Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-12-14
CHS, and net in selfish, arbitrary and

III auuitl0n 10 all Otnef reasons lur
the aid recommended, the Legislature
will not fail to perceive IA new and per-
suaslye one in the suspicious Introduction
OF steam as All agent in the navigation oil
the canal, and the important bearing upon
the future pros cutinn of Il e wo k which
THE Circumstance is likely to have. The
difficulties attending the application of
this agent to canal navigation, have al
ways, unit reseutly, been found iasu-
perable. But the experiment which is
now III progress amongst us, although
conducted under all the disadvantages
of first trial, and under the still greater
disadvantage OF serious mistake as to
the capacity of the canal, has neverthe-
less been highly satisfactory in many re-
spects, and may be considered az pretty
fairly proving. not only that boats can
be moved upon canal by steam, at an
equal spet d with other beats. aad with
out injury to the banks, but at greater
speed. with the less resistance FROM x,e
water, and without injury. indeed, The
great desideratum in the case of canal
navigation by steam, that Of appl wing it
IN such manner as 80 propel boat ra-
pidiy without encountering Il resistance
and producing an injury proportioned %
the speed, may be considered as happily
attained. And with this vital point fair
ly on the side of the experiment, there is
no other mechanical difficulty to con-
tend with which is not wholly subordi-
nate. and which experience and trial can
not be safely relied as sufficient to over
come. If fully successful, as it promises
to be, it can be used with equal conveu-
fence for canal or lock and dam navIsa-
ton, and will thereby allow the most
perfect freedom to be exercised in pros
ecuting HE remainder OF this improve
ment by one or the other OF these modes
exclusively, or by blending them togeth-
er, and that to any extent, just as the ma
ture of the route. or as considerations of
convenience aud economy may suggest
Whatever the final availability Of this
experiment may be, it is al least one of
decided and deserved expectation, and
has come forth in Il moment of great en-
barrassment to present new means and
to inspire with new hopes of extrication
aud relief.
If, by its means, or By any other means
at our command, we can flush to the
Ohio the line that is begun-c can finish
to the southwest the branch that should
long since have been executed there, and
can add ta these the works which our
northwestern people require, we will
have conferred upon the State a power
and benefit which the contingencies of
the future onty can successfully exhibit.
1t may be true. that every highway in the
north west serves to pour our own wealth
into the metropolis Of another state, but
this is neither to be helped nor regret
ted; for, not oily do our own citizens
profit by the connexion, but we as a
al interest in Baltimore, only less than
that which we have in Richmond aud
Norfolk. 1t is our interest to have sta
toned at the head Of the Chesapeake,
strong, and under every vicissltude, a
friendly power bound to us by position,
by feelings, and by all the ties of bust
ness relationship. With a power there
SO allied to US by sympathy and interest,
and with a commercial highway resting
at one end upon Hampton Roads, and
reaching with the other, through its divi-
ded branches, to the waters of the Gulf,
it is amongst improbable things, that the
command of the Chesapeak-the mari
time key Of The Commonwealth, will ever
be wrested from US by foreign or hostile
hands.
Having brought to the notice of the last
Legislature the subject Of general educa-
ton and Of free schools. and recommen-
ded it to IA consideration it did not re-
ceiye, should be f4ithless to one Of my
earliest and most honorable duties if |
did not present it again, and again invoke
for it the care, the thought and the legis
lalion to which it is entitled. Weishty as
this subject coniessedlY is, and connect
ed, as every one feels it to be, and knows
it to be, with the safe, just and enlight-
ened action of popular government, and
with all the pursuits ct rational and CIV
ili-ed iran, and consecrated too. "a ii
has long been, by an inviolate provision
of one Of our permanent laws, it is new
ertheless sadly neglected in our public
counseIs, and year after year is thrust
aside as though it had no admitted place
amongst real wants and practical things
1t would seem as if the very provision
was made for its support years ago, which
by doing something, had thereby intercep
ted the larger and more beneticent provi
sion which is necessary to support and t,
nourIsh it Alright. Satisfied, as it wouIt
appear, that some thing had been done
the higher and holder duty of doing more
and more until nothing should remain t.
be done, has long been permitted. and
successive Legislatures have handed
down the existing plan aud provision Of
the painful and accommodating proofs o
their ruinous insufficlency. When it is
considered that this plan of common ed
ucation has been nearly thirty years il
existence-that its whole machinery has
become perfectly familiar to those who
administer it, and whose duties of ADM
nistration are enforced by penalties tina
/ xI,Focfc hava hoop cnrro N n