Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-01
NsgRCH q, 1888.

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sands that comPose the Common weaIih-ths idea
bned with the knowledge that The State will have what
II wants. induces men whose property services il
CURES to place upon them far higher price Than they
would havelhe lace TO demand for them from private
individual. The appeals which ure successfully urged
10 the consclences and feelings of men when dealing
win each other unheard unattended to, in their
transactions with The State. The Stale has wife or
children al home, by reference 10 whose wants suf.
iefngs, The heart of lis contractor may he sofened
oo"n so as 10 induce him abae little OF UPRIGHT
eous oenano or 10 ofrgo one ot title Of hard bar
gam An individual from these reasons, when de1ng
win lie Slate gets MY he can, and keeps all he gets
Lea man by means remarkable for his ayarce or "a.
Pacty, become the creditor of the State or make with
It what be considers an advantageous contract aaI he
Immediately becomes, lar The occasion concern.
ed, perfect jew; Shy"ck, ready demand the last
dollar in the 5nnd; Sir To take The pound Of
flesh, the cIcIslan of which, according his no.
lions, give he body polite pain How is it on The
other hand "a "a ,.s Stale b. Comes he creditor gets
the better Of hard hargain the ruin heavy lss of
private individual: Why Sir the syrlpa,hes Of oar
nature III once all alive To- The distressed condition
OF Unr irnw ci!!zrp. petition is presented 10
this honorable body, representing how powerful and rich
the State ishow Trlu. and humble the petitioner We
told, that the nature and character Of the contract
somehow other misunderstood We told, that
it does not become great Stat" 10 distress of lis
worth ST ciiizsns for few paltry hundreds aud if all
this will not do, then the 'c"rs d. reserve the st APP
peal ola lively wife and Mae hrp r3 children is brought
given Mp, the bargain is r.lrasrd su:h isae given
that distress Inconvenience is ir+ by him who has
to pay or iufl IT, | appeal to gentlemen to kno;y if
such their experiences. with regard contacts be.
tween The Stale and individuals II lhe stat. makes
bad bargain il always has Ia stand To- tit il makes
good one, often has nrego portion o l's profits
Thus situated the State bad hand 20 make contract.
IL may rarely gnin ii Certainly MIST often Inse. But
this is not all In dshGrsng lis monies 10 discharge It's
contracts, greater freedom and latitude is for The
above mentioned generally ndnl9cd IN by sngenS.
Few economical aud careful in the expenditure Of
public IuDds lhe7 in the expenditure OF those be-
longing themselves TO pvite individuals. In every
aspect therefore, in which this b!anc of the subject
be presented, constrained 10 believe that the plan
of carrying works OF Internal Improvement by The
Slate, so far from being more economical than the sys.
tenn of pint stock comPnnes 10 The most expensive that
could br devised.
IL is Sir think, as Easy TO show that the State is
more subject fraud and mprsliun under The general
system advocated by the committee Than IT is under the
system now in practice Under the first mentioned sys
tenn hrre is much danger that the Stale will often be
induced 10 und rake works which will be n little no
benefit to any scllon OF the Stale except that in which
the money necessary fur their construction Is to be
pended II it ~ true, a, Gentlemen have attempted to
show that the pulley pursued gives rise 10 log
rolling species Of legislation, what guarantee do they
give US that their sch"me will not bring about the
same results: What rs there III the nature OF The
system recommended ny tirin, on which We can
build the assurance, that Tins evil Will be lessen
ed: Are there many tn induce the belief,
that instead of An;nrshng, il will increase this ev-
Sir think l!rre is every reason TO believe that the
Stale system will prove practice, "slen and lls
diuus that To which those ephets have teen applied;
that il will be as often nay uilenrr detected in stealing
upon The Treasury: I" rob it ct is wealth How, Sir,
let me ask you. are joint stock companies generally
formed md he subscriptions behalf OF the State TO
them procured: Generally. the act of Incorporation is
founded petition Ut the people setting forth The
of the york hry wish IL construct The character
Of the country through which IS TO pass, ITS wants ts
lIp.,n mi nj Its
ueru survey probably directed of the plated
route of The Supposed w"rka act Of incorporation Is
granted The benefits oi he scheme are canvaSsed before
the public. and individuals stbstrI1e Il" not Tor lis stock
n, Interest; saA dictate When certain portion OF The
stock s sbscrb-d and secured hy nrsduuls thrr. and
no, I'LL hr the Stale called upon 10 subscribe It's
quota: How is such system 'srnt or insdlous' =
Whit stronger guards are proTdet BY the system re-
commended ~ the comit,p Ia bar an improper access
TO the public Treasury WIN m"m"rs feel less disposed
10 embark the State IN Improbable enterprise by
which !hr State alone IS TO suffer, than 10 commit the
State 10 scheme which cann0t succeed unless 1t Is tor
wurtrd in part By The capital OF their OWE constituents
is true that when GIrheTS portion OF The pub.
