Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-20
VIRGINIA. LEGISLATURES.
SPEECH OF MIR. LUCAS,

SPEECH OF MR. LUCAS,
On Internal Improrenen-D Delivered in The House 81 De-
iegates WedHesdry Feb. ID
MIR. Speaker-lt was not nv wish Intention orig.
naly To tase part in this discussion strongly as am op
posed 10 The adoption Of The Report of the Committee
fell sure. and have no, been disappointed that other
genileRsn of superior talents and intelligence and who
better prepared would be heard my side Of the
question Impressed with this belief, and Influenced by
cnnsidP ratlons peculiar 10 my s;uatnn IHS GH1:ous
indeed, to be permitted to give silent vote: Ana
world not now rise 10 say word but ior Inc course
pursued BY the patrons Of the report and the desire ex
pressed by of my friends this House. urging me
to assign the reaspns which weigh on my mind against
the adoption Of scheme, that they. in common with
me- believe, If commenced vii! no. only involve
the State deeply in debt, but nure the gFea, cause OF
Internal Improvements, which ali have al heart
II would seen to me, Mr. Speaker from oil have
witnessed that few influential gentlemen on THIS t7of
coming from 5rTrrent sections Of the State, have, oy
lht,cidrnce, judging rcre seIr scatsrea
positions ever ,ac .,c opporlune. ellen into each
others views and without consulting Inc popular "H
the equal claims Of every section, Predetermined tha
The particular works Of improvement embodied IN THIS
Lore Feast Scheme aud nheis ought or SHALL u they
can help il, receive tie support Of this House have
been amazed al the sisss inpacnce betrayed 10 LAKE
up the subject and press It's consideration before we mad
received response The resolution oi The gentleman
from Petersburg calling for the imp"ranl n!rTmni'on
how much We already in debt liable for and pied ed
fora fact had found member in possession Of and
which would have supposed al not wiling IT" leap
in the dark would have fel anxious 10 wait and learn
before taking the plunge which The report recommends
Il have seen mare Sir have seen, that when grille
men have risen in their place. and asked that this report
Ghi be amended 10 let their sections OF the Stale INTO
this general State system, is called ial those par
tiu patrons suddenly sprung up 10 protest and appeal
ed, if by concert 10 the friends Of Internal Improve
ment TO vote down oil amendments no matter now
important the proposed improvement, OF however Small
It's supposed cost, and though on the two Minis prin
ciple only-aud they hare been vnred down And Tiny
have only thus appealed 10 the interested srrIi"i
al made friends 81 this scheme who hare been c"-
yered Nv the net and who csuno; get out, wIihunt
doing violence the interests nj their imni"Giate
constituents although otherwise opposed 10 The "oIe
scheme. hu, they have actually charged those who
have offered such amendments, Qhe gentleman from
Goochlant excepted of course With combining 10 over
load the report to break it down. Indeed, Sir, all who
oppose THIS splendid partial scheme, including those
who are merely 10 emharking in II at this juno
urp because they consider the present the most unPT"
pious period that could BE- selected 10 enter upon Tins
or any extensive plan Of Internal lmprorement-ihose
who are opposed departing from The two-hith prInci
pie which has been the settled policy twiih irw excep
'ons) OF Virginia ever since The c"upromss OF 1910 aHd
against making Stale acconnt-thusc wi" are "p
posed To State loans ali lines-a system which the re-
port if adopted, will commence immense scale and
above ALL al the present crisis, when 1t s corccced, on
all hands the money cannot be- had at home but tins "ce
gh.minded Common wealth, so hu;nalr! III the
eyes Of some Of her must abroad begging ana
humble herself still! more by hrr agents. III iOlti SHAVING
shops 10 procure it, Those who opposed 10 ar N
crease OF taxation and especially unequal system to
which this great scheme would eSd the way; those
who thnk the plan proposed too extensive or Limited
Parilin word, all who Tor ALL or any OF the Tore
going reasons consent 10 GO fn! the REPORT a. II
IT, have been not exactly denounced but pronounced
tnSmitS To Internal Improvements.
