Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-09-18

Lynchburg virginian and this paper, for their rc-
cent and unequivocal abandonment OF the canal
system parallel with navigable river, and the
sdoplioa of modes OF Improvement more rational,
more cheap, more in harmony with the immense
.sarsdss In that department Of human industry, ef;
fecied in the last 10 years.
-. That writer is pleased TO observe:
Bu, ., seems Tim, Mr. Toler his born
sssi foe abandoning the Canal Mr. Peasants, Of the
Rschmond Wing, has lately mounted his stills, and
earnestly about diseonnusnec oi the work. As every
thing like State Improvement depended IL. Nothing
short Of will satisfy his excited fancy. lie has
that Boston has been enabled 10 complete Rail Road
Massachusetts inersecting the Erie Canal, and
the terrible the trade of
New York Forthwith editor dazzled with brilliant
prospect, cries out-"thc mode Of Improvement by Ca.
nsl is behind the age"-wh good deal of such
somed nonsense use n strong term, because feel
that upon Trial and will he found that
al this parade about being csed cheaper by that
Rail Road from Albany to Boston is mere humbug The
shing most preposerous upon the face OF IT, How can
be- thar ksi Road transportation will ever be cheap
- that down the current OF r""h noble navgsble stream
the Hudsonf According Ia Mr. Pleasants, however,
esnsls must be absnduned and we all haste,
the twenty mile.in an-hour conveyance.-Puh.
puff. Whiz whiz, away 60, and old Nick catch the
hindmosts about the amount OF all his reasoning the
subject.
But not fast, gentlemen. We wish, If the thing
be possbe, amidst the whir into which you have dashed
with much preciptancy to bring you back something
like reason withdraw your minds. for moment from the
bright pictures have painted to the sober realities OF
tho thing and let safe guides IN matter
Of much Mr. Peasants contcsses, IN his pa.
per Of the 18th August that he for about week
harboured the idea that canal alongside OF navigsbe
river q practicable and proper mode of improve
That unlucky Acknowledgement for
] afraid IL will be found upon investigation that
B" week is lar from the OF stead
fastness upon some other questions. For one, am not
willing repose implicit confidence the reasonBgs and
calculations OF proverbisly unstable in his opn.
ions. land do) admire him for his commanding tai
editor and for the many generous qualities tina,
sdorn his character but Judgment rebels when asked
% follow him Statesman"
We presume we guess in two gIesses mt
farthest, who this commentator may be-and if it
be either OF the gentlemen upon whom we have
settled he would cut pretty figure if were
TO hold up TO public ridicue his meanderng course
In politics-now ultra Jacksonan-now Madi.
sonian, moderate and conservative-now Clay and
known no variableness or shadow of turning
shifting the means and the weapons indeed as ex-
igency, the change Of circumstances and the pc.
tency Of the adversary, requred,-but having still
tho same grand and Interior end inview, TO preserve
intact and inviolate the Liberty. Laws and Con-
stituiion of the COMMUNICATING the wild beasts
al Ephesus all the tme-the growing and destruc-
tive spirit Of Jdcksonian modern DGmocrQcy-
fighting often demonstrating more often with in
terested and carnal selfseekng place and disiinc-
ton hunters-but fighting on our part with
the deepest sincerity that were right, and with
out any motive but our Country's Honor, llappi-
ness and Glory. In This warfare we have spent
the prime Of life, knowing, as Heaven be our
Judge, no personal object, or mercenary conside.
ration. Thousands of such have assaiIed our inte.
gritty and beset our path yet have we invariably,
and without hesitation reluctance, bid them s.ga
behind us, Satanl" We have not known, nor will
we ever know in the solemn duties which as ed
tors we undertake TO fulfil, but one rule ofcond,ct
towai DIS the Public, and that is to act towards the
Public as if we were Immediately (as We trust we
are) responsible to God HIMSELF for the manner in
which we execute the high trust committed to U.s.
These declarations the Public Of Virginia will
believe; for al least they give credit for sincerity
and disinterestedness.
- The sneers of "RoanoEe" will therefore fall
innocuous at our feet-bunted by encouniering
the seveniod shield of public dsintc rcsedness
III we have changed upon the subject olthe canal,
so have many thousands changed Pretending not
to infallibiIity, we have changed, we do change,
= and we will change, with the conviction of the
understanding. We oM mol cling 10 error, when
satisfied thai it is error Call changeIing if YOU
please, but when convinced that we were mistak.
en-, we are prepared TO change upon all subjects,
from Revelation down TO the fashion of pair Of
Gloves. We repose in the wisdom Of the maxim,
that "a wise man changes, but fool never does"
What the multitude pronounce TO be inconsistent.
cy, is often but the upright mans conviction that
be has been wrong, that change Of crcum.
stances which, 10 enable him TO attain an Interior
and great end, recommends TO him change OF
the policy by which he seeks it. When We turn
short round for interest sake TO accomplish a pre-.
sent, personal purpOse--Sheg are found
leaguing with ayowed foes, to PROSTATE friends
who agree with u.s. IN ultimate vlews-ihcn de.
nounce us-thea call hnngengs-Arnold.
ites-or, last and heaviest anathema-- Jyieri,es.
Such we have not been, and will not be. We
have been true 10 our cause, as the halt TO the
blade-not from interest, which has ever pulled
the other way--bui from cHriction, patriotic aud
deep seated.
As 10 the continuation Of the James River Ga
nal above Lynchburg-lei not the few who desire
il, delude themselves. or attempt 10 throw upon
us, or the Lynchburg NngInian, or any Other, the
responsibility Of defeating their unreasonable
hopes. Those hopes TW be deJ,died, but it Will
be from the ptcPos,erOus character Of the hopes
themselves, no, from individual Or personal or cd.
forial influence. There has ever been from the
beRinning-iOr 20 years--a most prcpondcrating
majority in Virginia against the James River Ca
nal. That II was enabled to get along at all, was
noble proof Of the disposition and wish Of the
People 10 improve and advance Virginia Now
that that mode Of improvement is abandoned and
Tenounced 10y the whole practical mind Of Virgil
MIA, save only few whose lands may be enhanc.
ed IN value, OF whose personal reputation is in.
volyed, II may be taken as a thing certain and in.
eynable, that odAdiiiHg, aud above all, canalng
sloBg side of nsvgablr streams, /. forever relin.
pushed. No considerable part Of the People can
he ibdoced TO petition for supplies, and no Legs.
lsture eau be prevailed with TO grant tbom. This
ve do believe ~ as fixed fact the laws Of the
Medre