Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-04-05


borrowed upon anticipated profits if he has not borrow
ed money to invest in tobacco upon the principle OF re-
turning the principal and making profit And whnt -
This but the very food and lie of commerce. and shal
the benefits of credit be extended alone TO the wants OIL
commerce, and nothing done for agriculture! sucn
policy is suicidal, for the existence of the former WIN
US, at least, is dependent upon the latter. lh'tt 10
however, more homey view OF This mailer, "h,en
think will Illustrate The position suppose one VI ou
farmers has large and fae tact OF 'and whscn u'
productive from being too wet and marshy; ne 'iS .'"'
the money hGad 10 expeRd in di'chng ana o,a"'nG
linus, he then let lie idle when he knows 1t VIII
produce fourold if properly improved? Does not Inc
experience Of every prompt him to borrow the
money 10 be SO expended TO be repaid by the Increased
productions Of the land! So il is with those cases
where the soil is Of that character, thn we are Jush
ed in extending considerable upon it III The 2ur'
chase of clover seed plaster &c giving it TINS an III
creased value far beyond The interest Of the sum DOT
rowed
advanced an argument which think is no less entitled
TO weigh, from its novelty; hut il is somewhat remaika
bic that in all The violent opposition which this SUBJECT
has heretofore encountered IN our legislation, IL mas
never before been presented II iG that The State has
no rirht 10 raise for such purpose authority
to make such expenditure Of nnacy from contributions
by the people Yes Sir, that The State cannot e1'
pend money for the general psa,e, comfort, protection,
and defence Of the peop'e-hat she has no right TO
adopt system CT taxaon, which may be So expended
as finally relieve them of all tu1aton-ihat she has
nought to tax the people dollar TO construct "rS
which shall pay them them one hundred in tOHs-or to
c3kfYuct work which by taxing the transportation O'
broduce and travel of the other States and the world
shall relieve them OF any burden whatever in word,
tina, we have right TO ask contribution from them
for the construction Of work which, by the easy ana
rapid transportation of will make sure The public
defence; work, which would make the State one great
fortress armed al all points, and nP!cgnabe against all
attacks.
But he says that when the State is contractor, she
is too prodgai and wasleuI of the public money; and
llv 10
do know that is but If true, 1t only proves
msappicaion aud abuse Of their trusts by those nav
ing authority and intrinsic fault in the principle
lie says, still farther, that il generates feeling OF de.
pendence the part of the people, towards the Gov
eminent, that it them 10 ook 10 the Government
the fountain Of all honor and emoiument-the dspen
OF gifts argesses and Contracts-Upon THIS, JOIN
hands with my friend ANY scheme, Sir, by which the
people of this Commonwealth shall be induced to with
draw their eyes from that Ohcr G0rernment, which has
hitherto swallowed every interest and every feeling,
shall meet my hearty appreciation and support. II
tbs scheme added the declaration from other quarters
"that the Cover must lake care OF itss aud the
people Of themselves, increase the favor and re-
gard of our citizens for their State institutions, Shall
rsjpce in the result. If the State makes prodgal con
tracts, however, who gets the benefit of them: Ger
ainly her citizens But, is said Virginia is too
poor for such undertaking. And, YET we have no
scheme given us, BY which she is 10 be made richer
Suppose Alexander Sekrk, the lonely Island "t Juan
Fernandez had preserved, in his misfortune, mighty
chest Of gold; he would have been poor, nOtw hsand
iugdesilule of all the comforts, and even necessarirs
of life he would have fingered in poverty wtetchch
and want Likewise. is that State cqaay poor and
destitute, which keeps locked up III The iron ches; oi her
mountains the great elements Of The IRON the
salt The plaster. the bad and silver and gold that abound
in them SIIa We hcsy ihe,m hs7c is tie question; Sha!
