be deemed the irresistible example of other
States, Virginia alone proof against the allure
ments oil national prosperity and happiness Upon no
spot OF her territory has she solitary public
worthy OF great State. The James River improve
ment, the only one in which she ever embarked was
abandoned upon the of the first dficultv
and the unfortunate issue of that first only expert
ment, has been permitted TO paraze the energies of
people claiming to be great.
Let us examine, for moment, the merits of that por
ton OF the substitute which proposes resume the pro-
secuon OF this great work; great because of the i'm
interest which the people of Virginia have in its
successful completion; and great because of the inhu-
il is destined TO exercise upon the fortunes of the
southern portion of this Republic.
AS early 1854, the father of his country in lot
ter 10 the then Governor of this State expressed his
decided opinion that the rivers of Virginia afforded the
most convenient and direct route for The commerce of
the western States; and oreseeing them the vast impor
lance OF intercourse with that fertile region urged
with zeal, the connection of the eastern and wes-
tern waters. Extend (says he) the inland nayi-
cation OF the eastern waters; communicate them as
possible, with those which flow westyyard open
these to the Ohio; also, such as extend from the
Ohio towards Lake Erie, and shall only draw the
produce of the western Settlers hut the pelry and fur
trade of the Lakes Also ports thus adding sn inn
mense increase to EXPORTS and binding those peo-
| pie TO us by chain which be broken" In
spirit Of prophecy, he then urged upon Virginia as
motive to the speedy commencement of the work. what
has since been fully reazed:-I mean the measures a.
dopted by New-York and Pennsylvania, TO nonopolize
the trade OF the western saes then adyerted 10 the
difficulty of drawing it from these channels after il
| should once have settled down in them. With poll
teal sagacity worthy the intelligence of the present
age, and with an energy unsurpassed either in ancient
or modern times these two great states have entered
the list OF honorable competition for the commerce of
the west; the by of the Rail Road and Canal
from Philadelphia Pittsburg situated the head OF
steamboat navigation, the Ohio the other through
her Canal 10 Lake Fire; and that from Cleaveand TO the
mouth of the Scioa, which is but an eongation of the
FIRST begun and conducted almost to a successful
termination, under the auspices of The great state Of
New-York If the then distant prospect of these mea-
sures induced General Washington, in 1884 TO urge
upon Virginia the immediate prosecution of this enter.
prise, with an exhausted treasury, aud all the wounds
oil the revolution still green upon her, how much strong.
or is the argument, that prophecy has become
fact and infant weakness has been exchanged for man4
| ly strength and vigor.
Sir, 1t is not yetdoo late 10 effect this momenous OBJ.
ject. On the contrary, is the accepted time. We
haze the benefit OF the experience Of others II Is no
untrted scheme upon which we called 20 act. We
avail ourselves OF the successful adventures Of
neighbors and be admonished by their failures Should
We put II of "o convenient season., that
lrftll g1.