Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-03
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.


the committee, and attempted to show that II will
stand favorable comparison with TIE one recon-
mended by them, in all the qualities and proper
tics that should characterize any system entitled TO
support. There still unnotic"d some other ar
gumenls against any radical permanent change in
policy this subject which in my opinion deserve
To be limited at The tendency Of legislative measures,
well on the par, of our Stale our Federal Govern
men Is too often 10 generate and establish hablt -
people of looking too much 10 the Government, !. Il
source Of their wealth and prosperity tstc9 III
ing the Government merely as an Institution established
to protect them in tile free Of their means the unlran.
nleed exercise 1t their faculties in the acquisition and
enjoyment Of individual honor and wealth and happiness
the people constantly stimulated Ivy the course OF
Legislation TO look up to and revere the Government
Tie nduIgPnt and boUnul parent from whom these
blessings flow. Tao much is made depend the
strength and Of the Stale; too little trusted
private capital and energy and enterprise The doctrine
is too often inculcatrdby legislation that look
To the Government Tor The successful prosecution every
noble enterprise; that citizens in their private apaci-
ly too wenk loo pnor to erect any monument worthy
Of great people. Would not, ask The policy
mendrd by the committee haze tendency To confirm
and strengthen that habit: What can give power
TO government? what tends rircIuay to destroy
that weakness which constitutes the strength and beau.
" Of Democratic government, Than to place it's dis.
posal, the whole of lis people, make il the
sole dispenser of prosperity and wealth leach clti
zens thai their happiness Is not dependent their
fugaiy and industry bnt upon the bounty of the Slate:
IT, advocates of the report recommend The whole
is TO BE- changed and splendid system he adopt.
ed resting wholly the Stale fur lis support, let ask
if the patronage Of that department OF the Government
which be entrusted The control and management
of the system, is not circumstance worthy of some
sideration: il the works recommended b. the
mee but thn commencement of n vast system which
is 10 require millions and millions 10 carry out let me
ask gentlemen reflect for the great pat.
ronagp which is 10 be thus thrown department
or other Of this Govrrument-"n the number OF Engi.
neers contractors and other officers who must
rily be in great under It's c"ntroon the vast
sums which will he called upon 10 d's5urse Prudence
dictates, that should not hasten To the adoption of
such q system before have provided even before
have reflected upon guards to watch ard control
the gigantic powers with which il must b. necessarily
invested
Having thus noticed some Of the most prominent iaa.
lures of the report hope shall b. permitted 10 call
The attention of The House TO Of lis most oscton
able details And iirs Sir 1t Is worthy Of observatinn
that the very first recommendation Of the committee
con,cmpalcs the repeal Of two charters granted by This
Legislature two years ago-chartes, which were based
upon the petitions o! large number Of the people Of
THIS Commonwealth, and which received The sanction
of this body after the fullest discussion and most
lure deliberations aiis::e H. The charters Of the Roam
oke DanviIle and Junction Railroad Company, and Of
the Lynchbn:g and Tennessee Railroad Company
BY these charters, the State has already granted away
10 the two companies POST Trnnned, The right OF con-
s,rucling the road which il is proposed to
sirucl wholly Stale The charters Of he9e
coipan;e extend each the Tennessee line, and The
State has prdurd lis faith 10 TAXI portion OF their Stock
provided, that individuals shall before certain periods
named in The charters and subsequent acts amending
them raise The balance of The funds constituting their
capital These perinds have not yet arrived The peo
pie have still h" ght under these charters TO raise
tain of money, and Ia call upon the State to pay up
lis quotas. The people have committed act in iutie
Of their righ's-thry have mt surrendered their
grant-they have not abandoned The enterprise. Yet
the Committee not cnnleut with The recommendation
that the State shall lake 10 itself the richest part OF tie
The III Kali
EvaEsilam the Tennessee Line urge lie cXpcdisncy
Of granting charters at least The language Of the
report seems to 10 bear such nrrprrati0n) for lte
construction Of the Roads from The James River 10
Eyansiam and from Danvi!le 10 the same point. II 1t
be deemed exprdenlSf there De pressing necessity,
as The Committee It'll Us, that the Stale should take
away The charters Of these companies so far us they
tend from Evansam 10 Tennessee, certainly no such
necessity exists urge the proprey of giving to other
companies the right o! constructing line other parts OF
these Roads.
By the charters row in existence, the interests and
claims of The James aud Roanoke rivers for they
seemed 10 conflict, have been settled compromised and
adjusted By the charter oil the Lynchburg aud Tennes
see Railroad Company. the rival demands OF Lynchburg
and Buchanan provided for and PLACED on fair and
proper tnn,inG BY the charter the ght is secured
10 the James River and kannwha Company, upon certain
terms and conditions, uCUnstruc Railroad from Lynch
burg 10 Richmond And thus, the power OF any rival
to embarass the operation OF that company is taken away
Why take away these rights-unsettc these coInPo-
misses and hnvr our councils and the country ngan aga
ted by the conflict of rival claims ard sectional aouses:
regard good faith, ard respect for grants which ""
have already made, conspIre to urge the np"'cy ana
Injustice Of thus silently repeating charters which the
peope have shown disposition 10 abandon.
The Committee have also failed TO satisfy me OF the
proprety of commencing the Western portion oil ille
RaIlrrud before that which is 10 terminate on The
lanes River The first gnrd by the gentle
man from Augusta for this recommendation OF the Com
itUee is thai it is proper give /" the State OF Ten
ness-e guarantee of the settled purpose Of this
State 10 The work. as TO induce that State TO
cuuucuce the construction Of similar work 10 connect
with ours cannot see how my guarantee is given by
the course advocated By The Committee. cannot see
how this guarantee is held out By commencing on
the Tennessee Line, and completing the road to
Evansham more plainly or ctectualy thnn 1t would
he bv commencing ut James Rirer, and prosecuting
il wes,wardy. II is true, that if you complete the
work from Evanshnm 10 the Tennessee Line, the
State rs well as individuals, wond have strong,
perhaps an irresistible inducement, to supply the con
uectino link between that point and the great tho.
roupbare of the james river On the other hand 1t
the work is commenced the James ETer. and extend
ed TO Evansham. equally strong an indacemrnt Is
held out to proceed onward with IT, till it reaches The rich
commerce OF Tennessee and the South west Commence
n, which end you will the deep interest which The Stale
and its clizans will have in The prosecution OF The work.
nresens the best and surest guarantee that the work Will
not be Abandoned ill il stretches from the borders oil
Tennessee on the side, to the shores OF the James
river on the other But the gentleman tells us, That
great portion of the trade of ,he South western portion
of Eirqinia now has Wesle market, and that 1t The
Raroad no, CONNIE need he Western end this Trade
will be ruaccommodalpd, will have TO await the slow
progress Of The work, till completed Ut ever completely
from the James river to Tennessee. Admit this 10 be,
and still do not see The propfety Of the course re-
commended should have thought that il was the po
cy of this State give this trade us far os II could,
tendency in another direction. The current Is now SET
limo exactly in that direction, which is the most adverse
70 our best interests Instead Of inviting this current,
by new facilities, take course so as TO apar upon lis
bosom the wealth and of this portion OF vir
pinia to enrich sister State should have thought mat
. 6pe regard 10 our interests would haze dictated
nolcv Numerically opposite beg gentlemen, too to
remember that whilst there is portion Of South west.
rn y,pinia that trades to Tennessee there is larger,
,rcb LARGER portion thai trade LynchSHrg and Bu-