Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-07-31
Fox TIiE VINO

Fox rms VINO.
To the Inhabitants ncar The proposed Lire of Com
merton Jetr.cn the Tide Water Of James River.
and the NauigaJie Waters Of Tie Ohi9.
The books for receiving subscriptions TO the
James K'ver and hanawha Company, are again
opened, and IT is " it'll you, fellow citizens 4, de
termnc whether this great work, interost;nr TO
Virginia, II 'oyourselvcs, shall succeed or shall to.
tally fail. You now TO decide whether il shall
raise us to former rank among our sister So,ee
or add ono to tn" examples already given of the ruin
Gus apathy with which neglect the natural nd.
vantagcs which Providence has bestowed ON our
country with proiusc hand, while they are seiz
eddy others. With those contributions which vour
wealth enables you, & your interest invites YOU to
make, direct and safe conveyance to n market in
your own ncigh5orhood will be furnished for Tho
produce OF your labor, and you will participate
Wth your sister States i'll tho rich commerce of the
West Withhold these contributions IL all improve
nnnt oil tho present state fittings is hopeless Your
commerce will be diverted TO other States, and YOU
must seek i'm them market for your produce
NO State in tho Union has been accustomed TO
nNcrcsc more influence in its affairs than Virp;n;,
None arc more sensible of the Importance given by
tnat influence, or value it higher We cannot be so
blind as not TO perceive that this influence is dimi
shiIig q that 1t must continue diminish if we do
not keep pace with our neighbors. Tho intimate
intercourse which commerce produces, attaches
States as well individuals to each other and
creates connexions which bind them closely toycth
cr Our commerce with the Western States de-
ponds on you. Unless you will now come forward
ana make an effort 10 preserve your share of IT, tits
gone for ever. II must be divided between New
York, Pennsylvania, and MARYLAND leaving NO
portion of il for Virginia. say il dcronds pnrli
cu'nrly on you. Richmond and Char,cstown hayo
made great exericns, and may do more if cncou
gcd by your aid But Richmond and Charles
town cannot. of Themselves accomplish this rreot
| work The intermediate country must mt forth
ITS strength, or it must fail. The numerous and
wealthy inhabitants on the proposed line of
communication, must show that they are will
ing TO participate in its burllens as well as
ITS advantages. Never can an occasion offer which
would urge you ny stronger motives to make every
effort in your power.
The considerations of public nature which ought
TO he felt by every Virginian who loves his State
and values lis rank in the Union have already been
suggested. New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore
have arc1dy enriched, and are daily enriching the
States to which they belong, while the largest towns
In virginia remain inconsiderablc villages. Those
places are still advancing with uncomfortable ra midi
ty, because they arc wisely opening all the channels
.hrough" winch distant commerce may pour tswcalth
INTO th"ir bosoms, while ours remain closed. But,
In addition to there considerations of a public ma
ture, considerations which address themselve
equally to every Virginian, others peculiar YOUR
selves, ought TO operate you. All who hold
property near thus line of intercourse, indeed all
who reside near ii, have motives peculiar TO them
selves which ought TO be Irresistible. Allow me to
place some of the most obvious before your eyes
| The facility with which you may transport yonr
which
may be transported, must be greatly increased bv
the proposed work. OF this no doubt can be en-
tertained. Tho superiority of the canal over the
river cannot be questioned. and it is equally GER
tam that larger, more commodious, and of conse
qucnce, safer boats may he employed. An import
| ant advantage resulting from the enlargouent of
the boats will be that the carroes also will be
mcnted; and a whole crop may be brought to mark
CT AT once or IN much shorter time than at pre-
sent.
| The freight and consequently the cypcnse of
transportation will he reduced. OF this every
man feels the adv intage. 1t raises tho value of
the article on his own farm and necessarily raises
the value of the farm. In CONSIDERING this advan
tnge we must look beyond the articles now brounht
10 market. Many additional articles NAV he taken
INTO the estimate which arc now lost or wasted
because they VIII not bear transportation Timber
hre-wood, hay, iron, and many others are Of this
description
BY maxim ihc river navigable at all times the
farmer may deliver his crop of vhent nc his ;n,or
est requires and may avail himself of tho biohcst
price. They understand perfectly the ADVANTAGES
i of early dc!ivcry--an advantage which those of -
distance cannot now possess. Tobacco planters
too, will know how to estimate the value of benr
secured against the less occasioncd bv dpcI,in q
their Tobacco while descending the river in the prc
sent state of lis navigation.
The country in the ncighborood Of the line
must derive lncalculable profit from the fact That
great part Of the money subscribed will be OK.
pended among them. All the provisions cons,,
med, will be purchased from them. The wares
VI TIC WI n'eil VIII uc PAID, and consequently,
10 considerable extent, expended among them
This will afford a good price and ready money for
many things which of no value This
very important market, on the road especially will
be immensely increased by travellers The inter
course between the East and West is BECOMING
every day more considerable, and must grow wi h
population The road from the head of the James
kiver Canal to the waters Of the Ohio, Will be the
shortest and most convenient that can be afford
ed to Utmost the whole of this line of travcl-not
only Will 1T bring crowds to our watering placos.
and circulate large sums in their ncinhborbood and
/ onthe roads leading to them, not only win it be
i taken by eEsry person visiting any part of Vir.
i ginia from 3na West or Southwest for bnsi.
ness or amusement, but it will accom-
nodate much of the limo of travel from the West
/ ana Southwest to the North. This great market
must add much TO the population and wealth NJ
Tie whole country. The certain consequence is
mat villages must rise at convenient distances
through tho whole line OF travel, and what has
ocen permitted to remain almost wilderness will
DC subdned by the hand of tie cultvator and fur
h'Sh 1000 Tor man, and for those animals on whom
man snbsIsts The effect must be felt also i'm the
i Country below. "
Our reason assures us that these effects must be
produced by the great cause which Won NAV nut
IN operation, and experience confirms the snpGes.
IONS OF reason. The same cause Eeyer has failed
ana we may therefore believe will not now fail to
! produce the same effects The value of your whole
! iandea property must rise incidentally.
i " nat then ought to restrain you rs iudicious
| men, pursuing your best interests, from making
such cXertIonS as will these immense advan-
toges to yourselves and your children? Yon
| are required TO advance money. But can vo,
make any addition TO your property without adyon.
eng money! The payments which will be re1ui
rcd from subscribers will be by successive install
'hcnts at distant periods and the operations to Inc
carried on IN your neighborhood will farnsh a con
siderable part OF it. Tou will not only purchase
great additional vaIc TO vour nresent nronsrt,, -,