Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-11-03
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

Your seRton is earnestly invited, some considera-
lions on the subject Of Internal improvement Virginia
II hoped tina, sufficient apology for inviting your at
tenton TO this subject will be found It's
importance. and the unusual excitement upon it, which
now perysdes the public mind.
The Conventions which have lately met at Abingdon
At arrisonburg, and at Fincaste the meetings
this city and elsewhere consider subject Of Inter
asl Improvement, together with the decided tones in
which the is speaking from almost every quar-
Ger OF the State. indicate that ordinary excitement hss
taken hold Of the public mind concerning this hitherto
much neglected. but vitality important subject
One who has long behel1 with modification and with
pain, the apathy OF bs native State, oil enterprises
pseIte pifh and m0meRt has viewed with lively gratifca-
ton, these symptoms Of awakening Of the i'm
poranee 9th SUBJECT lie has hailed them, the proba
be dawn OF brighter day, in hc destiny Of Virginia
tie dovouuy hopes, that thus may prove bs the nopng
81 ihsth n her AFFAIRS iohieh taEsn at the food, p
lead her on toJsrfsns!
IL is with the hope OF contributing 10 this result by sx
citing sth farther. the spirit Of enquiry aad by stimulating
60 more vigorous and determined action, that he
Sites attention to this subject.
IL would SEEM supbruOus adduce arguments TO show
che utility OF Internal improvements or TO speak OF the
many and strong inducements. which recommend the I'M.
asdste adoption. by Virginia, OF an efficient system OF
tnternsl Improvement. Upon this point but little doubt
OF difference Of opinion exists. Its recognition IL manifest
cd ~ the extensive IN favor Of the enterprise
and the general wish expressed for some action the
sabject
Ia cannot however be disguised that strong opposition TO
che enterprise, will arise from sHpDossd local Interests
While IL will be conceded by ALL the regions
1J through which the line Of Improvement fnsy pass will
se benehfed, and the aggregate wealth Of the Sste be
herebT advanced will DO strenuOusy maintained that
the regions remote from this line will not bo benefited
Dot on the contrary, will IN be positively III
Iued Opposition may reasonably be expected from those,
who believe that Their interests will be positively injured by
tho enerprse And even among those who believe that
tbsr Interests tho not positively injured, will notwitn.
standing not be promoted, IL much 10 be feared that
few viii be found whose enlightened ragard for the pub
hc welfare will 90 Tar overcome dpprehsnsOss OF
detrimsat 20 their private fortunes In prevent luke
Wsrmness towards the enterprise scarcely less
20 iu success than absolute opposition
Accordingly, proposed q subsequent part Of these
sDquifes, - combat both opinions They are both
tsgsrded by the writer offspring VI sh,tfsfhf
90 calculations and perhaps also OF hbeTa spirit IL
viii be siroauousy msinained, that the whole State will
be beneied BY the line Of improvement about 10 be To-
commended, and that srsrv part Of the community will
sHperisnce ate share Of the advantages indirectly " not
dHsoslyis short tins, though not Immediately II will
be Demonstrated that H 10 no local improvement but
EsRersl mproveen,-thst no pripsts enterprise but
sh.i 10 sminenhy spsbie enterpQses State enterprise.
Pc ths present however. these considerations will be
pe.sed w be assumed that the general utility OF
ths esterpriss. sdiued by s 10 doubtless by the
greater number, snd sentoa ui be invited Immediately,
vbst in The opinion the writer the only practical
qse-~sns, which address themselves the public
,sisd cfvhTinis on this addressing and important sYee
Tho-s questions are, let Can we effect an efficient
schens al Internal Improvement IN Ygna1 Pad. What
should thst scheme he' Ord. How shall We effect ~
ueea thess three eisstous. s proposed in series Of
nv"eefs, 20 Offer consderauObs, briefly the
ssssre u he subIec, oil sdph
might sem more logical and therefore more proper
~ eon.def what Improvement ~ be effected, aud the