Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-05-30
Trip 70 Lyachburg.
TIE CANAL

|
The Fredericksburg Recorder, opposed to all
Richmond and James River interests, seizes tri-
umphantly upon the position We advanced that
the James River Canal, namely, was "a failure"
in order, in the first place, to give Gov. Mellow.
ell stab under the fifth rib and in the second to
| propitate tLat lower Potomac, Rappahannock and
YorS SECTION OF Virginia, which, enjoying from
nature read made high ways TO market, is appar.
emily ndisposed TO contribute It's proportion to
enable their less favored brethren TO get there
! TO prevent all future aid TO the Central and true
State improvement, by representing the sums al
ready contributed, as thrown utterly away
Let say 10 the Recorder, that we meant not
this at all. What we did mean vas, that the ca
nal was failure thus far, because the scheme had
not been cOmplcted-becausc the original design
had not been perfected, Of q union of the Mssis
sipp and Atlantic waters-because it was an
unfinished irork and in its unfinished state, neither
capable Of realizing the conceptions Of It's prolec.
tors, OF remunerating stockholders, indemniiying
the State, or fulfilling the great and Justly founded
expectations of Virginia Our object was to be
candid with the public; TO cypress our sincere con.
vicOns,that the worn, left where II is afterthe ex
pendture Of Millions, leouid be and was a dead
and absolute failure but that if prosecuted boldly =,
promptly, and wisely, it was competent to restore
Virginia to her pristine and Revolutionary superb
ority and advantages Who differs from us in
this opiLonl No one, we venture to say: Su, ,
pended where IL is now, the Central improvement
| had just as well have never been attempted. II
assists navigation TO a certain extent, and ex.
pedtes travel but for the creation of new re-
sources, for improving the country, and bringing
new countries and their heretofore latent riches to
market, il is absolutely inefficient.
These are necessary inductions to every inform.
ed man. Every merchant in Richmond or Lynch.
burg-every farmer in the valley Of James River
every boatman even on the Canal-knows the
fact to be so. Stop the Improvement where il is,
and the immense sums contrib uied are literally
thrown away and buried in the sands Of James Riv.
er. You hasten traveller to his Decentralization
reduce probably freights and charges fraction
you prevent occasional ducking Of load of to.
bacco or -four at the Seven Islands, Tye river Mai.
den'- Adventure, or Joshua's Falls--and his is all.
This is really all that The most sperale can make
Of it at Prescnt-as the work is now suspended, for
want Of means to continue IT,.
And was il our object to keep il thus suspended
to defeat the original and comprehensive designl
Far from il. II paS The rererse; to show that
what had been done was worthless, unless all were
done: To show tina, the fire millions expended
we're thrown utterly away, unless the plan was
competed.-To show that il was true economy IA
exPend new millions, in order 10 redeem expended
millions, and to realize the bright and splendid
expectations, supported by reason and philosophy
and experienced the original conception
And here Jet Us throw in word to the lower
Potomac, Rappabannock, York, Roanoke, South
side, and othor hostile sections Of Virginia, who
are opposed, or supposed to he opposed, to this I'm
proyement. Are we not one Pcople--on ono Vir
ginia Does not that which contributes to the
good Of the whole, contribute to the good Of al
It's parts Even If your pockets are not directly
benefited, ought not every Virginian to feel an in
icrest IN The progress end advance to power Of hi
native stnte1 DO any amsng " wish to see he
sink below her fame, and her just, relative posi-
ton IN the Unionl Is this---can il be--a loca
question II taxes are 10 be levied, will no, th,
Central wealth created by this improvem ght
en- the poor citizens share on the Potomac, Rap
Pahannock and York; 1.-THE shores Of those grea
Rivers are invaded, Will not the mountains as the
did before, come to ikeir rescue We AK again