Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-30

anaZcmcnt of almost every man of iiboralty and
ihteIiisencc The only objections that bc ur-
gen WIN any piausibility, to granting their petit
ton are-lst, that the tolls upon the route are TIA
Aon into consideration in the proposals which are
submitted TO the General Government for the con
:ract; and BADLY, that Porter <; Bcldcn, in estab-
lshlng this Route, were prompted ~ selfish con
sIderatiUus, and therefore have no lust claims upon
tho favour OF the State.
The first objection is altogether futile, as it il
founded upon erroneous islprcJsion iii be- iruc
as | have understood, that the tolls are not taken
INTO consideration i'll the proposals which are sub
niitted to the General Government; and tho second
argument is not less iailacious, bong grounded
IN the most erroneous -Trinciples-such us never
influenced the policy of any wisc or enlightened
Government,
In order that you may understand the nature OF
their claim to this reduction, and tho injustice of
Its denial to them, will offer you few words Of
explanation. Before thcy placed their Coaches
upon this line, it Of the most disagrorabls
and dcsplcabie in the State-avoitled BIZ ali who
consulted either comfort expedition, and trnvel-
ed by no one, except from necessity. Public aud
private intelligence was conveyed tnrdiIy, rregu-
larry, and with great uncertainty. In a word, the
whole busIrcss was miscrablY conducted a- to
conduco but little TO the public convenience or tina
contractors emolumont Under these eircurnstan-
Geo, the present public spirited and snterprsinc
contractors, undertook TO establish: splendid tr-
weekly line OF co1Aos, and very shortly afterwards
a daily limo. Sy their own unaIded industry, per
severance and enterprise, they have succccded By
the great facilities and delightful accommodations
which they provided upon tho route, they have
opened tho eyes Of public to this NATURAL tho
roughidre from the West to the Cast, ard increas-
ed tho travel wonderfully that thoy hare been
compelled 30 mako arrangements icr dolbln
line OF daily stages, connected with SIX packet
steam boats, plying the Ohio between Guvan-
duttc and the Great Falls at louisville. The results
from this enterprise beneficial uc yond any thin.
You can conceive of. BY bringing the route in, o
notice, they have actually mere ased tho rmount OF
It's tolls without taking into consideration the i'm
hV ,t;p., II I,.o nl,,,,c Il,
tho value OF all the property contiguous the road;
It has opened first rate market for all the hcrscs
we can raice and most Of the produce that can ba
spared from The farms Immediately adjacent; and
1t dIfiSes among the citizens of the Stale, in the
most wholesome form, for every thousand stage
passengers at least thirty-iivc thousa nd dolidrs-
The lowest estimate made b. the Inost intelligent
men ls, that IN lew years it will no the Of
scattering among citizens Ell least ;re hundred
thousand dollars, which, but for the enterprise OF
Porter q Belden, would have been spent upon the
northern rOIte. Such tho benefits flowing
from the Efforts OF these gentlemen and upon which
they rest their claim TO tho favor OF tie State -
1t is true thai sell the active stnuant in this
affair. But if that is to Gctract from their merit ;
and dofeat their petition, upon what principle Will
you sustain any BOnns that ever has been given to
enterprise! Self is the grand inpail!up principle
OF human nature, and the question with all Govern
menis has been, not whether self the lever,
but whether the acts OF the individual produced any
great national benefit If substantial and impor-
tanL benefits were conferred, principle Of graft
tude as well as sound policy, prompted re-
turn, az inducement for others 10 exert them
selves. Do you suppose hat any OF the ph.loGo-
pliers and Ingenious men of Europe who have been
so literally rewarded by their respective Govern.
ments, for the inventions and discoveries which
they have mace, werc not influenced by sai-nteT-
est IN their devotion of vi &c life 70 r-a.'- Nv
struse ard Consuming study? Ambition OF enolu-
nlent, you may rest assured the stimulus thst
supported their wasted and out frames, in
toilsomc drudgary over the midnight lamp. Thcse
pas. ions for fame and wealth have their origin in
that predominant se!-!ovc or sc!ishncss, which
under MANY notifications usurps dominion owe.
the feelings and controls abe 81 in
der Gl its vaF!ciIt, ga. OF discover
the, - t,,.., s,In,niaEts which prompt mankind
frequently TO action, and while he smiles nj tile
i;tri..y with which are deceived in ss!mating
their motives, he biesses the principle which il oft
en- productive OF happy consequences. The peasant,
whose highest aspiration is to have tho turf under
which he rcpOsea W9tereL by the tears OF his kim
drsd, Is aC:uaicd 10y the same principle that prompts
the hero and the patriot 20 the achievement of nc
tions that may outlive their memory. In every
rank and condition % lfe it the desire Of an!o
wealth that calls forth the powers ana the
Cics OF the soul, and according 10 the ohioctu
which they employed the tGients engaged
the pursuit, and the sphere allotted for thcir
else, they assume either bold or an humble an eX-
aitcd dcbGsing character. Do you suppose
that the immortal Fulton, who has done for
the mechanics of the world Than any that ever
lived influenced in the prosecution Of his glo-
rious discovery by any other feelings than those in
timGtciy connected with and arising from seihsh
considerations? Certainly not. Net the PROPOSE
ton, not TO remunerats him, bu: his descendants,
met with n cordial response in the bosom Of cvorY
Phi!anthro pist. ] have not Of course mentioned
these great genuscs parallels TO lessrs. Porter &
Bslden but simply 10 shew that the principle upon
which they wero rewarded, viz: their having con-
farrcd by their genius their enterprise great be-
nefts upon tho community, is precisely the same
that we contend for in the present instance