Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-07

n CONSIDER whether il would not be wiser TO make a
energetic Application OF the resources OF the Sta
y y" the speedy completion Of the most important in
proVsmens. than 10 rctard the execution OF all by
+ distrbuisn OF means Sufficient for their accom-,
,, plshmenI The profits arising from a work care
'e iulY planned and iudcioUsly executed, would al
~ the efficient prosecution Of similar works, an
the striking results o such policy would stimuaI
n 10 srester enterprise. Under these impressions,
e recommend To the special attention Of the Gener.
J. Assembly, the James River and kanuw Ia Improve
II reni. The magnitude of this improvement IN
. large amount already expended upon il, the pro
gress made 10 its accomplishment. and the deep in
!, tcrcst oil tho Stale, both n stakeholder in IN
company, and security foe its leans, render its rap
completion peculiarly Important The tolls collect
cd since the opening oi the Canal from Richmod &
] Lynchbuts, considering the difficulties that hav
been encountered, are highly encouraging. wiu
the present facilities for transportation, and a fur
ther extension Of the work, the products for mafke
VIII be greatly augmented, and the advantn ges n,
prohis OF the improvement must increase in a rat,
isr exceeding the additional expense to be encoun
tered. As IN essential aid 10 this great cnterprizr
the construction Of McAdam,z-d road from the vi
J ciniv OF Abingdon 10 some point on James River
: well entitled To your favorable consideration
The extensive, fertile aud interesting portion Of III,
Commonwealth to be accommodated by this road
thoush Astounding IN the richest mineral and agri
cultural resources has been almost entirely neglect
ed. II this great highway loo OPENED, ths active in
terchaEe of commodities, and the travelling that ay
be anticipated uDon ~, scarcely be too highly
estimated. Many important lines Of communicr I.
ton, ~ progress and contemplation, in the South
etn and Southwestern States converge towards the
! enneSsee border, and rrust become tributaries Ia
the great avenue which Virginia may extend TO NICE,
'hem The grCai accumul atom ct wealth from these
various sources IN cities, would impart tn them
increased energy und prosperity, and elevate them TO
commerei'l importance, which would iufuse new
life into whole territory. Besides these conSdera
tons' the returns to the State from the tolls upon
he rcSd ITSELF and the increase of revenue TO the
James River ard Kanawha IMPROVEMENT from the
immense produce cmp,itd into it's channels by this
valuable feeder, would amply warrant the expendi.
I ture Necessary for its execution.
The completion Of fourteen miles of Rail Road
from Fredericksburg TO Aqua creek already nearly
graduated, IS sisp an object, the speedy ACCOMPLISH
| mcnt Of which. in my opinion would iuStiIv ass,-
lance from the Commonwealth. The interest of the
state, siorkhOider, in this road, and in the rail-
roads connected with u, IS upwards OF million of
collars, and the whole eNNendItu.e is productive
chiefly fsom the unfinished condition Of this section
The company have made every effort TO complete
the work, unaded 10y the State and are now apply.
ing their profits tor this purpose hut the slow prn.
grcSs made, Indicates longer pDstrone mept of its
accompaniment than the wants and Interests Of the
public require. As soon as this link is finished il
s I've 'evcd the investments in he whole chain Of
rail roads from the Potomac TO the Roanoke ana
from thence 10 Wilmington and Raleigh IN North
Csron1 will NJ once become productive, and con.
tribute, IN no small degree, increase the resources
Ct the Commonwealth. The completion Of the
Siaun,on and Parkersburg Road, Tor which a small
additional appropriation will be required il also
worthy OF your favorable consideration. A few
general roads through the Western par; OF the State
involving but moderate expenditure, would be
! highly important IN providing improved openings
Tor surplus produce, and for the necessares and COM
modiues OF life, aud would Weld, directly or ipdi-
rec'y, reimbursement and profit. The improve.
ment m the condition of the people, and the ncreas.
ed value Of lands and products, would he nciden-
tai advantages, greater perhaps, than the co!lec-
TONS on the line OF the roads and not less produce
tive 10 the Treasury.
