Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-07-22
THE srIRIT OF IMPROVEMENT
The Memphis Convention.

The spirit Of Improvement, which has of late
sprung up in Virginia, seems TO be spreading It's
inAessce 10 other regions Of the south and south
west, and we are glad to believe that the effect
Win - to benefit not only Virginia, hut the whole
southern country. The feeling has gone abroad
hat Virginia is to be redeemed, and we already
have noticed the spirit those impressions have IN
fsssd into the enterprise ofTennessee, Alabama,
Georgia, &c. &c.
Whilst we are throwing out to our citizens in
ceutives to action, we are also arousing in our
neighbors the spirit of improvement, by which
they may become rivals with the Old Dominion
in isdustry and enterprise. This we like to
No hope our friends Of the sister States may con-
tinus to wake up, and vie with Virginia in such
glorious achievements as erecting manufactures.
Such rivalry will give new impulse to things in
this State, and the people will become more and
more convinced Of the Importance Of action
action
As we have repeatedly said, the natural advan-
tagcs Of Virginia can't be surpassed, if indeed
equalled, and it only requires the proper efforts to
bring her resources into active service.
How much like true friend to the interest OF
his own State, and the interests OF the south, does
the able editor of the Nashville Wing write. In
speaking Of the resources of Tennessee, and the
true policy of the south, he says:
"a misunderstanding interest would deveope the rich
urai OF the Sise-cause its soil yield greater
poducton-bng into profitable action the labor Of large
part Of To- populuton, unproductve through or
hsbtsuengthen and increase the general ability TO sup
port i government literally pay its debts extend internal
Improvement and promote educauon-and generally ad-
the social and intellectual condition OF its citizens
through the interchange OF scientific thoughts and active
composition. II the policy adopted throughout the
South great political good would be affected by abstng
not entirely csdieing the caouses and henrt-burnngs
sugendered BY physical distractions and political ansi
cssg and by substituting for them vscs OF honest HOMO
rabis and concentrated competition"
And, to show with what zeal the friends of I'm.
provemeut, elsewhere, have taken the matter in
hand, we copy below an account of the Memphis
Convention. While it will be seen by the speci.
fed objects and proceedings of that Convention,
that the improvement Of our own State is not men.
toned, vet we can tell our friends that may
even look to the meeting in Memphis as likely to
ennre to the benefit of Virginia.
For instance, if those who favor opening chan
mel for National and Commercial purposes, to
connect the Mississippi and the Northern Lakes,
look at the subject in AN its bearings, they will find
that Virginia too, may afford some inducements
not yet mentioned. Let il be borne in mind that
n route from Tennessee leading to South Western
Virginia, and connecting with the James River
Improvement, say at Pattonsburg, or some other
accessible point, would afford channel of COM
rnunic,tion paxsessinp advantages i'm mart, supe.
-,--.o-,~'l.
fof W aimoss any o'ner'
Whiting feeling ourselves sdiicie ntly acquaint-
- nth ,hs ,,;.,s Of ou, friends i, tho South Wet
~
on the suDect Oh their Improvements we snail rest
satised for the present with hopa that they will
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