Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-07
INTERNAL HnmprovcImcnt.--No. HI
FOR THE ENQUIRER.


advantages which possess, and the facilities enjoy
for internal improvement Well and justly has a British
writer expressed himself this interesting subject,
and quote his remarks with the pleasure and
mendaton, because full justice has always been melted
to US from that quarter "Amerca, says this writer,
bessed with every climate capable of every production
Astounding with the best harbors and rivers the globe,
overspread with population of more than 100000,
now 13 600 00O what may not be expected, The partial
hand of Nature has laid Off America much larger
scale than any other part of the world The map of the
world cannot exhibit country uniting so many natural
advantages, pleasingy diversified, and that offers such
abundant and easy TO agriculture and
In contemplating future America, the mind is lost in the
din cities in harbors and rivers cloudcd with sails in
the immensely of her population"
In examining the geography Of our country, find
that the north bodcred by chain of the great
est lakes in the known world, out OF which the St
Lawrence the upper portion OF which, together with the
lakes Ontario, Ee Huron and Superior, separates from
two British Provinces. The Valley of the ST. Lawrence
then, and the country bordering this chain of inland
form peculiar and distinctive feature in geogra-
ply of our country From the St Lawrence moving the
eye to the south, discover the Atlantic portion
conedcracy, washed by the on the one side and
bounded generally by the Blue Ride and Allegheny range
OF mountains the other, the latter of which, the Allie
ghany, has been emphatically termed the back bone
country. The Atlantic portion which forms the Sc
cond distinctive feature in the geography of the country
is watered by streams which take their origin mostly in
the above mentioned ranges OF mountains Passing the
by waters 9 ie Mississippi, Which pour into This
Seat suca WIN ITS nuinberlcss tributaries drains an
tent oil territory equal the rest of the Union Grn,;n
fhe third feature the grandest and the most stlkn in
geography oiour country Now, the ulcst conpo
fO III
serve the great Inducements which the different v;s;
oil our country hold out TO the undertaking of various
schemes OF Improvement, by which the navieaon of re
may be improved, the Allegheny and Blue Ridge NAV be
pierced uniting the east with the west and the lakes
he tapped, mnSng their waters with the isssspp and
Auhluc hesc may appear TO be magnificent projects
but Sin America Nature TO have carried ON her
raons upon large scale and with boiler hand and IN
have distinguished the features of this co,ntr, Ia,
magnihcence." And thus does Nature herself invite
Amercans TO project their plans of improvement on her
own magnificent scale
When he into or
an extensive portion OF IT. perhaps the fertile situated
at great and inconvenent distances from the mouths oC
MISSISSIPPI and the ST. Lawrence and oboe, if IL seck
Ve on he Atlantic border TO pass formidable ranges of
mountains This will include, perhaps the Nicbran
terlory' Illinois, Indiana Kentucky, Tennessee Ohio
he western parts oil pennsylvania and Virginia Sc
portion OF territory large enough for an empire and ca
pa6o OF supporting when its are fully
millions oil population, and of raising up great cities as
popuious and wealthy any the globe This territory
generally bordering upon the lakes situated among ne
mead waters OF the Mississippi, locked in among the
ranges OF the Allegheny, in what direction IFS
vast produce may go, provided it reaches the ultimate
market by the SAFEST cheapest and most convenient route
Already has this and important section of country
manifested degree OF energy and enterprise worthy of
cher ana more Populous countries, and is always ready
10 push forward MS own lines OF communication 10 meet
NOSE "hich may be projected from other quarters and
thus TO confer the full benefits upon them which arise
from the transportation of its produce to market
Here, then, is magnificent object TO aim ota noble
prize 10 be won Well may il have aroused all the ambi-
ton of the Atlantic States and urged them 10 nvsh for
ward their several lines OF artificial communication And
iS fbo
ambition OF our States has taken this directon Than at
II should be turned TO the erection of those st,ncndos
ou' useless or injurious monuments, which other nations
nave erected The imPious project of Babel the re
nowncd Pyramids; the magnificent HANGING gardens
The stupendous Colossus'-and even the Monument ri
England, her Navy, all but as so much splendid
folly and probability, when Compared with mr. ,,o,
'nents-canals, railroads, Sc which, when iudicousI
projected, dse wealth and happiness among orr peonle
anu VIII DC source oil neveriailng prosperity TO millions
yet unborn Now, when look TO the Atlantic States
r ma none more Syorably situated for this Western
trade man virginia. Most of this extensive crri,oy on
peIohSed 10 hcr and she generously surrendered il TO the
Oh0h without an equivalent She has poured forth bv
Tar the largest number Of emigrants who have SOUGHT for
homes beyond the Allegheny. Her rivers a6od Too a.
ores ana cheapest routes for large portion of the pro
uuce OF tis country, and consequently nothing would
seem wanting but action part to secure that exten
vc and lucrative trade, which Nature certainly intended
we should have. The United States of America 49,,
an able and eloquent Report made to the House of Dec
iolo'l restricted by the territory of England to
the North and OF Spain 10 the South describe an arch on
he intervening Ocean, of which Virginia the centre
anu should be The keystone, sustaining the Western
'aes upon ITS broad aud lofty summit and binding The
Eastern ana southern in solid, just and fair proporton
First III asserting the independence of America This Com,
ohweath VIII not he the last in giving 10 that indcpen
dencc stability by confirming The union upon which il
rests virginia, fear, has verified this last asser
uo' ief schemes OF Improvement have been clumsily
ana suggshy carried forward and large portion of the
o'ote' hitherto Tic most wealthy, and perhaps the mos,
lnnuenldl has hung like dead weabf ON be yIolc s
ten of mprovcnent.-The remarks which follow
P'cipaly addressed TO those sections bordering ON the
gu Wicn therefore, arc supposed by those who
axe shoTt-sghted view Of consequences not only 10
nave no beneficial interest in these internal comflunca
IONS put on the contrary, TO be liable to great injury
from their operations. And this leads Il, the second d;
sion OF our subject.
U.--OBJEcTGoNs URcEp AoArNsr INrr.,.., r..
PROV EMEHr %
The objections urged arc two
ISL fhat me extension Of inland navigation must
ra,bams Political ECONOMY N,vgioo quoted IN the