Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-03-01
MIR. Stuart's Speech.
SUBSTANCE OF THE REMARKS
OF MIR. STUART AUGUSTA

u Ia
OF MR.. STUART OF AUGUSTA.
On the motion Of Mr.. Segar of SOUTHAMPTON. |
10 postpone indefinitely the considerations
OF the report Of the Committee of Roads
and Internal Navigation, recommending |
general system OF lnprovement-deliver
ed IN the House OF Delegates on Tuesday
the Slh day Of February, 1888.
MIR. STUART said, that although be WAS
taken somewhat by surprise, by the motion
oil the gentleman from Northamp,on We,
believing as he did, that the subject Of Inter
nal Improvement was Intimately. nav ,nse.
parably connected with the best in,eres,s of
The State, be could not reconcile il with his
sense oi duty, TO give merely silent vote in
opposition to the molten. He believed tina,
upon The adoption of some such scheme of
improvement, as that recommended by the
report OF tho Committee, much of the future
wealth and prosperity of Virginia material
~ depended. That report, said MIR. S.
presents distinctly, for the decision of the
Legislature, the question whether the Ceun-
CHS OF the State, ON this subject, are to be
controlled by the same narrow, contracted
anu iiioeral Che had almost SAID suicidaD pos
NIy, "hich mas therefore, governed them, or
whether II 10 TO give place To a Inore enlarg
{" ana s'a'esmanIike policy, which shall
cherish generous system OF Internal Inn
provements, stimulate the enlerprize and in
dustry of all classes of the citizens of Yirpi.
ma, and develops her almost boundless re-
sources
Mr.. STUART said that the subject was
so expanded in its nature, that he should NOT
attempt to so into a full discussion of il. He
kne" that II he cid so, he would be compeI-
lea 10 impose more severe tax on the time
anu patience OF the House, than he felt war
ranled IN doing. lie should, therefore, con-
tent himself with the examination of one or
TWO branches OF the subject, leaving the 9TH
ers 10 gentlemen nho would succeed him in
the debate, and who were, in every point of
view, more able and better prepared than
himself, TO do justice 10 their merits. His
object would be rather 10 throw omen the
whole field OF discussion, than to occupy all
The strong positions which 1, presented. And
IN what he had 10 say, he would aim a, M
ambitious display of learning or sloquence
but would content himself ilh a plain. prac.
tIcal, and he trusted, common sense view ol
the subject
He would confine his remarks very much
TO two points. In the first place, no would
endeavour TO give full explanation of the
report OF the Committee, accompany ing il
with an exposition OF the reasons which in
nuehceu them, not only III the selection of
the works TO he constructed, but also in re-
ia'ion 10 The principles on which they we're
proposed TO be taken
In The next place, he would endeavour TO
demonstrate, from official data and from con /.
lec,urai estimates which were scarcely less
70 De relied upon, The ability of the State, in
financial point clview, to complete the sys
Imnrnvpnnapt l.
Committee, without imposing any additional
burthens upon the people. His attention had
oeen directed particularly 10 the latter branch
OF the subject, at the request of many mem,
Dsrs OF the COMMITTEES; and he hoped to DO
aole 10 place II before :he House in point
OF view which would be satisfactory TO eyery
member OF the General Assembly.
WIN these preliminary remarks, MIR. S.
SAID he would proceed with his examination
oithe report of the Committee, and spoke as
follows:
The first great work, sir, which is recom>
mended by the Committee, is the construc
ton of Rail Road, commencing at some
point on the Tennessee Line, and extendinp
eastwardly TO Eyansham, in The county al
"yihe,& thence by two divergent branch
es, one reaching 10 the James River al the
most eligible point, and the other striking
The Roanoke at DsnyiIle
Ot The importance OF these works il is
scarcely necessary for me TO say word
Their advantages are so obvious, and | NIGH,
add, so incaiculable, that whilst on the one
hand they challenge The assent of every re.
hectIng mind, the Imagination OF man can
scarcely conceive their extent or value. The
improvements recommended, will penetrate
through The choicest portions of the Common
wealth, Astounding IN all the elements Of na>
Hohal wealth---eontaning inexhausiible
quantities OF gypsum, lime, iron, salt. lead
Goa. ana timoer-possessed OF water pow or
Suincieht 'of every manufacturing purpose
adapted to Tho production OF every necessary
Of life-and consequently capable of sustain.
lag dense population. The DEVELOPMENT
OF these resources, anG the addition which
they would bring to the wealth and cons
merce OF the State, would alone be sufficient
TO Justify wise aud paiernsl Government in
undertaking this grand enterprise. But.
great as these objects are, they sink into
comparative insignificance, when viewed in
connexion with The immense accessious of
foreign commerce and travel which must he
brought into Virginia from tennessee, Ala,
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana and otherStates.
by means OF The South Western Rail Roads
All The Southern States seem 10 be alive 20
the necessity Of some grand line of commu
nicatIon, by a continuous rail way from n
Orleans 90 the Atlantic cities. Already has
a company been incorporated by the Legis.
latures OF Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama.
and tennessee, for The construction of the ~
Orleans and Nashville rail read-tbe whole
route has been surveyed AID found To bs
PraclIca0ie-a considerable part has been
ioca'ed, and nifty miles at the southern ex |
treinIly has been actually cnnsf.mrtnL