Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-04-03
VOLUME XXXIV.--No. los.

less Dependent upon and least require our ayors'
-ust we extend our hands Of IibcraHy and protection
10 HE wealthy and powerful alone and leave the
tue to Continue IN poverty and want? In word Sir
must we adopt such policy the gen,lcman's arru-
ment would imP:y-a policy, which would require Us to
extend our improvements only 10 the rch and fertile
and favored regions OF HE country, and by cold
g!ect abandon The less favored portions to ncer on in
barrenness and poverty, Surely such policy could
not gel tie sanction Of This House, which should look
with equal sncude TO the interests of every portion Of
the Commonwealth
So much Sir for that portion Of the gen,!emans az
gument which bassd upon the assumption, ''lhat
The region OF country to which look the object of
tins scheme is much less fertile than the Western
part Of New York, that we have comparatively no in
ducemenls for improvement" Such assumption,
however, Is wholly gratuDas-iUr in point OF fertility,
location. every consideration which uslfes the po-
Icy at ali, no country can present higher claims
But Sir, we have been cited by The gentleman from
Halifax 10 The Petersburg Ea;!tnad example Of the
expense and unproducliveness of such works II the
gentleman has understood TINT the expens" of that i'm.
provement lranscends its profits, only say, his in.
formation has beer different from mine The truth is,
Sir has been shown by other gentlemen that that road
yields profit of 10 per cent and instead of furnishing
an example prejndIcia 10 the general policy, furnishes
one OF the most striking examples of the vast nty and
profits arising from IL. Sir, the Petersburg Road has
been until recently. M isolated understanding from
The town of Petersburg tho distance OF % miles, q
small and inconsdcrable town he Roanoke river
There has been improvement yet. into the rich
country of Carolina induce transportation OF lis
produce that poiat, 10 DO forwn rded Petersburg
It has yet had feeder beyond the river pouring the
rc! of ils products and wealth upon the road
at BGkeiy. Sir, there has not been, until recently any
other by which bet road could receive the pro-
dncs of the country, than through the imperfect and
dilaory navigation of the Roanoke river. And, Sir,
when tell the House, that in consequence of the diff
cues Of that navigation, very large amount, il not
hail. the produces raised upon and adjacent 10 HAT river,
is yet transported 10 wagons, 10 Lynchburg, Richmond
and other places, il excite surprise If that work
should not yield immense profit, Notwithstanding
these facts however, its profits have been great and sea
Oily Increasing But Sir, suppose we have drea. and
enlarged communication in the interior OF Curolns,
as is shortly to be circed-and suppose give such
facilities IL the transportation The Roanoke will
induce the trade Of that country seek its natural and
readiest market any man doubt the effect i: will
have and the immense profits 1t viii brig 10 The Peters
burg ROAD: And h7 Speaker as that Road stands mao,
the proudest triumph Of the intelligence and enterprise
of that gallant city which our ''cockade in war,
aud onr pioneer in Improvement, will II prove Then,
the richest and the fullest OF her wealth and pros
peTy.
II strikes me- moreover what strange, that if
the expenses and losses attending that improvement,
have been Of The character scented, that has not
been long since abandoned There surely be no in
ducrment to continue and sustain that which is only
productive Of trouble and embarrassment That il is
not abandUued but the CONTRARY, cherished and
taiued with the deepest interest is evidence sufficient,
if we had other, Of its value and importance
edy called 10 the conenp aun Of the States of New
YU:k and Pennsylvania Indeed, Sir. frequently
have minds been directed 10 the splcndor and mag
ncence of their suuppndous works. that We have
" had time cast eyes that bleak area Of
poverty and barrcnness which spreads itself before
US at home. Lost in wonder and astonshment at
the grandeur displayed in other States have scarcely
been permitted to feel the pity and shame which caue
upon u.s. in contemplating the sad condition OF our o~n
Shall W., then. do any thing bu, through
pr Must the course Of other people and other coun-
be appealed TO- 10 point Virginia To the path of
honor aud duty Must the example OF other States alone
BIZ her for attempting what IS high and honorable?
Must Virginia dare the deeds of glory and honor only
because others have dared them Lciort her? Must she
ID that only which others have done aTd iea|e undone
that only which They have svolded Can she essay no.
thing OF her high accord but must bride her high
spirit and follow forever in the wake? This, Sir has
not hern the history and character the oden time
This not her brarng, when she in the strength
u her youth to defy the behests ofespotsm nor in sfte.
times Hhrn IN the vgor o! manh"od she resisted the en-.
croacments upon constitutional liberty hers then was the
vanguard Of all that was HIGH spirited and lofty. Blu, If
accident ambition should have given to Others whilst
size s.nmbered precedence which properly belongs 10
her shall che ing oousy sh7inS from the contest, and
WELD the palm because of her msiorunes Rather let
her redJube her energies and strive the stronger with
her comrecrs Let her look 10 the mighty results which
attend industry, activity and encrsy-and make speed
gather The aurcs which await Tor her, IS they have
been rcappd by them And what has the State oil New
York done,
am glad, Mr Speaker, that we have the weight and
authority Of the example afforded By two such States
those of New York and Pennsylvania, 10 teach US the
tlur policy in this subject 10 teach us what can be done,
b., showing US what has been doncLe us look 10 them
for q moment ! do not mean TO deluin the House, or
weary its patience, by repetition OF these interesting
details which have been presented so iorclbIy and MT
nurIy by gentlemen who have preceded me; but merely
To ask its attention general Tacts. which think
Of importance, the proper calculation Of this subject
But this done, Sir. only by way of illustration: for,
do not mean to admit the proposition, tina, we should
predicate the action Of this Sale upon the action or po
cy Of other States, and adopt this any other system
only because they have adopted it: No, Sir; il they had
stuck spade, or lifted stoae; if they stood now
in this matter where they stood twenty years ago,
should still maintain, that prompted by every prn
cipe Of patriotism and sound pnlicy-andby every
sderaon which could induce to improve our cond
ton, as moral social and intellectual beings, 10 prose
cute this undertaking with promptitude and vigor-
What has been the effect Of the Erie Canal Improve
upon the population along lis borders' will give
thu result upon only FOUR Of the many towns which lie
upon II: 1000 oo-