Some further legislation seems 10 be necsssary IN
give the Board O! Public Works such control over
corporations with which the State may be connect.
ed IN future, will put end 10 the policy 10y which
private interests advanced at the expense of these
Of the Commonwealth. Some provision may also
be proper TO prevent Injurious competition between
rlvel companies. The means adopted by IndIvidu-
ais or private corporations To secure patronage usu.
ally prove more or less adyanta geous 10 the comnu.
nifty; but when the State Itself is a large stock
holer IN companies IN active competition, their rival
cnors may terminate IN sacrifice Of public revenue
], moreover, suggest that authority be conferred
upon the Board 10 obtain, 10y agents or otherwise
such Information concerning the works of other
States rs VII enable Us to prof, by their experience
and adapt our system to the latest improvements
Whatever may he your decision in th. selection
Of works which immediately require assistance the
situation OF other States should admonish US 10 nay
due regard 70 the ahity OF the Commonwealth To
comply with her engagements If resort be had IN
loan, prudence dictates that the amount TO be Dor
rOw-l be limited by the willingness OF the peopIe 10
bear the taxation necessary to pay the interest and
gradually to redeem the principal IL NAV well be
questioned whether the advantages OF any mproye-
msnt vi warrant system Of borrowing TO nav inte-
rest on rs cost Nor does appear 10 nc TO he safe 10
engage IN any work, unless It can be effected bv the
means Of The Commonwealth, 'usiye Of aid
frOra the General Government. Some of the friends
Of education and oi Internal improvements are ca
gs-y expecting ass stance from the recent Act OF
Congress for d'srihu, NJ among the States the pro-
ceets VI The sales Of the Public Lands. But the
rsOpsiety q hat act is considered 80 Questionable
by large portion Of the people, lh7t expectation
OF all from that source must he precarous and
calculations based upon the continuance Of the law
may prove delUsiye. Whether the people of the
United States will acquisBce in the distribution of
any portion Of the public revenue 10 the individual
States, IS yet 10 he decided. | cannot believe that
\ they will sanction such a measure at a lime when
| the Federal Government needs this common fund 20
meet it5 current expenses; when IL h1s been deemed
proper TO rep'ensh the public Golfers by heavy
loans and the imposition Of duties on The
~ life; and when 81 may become Necessary further
70 build up Qualifications, increase our navy I'D
provide more efficient system Tor the comm0n de %
fence. The deficiency created in the national trea
/ surY, must be supplied either by dSect taxation.
| or from the customs, or by resouing to loans. In
| the former case, loss must be sgslined. oquiya.
lent 10 the Of col Getting the taxes; in the latter
euu1 20 the interest p1iI ON the amount borrowed
end the eEp5ase OF negotiating the loans. IL Fou d
. ne moreover lWfr.''lG Tor any STATE opposed to
| high protective duties, to acquiescs IN a system
/ whose tcrioncy IS 10 render an increase Of the
I Tariff ind psrslLc. II IS also 10 tc apprehen4eJ
/ that States rsducod by these lirgsss-s may com
hne f0r the imposition nf additional duties 10 in
crease the surplus 20 be distributed The ncrcssi-
tsrs q The injcb,Cd aUd tie interests Of the manu-
! featuring States, will afford strong Temptations to
such a course BY accepting these bounties, they
will impair their own dignity and importance, be-.
/ come Subsidiary TO the Federal Government and
augment its power and influence 10 a dangerous
extent. Afer al', they mny fell to realize the ad-
vantsges an'iDaitt for, by he terms Of the oct
Use the distribution must ce45e whenever the duties
on imports shall exceed 20 per cent II can scarcely
be prudent therefore N depend on a contingency 80
| uncertain, or 20 calculate upon resource which
miy prove 50 unavailable. Believing that the
many objections this law, will require i's repeal
IL would, In opinion, be safe TO rely on our
own resources for the promotion Of great State i'm
provement5 than 20 incur responsibilities based upon
expectation n doubtful aid from the sales Of the
Public Lands
! IN pursunrcs Of the net passed on the 2Oh day
n MnTch last, commissions have been issued from
this Department, TO establish n Board uf Agucul
'urr. The sIl,rcttO which the attention Of thu
Board will boz called, is deeply interesting 10 IN,
Commonwealth. It's believed that, through thc
agency valuable information may be collected nnt
d,Hused and important improvements suggested rol
the benefit Of Agriculture. The law requires TIM
The members Of the Brlfd shall he selected eauaiI lis
from the four grand divisions Of the State, but M
formed. Under such circumstances, u ia to be np
pretended that The distance a moI1rity will be com
PEELED 10 irayol, the lims they will necessarily b,
absent from their Ipmrg. and tho rvpsprs L.,