Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-12-15
No. 3.

Il s'e"ul anu uniform operation 10 be afforded
ny denying them the privilege of issuing
notes oil less denomination than ten, or
what were perhaps better, twenty dollars (of
course excluded from circulation within our
limits foreign notes under those amounts)
| they will probably become 10 be universally
considered, what sustained 10y large specie
| circulation, they will prove TO be, mslitu-
lions alording but little cause Of apprehen>
sion or dislrust 10 the community, yet most
valuable auXiiarieS 10 lis industry and en-
lerprise.
The extent 10 which bank capital should
bo increased, and whether, al once, or moro
! gradually. are questions exciting more diver
siy OF opinion, and presenting more difficult
! ~. deficiency was thought 10 exist even
| before The withdrawal OF the capital employ
! cd in Virginia by The Bank of the u. States.
Since then our population, but yet more our
trade and manufactures have sensibly in
creased, so that creation Of perhaps double
the amount Withdrawn might not exceed the
just measure OF the wants of the country
! Whether ii might not be advisable, especial.
ly in view OF the present embarrassment or
The country, 10 prescribe that such increase,
as may he authorised, shall he paid in al such
intervals, and in suck amounts as may not
senslhly affect the business or circulation Of
the Commonwealth, is respectfully referred
To your consideration.
But the measures which Of all are caIcu.
lated most to expand and fnrtiiy our indus
tricai system-w hch act directly on the VAL
ue Of land, and, indeed, every description of
property, and which, withal are most need
ed 10y the States, are those which have for
their object 10 quicken intercourse and
cheaper transportation. Would we add force
10 the spontaneous conviction of every mans
understanding of the great advantage Of a
~ sp ST. NJ Int al Lot
us cast our eyes on New York and Pennsyl-
vanih, md imbihe, from the rapid develop
ments of all the elements of wealth and pow
eT witnessed there, spirit cmulous, but
without mixture OF envy, OF that enters
prising policy which has crowded their cities
and covered their territory with thriving
population, and for thousands expended, found
millions returned, in The enhanced value Of
property.
Even the Little. comparatively. that has
Teen done under the less bold and compre-
hensive system of Virginia, affords us the
strongest encouragement to 60 on. The de-
Clinmg fortunes OF Petersburg have revived
and the prospects of Norfolk, Portsmouth,,
and Winchester are Frightening from tiia
effects already experienced, from their re-
Gently completed lines of interior cemmu>
nicatior-while the finished and projected
Impror ements, terminating in the capital Of
The State, have been sensibly felt in the in
creased price Of property, and the greater
confidence inspired in the prosecution of eyN
cry description Of business.
The great North Western Road-iying
longitudnaly Glhwart the North West por-
ton Of the State from The Ohio almost 10 the
Potomac, is auspiciously progressing, and
promises at an early day 10 afford TO that sec
lion of Virginia important facilities in get
Ting lis produce 10 market.
The vast scheme that proposes 10 connect
The waters Of the Ohio and James, happily
at length undertaken, and now in progress,
viii accommodate the trade and travel Of the
west a scheme that pi opposes besides to in"
wife 10 our markets, a portion Of the immense
trade Of the States separated from us by the
Ohio river, and which, originally recom>
mended by Washington, and subsequently
sanctioned by the approval Of our wiSest and
most discerning citizens, possess STILL the con-
hdence OF men whose confidence is not has~
lily yielded; and even if viewed, as some
view it, in the light oil an experiment, is yet
one so grand in IFS conception, and if sue
cesstul, so intellectually beneficial in IFS re"
suits, that the probability of failure, that at
most can be but partial, ough; moi to weigh
against It's vigorous prosecution, or suffer the
idea oil It's abandonment 10 be for moment
entertained. Whatever now may be the is
sue Of this great and too long deferred inn
Pavement, nol.e who have witnessed with
what benefits similar undertakings have been
( traught 10 other States, can doubt the Splen
did results that must have enSued 10 Virgin
Ia, had She been first 10 invite, by suitable
inducements, The trade of the West 10 her
oWn seapOfls-resuIts, confidently believe,
that might have been seen al this day in her
cities, scarce second 10 any in the Union, in
the retention Of her former proud pre- ennis
hence, in population, in opuleUCe, and power.
Surely in the irrelrievable loss, IN great
part at least, of this vast trade, she has paid
dearly enough for her supineness, and the
narrow, tmid, and short sighted counsels 80
] which she has listened. Let her not get the
seal iOrevo. =, on her relative and growing in
leriOrty as a State, by allowing the sole re-
naming ST. worth playing for, already
jeopardized IS her ineriuess, 10 be wrested
| !run her by The superior enterprise and more
faisceing policy Of neighboring States. The
Trade Of the South west is that stake. II is
now our's-but il reaches us materially i'm
/ paired il value, ard greatly lessened in OK
/ tent, 10y reason of the tedious, difficult, and
costly transportation il is compelled TO en-
counter. That obstacle removed, our trade
I ll!l and ample tide, freIghted with incSIcu-
liable benefits tO The whole country along IFS
line, and sensihly adding TO the resources
| and power Of the State.
These important ends nay be attained, by
constructing a rail road from some poirt to-
wards The head Of navigation on James river
10 lie Tennessee line.
The pracicabiIity Of constructing such a