Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-19

ready remarked, tho Foreign Trade o. The riveris
so'9ect 10 an annual charge of more than So. 600
by GIVING IT those facilities aud advantages which
""ulu How trom an easy and uninterrupted access
'o Richmond, il would be vastly more able l., bear
ms LAX, and even I" prosper under its cxnctiou.-
DN There would be necessity for so heavy II
contribution. and by dnishng tho umoun, To the
sum a. S-u,0OI, the trade would hc relieved of an
annual charge of 81 200, while tho State would
&c RECEIVING twenty per cent. per annum the II
w""n' expended: sum fully adequate for ali ti,uc
1" c"r", tn keep the works IN repair, the Nivjg
''"n i:rr and open, and have more than six rcr
crh, interest on her investment. Nor does IL
seer, I" your petitioners, that the Commonwealth
"'ENt 10 rely on any other all, than her own
sources Tor the execution of iliS work. IL con.
SirintcS one of the great highways into tho heart
"i the State; passing her capital and Watering the
richest portion Other domain The Importance o.
retaining the absolute control and authority over
this important water course, must re strikimulv DO
vious Whether thc Legislature could authorize
by charter, company To- do this work. -. 10 levy
All collect tolls wou; the consent oftne Congress
OF ne United States, is a question about which
there Is much druJ,, aud without such consent.
few individuals would be disposed To a,lycntur.
there means. For other States, large aupropria-
tlous, for rem owing like distinctions, have from
tine to time b"rn made by the General Govern
mcnt aud the beneficial effects TO other cities and
towns practically demonstrated; vGur pcti,ioncrs.
however, not prepared to enter INTO the Discus
sion of the Propricty of looking abroad for mid 10
accomplish that which a, home we have the ample
means of cilcctlng. These enquiries, which
they chcCrtullv submit to- the General Assembly
satisfied that they will be iudicously and wisely
solved.
This work onco accomplished, let the cnqu:ring
mind look into the future and estimate it's blessings
TO our c'ty. Foreign ships which now receive tho
nedvy ana bulky produce ofthc country liflv miles
from this port, Will hc brought To the city, and
take II from our wharveS. Speed and certainty,
activity and life Will be given To our commerce
II VIII shake oil its present slothfn movements,
lIilc VII! be saved ~ loading shipping
much OF ii indeed will be saved. that some nf the
most experienced and oldest Captains trading TO
the river do not hesitate TO declare tina, it wi en-
able every vessel To oHd nj Richmond, and he tow
| ed to Hampton Roads, by steam boat, cheaper
Than The present mode of taking in their cargocs,
The merchant can know, aiMos; the very hour at
whicI ms ship Will leave the Capcs of Virginia.
No disastrous delays, to winch others are not
| equally subject will attend his commcrc, efforts.
tie may cutter fairly INTO competition, upon equal
terms, with the merchants OF other Am"rican cities.
| tnr trade which is nov carried circuitously
ana vet prohtahly, by transporting our produce in
c""SeIng vessels, To "ur northern Giles, thence 10
! nc exported TO foreign markets, will become d-
rcct trade, carried on by own citizens, and all
oil ltS profits, aud all Of its advantages and bless
| inGS ccntcring in Virginia. The heavy and un-
Just tax now levied in the form of crattngc an /
IN '"rancn amounting annually TO $50 90 at the
Ieast' WAN he greatly diminished; and the merchant
can by ali (hcSc facilities, advantages, and rccfs,
i"rd TO give the f,rmcr planter better prices for
ms produce; Tor the Richmond ncrch1nt, will then
DO elevated from the mere retailer Of the whole
sale merchant OF New Yor.:, Boston, Baltimorc,
anh Philadelphia, TO the exporting and wholesale
merchant of Richmond.
Inc annoyance, Inconvenience, and expense
attending the loading or unloading of the shipping
down the river will be avoided The stores Of all
the crews OF the ships trading to river will bc
procured in this city, and your petitioners have the
authority OF one OF the intelligent, and cxrc.
| rIenccd captains. who hns been in the Richmond
trade Tor many years, for the assertion, that the
probable sum which will br thus cxncndcd, will
| not be less than $3.50 900 per annun and 10 the
! crews OF our shipping how greatly advanta geous
will this Improvement be? 1t will bring them 10
sale har5or, and healthy city, where ihc5 will
DC secure from the diseases of the climate below
ana where prompt assistance, and ample medical
aud can be obtained for them in the event Of sick
ness; the lives of many valuable mariners will be
thus preserved for future usefulness to their coun
| try.
Deeply convinced that IL every aspect in which
this subject can he viewed, it will but acquire the
more Importance; satisfied, that ii is work wor
my Tor lis accomplishment OF the vigorous forts of
The state; believing that when done the commerce
and prosperity of our City and OF the country
trading 10 1t, will be much advanced and placed in
condition OF prosperity heretofore unknown:
we most earnestly ask the consideration Of the
'oncral Assembly to the representations contained
hrrci and that some measure may DC aLoptcd in
rciniIon thereto, which their acknowledged puLli,
fP"I' prudence and patriotism may dictate.