Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-12-02

br depnac there:6E> si5i"" ny .ne ieasui' y VI
ohsr Competent authorities "schieh certificates shaH CT.
s-rss he ,israi anE '4t obligations, nRd pledge Tie t''h
nj tbs S.se fs sjs l:i ;.g nnd repayment crc9f ana
$hoN sGr &c aM q hs &aes rccetctng me same 10
TIRE shsr.er. the mag be required ty The Secretary
e. tic Irrcsu.Y ~ the gurpeSc II Gtray,@g any c"ntS
IT, the pnbtc 7ieasRry beyond the amount of the hve
millions aforesaid. uader Provso however, the nJ-
ncy SD deposited cannot 'bc called for in sums eAIetu
ing ten thousand dollars from any State IN any "'
month without previous notice Of thirty days ,'
additional Of twenty thousand dollars: "'~' '"
at any time he required ~
II is apparent that lie fac d9fs no. Is - yo
unqualified grant Of the proportion Oh t;.a pn,
nue. that would fall 10 any State Cf 's G''''"Iy
the fuith Of each State is to be pie"gec', III VI. ~
solemn forms Of law. 10 repay ''s s" $780, ,ho
ayor, r,r, ,hcr.oc from time to tme whenever inc
$500 a no reoui,cd by the Secretary OF the lreasu
~, &c. .;o;o,,,, :, d.,crr,n
ING the rspetcncy Of becoming lfe o'P"S''a'! Vi '
n,r,;nn of The surplus revenue for, II we were mercy
70 distribute it aniongs, several Banks "nder CHS
Greet and proper management 1t woaiu oe source VI
considerable profit the State. But, h0'o u may NC en-"
,IovcJ mast adrantageosV always keeping IN view our
obIra,iun to refund it, when required and keeping ~
OUT power the facilities Of ccdeemng the pubic iath Is
Question of tho deepest Importance to the interest anu
character of our State. The country being III stae
profound peace, and OF prosperity never equacu II 10
reasonable to suppose, the amount received may 'e'
long in our hands uncalrd for Is mol easohape 10
suppose those funds could be dispensed with o. the 90
vcrnment OF the United States, suiclrnt iens'h o
time 10 enable us to accomplish some desirable plan Tor
the Improvement Of our facilities IF intercommuncaon
bv which al! the great divisions of the State would be
benefited? ,
The law passed the last session Of the Legislature,
COMMUNICATING the construction OF Railroad " connect
the waters OF Mobile Bay with these OF The tennessee
river it is understood has not been, and probably Will
not be carried into effect have recclVed no report,
however from the commissioners appointed 10 open
books for subscriptions OF stock; but believed ;he
subscriptions SMALL to discourage any nope OF
SUCCESS under the existing charter No other single
work has been proposed, which promises so avornby TO
the interests CT the whole State in pccunlary SOCIAL or
political point OF view It's advantages have been 50 Of
ten urged that it is unnecessary dwell upon them
1t would perhaps be difficult to determine, whether The
Northern Southern division of the Stale would re-
ceive most advantage At either extreme 1t would IN
teIssct navca Streams and other facilities OF trans
porta,ion, with ramhcaons into almost every district
In the mean time it would be important nnk IN IN"
great thoroughiare between the Eastern coWme'cal CT
lies and our seaport, winch is regarded as entrey
prdclir.oc and iraught with the most Important ad'
vanla yes.
