Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-22

paratively poor because her soil ana sons a.e
from public economy, but owing to lhe want o. w.,
Industry and their extravaganza in private n'I, uu
Pennsylvania State example of making vast lhein s
Innroyements BY resort to enormous public loans, WIN
ont The where wilha as Pennsylvania has, 10 'eoeen
them without grinding her people 10 Inc ous'' W ..e
helplessness in this crisis of unparalleled emoellnss
ment when one deep plunge n0 instead oil rb bn NIX
slave. Neither New York or Pennsy lvania would no"
embark in such scheme as this. II ,oe do, our exam
ple for folly and wild extravaganza will STAND aiohe Ia
history am shocked at the idea. -.
Mr. Speaker, feel that have exhausted myself: anu
no doubt have great extent the patience OF me
House, and will only say in conclusion, WIN yie.a
10 none in devotion TO the public veal. Upon Inc lns'
principles which have stated, am as friendly 10 '0e'
ra system Of public improvements at the proper t,e,
ns any member on this floor; and am Us proua, as
any son. of my Virginia nativity. unite IN all the
euioeiuns which have bsen passed upon her. The lame
of her heroes and statesmen is dear to me as any ohe
son For prowcss in the field and exalted virtue ana
wisdom in the cabinet her have indeed STOOD pre-
eminent, and borne away the palm. And although.
agree she has fallen behind in the great career Ct
wealth. think have shown not to the extent lnsst'
ed, nor from the causes altogether, which we nave
heard assigned. There is one, indeed, which love
to tell, and which should not like to have thrown up
by way of reproach. That cause is, that Virginia s
SONS have practised greater private oeraity anu
far generous hospitality and seltIndulgence, IN
the enjoy ment of their own and unifurm public econo.
nv as statesmen. Yes, they have always lived too free
and fast, like old Virgnans; not like PennsyVanans'
Workers or Yankees-ths has been their COURSE
Yet who Of US would like the Pctute and IN
vert The character of rigid public economy and gener'
Gus private beray, which has been our plIde and our
boast agree however, that this may have been carried
too far Born Sir, myself in that rich and beautiful
Valley, which happily described IN that eloquent
lecture 10 which listened in this Hall lew days since,
where the hand of bountfu Nature has done so much,
that the libernrilty of the COMMITTEE has seen no room
for improvement, in This great State system, It was
no, until the session Of the Convention, in le2S-9,
that had seen any portion of Eastern Virginia. !
then travelled this city horseback and receiVed
impressions never shall forget. AS | gazed, Sir,
your worn out lands, your deserted fields, given
up 10 waste and over which it required little supers
lion fancynne could hear the wall and drgc Of DESC
laton in her native solitude saw what your wretched
policy not legislative but your miserable course OF Gull
iure had done. You raised tobacco and corn Sir, un
til ceased grow because of the utter exhaustion OF
the SOIL from which your practice TO take all ano
return nothing-and your free, your generous mode OF
living TO waste and enjoy all you made But am told,
and believe from what see, that you have since In.
proved and retaining your Impoverished soil,
and that nothing but better times, and seasons and per-
severance wanting 10 restore them IoiertllIty
This system of State improvement wish 10 see speed
and progress until you finally relnslae the ground work
of all your prosperity But know it has been with you,
as it has been with US of the Valley the two or three
past seasons You have done your duty but you have
abored much in vain and hence you have been, and
are the less able 10 push this most necessary improve
ment and consequently less uble 10 embark in this
great scheme this trne and TO bear taxation And
this is our situation. We want time TO get out OF debt
10 and recupeate our resources ano our spi'
rts and surely this is reasonabe-and do hope, that
this Report which is unequal in its bounes, and violates
The long settled principles of Virginia policy and will
entail immense and unequal burdens in comforting par.
tia avors, will be postponed indefinitely. shall GER
tanly vote for the motion