Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-21

still n spirit o fhcstiity, that Tossib'y (aot pro-
bablvl mirh, be engcndcrcd In folly or pride? Is
no, SELF tho great moving principle OF man!
Aud would tho Importance of our commerce with
either Of these nations be lcopardiZcd or hazard
cd by either, fr the iruitlcss honors of war?
Cannot "Charles City" believe that in process of
time. York river will be fortified? Does he not
know that u plan OF the species und points of
defence, was some years past reported by one OF
the then members OF the Navy Board? Does he
| think so ~conicmptlbly of the intelligence and
! patriotism of our statesmen, that they will leave
Inc WHOLE mme of the Chesapeake Bay
NORTH of Hampton Roads entirely unprotected?
OF what value will the works erecting at Old
Point and the Rip Raps be in protecting the
larger portion Of Virginia, the of Ma
rylant, aud a large part of Pennsylvania, which
is watcred by the "SuSquchana?' Will 1T not
be the interest of Richmond, Baltimore, nay,
even Phila ~telphia, to unite with the inhabitants
of the country, in an application to government
for the defence of the river ! cannot doubt but
that government will turn its attention to his
river, so soon as the works at Fortresses Monroe
and Calhoun may be completed. Will 1t not
have been an idle expenditure OF money on these
points, If the works should be left exposed to,
and vulnerable from, foreign attack in their rear?
Suppose q war. and an enemy with a powerful
fleet and army enters the Bay; takes possession
of York,owr: discmharks his land forces there;
marches to Hampton, which is captured, and in.
vests Fortress Monroe in the rear, or land side,
while their fleet blockodes and bombards in front,
what an cnviable situation, truly, would this
fortress be then in? Does not every principle of
sound policy require that York river should be
fortified? Does not reason point directly to il?
And Will the departments to which the safety
and defence OF the country are confided, be SO
c~u'pably remiss and negligent of their duty, as
20 leave this river unprotected, and the works on
James river exposed through ii? Is il supposable
chat H. -. . a..
Union may have THEN confded their destinies;
whose m duty will be to see, according
to the Roman principle ''that the Republic re
ccive no injury" that III would be unmindful Of
The Importance of York to the protection of com
merce. and the defence of the works at Old
| Point?
| lament, Mcssrs. Editors, to perceive a rising
spirit of local jealousy manifesting Itself in some
parts of the State, and by some of the writers
upon this subject. Is there not room enough in
Virginia for rs all to move ip? Are we to have
only ONE road east of Richmond, The friends
of the railroad to York, with whom | have con-
versed, are not SO contracted in their feelings
as 10 desire only a road TO York. They have
no objections to experiments on other sections
OF Eastern Virginia. They ask to be permitted
to make the experiment themselves. If the
shares be not taken, the road fails, and no injury
done. II, afier construction, the stock be not
profitable, the road will be discontinued. Let
US have the opportunity Gas well as others TO
attempt the project; and let each scheme stand
by It's own merits, or fail from its impracticabili.
ty or i%nutility. We have no sectional jealousy
on this question; we feel no hostility to other
projects which have been mentioned. We be-
lieve the road to Yorktown will present facili-
ties and advantages rather greather than any
other route spoken of. We have endeavored
calmly TO expose them to the public. OF the
Legislature we request only a survey at this
time. CIVIS.