Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-27
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
SPEECH OF MIR. PEYTON-IConciuded I

SPEECH OF MR.. PEYTON-[ Conciuded
The Governor in his late Message says 1.-The system
OF Internal Improvement has heretofore been The Chief
draft upon The Treasury. is abou becoming as
main reliance s's'"Hs The revenue from the Public
Works fell 1924 GAG 81 short during the past year, OF
The estimate of the Canal Commissioners. lis actual
amount $0753 $50 is But all who conversanl
with the matter, convinced thai il would have been
81 100000, il the paralysis Of last May had not fallen
on the energies Of trade The estimate of The Bnard for
ih" present year. 400,U00, in which concur believing
also That though it cannot fall materially short ct that
sum- no mailer how advers" the State raj business
may become may and probably will reach 81 500 0OO
II lhe usual degree of prosperity be restored the
try he tolls Of last month nlnnr amounted 10 ZOO
OF uat sum In another part of his message, after
coup oil at the different improvements he concludes
thus: "lbs view OF the subject. not only enables
calculate with certainty the increased earnings of the
public works hereafter but ustfcs all necessary Spe
lures for their cnnPr,ipn tren rhout taking into
count their other ncalcnabe advantages the State
""'1s "lmproveInens thus increasing in productive.
ness under every disadvantage, demand because
worthy of all the care of the Legislature MIR. P. sud,
present these the testimony of the Canal
Commissioners and Governor of Pennsy lvania in favor
Of scheme which has been represented BY gentlemen
perfect Paudorus box laden with evil, and threat.
cnug the State with bankruptcy.
consider ii, Mr. Speaker and every UMPIRE JUDGED
mind must concur with me- outweghing all the bold
assertions and ingenious deductions Of gentlemen, who
confssed!y ignorant of the country and its improve
Inen!s and proving beyond all question the pulley Of
lIe system as flrp money linking SCHEME IL must
strike every gentleman that inlerences preiudicaI
the opinions advanced By these Commissioners aud the
Governor, which are based upon the statistics of any
single improvement or any combination OF improve
mcnts, ought To have any influence upon our judgment
IT, them said Mr. it be established that looking only
To the revenue from the improvements il is iudcious
investment Of the public funds in pennsylvania the
State have selected a lest Of lis policy in Virginia.
there no longer be any difficulty in embnrkng
in the system even if lind lniar considerations
to suIserve than those Of n stock irbber This
said Mr. P brings me 10 The consideration OF The mode
in which the works shall be- made whether upon the
joint stock The Stale principle And upon the deci
sion OF this question in favor If the latter believe
depends the Of Internal Improvement and the u.
ture destiny "t the State
Mr.. P. said. the most plausible and ingenious nrgu.
men which has been presented 10 The House in favor Of
the two f and in opposition In the State plan of i'm
pruvrmpnt that of the gentleman from Campbell,
(Nr. Dapicl) This gentleman, he said in his zeal 10
discover spot which plant lever overurn the
State system, created an imaginary foundation of i'm.
practicable distractions. and opened from thence, with
no small degree Of confidence, and certainly with great
Skill furious brondside upon that portion Of the report
which recommended the construction of the Snuh
western road State account The argument OF the
gentleman, said Mr. T., this He SIT "ui with the
extraordinary assumption, la upon principles of alb
siIact Justice, have right ,l lake cent from
the Treasury for the Of public works-rha
the subscription of two hhs on the part of the State
being an appropriation Of The public funds To public
works, was. consequently. UNJUST and, Jnrti0ri mas
much as the whole is greater than part, is il still
greater injustice for the Stale rar the whole expense
The mrrr statement OF this argument, divesled "f nil
the sonhisrv with which he had surrounded it, MIR p
said ghl 10 hr sufficient 10 relur it, But, he said
it had h"en the foundation nt long and uh!e argument
and had been most pIansbly and ingenously maintained
he would examine il fully.
