Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-10-08

tory reason Tor Withholding from the citizens Of another
and latge portion OF the state the legislation Necessary for
the enhancement Of their wealth and prosperity. They are
eonten' that wheeling should enjoy the same rights and adj
vantaros which they seek Zoe themselves. but they do utter.
ly deny, and feel themselves borne oot In 50 doing by the
splnt " inc constitution, that she can be enutled to claim
an exclusive privilege to be denied to other portions OF the
state. Nothing In the history Of this subject has conferred
upon her any such right nothing could consistently with
ten' and justice, confer upon her any such privilege. We
seek not TO deprive that hourshing city, In whose pto-pe-
uy we shall a, all times rejoice, OF any OF The advantages.
which irotn her position and the entetpriSings spirit OF her pop.
ulauon she 80 wcrthly enjoys. With the great artery Of
the nation washing her western border with the National
Road passing through her principal street and crossing its
streams athcr wharfs, with her inc xhsusuble stores OF mine
rai wealth aud the centre OF n rich and fertile county inha.
bited by an industrious and enterptizing population. she
possesses most enviable advantages not to be taken away
nor seriously Affected by the gran, OF the usual and neces-
sary means OF improvement to our less favored portion of
the state. Nor would We withhold ftom her or that portion
OF tho State along the northern frontier, sympaihiIing in in.
terest with her, the means OF constructing any similar i'm.
p'ovemen's BY which they might deem their trade and
prosperity would be promoted. Let them apply for the ne
ecssary legislation TO further their views, and Il will receive
u prompt anu cordial support. All We ask - TO be placed
upon an equal footing with GU. felnw-cinrens, and not 20
be treated as a people whose right and whose Interests are
10 be regarded as OF secondary and subordinate CONSIDERS
ton. Auihat We demand is hat we may be permitted. as
the citizens OF all other portions OF the State In all times
nave been TO construct a great work OF internal improve
ment through our country, with our own means and such
as from our situation and other circumstances we can in
woke to our aid, without the charge of a single dollar upoa
the Treasury.
Nor can VIC perceive any force or justice in the arru.
ment 50 strenuously urged by the friends OF the James
River and kanawha Improvement, Sgsinst the policy OF
the measure we seek TO promote. OF that Improvement.
although irom cur local situation we could never derive
any immediate or direct benefit from IL. we have vet been
the early aud constant friends. We regarded IL as 4 great
state work Challenging the support ol all who looked to
her true honor and interest. and we cheeriully consented
10 bear our portion OF the burden which its prosecution
necessarily imposed. oar delegates have with our appro-
baton been found to give their aid in providing the nrec..
sary means for Its completion. But until tho history OF the
last two winters had taught us The unwelcome lesson, VIC
could not suppose that II was 10 be made the Aaron,s rod
to swallow up all the rest; nay, that while IL wa, 10 pour
the blessings OF wealth and prosperity ia such pr.fu.ion
into the lap OF that region through which 1t passed. II was
to cast a blight and mildew upon other portions of the
State beyond the reach Of its e~nriehing influence
Viewed IN this unenviable light, II must nut only
nave iahSu o receive our support, but must have
challenged our stern and Incorporating Opposition. Bar
such Is not tho aspect IN which this great work should
he presented. Its friends wrong themselves and wrong the
State, by suffering any well founded belief that such is to be
is balelu. influence. TO prevail for a moment. It, true fri ,nd.
by q more liberal and Judici1us course should promptly and
deeisively demonstrate its iAIlacy. The God Of Nature has
placed unpenetTable baraers between our section of the
State and the line OF this work, we can never contribute
the products ot our labor and the resources OF our country
to enrich us trade. The idea sometimes advanced, that
these should find an outlet to the OHIO uyer. and down that
steam to the terminus OF this work, thence To seek a con-
vcyance TO an eastern market, Is too visionary and prepos
ferrous TO need a muments examination. They must seek
an outlet through that avenue pointed out by nature. and
the phys ca, features OF tho country, or forey slumber
IN the soil. Whence comes this chimera OF a fatal
rNeNy pstNeen inc road We seek to opeu and the
JAMS RIVER lsrRovENESrl What influences hath con.
