Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-02-18
EDITORS CORRESPONDENTS.

tractsd several days. Tho bill making an addition
al subscription 10 the Jdmes River and Kauaw h;
Company and authorizing said Company To borrow
upon iis own credit and upon the guarantee 9th.
State, an additional sum, being announced as III.
order OF the Day, Mr. Edmnnds, Of Halifax. moved
to strike out that portion of it which relates to the
State guarantee. Col. Watkins opposed the amend
ment IN few remarks, aud was followed by Mr.
VenabIe. on the same side. in speech, distinguish
ed for lis good sense, in all the positions Of which
however did not concur. particularly that which
gave preference TO the JOINT Stock system, for
tendde lines, over the plan Of improvement State
account. In the conclusion, however, at which he
arrived that the interest we'll the honor Of the
State required the prosecution, to asuceessiui result
Of this great central line, most heartily concur
with him. Mr.. Peylon followed in few remarks,
merely show the superiority Of the State over the
Join, Stock system in works Of primary importance.
He opposed Mr. Edmunds's amendment. Mr. Ed
munds followed in reply, and was as usual nsenlous
aud plausible. He makes the best Of a bad cause.
hope he may live to the error Of his present
views, as if he reach the ordinary age Of man. am
sure he will, and to rejoice that his fatal counsels
were ove,ruled by Legislature unaffected BY the
prejudiccs which, on this subject, bccloud his cute
intellect. Mr.. Venable rejoined, and was followed
by Mr.. Whether. whose remarks, though apparently
unirendly to the BILL left me in some doubt as to
his ultimate course. He commended that the secu-
rty offered by the Company to the State did not
justify the loan of the credit of the latter. Gov
Tyler took the floor, aud declared that the adoption
oil Mr.. Edmunds' amendment would be fatal TO the
bill, and would be equivalent to decree that the
work should be discontinued He gave history Of
the snail-lke progress ofths James River improve
ment, which, he said, had been planned before he
was born, aud the FIRST step towards which had
before heard Of he said, that, before the Revolu-
iion some entcrprising man, whose names he had
forgotten. perceiving lis Importance determined
effect the improvement himself and actually COM
pleed mile oft, when the storm of civil war be-
gan to rage, and swept his projects, and perhaps
himself, into oblivion. He then referred to the any
iety OF Gen. Washington and Of Judge Marshall.
both men Of great sagacy swell as patriotism, 10
effect a connection between tho Eastern and IVES
tern waters and yet is at this moment, after such
a long lapse Of time, not half completed. lie ex-
pressed his willingness, If it necessary to
eTec, its completion, to apply the State resources
stead Of the State credit to that purpose. Mr. Witch
replied, and REINFORCED the views first expires
sed, but sill without clearly defining his position.
Gen. Bayly closed the debate, for The day. in very
lucid impromptu speech, in which, though hostile
TO the bill he opposed Mr.. Edmunds's amendment
taking the correct ground that if the bill should
pass, the interests of the Commonwealth, already to
great extent identified with those oGthe COMPANY
required that the loan authorized should be guaran-
iced by the State, as, without that guarantee the
Company, if able to effect tho loan at ali, would be
compelled pay exorbitant rate Of inlerest.whch
would, Of course. to the extent Of the State sub
scription, operate preiudiciay to her--and if not
able to effect il, that the State would be compelled
to finish the work, by her means. Gen. Bayly
concluded by defence Of the Joint Stock system,
as every way preferable to the plan of Improvement
on State account. Mr. Dorman then obtained the
floor, and, on his motion, the House adjourned. 1t
is impossible forcsce the termination of this dis
cussion, the results to which it may lead 1t is
generally believed that the bill will pass, reported
by the committee, without material amcndme Mt
though some members think the passage, without
great notifications, matter ofmuch doubt.