Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-05
Internal Improvement.
LEWISBURG CONVENTION.

To The good People efMe Commonwealth of pirgina.
Convention Of Delegates representing various Coun-
tics OF tho Western Division of the State assembled at
Lcwsburg the 3Ist of October for tho purpose of de-
bcratng the important questions connected with the
dturo improvement OF the commercial intercourse Vr-
gina, well between the different parts of her own ter
rory, as with the neghborng states her Western and
Northern borders.
At this meeting several resolutions were adoped en-
bodying the views and opinions of the Delegates assem-
bled, and of those whom they rcprescncd and i'm con-
ormty thereto, Memorial prepared, and adopted
urging the General Assembly TO pass tho necessary laws
for carrying into effect the recommended by the
convention In addition to those proceedings, and
therance OF the important ends in vew it as determined
that as the people happily the great source of power
and by their will and their means, harmoniously united
alone can give permanent system of general
Improvement however deeply it may interest the great
mass oil the citizens, address ought be prepared and
an appeal made to their patriotism and their interests en-
planning the viaws OF those who address them, and nvok
ing their steady support Of for improving the
condition OF the Commonwealth, the cxigencies Of the
various parts may requre.-This duty, however demand
ed more time for its execution than allowed bv the
limited period assigned to the session of the Conventions
and the Committee charged Herewith, consequently
authorized and requested to prepare the address after the
adjournment and cause the be printed and circu-
iatod with the other proceedings.
In entering upon subject OF such deep public interest
our minds arc necessarily carried back the former rola
i've condition of the commonwealth, and to the rank
which she once held in the family of States
At the close Of the Revolutions the territory of VIRGINIA
extended from tho Atlantic 10 the Mississippi Her re-
sources were not materially impaired by the STRUGGLES
through which she had passed, and her numbers excecd-
ed onc-h OF the population OF the then fourteen States
Thus eminent in the number of her pcope and will
uncxaInp!cd resources in tho extent and Cri,, r hn
western domain, how has it happened that the elder
member of the federal amily--the oldest sister of tho
American Republics has become third-rate State in
point oil population and political influence and less than
an average State in the general diffusion of elementary
education, as well in her agriculture manufacturer
ami foreign and domestic commerce., In answering this
enquiry querulous disposition TO larsent the past
will not be nduged ii will suffice carry the rerospec
10 SUCH parts oil our history, will point and illustrate
future duties
In surrendering to Pennsylvania part of our North
west territory, now forming several OF her farest and
most valued countless and in Welding 10 the uisbes Of Tho
Inhabitants OF the then district of Kentucky in the rma-
ton Of that portion of the Commonwealth into separa
and independent State Virginia but acted in CONFORMITY
TO that generous spirit which had governed her course
throughout the gloomy contest in which she had been so
recently engaged Harmony. kind feelings and conf
denco with neighbor and tho removal of all icaouscs
and grounds of dissatisfaction, formed prominent trait in
the magnanmous policy by which she had been and con-
tinued 10 be, influenced
The extent of this feeling was eynced by the fact thai
tho vast bodies OF unappropated lands within the limits of
the new States yielded almost without reservation
no division OF the avas propoScd part of that va
uablc fund dedicated education or improvements
within the parent State and the nconsderable re-
for the ndcmnyf her war worn soldiers has becn
diverted in great measure by the government TO whose
justice was conded, from the halowed purposes for
which it designed.
The heaviest draft, however on the paro,isn of thc
commonwealth, and which produced in its train most
ruinous effects on her growth and prosperity remains TO be
nouced In the $780, the poverty of the Federal En-
chequcr induced Congress earnestly TO the
several States having claims to unapproprated
lands III the western country, 10 make liberal
thereof TO the u States for the common benefit of the
Union. his appeal 10 Virginia, was met in a cbvaic
spirit OF beraty and condng in the success of the car
nest applications made to the other States CLAIMING LARGO
tracts OF uncuvaed territory, and believing that thew
would make cesons equally liberal for the common bene
fit and support of the Union she at once coded 10 the Go
neral Government all that body Of fine lands forming
the States of Illinois, Indiana, nearly the whole of Ohio
and large portion of Michigan, reseryng small and in
adequate tract between the Mams to satisfy her engage
Inents to her troops whose services had contributed so
largely TO the independence of the nation In this last act
Of magnammity in which an empire in embryo was sur
Ieuereo 10 the common purposes of the confederation
ore hundred and Twenty-Five thousand t,Co hundred and
Jyty square miles of her previous territory yielded
which, although by fully pooped now presents
population of 1876 $50 persons.
Perhaps sacrifice alienation made under the cir
eumstances which attended this cession, and for the pur-
poses oil paying The debts sustaining the credit and pre-
serving the union OF the States ought now to be regretted
put as Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York with
held from the Conlcderacy their unsettled territories; and
as Georgia has since converted her Western lands an
important State fund by a sale to the United States il
might have been reasonably expected that the bounty of
virginia would nave secured from The General Govern
ment such disposition Of the National domain as would
have promoted her interests and impaired her remain
ing territory and population of the advantages which
the sales OF the public lands have enabled Congress to dis
Pehsc 70 others This anticipation however reasonable
has not been realized The fund reserved v conact 40
be applied to the laying out and making roads leading from
inc nayigabe waters empyiDg into the Atlantic 10 te
Ohio has been expended almost entirely on Pennsylvania
aud Maryland, while the natural and obvious connection of
the James river with the Ohio, has been wholly dsre
ca. This latter line Of inercommunicaon, with all its
Chains 10 early improvement,
leading from Cumberland to Brownsville and which has
since been extended beyond Wheeling BY this single
operation Of the Federal Government the travel and in
'ercoursc between the Western and Southwestern States
ana tue Atlantic border, which previously consIera-
Die extent had passed through Virginia. was turned into
INC states lying North Of her and continued to take that
direction, until attracted back 20 the more natural and di
rect course, by the formation the road from Covinoton
to the Falls of Kanlwha, extending 10 The Kentucky
boundary. ~ "J
The dissemination Of the United States to aid and assist
~ making improvements IN Virginia, has not been confn
ca 10 the instance OF the Cumberland road nor Resulted
om the absence Of respectful invitations to that effect
" feDruary lSl5 IN pursuance Of the recommendations
OF INC Board OF Public Works the General Assembly d.
[ec'eu me Executive " 70 open correspondence with the
governments OF the United States and of the States of
ono indiana, aud Kentucky for the purpose Of obtaining
eT cooPer9uon n cHocine extension Of the National
Road from The Ohio TO Fort Cumberland a. c,r 80 WI
chester and uniting, by short improved portage the
nayigabe waters OF kanawha with those Of James riycr
But her solicitation was without effect The approximation
OF the public lands towards the construction Of ths 0 r.
nal alter the application Of Virginia lad
% over farther manifested how little hentcrost or The com
mcree Of the donjr Of that property entered lotto tho COR
sheraton Of those who dpoing Of t. That canal