Now, Mr. Speaker, should like 10 know by what
right genlcmen who above local Interests, aud
represent the Commonwealth at large. lake
mn hem In char5
al least 90 for embaEkng IN THIS scheme, as enc
mics 10 Internal Improvement For myself, 'ePel the
imputation. This expression Is not 100 sirong-i"T,
though perfectly satisfied polhng personal anYWse
unSnd intended, IL is but just 10 meet this charge
il nlflts. Sir, am not an enemy 10 Internal Improve
ments Nor do admit teliert the advocacy Of this
extraordinary schcs, this most critical cCisls Fi"vS
those the exclusive the best 'riends o!
just and hcra! system upon proper p'ncpes at'e PR"
per lne-For one mus; claim the right 10 ihInk Tor
myself and humble and inexperienced as am IN Iegis-
!aon, 10 maintain my honest opinions upon lh's
and all other questions in this Hall, uninIenced
bv any appeals. unsupported by convincing facts and
arguments save, when controlled by The will o my
cons,iiuens-or unlike the ingenious, persuasive gen
tleman from Augusta, and The Jealous prEscvtTlns gen
llenlan from Northampton. ! Go acknowledge the ga
cred right OF instruction believe II lies al the inun
Ga,i"n Of free REPRESENTATIVE Government And con
slider Tho, most dangerous doctrine which they assume
that the chosen representative Of his county, IS not lis
representative but Of The State st large cannot like
represe Mt the whole Commonwealth and SC, up my poor
opiDon and iud Ement, opposition 10 the voice ct my
county when its will IS known 10 me- am Indeed, TO
use the language Of tie gentleman from Northampton,
loo much .'lhe sls7e OF democracy. The course o!
cnn4; and remark pursued BY the chief managers has
draw forth these Diadverscns and preliminary c1pia
nations TO place Inc in my true position.
MIR Sneaker according To both the gentlemen who
bnre preceded me the ober SIDE in their opinion this
renowned old Commonwealth 80 dear TO US n is on her
last legs in the downward road TO rum ana there no
other wsv 10 the emphatic words at the gentleman
from NorIhamuton given under Heaven whereby she
can be saved but the way pointed out IN ms Report
The gentleman says, misunderstood hm-tI'i hs eN
prrsslun vas that nothing but liberal system OF Inlet
nal Enforcement could arrest riiown ward COURSE
b. il SOL care not for words The patrons and friends
of this Report have however, voted down all amend
mems and the gentlemen from Augusta and NnTihamP
ton have warned TO njrct this scheme; and ErSuH
as necessary saveand The gentleman from n dd say
W. reject this Re port Virginia ta,e sealed forever
that she giIl and sink, and the ghtrsl star IN
our political armament go down. Yes. Sir. IN their
zeal and ardor gentlemen have presented the question
in this grave aud imposing manner, anc represented "c
g,od old mo her Of US ALL with her children in her arms as
s,nknc on the verge Of ruin, from the want Of public
sur:, aud Internal Improvements. And their appeal In
Us is. Come and help or she perish Come noN o.
nerer and adopt this Report: and by their acts they
have said take il nothing Immortality the prIze
rnomiby The doom Sir, have mol been able to bring
myself view lie simple question, whether this report,
which has ye. probably been heard Of BY Pr ,ad
sei!ed susss hSRSh d h5s al all say Sir
M, .een able to vie the question, wne'h-t
his report shall or be post poned bey"nd The present
session. involving the fate OF ds1 oa da as besn
the fate only OF this report when ss rh;nb
Pops 10 shsw to de- for these and other ss
oons without struggle or gInan on THIS MORT ""'
wen, and unsunr as best for the interests Oh The coun
try IS ;ep in which the
ns,inn should be- and in which shall consider it, be-
prs Touching the merits ask really in fiji con-
dilion at PRESENT 10 embark in this great scheme
there were just objections 10 IT, npoa It's
nconss,ences and uneoun! distribution OF favor-a!i
whish will expose SIR, what IS uu zeal situation: