Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-12-06


towns which have orcr 1900 each, (Which includes
tho entefprsing but neglected towns Of Portsmouth
and Ahrclng) our whole population being eslrnat-
ed at 200, 900 souls and therefore whilst the At
butte states. ~ whole have "A business population
in tho proportion OF one four. Virginia has but
bout one To twenty five. and while our agricultural
business ~ capable Of sustaining by tins ratio, pop
ulatlon IN our matts Of business Of over three hun
bred thousand sousi II is therefore very manifest
that we sustain much larger business population in
other states than in our own. aud that Tho value Of
real estate IN the ctcs Of other sntcs great in pro-
lporllon To tho amount, IN consequence OF business
which they derive from us. The value of country
property IN other states Is also augmented by The in
creased wealth aud population oil thcr cities. which
We sustain 10 the neglect and rum OF our own.
Nohi COMMITTEE find HAT the British colonies in
North America aie IN m cnvahlc condition com
pared with ngnia. The tauadas with aggte-
gate population less hnn Virginia. sustain popula-
ilon IN their business marts ~ great Virginia,
Mouth Carolina anl Georgia together. aud they have
lew OF no mechanics or afuzans, and they look
the mother country tor even horse shoes, and
horse shoe nalls, and the most common ARTICLES usi-
ally made ut home.
In the Island OF { uha (Which i. rs convenient 10
New York, rs the state of Alllama) we iud that tho
whole populations less thu IN Sfsnia--and yet wo
mud thai It numbers about triple our number OF bu
sinrss population, and that the wealth and revenues
o her ports greater than from all her incor AMI
II IS evident thai her retail dealers procure their sup
plea IN her own mars
The same Is the case in reference to jamaica aud
II appears evident ihat II all the retail dealers ia
those Islands were 10 obtain ther supplies IN New
OH, that then present ilumlsllug and prosperous
ports meuld soon be reduced 10 tie condition four
Gotham. lork Town, Tappahannock of City Point
and tie destruction ot those pofls would be ruinous
alike IL the prosperity and security oil the Inhabitants
al those islands.
ouf Committee find thai there is state in Eu-
rope which has not made greater ptoporlionato
increase IN population and wealth oompaled with
thon iolmrr condition, ,lan Virginia, and tie sains
COMPARISON will apply with full lurce IN reference
all oul Northern states.
Nonr committee ate OF tho opinion HAT the con-
ocntrlrion ol the made oi Vireinia in her own ports
to angle wear, viii the prospect of tss oulnoanr.
10 an amount equal 10 furnishing the supply IN thu
consumption Il the people of The state. would pro-
dnce an increased value nj property IA hat shou
period 10 the amount II moi less han fifty millions of
dollars. Tins 1t IS admitted LOOKS cNtfiyacan but
II mur be borne ia mind that property valuable IN
proportion TO the useful OF leneh,Ia purposes 10
which II may be applied II tie country dealcts
and planters would purchase The amount In our
ports winch they now IHtrhase in those of other
states II would be found that present stale Of
agricultural strength would rcqmfe and support
| seaport population Of over 200000 souls. THIS
would triple the surface nt towns, ard n,ue ihan
qndfnple tie actual value Of the lands therein.
buildings winch are now beng erected notlei star-s
upeu tie profits Fl our business would start with
magic enterprise with Us and the money paid for
thcr materials and construction would Icnlain The
property OF our citizens. Lands Ia lie vicinity Of
ouf towns would enhance value for lumber and
fuel, while agriculture would fiud 4 new stimulus in
furnishing productions 10 those, who subslst
wholly al our cXpense, and TO the profit Of others.
Hume would permit Your committee would at
temp TO demonstrate that the consumption Of
the state OF Virginia, OF commodities, The produce
aud manu- actele of which FOREIGN Ia her jufsdc-
ions great that OF the Whole United States was
~ lately Ms the year 1870; and II Will leave 10 this
convention and To history TO answer, whether The
tiadc OF these United States was considered Of such
importance TO induce national Efforts (Which have
been successfully to enabe Tie L. States whole to
ENJOY equal aud reciprocal commerce; aud 10 inquire.
IS not an amoaut OF trade which WAS worthy OF tho
concerted action Of the l.. States 10 1870 at least
worthy of united aud pa,riotic effort of the reoplo
OF Virginia IN 1898
Your committee assume iha, the mercantile pro
fits OF export commerce from the State OF Virginia
is about Alb of the profit ol the import, inc udinx
with the iuport however the furnishing all Tho yat-
I'd supplies FOR the interior. Wee therefore
to export our whole Productions ard furnish at
inst hands none OF our supplies, We should enjoy
Ln one ninth part OF the profits Of our business. II
tins position be correct II believes us 10 place our
selves in the possession Of the business Of furnish
nv the tide water region Of our State before ma
turo large schemes of internal improvement, 10 con
lef more tlade at our cost our rivals, whom we
nov see possessed Of that winch nature designed
Tor us, and Of which only repossess our
selves through that reserved sovereignty, which
il our right 10 exercise by a legal regulation OF our
internal police.
our committee find that the evils OF an indirect
trade not exclusively felt by the States of NrgI-
ma aud North Caroina, but by many other States;
and when they luuk nj It's result and observe that II
s ycrging towards a commercial consolidation OF
the whole pecuniary energies OF Tins great coniedeta
cy sIngle city, hey cannot contemplate our
condition. bur with dsmay marc especially when
we consider that pay our rivals 500 Tor what
them about SO the average OF our transac-
tons and tins is the boon which we obtain III go
ug fr IN home, buy supplies, but 10 bay cred
II Obtaining them.
On reference to the history OF trade in the old
world, and Of liz conccnuaticn, your committee arc
constrained to adopt the opinion that II Is mol nor
has II ever been absolutely free. 1t has, indeed ever
been subject 10 legal direction IN all civilized soce-
tie and in those not civilized there is but little
no trade receive the fostering aid and protection
Of legislation. All the'Sates of the old wolls have
at least point Of commercial monopoly, and IL
is admitted By political economists that the trade OF
m empire will find n roint at supremacy within IL
sell for all its large business aud that the smaller
trade will and should be subordinate such CON
eenraion, which is the effect of legislative provi-
sion.
This result must be expected under any console
dated cnvetnrscut and II is evident that the frlde
Is subordinate 10 law, OF the seats OF business
! IN each nation would moi in ali cases be within
herself.
1t ia urged by many, however that nnder our iede.
raj system we must submit 10 what they call
tho inevitable law oftrae. which they say is thar
Of consolidation of all commerce al single point
Ia. ,bn tendency of The