Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-24
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.

VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
Substance Of de Remarks of M PEYTO, Of Botetourt
In support of the Report and Resolutions recommending
a Scheme of Internal Improrcment-detiUered in Mr
House Of Delegates, IKE 18Th and 10th IF February
Mr. PEYTos remarked, that the late hour a, which the
Report Of the Committee Roads and Internal NaVl
CATION bad been called up together with the Proracted
discussion which had already excited made proper
he should inform, the House that he did not expect to
trespass long upon their pa'ence-Tha he would en-
deavor to avoid detail and unnecessary dgresson, us
much Us possible and conne himself strictly 10 the great
leading principles which involved He assured
the House that he would not wander into the regions OF
imagination in quest of the roses and garlands OF fancy
TO enbelish his sentinens-He would neither soop
the one side Gull flower; the other, 10 coeca
gem, but would proceed directly the development Of
his views, succinctly as the nature OF the subject
would allow.
Mr. PEYroN said he did not participate in the surpTize
of the friends of the Report at the violent opposition
which il had encountered. He thought it 10 have
been expected however strong might have been the ev
dences in favor Of its adoption. In numerous body
like this, representing territory so extensive and EN-.
bracing Interests varied he said it was to be expected
that local considerations would influence the Of
some gentlemen, while others operated upon by an
overland and cautious policy would be found ar.
rayed against it, solely the ground Of its novelty and
apparent magnitude; and some few, perhaps, might lind
an for their hostility in the extraordinary reason
assigned by the gentleman from Prince Edward (Mr.
Yenabie) few days sincc that the adoption of the pro-
posed scheme would defeat improvement OF the Slate.
But said MIR Peyton Notwithstanding the combination
of all these adverse impulses, believe there
lghtened spirit awakened in the land, which cannot be
repressed ettered but which, bursting through all the
barriers Of ignorance rapidly dhusing its regenerat
influences and giving healthy tone 70 public opinion
The ball. said Mr.. PeYton, is in Misunderstanding its
impetus irogi te lofty SUBMITS of our mountains, he
trusted il had already gathered sufficient velocity and
power and defy all opposition tle said,
that the difficulties ~hich beset the friends of lm-
proveent their threshold Of the innovation upon the
established policy Of lie Stale, ought not TO dlslearl
tem-that il not reasonable 10 expect so radical
and important change of State pulley would be ac-
quesced in without struggle and that the his
tory Of all sister States, which have adopted
lah,ened and liberal system OF Internal improvement.
exhibits perfect identity in all the circumstances attend
ing its introduction. And here, said Mr. p, find the
same arguments relied upon by gentlemen which
urged upon the Legislature Of New York; when i,
proposed 10 construct the Erie and Hudson Canal on
State And notwithstanding the obvious
sty and utility of that great work, and notwithstanding
was recommended and advocated by of her most dis
nguished sonsby upon whom Nature had profusrly
scattered the rays Of genius and The inspiration Of intel
ec-by the thea epned theorst, bu, noo reyered sage.
De Will Cinlon-i repeat, said Mr.. T., that notwilh
standing brought forward under The auspices Of
this gifted individual and sustained with all his zeal.
and all his ability, and ali his influence, it with the
utmost difficulty, pressed through the Legislature
And when its adoption was promulgated through the
",
compromising in its character, as TO threaten with
polca! ustracisn all those who had taken pro.
minent part in lis support In The oommo,ion the
dregs all foated to the surface. Whip sillsbub law
yers and artful demagogues sprung up like mush
rooms every quarter of The State and called upon The
dear people to hold fast their purse strings They re-
presented the Legislature said MIR. r, adopting some
monstrous Briaean scheme, which would stretch torlh
it's hundred arms and plunge it's hundred hands into the
breaches pockets of the people and plumber them Of the
hard earnings Of their daily labor TO make, in the cant
phrase Of these especial rieRds OF the dear pro
pie" 'Ihe rich richer and the poor poorer. The pseu
do political economists too said Mr. P Of whom there
is always supply in every community and es.
pecaly in every political association, fortified in their
estimation by some absurd and homogeneous dogmus
oil science, the principles Of which 10y grenty be-
yond the reach Of their intellectual Visions urged that
the State possessing fundshaving no hoard any
certain OF ascer,ancd, even conjecnral resources
other than those anticipated from the projected works
had right to construct work at the expense OF The
whole community, which partial in it's benefits
That it depressing and desolang portion OF the
Slate to confer blessings upon another 10 these pseud
political economists, there came as auxnries IN thus
war against lberol legislation, the pseudo phanthro
psts class who, anxious for the welfare Of III.
unborn millions who 10 follow them, than for The
generation to which they themselves belonged
that had right 10 transmit these debts, incurred
for public works. 10 poserily, as il was imposing bur
then upon them in which they had voice or agency
aud which they could not by possibility have exer
cised any control. And have no doubt, said Mr.. r,
that these phiianhroplc wothes, IN ner learned oiS
seaons at the of The village streets and at The
and grog shops country gavey argued
that gross violation of the great prin
cples ofour Cover nuent-thutit neither
less than taxation without representation Such, he
said we're specimen of the miserable batch or, said he
10 borrow from high authority more appropriate ex
PRESTON the miserable rabble Of objections which were
urged against the enlightened policy Of the Empire
State. Such, said Mr. p the obstacles that were
thrown in the way of the steady, Conesioga, onward
march of the miscalled BRotio Of this Confedeacy
system which every day illustrating the energy and
wisdom and patriotism Of its legislation by the solid
wealth aud substantial blessings which il is comforting
upon lis citizens And such, need not tell you, Mr.
Speaker, after what you have heard this floor are
the cogent arguments the mighty missiles with which we
friends of Internal Improvement, should put their
mour and invoke the protecting Egis of Minerva
Survey said Mr.. p, the whole ground which has been
occupied by the opponents of our scbemesih and ana
lie what they have said and yon will ind Il oil at las,
resolved into Of the objections which have
enumerated, or into something which bears strong "a
mly likeness to them. And said Mr.. p, must say,
they only dgnied the present OCCASION by their
very respectable endorsement and the talents which
they have enlisted in their support.
The ,nented Representatives from Prince Edward and
Halifax, be said predcated the greater portion of their
arguments upon the assumption that the State was from
its poverty unable construct the improvements re-
commended in the report The financial estimate, pre-
sented By the gentleman from Augusta few days since
in his exposition of the views of the committee, Mr.
peyon thought entirely conclusive upon this point and
he has heard nothing yet in the slightest degree,
calculated to weaken bis confidence in it The obec
tion 10 The calculation in the estimation Of Mr. p was
thatt yielded much to his opponents and did great
Injustice to the financial resources of the
But said Mr. P, notwithstanding this estimate, which
proves beyond doubt the entire ability of the State ac
compish The proposed without abstraeting
ons CENT from the pockets OF the community we are told