Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-12-23

prohiS oil inns Improvement Such expectations
were delusive. We have been loo often deceived
by the glowing accounts Of The profits TO be de-
rived from works Of internal improvement
The Stale should not pledge lis faith for more
than definite sum for single year. The peo-
pie would then understand what they would have
TO pay for this improvement.
Mr.. GOODSON said that he was willing 10
submit the question 10 the decision Of The people
Mr.. LEAkE did not wish 10 involve The Stale
in debt. The East should mol ,aunt The West with
lis poverty, nor the West complain Of the appro-
pIiations Tor the East He would cherish more
friendly feeling. Let US give what we have, with
out rendering an increase Of taxation necessary.
II these liabilities are 10 come upon us al future
day, Reputation or Increased taxation would be
absolutely necessary.
Mr.. GOODSON was glad The gentleman had
come halt way. lie hoped he might yet be in
duced to go the entire length in support OF this
measure. This improvement would pay The in
'erest on The money expended. He did net wish
10 involve the State in debt nor did he anticipate
any increase ofthe taxes. He moved TO amend
The proposition OF the gentleman by requiring the
appropriation from The Treasury to be annual
until the work was completed.
The amendment 10 the amcncment was rejected
Mr.. lIARVlE called for the ayes and noes on
the amendment ofhe gentleman from GoCchland
MIR. GOODSON said, that the amendment
introduced new feature into the bill without
any previous consultation with its friends. He
thought The Legislature should commence a; once
ard complete the entire work. He did not know
whether the gentleman from Goochand was
military man or not; but as he spoke about war,
he would inform him that if a requisiton were
made on the people of the Southwest 10 defend tie
East, they could no. comply with il Tor want Of a
road he desired that the question might be per-
al lin IN IA,
feat The bill lei them kill US al once, and not grind
us up in this way.
Mr. LYONS woull propose an amendment
lo..,he amendment. The gentleman from Gooch-
land was willingto appropriate 1000 to COM
mence The work, and 10 carry it on whenever hele
was sufficient amount in the treasury, ou' ne
was univ iing 10 pledge The iaiLh OF me say az
Soluelv TO incur The liability nc gave .,'I ssn1
tlsman credit for good ia;ih and supposed ne din
moi design approPfa'ihs S'''ooo' anu '''eii 'oa"-
"o ,no'ion was then made b Mr.. LYONS 10
,menI The amendment By adding thereto the fol
loving: "And this General Assembly, as far as
il can DO So hereby pledges The faith of the Stale
10 complete this road as The financial condition
Of the State shall enable ii 10 do So"
Mr.. LYONS believed that the financial con-
dilion of the State would always be such as 10
enable il 10 meet the acquisitions of this under.
taking. He believed there was no danger OF
war. The union Of all parties in support Of The
views Of The President had removed every dan
ger of war. II ii be wise now TO appropriate
900 for This improvement, i, must be equally
wise 10 follow il upwith successive appropria-
tons he would not enter into general dis
cussion Of the merits OF the question at this time.
This question OF improvement was Of more i'm
por,ance than that 0. war. This question pre-
sen,ed crisis in the affairs OF The Stale The de-
clara,ion had been made from various quarters
oil the House, that il this measure were defeated,
no other appropriations should be made for any
work Of internal improvement This was not the
language OF those associated as partners; il was
on The principle Of every man Tor himself. No
State, no county could prosper on such princi-
pies. He would forbear any further discussion
al this time.
Mr.. LEAKE, in justice 10 himself, would re-
ply 10 the remarks Of The gentleman. He rds
acluaied by good faith in proposing his amend
nent. He was willing 10 do all that could in rea
son be done, but he would not do more than ne
cessitv required There will be another Legisa-
ture in session when the present appropriation
shall have been exhausted, and an additional ap
preparation can then be made if convenient or
esDedient Does the gentleman arPreh,sn7d dan
Will he no, accord 10 succeeding Legislators The
same patriotism and liberaliiy2 This is a State
work. and shond, al all times, be under the
control Of the Legislature II might hereafter be-
come inexpedien, 10 continue The work. He did
not appre hend any danger from war al this time,
but was impossible 10 anticipate The contingen-
cies that might arise. He could not accept The
amendment proposed.
Mr.. BOCOCK was opposed TO the amend
ment of the gentleman from The city Of Rich
mond, and in favor OF the amendment Of the gen.
,leman from Goochland yet he was opposed to
The bill itself thus amended. The proposition of
the gentleman from Richmond could attain no.
thing more than the amendment of the gentleman
from Goochland. To whom islhe faith OF the State
10 be pledged The State was The only party con-
cerned. II was absurd 10 speak OF this Lesisia-
lures pledgng the faith OF the State 10 The State
itself for a succession Of years! We have no
power TO bind The Sale. Why should we borrow
money In advance for seven years2 The ap-
preparation Tor single year was sufficient. The
proposition of the gentleman from Goochland
was perfectly fair. 1t could be understood by the
people. 1, was question OF sound policy, whe-
iher we ought 10 make the appropriation oil
$4,000. Gentlemen seemed TO think there were
but two things for the Legislature 10 do-,o inn
pose taxes and construct The Southwestern Road!
Mr. PENDLETON explained his remarks
on The previous day. He considered decision
against the Southwestern Road as equivalent TO
n decision against every work OF internal i'm
lions should no, be controlled by the decision OF
the House on this bill.
Mr.. BOCOCK was pleased with the explana
ton of the gentleman. Other gentlemen, how
ever, asserted that, if This work should be defeat
ed, thew would vote against all others. Let The
friends Of this work give the guaranty afforded
by subscription, and he would then regard il
more favoraby They commended that this work
would he profitable investment, yet no gentle
llu
by subscribing his name. They say they are IN
able to subscribe They ask, then, for bounty.
Why this complaint OF injustice? If we could
afford to bes,uw bounty, he would Willingly
vote for this BILL but the finances OF The Stale
would not Justify such liberality. He preferred
the amendment Of the gentleman from Gooch-
land because the people could then decide each
year whether they would incur this expense. he
could no, concur with The gentleman from Eau
quier on the subject OF Convention He was
unwilling thus 10 attempt TO buy off the people Of
the West on the various sectional questions
which would be considered by Convention. He
was surprised 10 hear the cry OF crisis, crisis,
from The gentleman from Richmond. lie mad
supposed this was The peculiar pIerosative OF
another party, of party oil which he was an
humble member. He had not been disposed 10
trust in this cry Of crisis, when il came from tie
leader of his own party, and still less when il
came iTom Tue gentieiiidu uoh tiic NY " It'll
mond. The passage of This bill presented no
crisis. He hoped The time would come when The
friends of this Improvement would be willing 10
subscribe for its construction and when the Le-
sslature should be able TO assis, them in their
undertaking. If The work is 10 be SO profitable
an investment why not leave future Legislators
free TO be influenced BY S, powerful considera- /
lion? Gentlemen say that The West has received
nothing from the State Whence came The three
'Hprp lies nI
10 buy out for this improvement The South /!
west is already traversed by Turnpkes.
MIR LYONS did not wish to infringe upon The |
crisis privileges Of the gentleman or his party. |
He was glad TO hear the explanation OF the gen.
tleman, that he did not see with the eyes OF his
political leader. He thought The gentlenlan's
party were accustomed 10 see whale or wca-
sci in each cloud, as their great leader pointed
them out. He alluded TO The question OF Con-