Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-10
.N.gR CK 10, 1858.
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.

-DcitCCTSN
1855 '"N ''''"'9' '''' '"'- 1850 y
Mr. SEeaR said, he rose to pudicnle the Report OF
the Committee of Roads and Internal Navigation, aud
lie did not to declare that he had never before
possessed the like anxiety to occupy hut aoor-no that
he felt himself competent to The grave trust he had un
dernken. lie avowed, while s aIncnted his utter ina
billy TO handle as It deserved to be- the great question
before The House Yet upon subject involving, as did
this, everlasting consequences this good old Cum
nnnweah, he could not, would not, be silent
MI 5 SAID, he occupied peculiar position He had
been warned OF it, and threatened with it. He knew,
too that he was regarded ny some enthusiast on
the subject of the Internal Improvement Of the State
Which he regretied-no that il subject about
which the patriot light dare BE- enhuslaslc-b because
t mig dsacL from The weight of the arguments he in
tended 70 address u the confederation of the Hnuse
WithSefpectto s position It WAS one al which he was
proud, and from which lie could be driven, until
his constituents drove him from seat on that por And
in regard 10 hiss enhIsasm he assured the House, II
no, the enthusiasm of ianacism passion. il was
the offspring Of calm reflection and mature deliberations
the result OF opinion long since formed, aud up 10 this
hour sincerely entertained that generous system OF
Internal Improvement and the glory and prosperity Of
Virginia. were tone, insPparabe, and indIvisble. IL
is, snd Mr.. s. The "only way given under Heaven
whereby this sinking Commonwealth can be saved 1t
is last aud only hnpe. 1t is the only remaining
mPans By hitch revive the donping energies Of
the Slae-stinua,e her prize-deve!npe her
SOURCES, and cnduct her 10 those bright and glorious
results, which, as Commonwealth, with her advantages,
she is Justly entitled tn sllain.
MIR. S. said he should make unpalAtab!e truths
Tie basis OF his reasoning lie should assert the prom
slinn only that the Stale advancing al tie
tate which proud and high minded Commonwealth
ought emalae but that she had been for years, and
still was, declining Was it necessary that lie should
prove This position? it a INT aucholy truth. which
home 10 The bosom Of every patriotic Prgnlan,
who had watched the destiny Of his native State. The
produce Of her land and labor surely not increasing
lie did not know that i, M, relrogruding Her 10
t,Ib ,,,.. iEc, horn
was desertng by thousands, her domain, and she
fast losing rank among her sisters. Though she
foremost IN this Cun!rdetacy Of States, when together
they their free and independent career,
she was the third if not the fourth New York had
oulslripped hrr-Pcnnsylvania had passed her-nnd
even Ohu, State comparatively Of yesterday-i"rty
years ago the wilderness abode ct the Wild beast and
the savaHe-had almost, prfhaps quite, orrrakcn her
Why said Mr. ) is this: Is 1t because our land is less
Gvoured of Heaven There is country on this Con-
tnent the other, blessed than onrs The God
of Nature has done for all ask s:c haec done
..nhiHg far ourselves A soil whose fertility assures The
richest rewards thu husandmans toll. is Mi
neral wealth we possess in endless abundance. In oil
the elements of national greatness and individual wealth
are unsurpassed. Yet our career is downward
Why be il repeated is this IL is mainly attributable
the Of system If Internal improvement There
may be other and subordinate causes, but their agency
is scarcely felt in comparison with this The industry oil
the State is no, crrisird-her vas: wealth mineral and
AGRICULTURAL is entirely lost by the absence Of that policy
which alone drvenpe it, and make IL the active ele
uItnt Of he. wealth and prosperity
Assuming then, the of decline Ia he in tie
Inan The Of liberal system III Internal Improve.
mcni. he should prucerd TO shew the obstacles which
had iuprpd its progress in Virginia. beimg necessary
10 know The disease, the remedy could be applied
The first is, said Mir s. fear Of our constituents lie did
wish to be misunderstood Tie went as lar tor The
Right uf instruction any reasonable man could 60
70 opinions of ,he people, fairly aud deliberately
.xprrssed-t their fishes well known and asceT
tanned lie would yield the utmost deference-hni
there was spurious public opinion, fabricated by
demagngues whch h. could never respect and which
he should always dare oppose. In this CASE, s.:G
Mr.. Segar do mistake, and widely mistake, onE
constituents. We suppose them TO profess opinions
they do not profesSlo entertain hostility to Tie In
ternnl Improvement nj the State which, III fact, they
do not entertain We mistake the d-magOgne slang "
those who would win the gnod graces OF The prop, at
the expense uf,he welfare Of The Commonwealth for
the real opinions Of The people, and with this mistaken
this fatal misrepresentation we not only appear before
our soverrrus but into this Hall and grdr.ly
lrgisu;e under its milgn influence. Nay, more Are
we not ourselv s. in some snr the authors Of this evil;
Do we not hunlour and cxce HE pre- udicrs Of the PEG
pie this subject: D1 WE moi by our example encnuf
age and confirm them in the habit of thinking wr"ng IN
relation 10 i: Sir said Mr. S. Whatever Of delui"n
there is in The public mind this subject is owing, in
great degree. ourselves. Yet the evil nay be readily
removed a Little Independence and fninrss on the
part of the representatives Of The people, viii inrnisb
The remedy. II gentlemen w take hall tn tr"'hie 10
undeceve the public mind, that is often taken |" deceive
there uc doubt Ul The result Inform Tue pen
ns snd MIR S upon this. The question Of their highest
concern-u,ce bcfor. them the irresistible Arguments
which can be sdLuced in favor of the policy Of Inter
nal Improvement hrw them that it is their interest.
and their greatest ntercs-ai, wiihouti, Virginia can
never "be herself ugnin'-lat decline and degeneracy
be her doon and poverty the fixed destiny Of her
citizens Do this, said ar and ere long t-re VIII '+
unbroken reclamation through the Slate, III aTo 0!
this pulley OF Internal Improvement
Mr. then addressed un appeal to the members
rh co,,I Assemble rv f., hi. Eastern col
",nnes r. cnn,s nrw,rI T., the rescue of the Common
"sl,b He coninreJ them t., lake the responsibility b.
voting in favor Of the scheme recommended by The Coz"
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Throw vnntsrlvcs said Mr 5 upou The