Other States have set US the bright example OF con-
struc,;ng great public improvements exclusively out OF
the public resources and they reapng the rch
reward of their enterprise and wisdom What has
made the city of New York the great cmpo-
rum of this oulishng Union. and carried forward the
whole State with lgantlc strides IN wealth. population
and resources: There can be little doubt the foundation
of her prosperity and greatness has been principally lad
in her great public works. Her sisters, Pennsy vana
and Ohio are following successfully in her footsteps
Some of our sister States Of the South that were before
Careless and Inactive have, within the last lew years.
been reused from their elhurgy, and are now vigorous
ly engaged in the improvement OF their great nalura! a-
yantages. Ii is longer question OF mere expert
mental policy the advantages Of such improvements
have been practically illustrated Shall remain i'll
different aud inactive spectators OF their enerprzng
policy or shall we boldly grasp the means in our pow
err and advance with determined split, aud steady
hand in noble emulation Of their wise examples:
ho nllapIn t,a oct nj
our admission into the Union, it provided that hive
per cent of the nett proceeds OF the public lands 70 be
sold within our limits after the LIST September, lol9,
should be reserved for making public roads, canals, and
improving the navigation Of rivers OF which three.
ffths were to be applied under the direction of Le
pis!ature TO such objects within the State, and the
manning tco tS 10 The making road, or roads leading
to the State under the direction OF Congress- The gross
amount OF The three per fund.- already received by
u.s. is S 33 463 Sc, you will perceive BY the report
Of the Treasurer which will be herewith land before
YOU No part Of the two per cent OF the nett proceeds,
which it was contemplated should be applied to "a road
or roads leading the State has yet been appropriated
BY Congress such object is It to De presumed
that such application will be made of it, it thepocy
Of the present administration should be continued his
fund.- which intended, principally, for our benefit is
now living in the Treasury of the U. States idle and
unprofila6le II is believed, proper application to
Congress- it would be reinqused TO the State, to be ap
piled to like objects those contemplated tor the three
per cent. fund fso it would bring into our hands an
Adding the amounts Of these funds TO probable
proportion of the surplus revenue (Which may be esti-
mated million OF dollnrs we should nave al
together between million and hall and two millions
of dollars in hand TO commence operations But small
portion of those funds would be required tor immediate
use-ln the mean time they could remain IN BANK, ana
be accumulalng in amount II IS more than PROBABLE
this great work might be accomplished Without resort
ing to the credit OF the state 10 raise any Pofoh o e
requisite funds.
Another important improvementto which portion OF
these funds might be applied, that OF the Canal around
the Muscle Shoals, and Colbert Shoals IN the lennes-
ace river 1t is work of ncalculable Importance 10
your fellow Citizens Of all the counties bordering upon.
or near that majestic stream. Its completion would give
almost uninterrupted steamboat navigation from New
Orleans through the Northern end OF Tins State from
West 10 East.
You are appraised of the character of this work. and
The manner in which it commenced BY an act aP-
proved on the 23d May, 1875 Congress granted tour
hundred thousand of certain relnquIshed lands,
ver and the surplus any be applied 10 the improve
ment Of the Coosa Cahawba, and Black Warrior rivers
This grant accepted by the Legislature eight years
ugo Much the greater portion of the land has been sold
and it is now asccrtained, yond doubt that the improve
luent cannot be Completed with the funds thus produc
cd canal of about itcen miles in extent, embracing
and obviang the most formidable obs uclions will Le
finished, and opened for navigation IN very short time
IF this work were accomplished, originally designed
all the rich productions OF the States lying Morrill, aud
Northwest of US, might be brought by STEAMBOATS, To
any point on the Tennessee river, within our State
Thence to the Southern part OF the State, IL would be
easy TO bring them, with trfDg expense, through the
channel OF transportation which have before nvlt
ed your attention Shall we permit work OF 50 much
neres, to remain in It's than half finished condl
ton to the great and immediate injury OF all Important
division of the Stale, when we have the prospect OF
abundant means at command:
By an amendatory act Of Congress, approved on the
23d of June, 1885, much of the original act restricts
the State from selling the residue OF the lands granted
b, s,;J Tho I'M nfi he ntih
nc lands IS repelled ana the assent OF the IT, States is
also given 10 any act which tho Legislature may pass,
for imposing toll the Of such parts Of the canal
have hecn may be constructed certain qua.