Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-07-29

ri,ginia, - now reused to excrton Surely We ought
to be se satisfied that Il Is not worth Tor
before We yield il.
That city has been raised its present state Of pros
pery, in great measure, by the trade Of that back
country which, by nature belongs TO our sea board; viz
by Western and South. esern Virginia, Tennessee,
Kentucky and partly Ohio Indeed II has now to
this, that all Vrginia, West and East is but back
country TO Baltimore. She will continue to strain eve-
ry nerve and much TO her credit TO secure to herself
this state OF things in perpeuity She has been twice
within hairs breadth Of efecng il, and she tciH OBJ
tain t unless Eastern Virginia Mill open her eyes, and
arrest fate.
am told she now holds out to the Valley people mo-
ney enough make the Shenandoah Rail Road provi-
ded she is permitted 10 extend il TO Kanawha aud Ten
nessee but without this will do nothing This is sound
policy in her; for, in this way, she enlists the trans
mountain people, and can't fail to carry her point,
less Eastern Virginia, whose fate will then be sealed
forever, will open her eyes, and forward in her
strength.
Ii is in vain to tell me. that il Rail- Roads succeed
we can hereafter regain that trade, by offering a short
er route. They will be in possession, not only of the
Trade, but OF the best and cheapest location of the
road, and it will be already in operation The compa-
ny will have capital OF many millions i'm successful
operaion against which epen the Slate will be unable
to raise an arm, much less private company. This
will be backed by flourishing and increasing Empo.
rum, against which the decdyed PALACES OF Rich
moRd and Norfolk offer no resistance.
Put Baltimore in possession o. the West, and Eastern
Virginia will never push her views beyond the Blue
Ridge but will continue to be, as she is now, a back
county 10 Baltimore and New York Make Baltimore,
instead of Norfolk, the middle Emporium OF the Atlantic
union, between New York and New Orleans, and then
all virginia West OF the Blue Ridge together with the
Northern Neck and Eastern Shore, and indeed the
whole Rappahannock country, toiH be idt niGed tn in
terest aud feeling tcih Maryland.
The future consequences OF such a state Of things
ought TO make the blood OF every Yirginian run cold
when he compares il with Virginia, pocerful in re-
sources. and one and indpisi5ie, toeH in interest
| as feeling.
This state Of things must be arrested, or the
"sceptre departs from Judah. B.
Rail Road Convenfion at abingdon.
Lastevenine, July rs ,hs ali 'IsnsJ m,,tJs If tho
citizens OF Richmond took pace-ihe Mayor in the
Chair, and Mr. John H. Eusiace appointed Secre ary
Mr. Robert g. Ssolt from the Select COMMITTEE pre
sened the following Report:
The Committee appointed by a meeting of he Ci,i.
zsns Of Richmond, hsld on tho 81 inst, for the ps
po's OF consl sring aud reporting upon the expedenc
OF sppoiatng Delegates 10 represent the citizens OF
tieh ntni In meeting recommended by mee,ings Of
the psope in Lynshbu.g ami Washington country to
be held at Abingdon on the 25.h day Of August next
then aud there TO consider upon the proposed
from Lynchhurg 10 New RIVER and thence TO Kinspo,
or the Boa, Yard] on the Tenne.sl YER, hsv. duly
considered hss subject and beg leave respectfully
report
That tbs Citizens Of Rishmor d have marked with no
ordihay grauhca,ion, the great, Pervadng and deep
interest manifested oil laie by the people OF this
mon wealth, in the important. subject OF Internal In
provemsrt-ihat il has taken a strong hold upon tho
rsh'eung aud public spirit OF every p0rion OF The
Sao, DO atsnuvs observer OF passing vents doubt.
Convinced OF the necessity and utility of improving
the natural advantages Of country and sal Fl ID
The resources OF the Safe, composed Of individual
mean', and OF the funds OF In Commonw a,h are am
ply adequate to the execution OF every iudicious mea
sure oil improvemen,ihe East aud the West are uniting
10 the common purpose OF deliberately examining eve.
