Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-29

ded those upon the Potomac below, tide water,
md the greater part of the counties OF Fauquier
aud Culpeper in computing the interest al the
commonwealth in the completion OF the Chesa'
peake and Ohio Canal.
But that interest, 10 truth, comprehends many
results. clearly deducIble from the accomplish
ment of this great enterprise. which extena 'ne'i
influence through the entire commonwealth. anu
to the remotest extremes OF her territory some
OF them will be discerned in the extension o' ,"e
population, commerce, manufactures anu "ea''n
Of the counties which have been enumerated'a anu
in the complete development Of the various pro-
duc,ions of the forests and mines OF SD large
portion of the territory of Virginia, great part
of which is now mace to human industry.
Nor can it be difficult to extend these TO the com
prehe nsion of more enlarged and exalted inter-
ests-interests on which no price can be set. De-
cause they are in truth invaluable. They are to
be found IN the direct tendency Of this work to
produce contentment among the people OF Vir.
GINA and to insure in all future casualties the Int.
gritty Of that territory
1t was said by an eminent statesman, one OF
those citizens Of Virginia who was commissioned
III 1912 to examine and repnr; on the best means
of uniting the James and kanawha rivers, that
events might be wrapt i'll the "mysterlous tu-
ture," saving a stronger bearing on the main
discovered. The aIluson to the possible disu.
MON of these states then made, prompts your
committee TO urge, at present, the views then pre-
scented to the legislature with almost prophetic
sagacity, and TO recommend the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal, as one Of those safeguards and bonds
Of union, of which too many cannot be provided.
il the Importance Of the object be considered
Of them all, there is not one SO near It's accom-
plishment; nor one requiring for its completion
less sacrifce of temporary advantage; nor. in.
deed, one SO important, u the peculiar position
Of the north western territory Of Virginia. bur-
dered by the great and growing states of Penn.
sylvania and Ohio, be- Justly regarded.
Both those. states have recently opened canals,
which offer channels of convenient intercourse
to the people of this extensive territory OF VT-
ginia; and the Monongaia river, nav'gabIe from
its centre. invites them to accept their use, while
the parent state as yet affords to them no ade-
quate incentive to attract their interests and at
| feCtUnS nearer home.
The committee forbear to enlarge upon this
topic. A patriotic circumspection will profit by
the present moment, and deriving instruction from
the past, apply its munitory lessons to the fu.
ture.
In looking into the resources Of the common
wealth, for the prosecution OF public works ct
| StutIdi iWteIce's dHo lne" WI" Ni"ee
which other states of this Union have success
fully employed for similar purposes, your com
mittee are struck with the remarkable tact, that
all Of them, without exception. have aided their
public works by the pubic credit. through the
medium nf loans. Such has been the policy Of
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, as well as
Of Maryland
II il be wise to apply to any purpose that cres
dit, which is but the anticipation OF future wealth
and income, surely it Is to the construction OF
those internal improvements, which augment
both the populatinn of state and the productive
powers Of its labor, to an extent vastly exceed
ing in value The amount Of the capital they need
for their accomplishment. And where. as in the
case of joint enterprise. part only, and that
small part in proportion OF the entire fund which
such enterprise requires, need be drawn ir"m
The public credit, the grounds here assumed by
your committee are strongly futi6ed, since The
early completion Of any public work enables those
who have contributed to its construction to reap
an earlier return; and, il thew please, to With.
draw their contribution for other objects at any
earlier period. Such aid IS, indeed, but loan,
for limited term, of the credit Of the state to
public work. which is calculated to repay the aid
with ,enfuld profit. For, besides the mere tolls
of the subscribing stakeholder, the commonwealth
should compute, as part Ut the gain, the enlarge
rnent Of her populations the extension of her agri-
! culture, commerce and manufactures, and in
this case, along with all these benefits, what is
oil at least equal Importance. the contentment
Of her citizens and the future integrity OF her do.
minion over her extensive territory.
! The aid which your committee recommend to
the house Of delegates to afford to the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal, will expose the public revenue
to no serious Inconvenience. 1t is suggested by
the character Of the subscription, BY sister state,
to the same work. and contemplates an issue of
five per cent. stock TO the amount of The subscrp
ton Of that state, which is half million Of dol.
lars.
The utmost extent Of the charge which such
subscription Will make on the public revenue,
is 25, 900 dollars per annum, which supposes that
M income will be derived from the stock SD paid
for.
But i: will be seen among the. documents &C
companying the memorial which is the ground
work of this report, that the income OF the canal
company. to the stock Of which your committee
recommend the above subscription. from twenty
two miles only Of the line o, 100 miles of canal,