Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-08
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POLITICAL.
From the Lexington "valley Star"
TO THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN VlRGi-
MA

From the Lexington "Valley star.
TO THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN VIRGIL
MIA.
By resolution adopted at meeting OF The CT
tixens of Rockbridge, held al The Court House
in Lexington on Monday the 9Th OF April 1916
half on subject OF vital importance TO them, and
in which you are deeply though more remotely
interested. In the discharge Of this duty, we de-
sire 10 approach you in that spirit oil afectionate
regard which should always characterize the in
tercourse between brethren OF the same great pc
llical family And in the name OF this ancient
Commonwealth, and by all the lies which Lave
so long bound US together as citizens OF com,
mon and beloved country, we ask That you Will
not turn deaf ear TO this, perhaps the last appea
we shall ever make 10 your sense, not OF liberia
~, but OF justice.
Ii is now almost seventy years since Virginia
threw off the colonial yoke and declared herself q
free and independent Stale. A solemn compact
was then entered into by which her citizens in
CURED all the obligations 10 each other incident
10 the establishment of government in civilized
community; and the government itself assumed
all the responsibilities which attach to an inslitu-
lion designed Tor the common benefit, projection
and security OF the people" and intended 10 pro-
mole their "happiness and security" All who
became parties 10 the social compact, became
bound by that act 10 ait mol only in defending
the honor and glory Of the whole Stale, but 10
contribute 20 the prosperity as well as the secu-
rity of every portion of the Commonwealth
Che obligation OF wise and benehcenl govern
men, 10 provide commercial facilities, by the con-
slruction of works OF internal improvement fol
the benefit OF liz own citizens or subjects, is ac-
knowlcdsed b. the whole civilized world. And
even some ot the most despotic governments IN
Europe are at this very momcnt actively EN-
Moved in The construction Of canals and railroads
ior the purpose OF promoting the prosperity and
happiness OF their subjects; and The citizens OF
most OF the States in thus Union are now i'll The
enjoyment o.the great and inappreciable advan-
tages resulting from 4 vigorous and successful
prosecution OF a liberal system OF Internal I'M
provemenis by the governments they have es,at-
tishsd 10, themselves. And we find the inhabi-
rants OF some Of the new States, Carved out OF
territory once belonging 10 Virginia. and until re-
Gently the abode of savages and wild beasts, trans
porting the products Uf their fertile fields along ar
liicial channels OF commerce, for thousands Of
miles, and underselling US in your own markets
The obligation upon the State governments 10
contribute 10 the construction ofworks necessary 10
afford their citizens the means OF carrying inter-
nal commerce. il is believed has not hitherto been
denied even in Virginia. II is true that many OF
your most distinguished politicians have denied
10 lhe General Government the power TO appropriate
money TO works of internal improvement; hut
they have done so on Ire express ground that
the power and obligation 10 construct such
works peraned exclusively 10 Inc governments
and the people Of tnc severa. States.
The motives which induced your ancestors,
and ours, to become parties TO the same social
compact, are obvious. You enjoyed much great
or facilities for carrying on commerce with TO-
reign nations, and with the other colonies, than
we did, but were much more exposed 10 danger
from foreign invasion whilst we, reposias in
tne perfect security OF our mountain businesses,
felt all the inconvenience resulting from total
exclusion from the benefits OF commerce. The
great purpose for which the compact WAS formed,
was TO better the condition of all the parties TO it.
We became bound 10 rally in the defence OF your
properly and rour homes in time of war; and
you became bound TO assist in overcoming, as far
as practicable, the obstacles which cut us offrom
The enjoyment OF the markets OF the great com
mercial world.
Whether We have complied with our part Of
the agreement or not, w- are willing 10 leave 10
your own decision II there was battlefield
either OF victory or defeat; during the long and
glorious struggle Of the Revolution, on which the
blood of our ancestors did not mingle with and
dow as freely IS that OF your fathers, we know no
where it was. The history OF the battles of Gull
ford OF the Cowpens, and Kings mountain, ant
OF The siege OF Yorktown, bears witness that on
ancestors diG not tail TO comply fully with the OBJ
10 our duty in the war oil 1912. No call was eve
made for our services that was not promptly ant
chserfully complied with. And many there wer,
who never returned. We do not pretend 10 have
done more than our duty, nor sha': we nov ask yor
10 perform more than We conscientious!y and con
fdently believe 10 be yours We may be told, I:
we have often been, that il we rendered services
we we're paid for them. We reply, that the same
power that required the services, fixed the pay.
that The price paid was not half the amount which
1nercenary soldiers would have dema nded; and
besides, we furnished our full proportion Of III
funds out OF which the payment was made, AM
out Of which Your own troops were paid out o
our own pockets. We affirm then, thar we hav
faithfully performed our par, of the agreement
and we ask you, Gin no spirit of rcrroach, but il
candor, and we hope we may do so without OF
fence haveyou performed you, part of The agree
menl? We humbly conceive that you have not
and If YOU will bear with us, We will endeavo
10 point OUT in what You have failed 10 90 so.
We enjoy scarcely any greater facilities fo
carving the products OF our soil 10 market now
than we did when the compact was entered inlt
in Ito. And in some respects our condition !:
worse than il was forty years ago; and, Judging
from the liberal aid given by The British govern
,nent towards the construction of the WellanC
canal in Canada, j, may we'll be doubted, if oul
condition would not ha re been better al this time
in regard 10 facilities for carrying our produce L
market, if the connection between this country
and ENGLAND had never been dissolved. And il
is demonslrabe. that our condition would have
been infinitely better than il is now il, when you
transferred the North west territory to the Gene
raj Government, in l7S3 you had made The Blue
Ridge instead OF the Ohio, the line. For yor
have not only refused us the means Of getting lc
market ourselves, but you have prevented Us
from getting the means from others
.t.e f,,a ,ar
ke. for the products of our soil, was worse in
some respects than it was forty years ago. A
that time, it will be remembered BY individuals
now living in this country The great VALLEY road
was perfect thoroughtare, along which travel
lers were continually vending their way, in
droves, 10 the West, atiording toeraby good
market, at our very doors, for at least portion
Of our surplus products; but now, We see but
shrre and there a traveller" and that at long in
tervals, moving along, solitary and alone. Why
this change2 Ii is because the General Govern
ment has constructed great and splendid road
across the Allegheny Mountains, at the pub
lie expense, along which hundreds OF thou
sands of travellers pass annually, between the
Eastern cities and the great Mississippi valley,
instead of passing through this part OF The coun-
try, as they would do, tthey had as good road;
whilst the same government was prevented BY
the active interference OF your immediate repre-
sentatives in Congress alone, from constructing a
similar road along this valley, extending from
Buffalo in New York, TO the city OF Orleans A
bill for the construction OF such road was be-
ore Congtessa ooutthe year 1927, and came within
one vote OF passing, lii our memories do not de-
ceive ISL notwithstanding most OF Your immedi-
ate representatives voted against it. II was at
that time that one Of your most distinguished
sons made the exclamation Of glory enough for
one day" and moved 10 adjourn as soon as The
vote defeating the bill was announced. Thus,
you perceive it was at least in part through the
action of your immediate representatives, OF
which you approved, that we lost almost the only
market we had, and were prevented from havin g
channel opened, through which we could have
reached the great markets afforded BY the North
ern and Eastern cities.
But that is MOI The only instance in which you
have prevented our obtaining the means of ready
access 10 Market without your aid, and but for
your active agency to prevent il. BY an act OF