Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-03
Virginia Legislature.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES

ton the Stock of the James River and Kanawha
Mr.. HuSrER of Essex said, Mr. Speaker-It is with
great reluctance that throw myself upon the indulgence
OF the House, for an opportunity TO express my views in
relation to the bill which is under consideration
Entertaining as do, opinions upon this matter, which
are in some measure peculiar TO myself, approach the
subject under circumstances of the difficulty and
embarrassment. Sir, it would be to any painful
exertlon to oppose re-conceivcd opinions, fixed
as know those to be, which am about to combat
and i confess that should shrink from the task al
together, l mpeed it by considerations of
public duty arising out of the belief, which sincerely
entertain, that we now about to festen upon Nir
gina, system which threatens her with much of future
vil"S must be permitted to add other motive which
TO the task-I the desire, natural even
IN the humblcst of ALL vindcae my course against
the mputations ofa narrow-mnded and sectional feeling
by rendering the which govern it. owe tito those
VINO sent me here and whom represent to show that If
we do not share with the projectors of this scheme, in the
holy zeal the moral nepidty and uRlirng perseverance
In the cause which would wreste with all difficulties
and grappe with all oppostop tits because we Weld
TO them in the ador ut wishes for the happiness and
prosperity OF ourcounry but because differ with them
DIS 10 the means of attunlng those objects Let not
be understood, sir, INDUCING the vain hope, that
shall be able to the theuist from his visions turn
the current oil pubc opinion from that direction towards
which il has been fast setting aware of the fact
which all history arms, that nothing but bitter exper
ence can reclaim from the folly of trading egsa-
ton know that State interference in matters of this
kind has been long considered theme for Gu
iogy, that will now be deemed the most absurd of here
sizes to doubt its eKpcdicncy And yet, MIR. Speaker
believe that has happened in this, many otler
ses, that an idea which just in its origin has been
was OF good Despotic Governments have been Justly
praised for expanding treasures deemed their oscn in
Improving the face of tine country, rather than waste
tnem upon guilty pleasures OF ambition; but
1T by means follows that the policy is TO he re-
commended in governments like ours which hold the
public treasure trust 10 be administered for the pub
Tic good and not fund for the purchase of Legislative
reputation by the erection of costly monuments of their
spirit OF enterprise.
1t seems to that the true questions which arise for
the consideration of such relation to any
gwen expenditure, is, whether it will add its Cor
To tho
nation If 1t will it IS sound policy to make the invest
ment unless there DE moral evils flowing from it. of
such character TO forbid it. And, onthe other hand
might DC mat such an expenditure although not add
ing ITS cost to the of national wealth. would vet
justified by great moral advantages TO result from
but cannot conceive OF proPerca for legislative
pendlture which does not bring itself within the opera
ton of the rule the other 1T in relation 10 these
tests hat nave considered the propriey of State inter
terence in the execution of the roads and canals nccessa
y Tor the Improvement of the country; and course
OF these reflections, / have been rresstibly he'd to
The conclusion, that if any given promised to add
scost to the SUM of Ea'Tl wealth. then twas fair to
presume, that 1t executed by private agency
which always much to be preferred public man
agement of such affairs; and, the other hand IF the
work would not increase the of national wealth by
sum equal TO its cost that then there no moral adj
vantages likely to result from such expenditure
would justify at In looking Mr.. Speaker, the
acy OF The first of these conclusions the nquyarises
IN what modes do such works contribute TO national
wealth My mind suggests to me but modes-dhc
one by the profits of the of the stock received
IN the shape of tolls which may be considered the expo
nents of the value of such stock and the other by the
prohts received by the persons other than the
the stock, who concerned in the transportation of
commodities along the line of Improvement The first
profit creates the value ofhe stock which is known not
only to be fair buta common object of individual spe
cuiatIon The second profit enters element into
the value OF ands commercial situations and minerals
which affected by the improvement Or any other
mode can be imagined, by which such a work would add
10 national wealth. II as easy to perceive that it must do
so by first increasing individual means But If a
work OF this kind, to add to the wealth of indiv
dual is 1t not maniiestly TO their interest execute
II: The landholder, when lands TO receive an
accession OF value, might fairly speculate upon
this probable increment, in any other mode; nav il
would obviously be advantageous to him to expend mo
ney IN this way upon stock which would Weld the
market rate of interest because the increased value Of
ms property would compensate him In short, every
interest to be benefited by the work. would be concern
ed TO contribute to IT'S execution. If interest, then
ieae individuals ether alone, ia corporations
TO the execution E<AIL works, when they would IN.
profitahIa national point of view, W hzz<f
governments acknowledgement win not
see their interests ,-Beeausc government will per-
ceive their interests, when they blind to them, The
idea absurd upon its face But it said that requires
the of too muay persons who will not all
take similar views Of their interests How Mr. Spca-
kerr that our government contributes 10 schemes of this
kind? Is not by the of the people through
their representatives? is 1t not, too because they
entertain similar views of their interests? Why
then shall we suppose that the persons interested will
not join in corporations and in that mode Jdan exc
cute schemes for their mutual benehS 1t would
that they ought TO be much willing 20 act through
corporation created with unity of purpose, than
through government corporation. with nultilarous
ends IN vew-a corporation, much inferior TO the
other in efficiency, the mind, whose powers ia We been
divided amid many objects, is inferior the one pur-
suit TO which another mind has been exclusively devoted
system Of priOri reasoning then, would lead us to
the conclusion with which set out. Docs experience
verify the RESULT hazard nothing in affirming that
does One Of the efficient systems Of internal i'm
provenent TO be found in the world. is in England
where such works have been generally left private en-
tcrprzc may, Tue second canal of any magnitude ever
completed in that country executed entirely by
one man. mean the Duke Of Brdgewacr. IT, then
1t is fair 20 presume al works Of profitable char
acter TO the nation, will he undertaken by private agency
there can be good for State Interference
There can be doubt in tire present state Of political
science, as to which the preference 10 be given i'm the
comparison between private and public agency i'm af
flrs Of this character The general truth of this result
OF science has been affirmed in variety Of cases. but fla
particular and precise illustration should be de.
mandod, would ch1ileuge n comparison between the
English aud Pcnnsyiyauan systems ofincTDa improve
70 decide the result I'm truth, Mr. Speaker, as
private management is efficient and economical
than public agency, so, for that very reason work
might be prOtably undertaken sooncr point of time
by association Of individuals, than by Government
But is said that Governments being able 10 borrow AZ
lower rate Of interest than private individuals il is
in this point Of view that q State interference is
polite and VIII not pause 10 ask if it be true that
Government can borrow money cheaper than a cor
poraton, created IN reference profitable end though
this might be questioned. Nor will pause compare
this single advantage with the many other advantages
which private associations possess but will ask FOR
what is i tbat thc government borrows this money
Why, 10 lend 10 the proposed work and If the Govern.
mont aord lend ii is upon the supposition that
The work win add least its 70 the sum Of national
wealth. WHY was hat ne udt -,