lrample under cur feet the rich treasures which
bounliiu Providence has scattered for US, in the 'van
pursuit of fugitive false good, which nllures TO other
counties? | have followed Mr. Speaker. that lgnis
fauns which has @nlced away 8" much OF oil that was
dear 10 have seen that iuxuriant country. where
have been almost made TO believe that gold and silver
grew upon the cotton Stalks. have surveyed il with |
my own eyes and have returned disappointed and
mortified To my beloved and veneraied mother; ,
and hesitate say, that that mother contains Hoic
within her bosom intrinsic wealth than even those
fertile lands OF the South more Of a.! that SHOULD salts
fy and make Glad the heart Of man Permit me to say
Sir, that 1t is not the most fertile country tina, contains
the greatest OF human improvement and happI-
ness Look Egypt the birth place aud cradle Of Sci
ence, eening with all the richest productions of luxu
rant soiand yet. Egypt is land Of darkness, degra
dation and servude; while England, who began her ,
among nations centuries aud centuries afterwards
with soil comparatively barren and naked has advan
cpd 10 the highest glory md renown Bentia, with
soil less fertile than Attica, proverhal for its
stupidity whilst the latter noted Tor lis briIiancy
spirit and Intelligence.
South America, too, throws up in lavish profusion
every production Of fertile soil and is unsurpassed II /
unsqnad in capacity for The greatest staples OF the
world; and ys!, Sir, when can SHE ever compare III all
that eleva,cs and distinguishes c"untry-with the |
rough and bleak hills Of Scotland? 10 elevate and ex
alt the character Of nation other elements must enter
into its composition, Than those which serve only to sn
tsy the sensual appetite OF man-those elements winch
90 TO devrope the intellectual and social qualities Of our
nature We do require that fertility which generates
idenesS luxury degeneracy depravity and namy; bu,
that peculiar order and arrangement OF Nature, which
best promotes and mos, encourages the ull eSefon OF
faculties which brings into play all The high and
noble qualities of the souour social moral aud intel
lectua feelings. These the mighty inducements
which call and urge TO action upon tins subject; and
not those considerations which regard 1t only IN the
liah. Of dollars and cents But, say gentlemen, 1--WE
nave gone far en"ugh-ihere is need of this thing
we must rot improve. Have we indeed gone tar
enough? Have We, then. reached the utimat"m OF I'M
prorement, Is it for THIS, you have moes,ed tie stately
savage and robbed him of bis country: Is for iS you
swept from of the cal tn that mighty king and peo'
pie who proudly stood upon these hills Cast back
your eyes only $50 yeors-"nd perhaps upon this same
hill and the very spot which now supports tins CAPT.
toll The uube Pow erected his throne and gathered
around him his warrors-lhe sun broke brightly above
them and tie wild music Of the rushing waters that
unbled beneath their feet fell tremendously upon their
That still throws ills broad light and
that music from the roaring water still rises over
their hills but where that throne and king and PEG
pie. Echo answers, 'where.' IND have then
terminated that people and Frustrated their mighty for
esis aud destroyed the mild beauties and subnily of
Nature only 10 make bare and dssOtde the bosom of
mother earth? Call you hat improvements and tell us
'we 90 tariher'e Yes Sir, gentlemen would
have us betVe lhat 'nTGrfmRt goes no 1dfilPr tnan
The prOstratOn IF toreStS and the exhaustion If lis SOIL
whose contamination is nothing but waste and desola
tion and practical system Of e7agrao So il has BEEN
and so it viii continue be Ii is this system which
has carried away your citizens, your enterprise and
weal-it is this which has thrown Virginia in the
of that glorious siserhocd whom she once led-this
which has curbed her high career and covered her
children with modification and despair.
Mr.. Speaker, will not speak of her deterioration-
mine shall not be the sacrilegious hand that would tear
from her glorious brow, leaf Of the green lau
rel it-mne shall not he the tongue sing
aught than ruans her praise-l would not stand in
tins CAPITOL where the genius and eloquence, the patriot
ism and wisdom Of her have raised the ofies and
richest monument to her memory TO muurn her depart
ed glory. No, Sit would have her to be that pure