Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-01-03
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TO RICHARD II. TOLER. ESQ.

TO RICHARD II. TOLER, ESQ.
address this communication 10 yon, because
you are Chairman Of the Committee in the Le-
sslaturc which has charge Of The subject of In
ternal improvement, as we'll IS because Of the in
luence ycu are capable Of exercising in The BODY
oil which you are distinguished member.
Wilhou. further preface, then, let me ask, what
does the Legislature intend To do for the James
River improvement this wiEierl Is that great
work TO be left in lis present condition, or is il 10
he extended further Wesl IN other words is i;
70 be abandoned 10 the fate that inevitably awaits
it, il len 10 lis own unaided efforts or will the
Legislature provide the means Tor lis further pro-
sscuiion?
These arc Important. Observation-Disclosures. il
seems 10 NE, 10 the whole Commonwealth Of vir.
gina. % the East rs well as IN the West; but u
ially important 10 Us on the West OF the Blue
Ridge What is our situation ! A few years
ago, the canal was put under contract from
LYnchbury 10 the mouth OF North River. The
old canal which afforded al least 4 safe convey
ance through the mountains, was pulled down
and DESTROYED and we were RENTED 10 The navi-
cation of our oreathcrs or rather OF the savages
who inhabited our country centuries ago. But,
sir. We endured this patiently, although it was al
tended with imminent danger &c both life and car
90: believing. as We did that il would lie 50 only
for "a season, and that in Il few years We should
have the new canal finished and in successful ope-
ration. But, alas years have rolled away, and
We arc still in the same condition. There is the
new canal hut il is only halt finished, and seem,
10 lie abandoned 10 dilapidaion and decay. The
improvement we once had, has been taken from
us, and nothing ha> been given in It's place and
every boat laden wit! -four other produce, that
now passes through the mountain, runs the inn
minent hazard OF being dashed 10 pieces against
the huge ROCKS over which the river iumbleS and
foams in lis passage. This is no exaggerated
picture It is the naked truth: and in view of it,
lei inc ask, whether common Justice does not re-
quire that We should, at least, be placed in as
good condition as we were in before The new
work was commenced. il seems 10 ne. thai
every candid and impartial man must confess,
that ], does, and that The groSsest injustice has
been done to ms in this particular.
Hu. Sir this is not all There is another view
of the subject that makes the injustice .t more
glazing We all remember The difficulty Of Sc
curing Tic CHATTER iuf the Ja:acs River Company
and the strenuous efforts made 10 oh,din subscll
bcrS 10 the stock IIrNfose efforts, the West par
licipa,cd, and 10 several counties liberal sub
Scrrion was obtained. lmi.h mention Bote
iourt, Monroe. and other Western counties. One
gentleman, think; in the former, took fifty shares
and | know others who subscribed as literally
considering their means. Now, have we not Il
right 10 demand that this work, uron which our
money has been spent, and which others are en-
loving The benoli, Of. shall be brought within orr
reach at al events. that il shall no, be allowed
10 remain curse, instead OF a blessing 10 rs
;'ut admitting all this 10 be true, ynu my ask,
wha, can the Legislature do in The present con
di;ian Of Tie country Rather ask what WILL.
the Legislature 30. for they cAS if they WILL -
OElv lei them. instead Of suggesting doubts and
difficulties, sci TO work in good earnest, ana ny
life upon it, the work will progress, and that with
out dcirilcut 10 any interest in the Common
wealth, and without the danger nf future repudia-
lion either | will not undertake to suggest the
mode or manner in which the aid Of the State
shall be afforded but even surprising she had 10
borrow the money. or to lend her credit TO the
Company TO do 50, would that be ans such great
and unhcarl-oi thing 2 Virginia is said 10 I've
the mother OF Statesmen, ami, for one, do not
t!cnv il bur whether that be 50 or not, she is the
noher OF us AL, whether we live on this or that
side of The mountains. She stands in iocO parcH-
rs 10 al! he. citizens Wen, Sir, is il considered
great act Of generosity, il a parent shond ad-
vance his son when about 10 commcnce life Tor
himself, or that he siiGald even borrow money 10
start hn in business, rot having himself the pre-
sent means of dom. SO !? And what is the differ
ence between that Ease and the one in hand =
The West is Just starting, as il were, into life
It's resources though great are undeve'oped. and
i. asks for means 10 Gc2elcre them. Shall thcy DC
afforded Or must he people Of the West SIT
down in despair or d, what the Governor hints
at in his late Message, abandon the Stac that
has abandoned, o. car. not 10! Item. Bat this is
painful part o! tie .lhc>t, and will NOT dwell
on il.
say that Virginia Is hound b. every consijc-
ration Of pablo polio. a, we'll as Of justice. 10
push the Improvement On How far il should
81, is another question Whether the original
scheme Of connecting 1t with the Ohio is pIac-
icabc. and il! So wheihe- il IS now desirable, are
questions about which there NAV he difference
o: opinion For my par, believe The trade Of
the Nofh-west IS lost 10 Virginia. Wills! she
has been talking ana surveying, her rivals have
been ,rurLing and have already pushed their i'm.
pIuvements into the territory from which she ex-
pec,ed al SONG future time, 10 draw an immense
trade.
But il all cannot be accomplished, shall We
therefore do nothing? Is the trade Of the Valley
liz. richest part Of Virginia, Of no Importance
Why may not the canal be finished 10 BuchhecSon-
or Covngton and then why !aay i IT,. nTso il, and
necled with other Improvements l.cGsSnlcs TO i, !?
bringing the produce OF DISCERN road, 50 long
For instance, The sS.ee esdd / venture 10 assert,
talked Of and yes.ada inzcd road from some point
that a gooosdiv TO the Tennessee line is second
ON Jaanmi Importance 10 the Commonwealth 10 the
.toarnies River canal The two works ought TO gn
together, for when completed they will mutually
aid each other. No doubt there are other i'm
porlant improvements well deserving the patron
age Of the Legislature. do not wish to dispa-
rage any SUCH but in my opinion, those mention
ed are Of paramount importance
May we not then expect your efficient aid this
win,crl ! know il is the opinion Of some, that
your constituents. having secured The canal 10
Lynchburg are opposed 10 its going further West.
Bnt. for ono, entertain no such unworthy opinion
Of them. Their own interest If not their magma
niInity and generosity, l5rbids il. They arc as
much interested in the extension of The canal, as
We are and if it were Otherwise, they are too gene
rous 10 deny to others The benefits from this work
TO which they are entitled in common with them
selves. Much less do lear that your course will
be governed by selfish and sectional views. You
are al The head OF a most important Committee,
and have been placed there, no doubt because you
were capable Of rising superior TO any merely To-
cal considerations, and Of viewing this great sub
iect as it bears upon the general and permanent
interests OF the Commonwealth. Neither do ap-
prehend any opposition TO The scheme here sug-
gesied from the Northwest. They are satisfied
with the Improvements which other States haYl
already and are still making for them-and<
they ask is, that Virginia will permit thosa
10 bring their Improvements through
that they may enjoy the benefits
which Virginia herself is unak