Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-04-05
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
sPEECH OF MR.. TUNSTALL,

VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
SPEECH OF MR. TUNsTALL,
On Mr. segars motion 10 postpone ind:fHieSy TIE eo"s'
deration Of the report of the Committee on Roads ana
Internal Navigation = Concluded
Sir it is fact remarkable in ths history of the world
furnishing the nobest md poudes irinmphs OF The ct
feet Of wise udcious and enlarged views OF legislation
upon the wealth and prosperity Of the community, that
is exhibited in the annals Of any age country And
what other is such result attributable, but 10
her Internal improvement: What great element o:
wealth and power has she derived from Nature that we
have likewise inheritedo What is there which ena
bles her 10 manufacture her So 900 worth OF cotton
her and half millions Of wool and her four anc
half millions of iron, that have not: is hers more
favored region, Is her climate better adapted to The
growth Of cotton of WOOL do her manufactures fur
nsh iron, On the contrary she cannot compare With
US point of the pO,oer of production Of any OF es" ar
oes; and yet the $50 Jaes Of cotton passes from the
South by yyur door throw into her active hands
the rich bnunes that attend it, and returns upon you for
consumption hurthened with the increased cost II: "na
nufactuc; and all the expense Of outward and n"arc
transportation. And why is it, let ASK that we have
suffered this thing to be so: why, with ill The great
elements of agriculture and manufactures have we per
mted others 10 do that which should have done for
ourselves Nay, that should have paid and Tbs, We
continue pay others to do that which properly and ma
turay should have brea pret TO usBut look lii!'c
farther into this scheme Of sysiemazed violence 10 our
nature, our duty and our interest:
States. Domestic Produce. Imports
New York ~ 10000 s. 2WWO
Pennsylvania 246G00 l23O0OGO
Virpinia d 054 OG0 o5l ,G0D!!
South Carolina ll2090O0 1.l30,0a0!"
Exhibiting, Sir, the remarkable spectacle, that willis
New York imports 66 00U0n0 thar she PRODUCES
ond Pennsylvania imports g. 900 600 than she pro
duces Virginia Imports 500 000 less than she produces
and S Carolina 10 900 900 less How do gentlemen &C
coun, for this: Why is it, that imports are only
l 18Th of our produce while hers fOuifod her pro.
duce. Why is it, tina, her productions only 2o
compared with ours, while her mpoaiions are lGO TO j.
beg of them tell what becomes Of the e1ccsS Of eur
produce imports, and by what system 1t rs, tba'
New York exceeds her proiacs with her imports Ali
these important facts, and well deserve the conslde
ration of this House and the country. Again. Of the 10
States lying North of and including Delaware the
amount OF their domestic produce is 81 GOO GU0 end o!
their imports 2 GOO 00 while IF the 10 States South
of that, including Ohio, thei. domestic produce Is
6800G,000 and their imports, &c 030- Shelving, thai
while the Southern States produce 81 ,OOOO00 more
than the Northern States they import 90 900 600 less
that the South imports as 000.000 less than she pro
duces, and the North 81, 0DO more; making
difference in the ratio OF importation in theft favor.
Of 1873 10 =! Can We see such state Of things, and
any longer wonder at that picture Of poverty and desc
a,ion which present? Can see nothing IN al
this to explain The caue Of the emigration oil our pee
Pile? Can there be proof of the state OF Vassal
age in which we lve-of our entire dependence upon
other peope' In twenty years, the Federal Government
has raised four hundred millions Of revenues one nun
dred and ten millions have gone TO pay the public denl
two hundred and ten have been expended in the North
and eighty in the South These facts, taken IN connec
ton, are AS astounding as they are humIating Us
discreji,able TO pride, and unworthy our cha
ractct they have been disastrous ia their effects -
Where, Sir, has the revenue been received which
has been paid upon these millions and millions OF
importalons, bought with the tobacco and COTTON
and sugar, and grain Of the South: Paid in Northern
cities and at Northern ports; gone TO swell hat great re
servor Of capital which has been accumulang from Tue
foundation of the Government to this time from OH
This is the great secret Of that sngar spec
tarIa h,Nh do tn ytpu nnoP
country, with wealthy and prosperous peopestudded
with cities and valleys and chequered with Railroads
and CaRais-and the other, Daugh but waste and de
soatonThis is the foundation stone on which has been
erected that mighty lever which has reversed the order
of Nature, and elevated the North to prosperity anc
power, by depressing and exhausting ihe weat,n anc
strength Of the South And so potent IS Toe
which she welds u.s. that It has ceased 10 o.
q physicul bat has become mental dependence; ou'
gentlemen cannot buy bandanna nor our ladies' bon
net band that does not come from New York we ho7'
became Sir "tnere he Of wood and drawers OF wa
ter" And wherefore this humiliation and servitude
Has God given means by which to relieve our
selves and again in our true character and strength
- We have been untrue to ourseiVes-we nave "hu
ried the talent which given us-we have spuned
and discarded the high behess of natureb u! ii moi
too late to turn from the Of way it is not TO"
late give life and energy and strength TO the people
to relieve them from the payment OF tribute and tax
and build up with the profits which ihey now throw
upon the rolling tide of Northern weallh-a monument,
10 their own substantial glory and happiness Let us
bring all the resources of State to bear in dec
ton penetrate every valley give facilities of nercom
nunication and transportation, and draw ty every artc
nv both material and artificial TO seaport, those
creat internal resources which lie dormant from our
snalby but which are the lfe blood of existence
We a se every thing to induce TO encourages and urge
u.s. Astounding all the great elements Of agriculture
and uactures look on in indifference and apathy
aud daily sink towards poverty and wretchedness with
the greatest water power on eah and minerals 10 an
extent unequaled especially in iron, coal gypsum and
salt we require others TO furnish as that, with which we
should supply the ~o,ld-we pay others the immense
profits Of Importation and ansporation when we have
tarbor at our threshold upon whose capnclons DO
som thousand ships can ride together in safety
The contrast which has been given of The prosperity
Of New York, is increased when drawn between Penn.
syivaaia nd our State With production of only
one third she imports twenty -four times much We
10 if this House and the Commonwealth see no
thing in such sate of things TO impe them TO action
on This important subject, confess know Of nothing
chat will But it is said, the amount proposed to be Dor
fowed is 20 great that are unable to meet such en-
vspement The amount contemplated in the bill, in
peHdent Of the surplus revenue, is about two millions
interest upon which at four per cent is eighty thou
Solars- and this is the sum which 1t is sud we are
or too stngy to raise TO beexpended for the I'M
of The country. Here, however, We are met
'n ae Sgament, that we most not look 10 the P'onts
supposeo arise om the works as means OF payment
tast Hs ougS To make no Investment but WITH feaoy