Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-01
THUR D.H y,
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
SPEECH OF Mr.. DANIEL,


nuee o. Roads and Internal Naris atiOn, recommend
lnsa general system Of Dsi1sred in III,
House Of Delegates, Thursday, IKE 9A day Of Feb
1RaTg, ]G3S.
hlr SrEAKER: rise for the purpose of making few
remarks on some Of the questions involved in the very
Interesting discussions in which have been engaged
for line last three four days If any apology is due
from me to the House, for thus consuming portion oil
lis time, hope 1t will be found in the grave Importance
OF the subject which we are dclibersting and the deep
interest which my constituents feegin h-nn apology
which Will be The more readily received, when make
known, that my with respect 10 portion OF the
report and resolutions OF the committee Is taken in pur.
rather OF the wishes of those represent, than Of
my own; and that my remarks will consequently have
10 assume, rather the character RI s explanation Than OF
m argument
Ills true Sir, that in making this explanation, may
have to cclse freely, parts of the Report of the
Committee, and OF The arguments advanced by ils adj
vocates 10 uphold AID sustain it. This however, shall
do 10 ITO unkind spirit doubt nat that the recommend
atoms of the Committee conceive. in motives Of
the purpst patriotism Such well efforts 10 refresh
the dropping energies Of the "Old DuminOn, 10 build
up again her fallen fortunes aud 10 restore her 10 that
proud stand which she occupied anong her sis.
Sa;es-th0ugh aided by IN the wisdom and
policy of which, cannnt give my entire assent, must
ever command from the most unqualified sentiments
Of respect.
If the advocates uf the Report had he IN content 10
meet only the objections that might be offered to The
fined myself undst the rules OF The House, to The dis.
cussinn Of the mersS Of such amendments But as The
motion for an indefinite posponeUnent, has proceeded
from one OF the Committee. with an avuwa that he
should vote against his notion and that his OBJECT
in making it bring discussion The merits Of
the whole report and The whole policy OF the State with
regard to the subj Ct Of Internal improvement, should
feel satisfied in giving silent vote against The IN
definite postponcment as by doing so, might seem to
sanction sentiments which do not approve. The com
mittee, in their report have made bold attack upon
present system Of Internal improvements This attack
has been followed mp in The House, by one sill more
violent and unspaTng, accompanied by distinct cha
Ienge the friends Of this system 10 out and de-
ind it. As, Sir, have been and still am friend OF the
Joint stock system whch the gentleman from Augusta
in his zeal has cai acierized as slent insidous and
thieving, cannot suffer this debate To close without
making defence of IL, however eebIe the more
especially shall, in obedience TO what believe I" lie
the wishes of my constituents have to give vote which,
une XpaIned, might 10 give some counienance to
tho gentleman charge. Notwithstanding the einqusn;
and ingenious arguments that have been offered, the
imposing array Of statistics that has been presented by
the friends of the report, still think, that the plan OF
improvement by joint stock companies, as heretofore
adopted by the State, is far preferable IN any general
system Of improvement, by the Stale alone ] believe
The former possesses vast superiority over The latter on
the score Of Justice, equality aud economy-tha, I'M
der lis opeEalon the State is less liable to fraud and i'm
posilion-thut il guarantees better construction OF the
the capital expended in their construction
have always been taught 10 regard that government
as the BEST which inereIes no further than absoutey
necessary with The labor, capital and industry OF It's cIli
zens which gives The acquIrrs and pnsseSsnrs q.
perry the strongest assurance thai the hard earnings oI
their skill or enterprise shall not be taken away from
them except for the purposes OF carrying IN the ne.
cessary operations OF the government Any further
control Of government the labor, capital and in.
dusry of lis citizens, than what is necessary 10 project
the from foreign aggression without or from fraud and
violence within, is us These are the broad and sim.
pie principles which every free governments found
ed. They are The corner stones upon winch The State
nnrns Of this ConieGeIacy rest aud upon which
has been reared The fair fabric Of Union II is true,
there have already been thousand eparrrss from these
principles in the 0ps ralunS Of uu Stale, well as
Federal Government II is true, that in the constant
and conflict Of interest and passion, II is almost il not
altogether impossible Tor government 10 adhere strict
" 10 any theory, however correct, of light or justice
Yet however men institutions may change, still these
principles rrnan unaltered. They are Sill true, still
just and have right in The absence Of an absolute
necessity 10 adopt precedent or rule OF conduct an
exception created and eslaoShed by lhe irresistible
power Of circumstances.
What right have then 10 say, that portion OF the
country which is rich by nature, which has been
dercd so by chance industry. shall divide lis wealth
with that which has been sterile and unprnGuctvc from
The beginning Of lime which has become 50 through
q want of skill and industry the part of lis niabt
ants: What right have 10 tax The labor and capital
of one portion Of the State that The labor and capital at
another portion may be brought into greater activity
What right have We, would ask, on these principles,
10 mortgage the lands OF the East that those IN The West
NAV be clothed in brighter vrrdure: 10 cxpend The
gold and silver of portion Of the community IN order
that the iron and lead Of another may find reader &C
cess TO market: These, Sir, know, are nntiquated,
old fashioned ductriues and should feel that apo
ory was due to the House for advancing them, If the
committee had moi rendered such course in some de
wee necessary by claiming superiority Tor their scheme
over The iun stock system on the score OF usicr ant
equality This superiority | cannot admit The only
just mode: according 10 the principles nave a'u Gown
of carving on works Of Internal improvement, would
be- 10 leave them 10 individual capital and enterprise
without giving them any aid whatever iro The p"b'Ic
Treasury For ifhe principles have stated be correct
every dollar that you abstract from the Treasury inr such
nurpose works an injustice. This would br True,
the interests Of the different sections of the State
were equal or Of like character; but when you reco
ect that large portion of the Stale: which pays the
most revenue is that which does mol want and from
its situation cannot receive, the benefits OF any sys
tenn of Internal Improvement, the injustice OF devot
inc The treasures of the State to The promotion of any
sucn scheme is made the more apparent According TO
these views, il is unjust 10 apply The revenues OF The
State 10 Internal improvements, even by subscribing
two or three h!lhs of the amount necessary Tor then
couslrucon And if this be Soft it be unjust thus 10
appropriate only portion Of the money, when private
dyiduals have advanced the balance, II is manifest
that greater injustice will be eectedb By tie OF
scheme which proposes 10 erect splendid system OF In
,ernal Improvement based entirely on the revenues OF
the State cannot see, therefore, how the c"n,millee
have arrived at The conclusion, that IT, tce demands
change in our policy so as require, that works which
heretofore have been conducted partly by Stale and
partly BY individual means shall hereafter be carried on
solely al the expense Of The State. The two-hih sys'
tenn is unust-unus 10 The extent that 1t uPpropriates
the treasures of The State TO works of Internal Improve
ment-and this injustice the committee propose 10 cure
by undertaking such works wholly on Stale account
The Two fifth system has never been regarded, even by
its warnest friends, as any thing Than compro
mse-a compromise brought about By one OF those sa.
cri6ces that justice is so often required 10 make on the
altar Of expelency. 1t system, however, which has
been for long time acqu;esced init has become the
settled policy of the S,aet has brought To The Stale
whatever of honor prosperity boast Of in the way
of Internal lmprovementand at this late dag, inr one
would not disturb it, merely because violates some o
nv ideas of Justice The especially, the injustice
or inenualiiv Of It's one1nions cannol be pointed ont