Jured up this GOfgon terOTi TIE wise and cautious
friends ct the latter IN former days, saw no reason To fear
ary suca danger from a road restricted as 10 its lower ter.
minus, 10 the mouth OF the Liule kanawha. But should any
such rivalry be established, IL could only be for The love,
trade and travel OF the Oaio riyer, and for this the James
River Improvement would have all the advantages in the
competition which n terminus near 100 miles below upon
the uyer would give IL. 1t would be a rivalry IN which tho
odds would be greatly y in its favor. But we believe no such
n'alu as ibe opponents Of our work predict could ever be
established. Al most a generous splnt of competition
would be created, by which the public good would be emf.
nenty promoted. And we think we hazard little IN ths
prediction, Judging from the past, and the prospects for the
iutl:e Standing IN bold relief before US, that ere the James
River Improvement and the road We seek to open, eould.
IN the reasonable progress Of such works, be completed
the trade and travel upon that great highway of the nation
at which they terminate, seeking a vent through them,
viii be greater than the utmost means OF both works will
be adequate TO accommodate.
As ludc Is there IN the argument against the sunnosed
impoicy OF contributing the resources Of our country Ia
build Up the city OF Baltimore in another State. Were il
to withdraw those resources from the trade and commerce,
OF a Virginia city It might be urged with some show of
plausibiliy. Such, however, We have shown Is not nor
can be The effect They must GO to Baltimore or remain
dormant and undeVe!oPed. And why should there be
auy such jealousy on the part Of citizens OF V,rrinia
egaiSst that oyI The commercial metropolis o. a neigh.
boring State. bound to our own by similar insitupo,s snd
other tee which should and would render their union GER.
tain, uader any adverse Conjunction OF federsl relations,
aHc commanding a. she does the head OF the noble BAY
that washes the eastern shores OF the State, che Is, in All
respects e'uied To our kindly regards, and Virginia should
never grudge 10 contribute 10 her prosperity that which
sne herself noeds not, nor can ever render available 10
her own.
We pass BY in silence the many idle and frivolous nh
JeeuoHt, iuuuced IN appeals 10 passion or p~rejudces, which
were urged against The measure proposed by US. They
were iUe Arguments oi tho hour. and will not stand the
test Of time or cain reflection. Like the morning msi.,
they must be soon disPellod before the rising sun Of ruth
and reason.
We rely with abiding confidence upon the Justice Of
DOR cause. The General Assembly Of Virginia however,
led into temporary error, cannot continue TO be unjust to
shy portion Of her citizens The history Of our good old
I nffh ~ nnfA raVnf an.L - II
upon her sons, Truth is mighty and will prevail" We
60 ioTtl again TO the contest armed in the panoply Of right:
AID thrice armed because we know our quarrel to be Just.
we cannot believe there "a any design u oppress Us, but
we are constrained 10 say that the refusal Ia grant our res
sonable prayer It persisted in. would bs oppression. ftern.
unmItgatcd, and insupportable. Nor shall We ever ce,.c
TO rsslsit, IS long IS the memory Of our revolutionary rires
aud Of he great struggle in which they engaged, retains a
place Ia cur bosoms, or The principles Of free government
and equal nights snal lind en- advocate.
lt. Resoi5ed, That the refusal Of the last Legislature
10 grant to The citizens @. this region, the poor boon Of max
iug through their own country, By their own means. a rail.
road 70 enable them to transport to market their surplus
produce, was an act OF injustice and oppression uuparalel-
led IN the history Of Legislation.
End RssOi5sd, Tnat satisfied as we are Of tue justice
and retsonablsness Of demands, we will continue our IN
RENTED txcrtons until the object Is attained.
3rd Rssoirsd, That We feel satisfied that the Leeisls-
lure o' ~ wise and patriotic a sts'e as Virgins, will not
when the subject - properly understood, persist in refusing
our reasonable application to the next Legislature 10 pas
an act TO charter a company to construct a railroad from
sgme point on tho ryer Potomac above the mouth Of the
C'N" D'1"S"s m1NCt ~ . pliu1 on tt ONO lbtE mol iuT-
ther south than the mouth Of the Little Kanawha river.
4h. HesoiUsd, That a committee OF : be appointed 10
prepare a su.tible memorial to the Legislature to effect the
object OF ths meeting.
5h. Resoired, That a committee Of 10 be appointed in
each county, -noso duty 1t shall be to circulate and obtain
signatures 10 said memorial.
6h. Rssoiusd, That's COMMITTEES 1T correspondence and
Vighsncc to consist Of 3 member DO appointed in each
county, with a view to promote the general objects OF this
convention.
ia. Rs'oiU,d, That The proceedings Of this convention
be forwarded % tho Governor Of thns Commonwealth with
a frlGelt that he Jay tho same before the General Atsem-
bis.
Prom the Warrington Uaion, oels.