~ proposition Tor Improvement, and of sustaining al
such as stand rscomm ended by praccabiity aud use
fulness. Ii Is seen, that the agriculture commerce
and manufactures Of the Slate, constituting lis three
grsat sources Of national wealth, alone be advanced
TO ina. cond ton oil prosperity becoming the Common
wealth, until the great leading channels OF c,muun.
cation throughout the coun,ry, shall be improved
afford ready, safe and cheap mole Transportation.
Among the various offsets of improvement none has
been presented more worthy OF consideration than the
proposed communication from Lynchburs to Knspori
Tor The Boat Yard in Tennessee by Rail Road or
Otherwise Ii will penetrate a country rich 10 d eral
in agricultural produes, and in stock. Il must draw
oil the trade OF population OF al least 400 900 per-
sons; residing 10 tract Of country which, from its To-
caly, Ia almost entirely excluded from any outlet for
its various aud rich productions. IL will shjrd the
Tor supplying hardy, intelligent industrious, and en-
terprizug people, ty direct and cheap channel
than any now used, with sill the arsles OF
which may be wan.sd for son,umplion To the agrieu
'ufe OF the country and to the of Virgine the
execution oil The work will give spring, aud 10 the
latter an activity heretofore unk )own. Abovs oil the
markets competing for his trade Richmond apps ars to
possess decided advantages. While Baltimore and
Charleston deem ibis trade OF much importance that
they ara each diposed TO expend millions of dollars to
secure Il; none who will examine aud contrast the re-
latve situation OF each, hesitate in deciding, that
IRE seems 10 have designed the trade of South IVES
tern Vitgina--of Eastern Tennessee aud North Ala
bama, should End it's way 10 the Ocean, through The
Valley OF James River The distance is less ha0 the
Charleston rou's, by at least bundred and fifty
mics; and than tbs Baltimore, by hundred miles ;
one ihd OF the distance the James River route TO
wit: ron Lynchburg to Richmond, has tbs advantage
of noble river Already is much ai .hi, trade re-
'a'ded a. 1t ', by long and bad route, very i'm
perfect roads, seeking 's way TO market by this very
channel And alr'ady your committee are assured
with all these disadvantage, is there taken into The
county OF Washington, in Virginia, Annually, 400 ions
sf merchandise, valued az $500 000 Hsw vastly great
will tho Trade be, when afforded the proper faci-
iies, By the shortest cheapest and best route, all of
which will be found combined in the proposed under
TAX ns' There are other advantages possessed by the
contemplated route, which your committee foi bear a.
his 'ime to urge. /, may not, however, be improper
10 state additional &C in relation the character
aud value OF the trade, popo'ed be secured for our
Safe, BY the construction Of ihs rail adj
ln he past year abOui 900 bales Of cotton from
Tennessee fEf Alabama, pissed down tbs Valley Of
Vrg mis-, and sought market 10 the north Of us-gi;h
proper facilities OF communication all, or nearly all o.
tbi,, aud much greater additional quinly, would
have found s way to our city The counties OF Wash
ington and Wybe, in Virginia, aud Carter, Sullivan
and Washington, 10 Tennessee, abound in Ital, iron
gypsum and salt-while these counties, and Mont
gomery, Gsayson, Russell, Tezsweu Scott and Lee
nessee, and much OF North Alabama, annually have
large susqlus quantities Of agricultural snl mineral
productions, which can hnd no market, for the want
OF CONS cheap yanes; and among these are the
areles OF iron and hemp, valuable and essential in
ship building, aud 30 necessary for the use OF our
grow ng and cherished Navy In return for these va
rous ard important articles in commercial o,srai,ns
our merchants esn supply this souory with all the
articles of dry goois, groceries, and ohor mershaudze
~ on az chesp terms they he procured from any
other city In the u Slater. The eHc upon our prospsr
lily, by the opening Of so large & valuable tsde must
be obvious to s they would be brought homo to II
Affairs OF ALL however humble slevaed-they would
be seen in tie iperea'ed activity and extent of the
commerce ofo cy-n ,herapd addition to iis werlib