Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-09-16

JAMES RIVER IMPRovEMENT-THE CANAL
AND THE RAIL RoAD-THE LEXINGTON
- GAZETTE
We have read the demonstrating article of the
Lexiagtoa Gazette Of Thursday last, with the ut.
most attention and interest.
That Rockbr,dgc, Monroe, Greenbrier, Ale
ghany and u part Of Botetourt, would have some
cause Of complaint if the Canal is finally arrested
At Lynchburg. instead Of as was originally pro-
posed pushing il on to Covington, we do not deny
That the capitalists Of that country, have subscri-
Sed some small portion of the funds already used
in carrying the canal to Lynchburg, (but a por-
ton ridiculously small when compared with their
zealous professions, the immense interests they
have at stake, and the substantial, heavy and
available capital Of that quarter of the State) Is
indsputable: But, what then? Does this confer on
them any vested right to control the destiny of the
Improvement Docs departure from the origin
al plan break faith with theml Must the original
and faulty conception of grand national enter
prize still be adhered to when ruin TO follow the
obstinacy, and when the most magnificent and
, beneficial results to reward the departure
merely because Rockbridge and Monroe are inte-
rested TO execute the first design, and have con.
tributcd to promote il
Il will be perceived at once that this reason
ing will never do; that il is too sectional, con-
ractcd and selfish. We must regard the James
river Improvement as State, as a National work
Washington and Msrshall regarded 1t the
Legislature have 30 regarded il for 81 years all
the vast expenditures, as 1t is now too evident
heedessly lavished upon the James river canal
the Millions of Dollars, which have not only
failed to secure any adequate benefit, but have
made Improvement itself odous in many quarters
Of Virginia-have been dispensed IN the idea that
the Improvement was State, and not local--na.
tiona las il respects Vrginia) aud no, sectional.
Thus regarded, it is plain that particular coun.
ties and neighbourhoods and Districts OF country,
must not be considered at all. The general and
collective good must only he looked TO. As, IN
the operation Of general laws, the individual hard
ship cannot and ought not TO prevail against the
universal good 50, in the case under cOnsidera-
tion the interests Of localities must yield the
interests Of collective Virginia. The citizen may
regret that all cannot have their wishes accom-.
plished but the practical Statesman knows the
impossibiy of doing this, and will adapt his inca
sures to promote the advantage of the greater
number.
Rockbridge and few contiguous counties.
wish the canal continued from Lynchburg to Co
vington Is the wish reasonable Will Nir-
ginia ever be compensated forthe expend-
iturel Has not the sad experience Of the
canal between Richmond and Lynchburg, de-
monsiraied that she nerer rW be compensafed'-
Is not the upward and downward trade of James
River, under the canal system, declining-is it in
fact, equal to what it was ten years ago-and car
Rockbridge and Monroe, with these facts staring
the country in the face, after the expenditure %
five or six millions of Dollars. ask ofVirginia IL
continue for their benefi, an enterprise so vastly
costly, and so absurdly unproductive of good save
only to Messrs. Boyd, Edmond & Davenport!
We ask it OF our friends in Rockbridge to scan
this matter Virginians and not merely Cit.
zens Of Rockbrdg,: But, there is an eligible plan
for bringing facilities TO their very doors, which
we will suggest in another paper.