lie funds about To- be applied 10 any work. desire 10
promote far possible The interests OF the particular
section of country which they represent, often Leads
them into the recommendation 0l local WORKS, whose
merits cannot stand The test of close examination,
strict scrpt,ov Would this stiil be the under
the operation nf Inc system $" strangely recommended
bv The cnsamii;-p: Aud il Il Is manifest hat the
10 SiatP.
snuandersG is greatly Increased un"'r lie "prra"n OF
,s s, s,cu,- For If the STATE cerrved ny improper
REPRESENTATIONS under The operation "t one system, IS
lust rs ,rbi, be GrcrIred ahdsr the operation OF
In, other In the caSe IL pledges ltSeii 10 iht pro-
srcunn of srrre "n:y upon condition 'hht I"dIVI'
du lis wii subscribe purtIon o the means necessary TO
carry il ont; nr in fact as s generally The case, sub
scrbes ,wu or three ithS OF The money required tor the
work after individuals nave paid The balance In Inc
Other case il ia committed to The expenditure n all the
fnrds necessary To The accomplishment ut the enter
prise In the case If the enterprise does not OIL
Ter ,pll.urountrd hopes that IL Will prove ProiIahe
;nr.s,neu, individuals. gemsray, will not subscribe
The State ltercluIe, not called upon I" SUBSCRIBE and
nj corrse can Jose nothing II individuals deceive
themselves and The Siae, by applying Their capital TO
an uuprnftahle work, the Stale l"Srs only portion OF
IN, amour, thus unwsey expended in the otter case
the Slate has snc u testing the sense OF capt.
,,I,ssnnd If the scheme proves Improbable one,
has m sustain the whole usa In Tie latter case IL e'
barks in a speculation founded on The recommendations
and estimates OF the people and their representatives;
in the former those recommendations ana esuales are
hacked BY pledge of the people $ fortunes
In rs many then as the Stale, under the opera
lion of the lo nj stock SYSTEM now makes an unProha'
HE investment of three hths OF he capital stock,
!, inst as many will the State, under The system
rrco INC nded by the committee, s;stan loss on lie
,bo,s ceoi,al stuck think, then have succeeded IN
showi ~ that if The plan Of carrying on Internal I'M
movements By jont stock companies IN winch Inc Slae
has an interest be justly charged WIN bringing aoou'
improner Iegisla,ou Committing the State to the prose
cuon of useless or Improbable %orks the system ndYo
Gated by the committee is skill more obnoxious 10 'he
that if false step is nade, It's consequences
under the aforementioned system in pecun'ary Vew
are much more disastrous 10 The Stale
hs,;svc Ioo. Sir, rha, works will generally be better
CONSTRUCTED by companies, than by the State lnd'v
duas who hay stake in what they are do!ng-"nose
fortunes in some depend on lis aitui e1ecu.
ton will be Tighn 10 see that IL IS wen o'h. "s
,Lo ,,.,,s IF The State Tho have snch sthke-who
nre simulated by no such interest will generally be
on,, with such discharge of their ksome duties, as
Shall escape censnre. Again Sir: IT, as recommended
by the committee, we ae to onae, s.S, al o, "e
INNS, imaortant improvements, on Stale account
ms shall have funsss change ii made in the laws
roveruins that department OF the State to which is com
srd The supsrintendance of the public works) board