The political maxim. said Mr. p upon which the gen
tlenan has raised his smpcrslrucue is usory. and ap
piled hy him. utterly false Upon prnc pies of abstract
justice the Government has n" rI.h 10 appropriate tie
public funds The construction OF Public Works! Why,
MIR. Speaker unnn Drrcinrs of Gbsirnri jnsfies.
have right 10 impose OF those restraints upon the
actions of men, exercise any Of that control their
property which in the irees governments that have ever
existed have rxrrtcd saluiay an influence aud hc
has been universally conceded indispensable to the
existence Of society When, Sir. W. abandon cond
ton of savage wdness for Of civilization, we reln
uush u number of those original abstract rights
which appcIiain in state of nature in considera
ton of the paramount blessings resulting from well
regulated society," We abandon The bel rss, inefflc
eul isolated and unsocal life of The wandering savage
that may, by uni1n concert and harmony be butter
protected in our personal rights and rights Of pro
perry, aud by united counsls and united means and
energies effect such will promote the public
welfare. Mixed up with the abstraction under consl.
dpraon aud resulting in degree from il. was ano.
Their srphsm equally excep'onObe, applied. He as
serted said Mi P. that beyond The protection of The
country from foreign aggression and The preservation OF
The due administration Of justice, The less government
nterfercd with the labor and industry the pursuits and
uilmen,s Of its duties and obgaons, and that any step
beyond these limits in drr"galnn Of cerInin alb.
slract rights supposed by the gentleman 10 De inherent
and naienuble, az rescrccd by tn" community
Suppose for moment. said Mr.. T., that the gentle
man argument may be placed in the strongest point OF
view that the principles involved in his proposition are
true. His argument admits, SAID Mr. r. mat IL IS me
duty of the Government In protect and defend e chun
trv from foreign INVASION mud that II may use the public
treasure for tina, purpose. Suppose them Mr. Speaker,
that virginia INSTEAD ot forming one of TITS glorious
Union were isolated aud drpendent-surI"nnted by
warke nrirbos mud subject To ncur,nns the North,
South and West, sudden aud dssJlang in their cha.
racer make The rapid transportation OF troops and
munitions Of important element oil her defence
Would not the government, upon the gentleman own
principles have right to construct roads ~ every dr"c
ton promote the public welfare III this pariicular-
And it, Mr. Speaker, the Government IN snch an emer-
1eucy would have the right 10 construct these public
works has she right and is 1t moi her duty to pro.
vide before hand for the emergency instead OF waiting
ill the dstresses and disasters ot war leave her no alter
na,ive3 If The power belongs 10 the Government in the
extreme case surpassed why should not reside IN The
Government, of Virginia under existing circumstances,
when it would contssedy put her in better condition TO
Withstand foreign invasion, rs we'll by The econ"my WIN
which her troops and baggage would be conveyed f"n
point to pnnt rs by the promptnrss with which they
could be brought to BEAR where mast needed But, SAD
Mr. Peyion conclusive asthe argument is, evrn IN mrs
aspect in favor Of system oil Internal improvement we
are not driven 10 the necessity oil resting IL upon such
hair.splitting distinctions.
Every Government, said Mr.. p, rests upon its own
principes ms ascertaned by long usage or its write
charter; and the principles Of the social compact and
the spirit Of the Constitution Of Virginia. CLEARLY and
unequivoeully recognize in its Government The Iigh I"
do any thing which, in lis WISDOM Will promote 'he puo
lie welfare; provided il is M" in c"ntrsren''on o. the
charter oped guide and limit to its action There
is nothing in the Constitution which prohibits the Legs
alure from nppropriating The public nHds 10 me con
s,rucon of public works. in any other way they may
deem n,omo,ive of the public welfare it follows OIL
course that the Legislature have Tie right to Do It, and
that, possessing the power there can exist under Inc 90
ciu compact abs,rac, right at vorance WIN 'nls con
s,itu,;ona right: and the inference OF the gentle
from Campbell that the Legislature cannot exercise Il
without prrpetrang wrong-an act nf injustice i:
wholly gratnitous, and unsusained by any recognized