Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-31
COMMUNICATIONS.
FOR THE EyY'QUIRER.
s~TftN .snrnrA

Tor the performance OF which governments were nsu-
ted Not look any further for authority this subject
think, that the political Bible of these United States
teaches us, that governments were Instituted among
Tor the purpose of promoting their happiness This object
cannot be eiectualy accomplished than by the
structon of those great public Improvements which in
crease the comfort and enoyments of every individual but
which could not possibly be undertaken completed.
except through the agency OF associated action The
exercise OF this duty the part Of the pc
cuhary demanded by the character and situation oil
country There is no where 10 be found among US, that
immense accumulation of capital in the hands OF few
dviduals, which is observed among the old commercial
nations of Europe But all able spare, without
Inconvenience and without murmurng, small portion OF
our earnings for purposes of general utility Ii is by the
aggregate of these small sums that fund is created ade-
quatc TO the execution of the magnificent cncrpri-
The union, the aggregation of these incon crabc
atoms can ia ,cdg be effected bit through the opera-
flon IF Legislative authority Hence, the country is en-
hrey dependent upon the government for the execution
OF all such works. The government is the ,n0chincrl
established and kepap by The people enormous &
pensc, Tor the very purpose of cecng this and other 81
miar objects To set up machinery and at addition
al cost, even lift were practicable would be very use
less and expensive business.
We have a Federal Government that takes care of al
our foreign and of our domestic affairs: and if the
promotion of our most important local interests be beyond
the sphere of the State Governments what in the name
ofcommOn is the object OF keeping up these cum
brous and expensive systems? The absurdity of the on
cp'e am combating would be best exposed by carry.
ing it out 10 its legitimate results. What blank would
this make in statute book 1t would at cnce DEPRIVE
us OF all poor laws of common schools of public roads
OF all those facilities and conyenicncics which principa,
characterize civilized society.
The party 10 which have referred, can hardly be sup
posed constitute a majority of the Legisaturc But
taking advantage Of the lukcwarmncs and the divisions
among the friends of Internal Improvements it has been
enabled TO control the policy Of the State II time for
the friend; OF improvement, the friends of the people,
throw aside their petty caouscs and unite heart and hand
in The great purpose of developing the of the
State 10 the utmost limit which the character of the conn
try and of tho age demands.
The Lewisburg Convention has recommended 70 the
Legislature scheme for the accomplishment Of this pur-
pose-grand in It's conception and perfectly practicable
its execution The two great works our northern and
southern borders the already in course of execu-
ton the other about he commercial are mentioned with
appreciation, a7 undertakings Of great PROMISE eviucine
the cnlightcYcd and encrpr ing spirit of their projectors
and deserving The liberal patronage OF Legislature
But II IL thought that the construction of these works
should not divert the efforts of the government from the
execution OF that great central line OF intercourse, con-
meeting the Ohio river with the Gde-water of the james
which so early attracted the attention of our wiSes,
statesmen and patriots, and which has continued 10 he
the object of the solcitudc of people The Ohio
river may be truly termed, tho great highway oil
States Upon its bosom is waited almost the entire
commerce Of the mighty West. The Lcwisburg Conven
ton has proposed that the magnificent cntcrDc of con
Quoting this through the centre of Virginia Il
the waters Of the Chesapeake, should be effected by the
combined eXelions of Maryland and Virginia The rea-
for the adoption of this wise and enlightened policy
arc ably stated in the memorial of tha body. which /
hope will he generally circulated and diligently pcrsucd
throughout the State Maryland and Virginia should no;
he rivals but coautos in this great abour The natural
commercial rivals of both the giant cities of the North
who can only be deprived Of the gain monopoly Of west
ern commerce they now enjoy by the united efforts and
capital of all the cities of the Chesapeake
think must be acknowledged by every one, that Vir-
Fina is prepared to encounter the immense cost of m
gigantic undertaking with her unas5stcd resources
The friends of Internal Improvement need not la,tct
themselves that The triumph of sense over preu-
dice and illbcray can be any thing like great The
most that can be expected from Legislature in its most
liberal mood, would fall very far short of the effort reor
ed for the completion of this great object. Why then
sha virginia refuse the cooperation OF sister and neigh
boring State in the conduct Of enterprise worthy of their
united efforts and the execution of which will confer such
incaculalable and lasting advantages upon both?
he Tnpr fact of tlnO Of
the double termination OF the improvement would one
rate in no slight degree, TO swell the franspora-
ton that would be attracted the line and increase the
profits OF the investment and the general benefits of the
work. Nor need there be the slightest icalousv between
the cities of the Chesapeake interested i'm the improve
ment such Is the wonderful extent and increasing value
OF that commerce with which these cities would be con-
nected, that there would be enough for each and
for all. The capital of all of them engaged i'm thn mr.
chase and expectation of western commodities and i'm the
importation and sale of foreign products could not
beyond me demand Tor MS utmost activity by the rapidly
augmentEg population of the great Mississippi basin.
There is, however, view of this subject to which
have not yet adyerted which exhibits in striking man
ncr the necessity for immediate action the part of our
government Let it be distinctly oberved that the Civ OF
Baltimore is not dependent upon our CO. operaton ar ,o
The reDlOuGl Of orr Sy and suicidal s'gesfycfion >" for
the triumphant completion of her wonderful enterprise
We accustomed to boast of the facilities pre ented
by our central route for the connection of the Eastern and
Western waters. But little more sleep and little more
siumbcr and the value of This natural inheritance
WIN nave Plsseu rom us. nc enlightened projectors of
the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road would doubtless be viii
ing TO make common with the citizens of Virginia
IN securing TO both States by effort the alvan.
tageS to be derived from location OF the road along the
central line But should Virginia persist in the fatuito,s
policy she has heretofore adopted in relation this subject
Baltimore viii still press onward. Tho difficulties of the
northern route will be encountered overcome: con-
dnuous line Of raoa viii be formed connecting the CITY
OF Baltimore with the Ohio river at point but a little above
that at which an Improvement along central line must
terminate, and THEN, where will be the boasted advan-
tages Of Virginia? They will have disappeared forever
and all our hopes Of the future greatness and propcriv OF
the State will have passed away with them. No 7osbe
tndcceH tC then erist for the investment of so large
acapia in the formation Of aine OF commercial
entering so directly into competition with the Baltimore
and Ohio RoId, 0Hd uich present no Decuiiar ut.
fractions 10 OccasiOn diversion If The Tne That ,rL
men DC estd5iished, between that city aud tie West
III this work considered Gigantic to be undertaken
by the single resources Of Virginia Otc 7che he grono
Is nnocculcd, and when the greater portion of western
trade would be secured by IT, surely il will never be com
menced when The enterprise Of ncigbong State has pre-
viousy occupied almost he whole ground bv the comule
ton OF work dbu'ooy adequate TO The accommodation
OF the entire tcesfern commerce. and when the afracon
oil but scany portion Of that commerce can be to
of our competition Now, then, is the time for efficient
action. The crisis has arrived. Now, or NEVER is o,,y
only alternative
There is still another aspect in which this subject may
be viewed The loud "reminiscences iorgc y0joyif,
OF me people may prove unayang The voice Of Teagoy
ana he lessons OF experience be alike disregarded b,
the legislative body. pciudiced majority may deter
he aS heretofore 10 sacrifice the general interests th
Commonwealth To their own fantastic notions of poics
philosophy Iherc will Sill remain branch oCis sub
iect involving the rights and fortunes Of distncf and a.
u would then seem, an isolated portion Of Inc reoulc