Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-03

should take wofhs Of the stock she bor-
row part OF the money; and If such disposition were
made OF this great central improvement all others OF any
magnitude would be put the footing. There
were many sagacous members OF that House, who be-
ieved that this about 10 become the settled policy Of
Nirgina and although heretofore opposed to ali loans
whatsoever, OF them inclined TO reg ard il
fair and safe compromise between the two extreme parties
those who wished 10 do too much and those who would
do nothing, towards internal Improvement The latter
were afraid Of enormous loans works State
ACCOUNTABILITY in tho nature OF things could be subject
TO no limit except the will of the Lcgsaueand for the
sake oil security against this langenght po
Icy under which the Commonwealth could not run into
excess unless individual capitalists should have gone
ahead oil her In cNa,agance an indisceton which, he
presumed, they were not likely 10 commit The thorough
friends OF Internal improvements the other hand being
thwared in their extensive views and weary of op-
position might be content to meet their opponents this
middle ground. He appealed to those who were opposed
TO all loans, but who thought that in this modified sense
they about TO be Iesored Toto saw whether in seek
ing TO avert what they be inevitable they were
wiling TO sacrifice the present application rather than adj
vance a, once 10 the point TO which they would eventually
agree 10 come.
Independent OF all these considerations there was ano
Their mpregnable ground which this contingent autho
rity to make loan might be justified. The legislature
had agreed TO subscribe at the last session. and the ques
ton 10 The mode and OF pay ment The
company, whether prudenuy not, had proceeded with
their cntcpzc no, doubling that the would expedite
the payment oil her subscription, il necessary 1t
apparent mat they must have the whole of their
capital in few years, the work must be suspended in
which event the state would suffer heavy loss IL might
indeed be regarded in some proposition
tract one deb IN order TO pay another, promptly when by
so doing, an Investment would be rendered productive
which would otherwise be lost.
lie said he regretted the existence of an impression on
the minds OF many, that this road intended for the
exclusive benefit OF Petersburg, and was too local in its
character TO merit the aid OF the state Admitting that it
was 10 beneht Petersburg alone he had always
to be the precise object of public appropriations bene
Int some one place section of the and he
should like TO know why Petersburg not as deserving
OF aid as any other community. Ii there were any diff
oI
established character OF that town. for patriotism and pu
lie spirit would cnttle il 10 favor rather than neglect
But II was idle TO say that this work would benefit Peters
burg alone 1t would only benefit that town in the event
OF the trade OF the Roanoke Carolina passing alone
the raoad and should it take that direction il would be
proon ITSELF OF an additional accommodation 10 that ex
tenSive tract OF country The interests of market town
and tho country which supports were nscparable and II
was impossible he said, to benefit the and not the other
and surelyt could not be considered local object IN
give increased prosperity TO the immense region waered
by the Roanoke by opening TO its produce convenicn,
market In order to show the general Importance of this
work. ne then adverted 10 the TACT that would not O,
facilitate travelling and the carriage of the mail on
horoughiare, but would add another link the chain of
interior communication, extending from North TO South
paralelwiih the seaboard and aiording in time of
the most valuable facilities for the transportation of militia
ry stores and other means of defence He said there
was another aspect in which this work assumed high
degree OF interest 1t was the first railroad of any eX
tent which had been commenced in Virginia 1t might be
regarded as an experiment. and much depended on the is
sue 1t was begun under the favorable anspc,s and
promised sooner than any ohsr work of the kind TO Xiii
blt thepre eminent advantages of the rail road as means
oil communication He concluded with appealing TO the
the friends OF Internal Improvement say whether the
success or failure OF this enterprise was not calculated 70
have an important effect the in which thew were
engaged, and all similar works about 10 be undertaken
oil which this was but the pioneer.
Mr.. CAMPBELL of Brooke said that when ,bis b;lI
was formerly before the House, il had been laid on the
table on his notion that action upon might be deferred
until general report should have been received from tho
COMMITTEE oil Roads and Internal Navigation on the sub
Ject OF Internal lmprovcment-in order that il miobt he
asceIained whether the provisions of the bill would con-
met WIN the interests OF any other important work
hat report had been made and the aspect of affairs had
since that time been changed by the adoption of thu. reso
uuon OF The gentleman from Nelson mir Cabelll MIR
campbell dld not understand that the project set forth II;
that resolution, depended in the least on the fund for In
terna Improvement. There was therefore reason v
shouiu come IN collision with this BILL and consequent
no reason IA his opinion, why the House should not
pass it, He had opposed the amendment which proposed
sale oil The stock from which the fund is derivcd-but
as The bN now stood he in favor of it, since il proy
died. as IN the act olas session. plan by which the whole
fund would not be absorbed As the bill was now framed
'he petersburg Improvement would go on, and others
would also receive the aid OF the fund.- and be
Pdt PdSSu lie wasconvinced that the stock of the Pc
ersburg Rail Road would be profitable and had he idle
iuhuS, lie should eei The utmost confidence in investing
theIn IN lie believed therefore, that the State was
making profitable Investment. On other grounds he
was anxious that this bill should pass 1t was the first
time that Virginia had embarked in scheme of Internal
improvement oil equal magnitude, aud it was a COM
mencenent in in which all intelligent friends of
the Commonweal wished TO see her perseyere But
mat hs Improvement should be successfully prosecuted
II was located III part of the county the citizens of
Which were the most earnestly opposed to the cause of
Internal Improvement. And practical illustration of
their benefits would do much dispe their opposition
Let Tie locomotive engines this Rail Road be plavnp
before their eyes for few years-carryng wealth and
commercial activity into the heart of the country and he
predicted that they would become converts TO the plan of
state improvements and enter warmly into those schemes
which they now looked upon unwise and Quixotic
The question being then taken on the passage of the
bill IT was decided in the affirmative, Ayes 6i Noes 81
[H subsequently passed the Senate