Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-01-21
Virginia Legislature.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
"Wednesday, January 8.

House with any detailed argument on this BILL as the sub
ing the last session. and both in the
aud the House, during the present session.
The bill now under consideration is similar 10 the
which passed the last Legislature by decided msjo
rity The only difference being AN increase Of the capt
tai stock. $475oeo. wbcwili be found amply sufficient
to construct the sork. fhe company having already
subscribed TO fifth. Of the stock the road being in
active progress aud section nearly completed surely
no objection ought now to be made to subscribing the
remaining twohihs. This road is TO commence at Ports.
mouth aud terminate at Weldon distance OF ~ miles
The country through which passes extremely level
ON greatest elevation in any given mile being only
~ ee anu the country aboundng In timber Of
Kind can consequently be made cheap not
than any similar work in the U. States This improve.
ment not sectional but in which The while State
Interested IL VIII NOT only afford facilities portion OF
our State but from the speedy TO choice of mar.
kets the productions OF North Carolina will be brought
our own Market and consequently the OF that
State will tend increase the population wealth ard re-
venue OF our own We have been tributary the North
long enough, and in order divert the from that
quarter must construct roads every portion of the
Inferior; and we must build up, il possible. commercial
many advantages that gives to country; and
we well know that the prosperity Of many OF the States
arises from the commercial advantages they possess The
f1ouse Will look at the making in North
Carolina that will perceive that its citizens had
ed TO build up seaport In their State possible; but
t9at OBJECT could not be obtained. then they must look
to Virginia for market Now, ask if there is ,ae
In the Unon which possesses greater advantages than
our own we have an extensive and fertile country, and
seaport inferior TO none in the Union.
The town OF Norfolk situated near the ocean we'll se
cured and fortified is accessible all seasons of the YEAR.
and SO well convinced is the General Government the
superior advantages which Norfolk possesses that they
have established there their naval depo and the
care oil the Legislature 10 only required to make il the
commercial emporium OF the South.
am aware that many objections will be urged 10 the
passage OF this BILL but did hope did expect after the
assurance which was made last winter by gentlemen OPP
posing the BILL that objection could to be made
to its passage, if the road properly surveyed and
three-tiths OF the stock subscribed for But now when
with all these objections removed we sill find
our opponents violent in their anil
bill must be rejected, the exerons gentlemen from
certain quarter cannot prevent it, 1t will be said that
the Stale having already subscribed to the Dismal Swamp
Canal ought not, therefore, make this subscription 1t
Is true the State has subscribed 100000 the Dismal
swamp mp Canal Company and has also made it loan OF
Tor which she receives annually per cent in
terest, and consequently is loser, but gamer by
that work But instead OF this being objection think
can satisfy the House, that il is an additional ARGUMENT
in avor oil the subscription The rail- road and canal will
not conflict win each Others but will together promote
lie prosperity OF each oherI this road constructed
you secure 10 the state large proportion of the produc
ton oil N Carolina, and the produce is
here Will be inducements capitalists
such Will be the case if you this road But
this road is not made, you offer TO mercan
ie men TO locate themselves at Norfolk you there
i tore, destroy the maea that place TAs being the fact
stead OF going through your canal for tho want of
markethnd there way over Ocracock bar Baltimore Phi
ladephia and NJ York. and thereby YOUR totally
useless This work, sir is said have been gotten mo in
spirit Of rivalry and hostility Petersburg but sir such
not the fact When the charter for the Petersbnrg road
was asked ior gentlemen reminded that that char
ter was granted the people oil Norfolk would be compel
led in obedience, 10 ask for similar charter;
they could not submiito have their canal rendered use
less and themselves deprived Of the upper Roanoke trade
10 secure this trade, the people OF Norfolk had gone 10
considerable expense. They had procured number Of
vessels Tor the navigation Of the Albemarle sound and
when they were about 10 reap the fruits of their enter
prise the destroyer in the shape the Peersbure
road and put to flight all their Justly founded
taions The Petersburg road ought then TO be nm
on as rival work-and now ask this priaon IN
place us on an equality with Petersburg and 10 break
viii
Ii will be contended, that this intermediate road
and that Norfolk already having outlets this road
duce reach Norfolk by the James River-and nv
means of the canal; but why should we be compelled
10 take these circuous routes and at extra expense when
by means OF the contemplated road, bring 10 our
doors the produce in many hours now requires
days! Another obect urged the passage OF this bill
is that it is in to construct road from this
city 10 Fredericksburg, and therefore this appropriation
ought not to be granted am surprised that such pro-
position should be urged against this bill That road s
not al all connected with They are not in any
manner connected and each question should be permitted
to rest on its own peculiar merits The only questions
which ought to be taken into consideration by This House,
are is oxpedien 10 construct this work and have the
company complied with the Of the law of 1916 p
III these questions arc answered in the affirmative then
you are bound in justice 10 subscribe the remaining two
iiihs.
MIR. BRowN said, he did not attempt to disguise the
anxiety he iet for the rejection OF the bill under coDsde
ration Why should he! Ii aimed a deadly blow at the
prosperity not only Of the people he represented but as
he honestly believed Of the Of Internal Improve
menu gehcTsy, anu viewing u IN the light he did, he
should consider himself faithess 10 his constituents and
the country, if he failed TO raise his against
IL. Strongly however, as he fortified in a conviction of
the justice OF his opposition to the BILL with more
didence than he had felt, any similar casion
that he undertook TO discuss the subject He represented
people whose interests were directly involved in the
is'ue-doubtless he was regarded being interested
himseli-aDd, little weight his opinions could have with
the House, under any circumstances he was conscious
that the present OCCASION they had still less than thew
might have on any other He knew, moreover, that 10
the estimation oil some, he subjected his n and
himself to the charge OF iliberay, in assuming bo,.
tile attitude towards what might seem, the first view
useful and iaudable enterprise. He should upset this
mputson at the threshold of his remarks; for there
were word IN the English language less suited than any
other TO express the character OF the community he re.
presented, IL was the word Hberal The whole mass Of
produce, above and around the Falls Of the Roanoke
(Which was now the subject of competition) had from
time imme moIial, found market at Petersburg This
stated TO be the 1906 by Mr. Gslan in his cele
braed Report on Internal improvements and again. 10 1924
by the President and Directors OF the Roanoke Navigation
Company, IN their Report TO the Board Of Public Works
Indeed, the Tact notorious, that he sure IL
would no, be denied. This trade the sole reliance Of
Petersburg Tor support 1t that which gave exist
ence 10 the town. and under the influence OF which had
grown up and prosperej Not the smallest portion Of IL
bad ever gone 10 Norfolk previous TO the opening Of the
Dismal swamp Canal, aud very little SINCE he should
presently show. BE that might, and whether in re-.
ference TO the canal the proposed railroad II
vous that Petersburg, in endeavouDg 10 counieract their
effect upon her commerce, acting strictly in sefde.
fence. And she 10 he called bersl for seeking TO
secure that trade which might be regarded her birth
right aud 10 which she had acquired two. fold claim by
the expenditures she had made for its accomnoda p
Norfolk was the assasD and TO her, II TO any, must be
attached the epille which may best characterize an en-.
| arlnn Of IL