Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-07

.tlns'o Importance, w'l! no doubt occupy . prc.,inen
place III your deliberations. Neither the ccnJ.;.,n ;.
The funds set niart for thic object, nor The or.inarr -
venue Oh me common wealth, can Justify The ..,rc,,.
''"n ina All tue works IN which HE State IS Interested
can nc con.rmp"rancously aud speedily advanced. Ii
my W "e'' 'hsrti"re, TO consider, whether il world
not he wiser 10 make an energetic anpl,cat,on ~ ,ha =,
sources OF The State t. the suppdv comn,a,;,n e 49,.
most important improvements, than To- ret,rd tho :,
.ut'oh VI III, ny Il distribution Of means moi sufficient
Tor their accomplishment The profits arising from !,
Mn'a caitio'y planned and jndrcinusly executed, would
"u IN the eHheitnt prosecution Of similar work. m.
the striking results Of such a policy would s,;unla,.,a
greater enterprise. Under these impressions. | recon-.
n'"o u thcrspec'al attention of the General Asscmhlv
u James IL Yer and kanawha Improvement. Thu
""S''"ue VI inns undertaking., the large amount al.
READY expended upon il, the prnur.ss mad. - -. =.
c"nPlislinch', and the deep interest of The S,,,e ha,h
as 4 st1chholdrr III lie company and secur;,y e. H..
lnahs, frhdrI lis rapid completion peculiarly innor,an,
ne tolls collected since The opening of lLe @, NAL rr,r,
M.,niohd 10 Lynclhbnrg, CONSIDERING the difficulties
W,,h,e peeh encountered, are highly encouraging.
~ =. present facilities fur transportation and a rn9s.
u u, ca" .''on OF The work, the products for marie,
nras,. s,.'iy augmented, and the ADVANTAGES md
q xcssdin 'u "erngemepssaast increase in a ratio far
| As nm $3.50 atioe+i expense To be encountered
siruction Of a McAda wa s.ea, ehterpr'se-th the con-
Abingdon t" some pHhinit : Iau ~" 'e vicinity Of
tied 10 your favorable con james River, is well emit
s.,,,Ie md in,c,os,;n. "n.lefation. The extensive.
ie'i' u'o "'ifsIlnp PORTO. 90,
be accommodated by this road, = ep"""'"taith Y"
The richest mineral and agriculture. 'ish ao"unding IN
almost entirely neglected. Ii this sources mas been
opened, the active interchange Of cnnnh, highway II
travelling that may be anticipated upon ties ana the
~ be TOO highly estimated. Many imuor,anil scarce
communication III progress and in cnatempIaItss Of
the Southern and South. Western States, Converge IN
wards the Tennessee border, and must become iribu.
lurics TO the great avenue which Virginia may extend
to meet them. The great accumulation Of wealth from
these varInus sources in our cities, would lmpart Il
them increased energy and prosperity, and elevate
them 10 a commercsa! Importance which would infuse
new life into our whole territory. Besides these consl
deralions, the returns Ia the State from the tolls upon
The road itself, and the increase ofrcvenue 10 the jaime
River and kanawha improvement from the immense
produce emplied into lis channels by this valuable
feeder, would amply warrant the expenditure necessary
Tor lis execution.
The ompl lion Of fourteen miles of Railroad from
fredericksburg 10 AqnIa Creek, already nenriy gra
duatcd, IL also an Object, thu speedy accomplishment OF
Which, IN my opinion, would justify assistance from the
Commonwealth. The interest Of The Stale, as q Stock
holder IN ills road, and III the railroads connected with
il, is upwards Of a million of dollars; and The whole ex-
p%enditure IS unproduciive, chiefly from the unfinished
condition Of the section. The company have made
every effort to complete The work, unaided by the
STATE, and are now applying their profits for this pur-
pose; but The slow progress made indicates a longer
postPoneinent of its accomplishment than the wants
and interests Of the public require. As soon as this
Ink is finished, II IS believed The Investments in III.
Whole chain III railroads, from The Potomac to the
Roanoke, and from thence 10 Wilmington aud Raleigh,
in North Carolina, wIll al once become productive, and
contribute in M small degree Ia increase The resour.
ces Of the Commonwealth. The completion Of the
Staunion and PaIkcTshnrg road, for which, a small add.
tional appropriation will be required, is also worthy Of
your favorable consideration. A few general roads
through the Western part of the State, involving but u
moderate expenditure, would be highly important in
prOyIGinn improved aDPuInus for slrpIus urplncP- and
Tor the necessurcs and commodities of life, aud would
yield directly or indirectly reimbursement and profit.
