Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-30

the time, was ultimately to turn the resources Oh
the Commonwealth. towards the long contemPa
ted connexlon Of her Eastern and western wa
tiers, through the centre OF her territory.
With view 10 this result, there "as setapart,
and consecrated by the most solemn p'eoses'
fund for the General Improvement OF the Com
monwealth, which was expected, by Its continu'
ed enlargement, speedily to provide tor all minor
objects. and then, to be directed to one OF prlma'
ry magnitude ,,.
II was with unfeigned regret that learned from
various sources, as I approached this valley, that
doubts are entertained of the speedy accomplish
ment of this great work, not less important to the
Union of the States, than to the connection and
prospects of Eastern and Western Virginia.
NAV err, fellow citizens, but have thought
that its success was rested on too narrow foun.
datiop. Had the fund for Internal Improvement
contemplated the opening OF but single r''er'
il would never have existed on our statute book.
Allow me few explanatory words on subject
Of great interest.
On entering the councils OF ms native state,
more than twenty years ago. it seemed to me, that
her true policy had been inscribed on the lace Of
her wide spread, but most uneven territory, bv
the finger Of Heaven. Virginia is intersected BY
wider belt of more and loftier mountains than
!
They separate her territory into two distinct
parts But this belt Of mountains by which our
state is thus suDJered. furnishes, in reality, the
means of uniting its remOtest extremes.
The Allegheny, which 0vertops them all, con-
denses on its bleak SUBMITS, and chershes, in
the bosom of its deep valleys, the water which
supplies the sources of five great rivers, that
swelled in their course, BY various tributaries,
break through the mountains below them. and ul-
timately mngle with the tide OF the Atlantic, and
the Gulf of Mexico These rivers. | need scarce
" say, are the Potomac and MonODgahea on our
northern, the Roanoke on our southern border,
and the James and. kanawha in the centre OF
our territory. Though five in number, for !
comprehend their respective branches under the
same denomination with their main stems, these
rivers give rise to bat two, or, at most. TO three
distinct interests; for the Roanoke, though enter
ing tide water, by a distinct channel. is capable,
like the James, of being united, by means Of ITS
tributaries with the Kanawha, The local inter
ests which sometimes conflict with each other, in
our state councils, run. not parallel with our
mountains, as is sometimes imagined, but across
them, and III the direction OF those rivers, which
disembosue their waters into different harbours
the seats of rival markets.
| 1t is worthy of remark, that, in proport ion as
those interests are lessened in Importance to
| Virginia by being shared with her sister states,
less is required from her treasury, tor their ad.
| yancement; and larger share Of her revenue re.
| mains, 10 be applied to that Internal Improve
ment, which all her patriotic citizens, must ad-
nit TO be, To her, at least, Of primary conse-
qucnce.
Still il results from the nature o! all local and
Jealous interests, TO whatever extent they may
reach, that, if they exist at all thew are exclusive
in their demands: and those who Behold their in
fiuence. must duly weigh it # they nope for sue
cess, 20 measures, which require their combined
support
The United States, in behalf Of the District of
Columbia, over which Congress has exclusive ju
risdictlon, along with Maryland and Pennsyva-
nia nave hitherto CO operated and will doubtless
vet further aid, IN the construction of the Chesa'
peake and Ohio Canal, by which, the Valley Ut
the Potomac will ultimately be connected with
that Of the Monongahela, at Plttsburg. But
while this work, involving so many and such IN
Dportant interests, was abouring amidst numerous
moral, as we'll as physical distractions, in lis way
towards the Allegheny, along the frontier OF Nir-
ginia, it became alike, her justice and her policy
to extend towards 1t, peCunary assistance as well
as her favorable regard. And accordingly. with
a wisdom aud magnanimity which rebounds to
her honor, she refused, during the last winter,
to permit rival enterprise to arrest that great
work ami by her timely aid, saved it from medi.
tated and even threatened ruin. In behalf of its
numerous friends, along the southern shore Of
the Potomac, here accord along with my own,
their cordial thanks, to the representations of the
middle counties Of the state; and especially to
the late Senator Of this district, now my colleague
in another council, for the generous support
htnh thnx, skokv Ia
1t revived the confidence Of our friends, baf
lied the enterprises of our enemies. and saved
from destruction, work, you will allow the to
add, to which, had devoted the greater part of
my time for ten years of my life; molety of
them, on that central committee OF the Chesa.
peake and Ohlo Canal Convention from whose
abors sprung the Charter and the resources of
the existing Canal Company. This work has
now, no enemies. | cannot but indulge the con-
fdent hope, that like success awaits that Central
INSTRUMENTATION OF our State, the western
branch of which, rolls its clear and deep current
at our feet That by an expanded policy, on the
part of the representatives of the DeODle another