Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-05

OF Virginia alone is considered.
Her navigation, in 1890, gave an aggregate Of 1866
tons; in 1929 her entire tonnage is reported 90 SS2
showing an increase of but SIG tons IN hIy-ni,ie
years.
Her exports in 1892 amounted S35 199; in 1922
TO 43i giving increase Of exports Of S2s7932
n hTtysere, gears. If this data assumed in the calcu-
aons be correct (and they admit OF doubt IL is on the
ground of their being too favorable TO the south she
sumcd in 1922 $6,35S956 Of foreign mporatons, while
she received direct at her ports but 1896 1852 of this
large amount leaving her indebted TO northern portaons
Tor 50 9oS,62i other annual consumption and St5 lO9
the Government duties chargeable thereon. To these
views be added that year II sweeping the
Fragments of commerce left to the southern States and
uniting them with the accumulation already possessed by
the north and that in few years. the of both the
foreign and domestic trade of the country will become so
firmly fixed leave but little hopes OF change by the
diminished means and credit of Which the southern poo
pie will Je left in the enjoyment
If any doubts be entertained the Justice of this
anticipation, after examining the facts which have been
submitted let the annunciaons the revenue of the
present be investigated Should the treasury returns
verify those scmocal predictions mporations must
he increased from seventy TO between ninety and ono
hundred millions the average of the duties being between
thiy-onc and thy-two per cent, and of this progious
augmentation. the Northern States will be found to he al
most the exclusive particpaors.
The combined causes which have reduced Virginia
TO her present whitening and dcbiated condition; appa-
rent IN her deserted heds her dapdated towns, her
settled forests and the stationary number of her population
may be shortly summed up.
FUst-The cesson to Congress of her extensive and
invaluable domains North west of the Ohio without suo
bic reservations for the education her youths or the i'm
provement OF lines of commercial intercourse within her
reserved territory,
Second-Thc excessive quantities of the public land
brought into market and the inadequate price at which
has been offered, by OF which the landed property
within The commonwealth has been much reduced in
value and very heavy drains the population occasonc
Ihrd-Thc appropriation of the road fund to the con-
srucuon oil lines which convey the travel and
oil the country, circuitousy north Virginia instead of
employing in ths more natural offered by the
rivers oil the commonwealand declining the invitation
oil virginia TO cooperate in efectng extension of the
National Road to Winchester and uniting by short and
improved portage the navigabe waters of the Great Ka
nawha, with those of the James River
FoWth-Thc failure of the monwealth TO control
the disastrous effects of those measures by the opcnnr
with her own and credit, lines commercial in
tercoursc between her Eastern ports and the Western
states aud the failure to aid in forming lines of
muncahon between the important divisions of her terrific
ry and the cities and towns of the neighborng States
fVm-Ihe consequent course and direction which has
been given the interior and intercourse of the
country by the opening of other lines for accommoda
ton, and the control which the interior trade has exer
c.ed over the navigation and commerce of the nation
ms view oil the relative situation OF the Northern and
Southern States, in commerce. wealth. numbers and pros
peny and of the causes TO which this marked difference
may DC Traced VIII be most useful in warning of the
errors oil the past and in leading the adoption of the
measures best calculated to retrieve the ground which has
been lost
In consulting it for these important purposes every in
cdent warns us OF the uty of relying upon the govern
ment of the Union or of the Western States which have
been appealed TO for coopcrdon-the power of the first
Is questionable and the disposition more than doubtful
The latter fdposed to aid in opening additional lines of
Eastern intercourse have their embarked in
works oil more immediate interest to themselves.
On the other hand, we admonished by every page
energies oil The Commonwealth, and to direct their
whole force to the creation of home commerce. which
combined with liberal portion of the trade the Western
States VIII recall to the waters of Virginia her proper
share OF that foreign commerce which pours its rich
treasures into the laps of the Northern sisters.
III we benefit by the lights and examples furnished in
New DIRK and Pennsyvania-f we look to the effects
produced the commercial intercourse country by the
public improvements constructed in tho British provinces
we shall be at loss to perceive that the great agents
by which those revolutions have been Produced are COM
MERCIAI. ROADS AND NAvIoAaIr cANAIs In IL
Inc
ing influence which their neglect exercised over
Virginia. we cannot so adyanageousv or wildly nrese
minds the facts and the reasoning belonging this
branch OF the subject adyantageously Impress the
importance OF those works OF art by transcribing part
OF an eloquent and very able report made the House of
Delegates on the 2Sh day of December, 1915, which
was adopted by large majority of that very enlightened
body, as forming political chart by which the vessel of
State ought TO be directed 1t employs the following Ian
guage:
"Next TO the enjoyment of civil liberty ITSELF it may
be questioned whether the best organized can
assure TO those, for whose happiness all governments are
instituted greater blessing than open, free and easy
intercourse with another by good roads nayigabe ri
and canals Their tendency by extending the com
mcrce, TO promote the agriculture manufactures of
nation and thereby to augment its wealth and popuIaton
Is too obvious to require much illustration.
1.-The planter and farmer realize their share of this bene
ht IN the augmented value of their lands the manuc-
rer and the merchant, in the increased diversified
demand for theirindustry and capital.
Nor are the higher interests of society less indebted
Tor their advancement TO the multiplication and improve
men oil these channels of useful intercourse They al
ford the of exploring the resources of coun-
ry ana invite The genius oil speculation fit them
uses OF man. Lands too remote from market tempt
cuvaon; forests, hitherto regarded inaccessible beds
oil numerals and fossils, unknown elected brought
within The reach OF ordinary enterprise and rendered
scrvent TO the convenience and comfort of the citizen
to the defence and safety of the State.
They confer on an extended empire the prompudc
and energy OF action which considered peculiarly cha
ractcristic OF one OF dimensions; since without
contracting the limits of its territory they reduce the dis
tancc and expedite the communication between the seat
oil its government and its remotest extremiies. Whe
Their the public force to be spread for defence
combined for attack they alike contribute the rapidy
and to the vigor of its operations.
Sin republic, especially where public opinion ex-
erts confronting influence, and public virtue should be
ne spring OF all public action they may be considered as
an important auxiliary, if not necessary Ingredient of
political liberty They tend to dilfuse more equally the
knowledge which experience acquires, and the leisure
which wealth alone purchase; they strengthen the
cords oil social unon and quicken that generous feeling
patriotism which is ready TO excaim the contempa
ton OF an extended scene of public improvement al love
my country because She is worthy of my affection
The duty which is obligatory upon all governments
peculiarly incumbent ON one, for whose territory like that
Virginia, nature has done much both TO unite and TO
separateto whom she has presented many Advantages
TO improve and many obstacles overcome No State
in the Union is iDcrsected by many navgable rivers
nor divided by many chains of lofty mountains none
perhaps, abounds with such happy varieties of climate and
soil and so many for internal commerce. In her
coal, iron, lead and salt she is unfyaed Her tobacco
and grain command the highest prices abroad The fer
tile banks of her rivers and the moist vaes of her noun
ains, yield abundant crops of flax and hemp. Her low