The improvement in the condition of the people, and
the increased value Of lands and products, would BE- IN
ciGcnial advantages, greater perhaps than the collrc-
tons on the line Of Tic roads, and not less productive
10 the Treasury.
Snmc further legislation seems TO be necessary 10
give the Board Of Public Works sucl, control over cor
pnra;ions with which the Stale may be connected in fu.
iurr, rs will pui an end 10 the pniicy by which private
interests are advanced at the expense of those If the
Commonwealth. Some provision may also he proper
10 prevent injurious competition between rival compa-
meg. The means adopted 10y individuals or private
corporations 10 secure patronage, usually prove more
or less advantageous 10 The community; fnt when the
Stale itself Is a large stakeholder in companies in active
competition, their rival efFnris may terminate in n sa-
crlfice Of public revenue. moreover suggest, that All.
thority be conferred upon the Board 10 obtain by agents
or otherwise such mi, rma.ion concerning the woIhs Of
other States, as Will enable Us 10 profit By their expert
INV, iIO dhJpliu - ottb ~ tHt lnlto iPl' 'ht ihS'
Whatever may be your decision in the selection Of
works whiri Immediately require assistance, The stu
alton ii other States should admonl-h ns 10 pay dur
regard 10 the ability Of the Commonwealth TO comply
with her engagements II resort be had 10 loans, pru-
dcnce dictates. that the amount to bc borrowed be limit.
ed by The Willingness Of the pcaple 10 bear the taxation
necessary 10 pay the interest, and gradually 10 redeem
the principal. II mag well be questioned, whether the
advantages OF any improvement will warrants system
of borrowing 10 pay interest on lis cost. Nor does il
,a,,,r m mo tn hu cnFa II ppn,ra in n work nm.
less i can be effected by the means of the Com
monweal;h, exclusive Of aid from the General Go.
vernment. Somf vi the friends Of Education, and
oflhtrrnal Improvements. are eagerly expecting ASSIST
ancc from the recent act Of Cong.ess for distributing
among the States the proceeds of the sales Of the pub
lie lands. But, the ~prcprieiy Of that act is considered
80 questionable bJ a large portion Of the people, that ex-
pccialion of aid rem that source must be precarIons,
ani calculations based upon the continuance ri the
law may prove decisive. Whether The people Of ihr
United S!airs wil acquiesce IN the distribution 81 any
pnrtIon Of The public revrnue 10 lie individual States,
IS vet In be drcid,d. ] cannot believe, That they will
sanction such a measure, al a time when The Federal
Government needs this common fund To meet is cur
rent erpenscs-uhen il has been dermsd proper To re-
plenish lhr public Golfers, by heavy loans, and the i'm.
position Of duties on the necessarIrs ct liie-and when
Il NAV become necessary further 10 build mp our ihrtih.
cations, lncseaseour navy, and provide a more tfllcient
system for The common defence. The deficiency Gre.
alrd in the national Treasury must be supplied riiiier
ny direct AGllis VI nun wy '''' -
10 lnans. In the former case, a lnss must br SUSTAINED
equivalent 10 thu cost Of collecting the taxes; III lie
latter. equal 10 ile interest paid on the amount BORROW
I'd and the expense Of negotiating the loans. u would
he. moreover, impolitic for any State opposed 10 high
protective duties, 10 ncqulrsce IN a system whose Ten
Idsncv il IN render an increase Of the Tariff lndisprnsa-
bic. II is also /, be apprehendrd, that States, sednced
Ly these ~lrrgrsses, may combine for the imposition OF
additional duties, 10 increase the snrpins 10 be d's'r''
bu,.d Tn. necessities Of the indebted and The 'nle-
rests of the manufacturing Suites will afford strong
temptation 10 such a course. By accepting 'hesr
bnnn,,cs. they will impair their own dignity and
Importance, become subsidiary To tie Federal Co
eminent, and augment its power and influence
Ia \ dangerous extent. After all, they may TAI 10
realize The advantages anticipated for, by the 'rrinS
Of the act itsrl,, The distribution must cease wnrneSr II
80, scarcely be prudent, therefore, 10 depend upon n
contingency so uncertain, or 10 calculate upon a re-
source which may prove 50 unavailable. Believing
that the many objections TO this law will require Iis re-
neal. il would, in my opinion, be more safe TO rely on
our own resources for The promotion Of great State I'M
movements, Than to incur responsibilities, haseo upon
-. n donb,ful aid from the sales OF the pubic