Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-29

folk amounted in all, 10 thirty mine Thousand sou' M
1885, oo gears before Feao York commenced ner
IS Ln,onsn,s the ynlue of her real estate exceeded
that Of Virginia one hundred and three millions seven
hundred thousand dollars and at the same time the reai
estate of Pennsylvania exceeded the value Oh Tue ie
estate Of Virginia hundred and elghty one hon,
Five vears prior 10 that time, 10 w in lelU, Inc
of New York were seventeen millions, the Exports VI
Pennsylvania nearly eleven millions, and Inc e3Po!'
of Virginia not quite FIVE millions Inc faPu NJ
crease Of population, OF trade and OF wealth III Wv
York and Pcnnsly vana, is not attributable 10 t"'n
systems Of improvement Those States were n ,nar
jshine and prosperous Commonweahs before tney
began their public works. And after they had com.
meuced them, the action Of the Federal Government "
regard 10 The Tariff such, to cherish the ehe,
Prise and stimulate The industry Of those Stnles While
The industry Of Virginia depressed and her resnus'
CTS impaired by the same policy AS far back as 1884,
there were thirty five thousand persons employed IN ma
nufacturcs in the Northern district of New York alone,
and in 1880 Pennsylvania was more extensively enSas
ed in manufacturing pursuits than any other oate IN
the Union. That New York and Pcnnsy vania both OF
which have been the pents of the b1unlles indirect
y conferred upon their industry by the protective poll
cy should have improved more rapidly than Virginia IS
mol surprising; and when gentlemen are explaining up
on the increased and increasing prosperity oil those Staes
it would be well 10 mber that other auxiliary causes
besides internal improvements have contributed 10 tha
result
MIR. Speakcr-Durng the progress Of this debate, we
have been told by The friends Of Internal improvements
that Virginia is decning yes, Sir, rapidly decilning-
Gentlemen have spoken in such doorous and palmetto
strains upon this subject, that they seem to think mat
Virginia like the mother of the Grocci has no other
Jewels Of which she is proud, excerpt her sons If The
condition Of Virginia depoable as il has been re-
presented, should not the fact admons us OF The pro.
pety Of acting with great caution and dellbefaon upon
The subject Of Internal Improvement? Instead Of fol-
lowing the examples of New York and PennsJ lTanin
is il not ur bounden duty to adopt course OF policy
upon This subject, which shall appear best adapted 10 the
particular sualion and the comparatively limited re.
L. thf,y hnp
advanced with less speed than OF her sister States
it is because of her ardness The subject OF In.
terna improvements Sir variety OF CAUSES have con-
spred impede the onward career of this State lie
of tho Federal Government in adopting the po-
hey Of encouraging Domestic Manufactures by high
Tariffs, and the Inducements to emigration which
that Government offered by the very low prices at
which the public lands have been selling for many years,
have tended to diminish our wealth aud population
In addition to these causes, the great returns yield.
ed by the cultivation of Cotton in the Southern
States, and The fact, that in udlcous system OF
Agriculture here, had impoverished much Of the best
land in tho Commonwealth, circumstances which
have induced many Of Industrious and cn'erprstng
cilzens leave the land Of their fathers And SD long
Federal Government the great andolder OF this
Union will sell good in soils dollar and quar-.
ter per acre-so long the cultivation OF cotton will
yield such profits has done for several years past
long The cotton planters will give e1oroitant prices
for slaves, the emigration from Virginia will CONT
nue. in despite of your Internal improvements Your
this current Of emigration, but they cannot and will not
entirely arrest il
Sir some of those who have preceded me in this dis.
CUSTOM have denounced the past policy Of Virginia con-
corning Internal improvements and characterized IL as
contracted and Liberal" The charge is uutoundcd
and unjust Virginia has mol expended much rs New
York and ennsylvania, and hence some may Imagine
that her conduct has baen very "contracted' But il
the means and resources Of the State considered
maintain that far from having pursued ''ilberal
course, Virginia has eyinccd much liberaly. Her ge-
nerusy and beraty in the cause of Internal Improve.
ment have not vel compelled her 10 take The nsulYent
oath, and hope she will never be reduced 10 that ne.
cessly. hope too, Sir that the Pronunciation of her
sons will not induce her TO go further upon this
great subject of Internal improvement than will accord
with her OF justice-her regard tor economy and
modcralion-her aversion 10 excessive taIaon and her
enniIy to great public debt.
Sir limitations have been thrown out during this de.
bate that the opponents of this scheme Of improvement
much disposed 10 consult economy, and that viz
Tue has been deded and ridcued by the advocates OF
this Report though it were all anediuvlan and un-
fashionable virtue, totally unworthy of notice in this
age OF civilization and refinement For one, | have
been brought up 10 believe that economy was the hand
maid OF individual Independence and the support OF in.
dvidual intrgrty-iha 1t was virtue becoming free.
men, and intimately associated with the purity and sta.
bly of Republican institutions. These opinions are
becoming somewhat questionable and unpopular,
grant, bnt nevertheless think them founded in truth
and sustained by reusun The economy 10 which al.
Jude, is that medium which is equally removed ir.
anu Sunny i.anu, aud extravaganza
aud profigacy on The other-iai economy which the
great franklin advised for private le and that economy
which the illustrious Jefferson nded worthy
of the practical observance Of all who, enjoying the pub
lie confidence. selected 10 administer the affairs Of
Government Such economy this will, trust, con.
tinue receive the appreciation and the support Of The
General Assembly and the people of this Common.
wealth. Notwithstanding it may be condemned, ridculed
and sneered at by some gentlemen on this floor.
In conclusion, MIR. Speaker, hope The motion for the
indefinite posponemcnl Of the Report will prevail, and
that instead OF adopting what has been denominaed
a generous and liberal system Of Internal Improve.
menl that shall for the present session, at least CON-
ten! ourselves with doing justice 10 the public creditors
by making provision Tor the payment Of the interest
the debt already incurred account Of Internal Improve
Let DO lhs Sir, and then revise, correct and
reform Banking syscm-Provide for the expulsion
Of the shnplasers and the resumption OF specie pay
ments and if by our legislation, cannot mid in
ing the public confidence let not excite alarm and ap
prchensi"n by the adoption OF a scheme at war,
humbly believe, with the sentiments and wishes of
constituents.
REMARKS OF MR.. FITZGERALD, OF No1ronAr.
Mr. FITZGERALD said, that he had not desired To offer
any remarks upon the subject before the House. II
had been fully and ably discussed But he
strained by of Duty to state very briefly the
that would govern him in the vote he was about
10 give. The earnestness and zeal, the ability and elo
quence, with which the Report of the Committee had
been sustained while they had increased The embarrnss
mpnt and the reluctance which had been felt 10 tres
pass upon The time and attention Of the House. had
served also 10 strengthen his convictions Of duty.
In whatever aspect il is vie wed, said Mr. F. The sub.
jet before Of the highest Importance important
ST. not merely 10 the sections Of the Stale which
Immediately interested in the Improvements recommend.
ed but Taught with consequences Of the deepest in
terest to every portion Of the Commonwealth. What
is the proposition before u.s. What is the system
of Improvement that has been recommended for our
adoption 1t is proposition 10 revoIuonze what has
heretofore been regarded The settled policy of The
State; it is system, which, if adopted, will effect an
important innovation, and almost entire change in
the principles upon which, works Of Internal Improve.
shall hereafter be constructed. The specific works
that here recommended but the entering wedge
to prepare The way for others in the language Of the
Committee, they merely the man stems upon which
lateral and auxiliary improvements are TO be engraftcd