Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-03-12
THE CANAL.

We hope that the people of Virginia will, es-
pecially Mt this time, on the of the election OF
n new Legislature take into serious consdera-
ton this most important subject, and adopt mea.
sures to give efficiency TO their sentiments, by
the election Of men of enlarged and liberal views.
Nothing has ever hampered the progress of i'm.
provement in this State as much rs narrow and
sectional policy, which, in turning deaf ear to
the demands of every region but its own, has pre-
vented many measures of general good, and blind
ly retarded its own prosperity in common with
that Of the whole State. 4 different spirit, hew.
ever, has, of late, made itself manifest and in
no section more prominently than in Eastern
Virginia. The interests of East and West are at
last found to be the same. The East needs the
productions of the West. The West needs mar
ket, particularly the upper portion OF the Valley
hemmed in as it is between the Blue Ridge and
the Alleghanies, with no outlet IN any direction.
What more natural, just and proper, than the pro-
posed extension Of the Canal We say emphaii
cally THE CANAL, for to terminate that mode
Of improvement at its present point, and there
commence the construction of Rail Road, would.
not only, we believe, detract from the efficiency
of the general improvement, but be a mockery of
the people of the Valley, whose hopes have already
been too long deferred. Give them the Ca.
nal and all the farmers have 10 do is 10 place their
products upon canal boat, and let them float
without interruption to Richmond. Otherwise,
the agricultural community of that region never
can, and we venture to say never arH, send the
productions of their soil and labour to an Eastern
market. The natural, the necessary result must
be, that communication will be formed with
Baltimore, and the entire trade of the upper VAL
ley take that direction. Nor will this be its only.
its most deploTable effects. An alienation OF
feeling, degenerang almost into sectional HOSTILE
~, will follow the alienation of business relations,
and the apparent alienation of the love of the
Commonwealth from portion OF her OWE family.
We say apparent, for we believe that Eastern
men generally are disposed to do full justice TO
the contemplated improvement, although, uniortu.
nately, the course of the State has been such to
give plausibility to a different impression. As an
illustration Of the feeling which we so much de-
Precate, we quote the following paragraph from
the Valley Star, with which it concludes an arli.
Gle upon the late Postponcment of this subject,
d the influences, by which, it supposeE, that re-
suit was effected:
'Let the people OF the West remember it. Let Rock.
bridge and Boiteour and Allegheny and Bath, and PO-
cahontas remember 1t. Let us, until get Bau-
more establ sh Western house the banks Of the Ca.
nal Lynchburg which every pound OF iron, and every
barrel Of -four and all other articles o. trade, whether
cendng descending the river, shall be cousisned,-et
all Iude m that Western kouse-ls Rock.
bridge and Amherst complete the Buffalo Springs
10 New Market, and let aEaiLema maTaRatha upon
the who will eKpend the first red within the lin
its OF L,nehbuFg."
This is strong language, Indignantly spoken,
but strong as it is, we believe it to be but faint
reflection Of the general spirit which is at last
aroused in that portion of the Valley. Let this
spirit be put at rest Let US Unite the hearts of
our people by the strong bonds of mutual interest.
Let Virginia adopt policy which shall present a
broad platform, upon which the East and West
may together stand, and both recognize in the
Commonwealth generous and impartial mother.
We mus. defer 10 another day, farther CON-
ments.