Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-02
FoR TUE ENorlf

FoR ruE ENQUIRER.
T1Me MemjersOt The General dacmt'go( Virgihi0
Genlemen:lt was proposed 10 make some
reference this morning, 10 the history Of Inc James
River Improvement, for The rarpose Of showing
that its execution has been always regarded, by
the Statesmen Of Virginia, as essential 10 our
prosperity and unity, bo'h in political and COM
mercial point Of view. Many Of you, will, no
doubt, be surprised 10 learn, that only about eight
years after The Declaration Of our independence,
and in less than one year after The desperate slrng-
Gle for OH liberties had been crowned with sue
cess; before time had been given TO repair The rava
ge, of war, or 10 accumulate The means OF reiev-
ing The burthens il had imposed, and OF discharg
ing The obligations il had created; when the sword
had Jus, been exchanged for the sickle-this sub
ject OF The Improvement of the James River and
its connection with the Western warlsrs occu-
pied The anxious deliberations Of the Legislature,
upon the specia recommendation OF General
Washington himself; and, that The great and pal
rioic members, who then filled orr halls OF Legs
la'ion, orercame the difficulties which beset them,
and ceased not, until they had effectively dis
charged their duty, towards The prosecution of
utility"
On the 18th OF December, 1884, in the House
Of Delegatcs then sitting, il was "ordered; that
leave be given 10 bring in bill for opening and
extending The navigation Of James River; and
that MIR. Madison, MIR. Souihall, Mr.. Darlington,
Mr.. Wilson Cary Nicholas and Mr.. Benjamin
Harrison do prepare and bring in the same
Accordingly on the 18th OF The same month, Mr.
Madison presented a bill "ior opening and
extending the navigation Of James River
This bill was passed b. the House Of Dele
gates. II was also passed BY The Senate, bul
with certain amendments; aud ia consequence
Of a disas agreement between the House and Sc
nate in regard 10 The amendments, il was finally
lost on The lst day OF January, 1855. Nothing
iaunted by this untowam event, on the very
same day, in The House OF Delegates, it was
ordered, that leave he given 10 bring in
bill "ior improving the Navigation of
James River" and that Mr.. Madison and
Mr.. Henderson prepare and bring in the
same. Mr. Madison accordingly reported a
bill On Inc Sid of January; which eventually
passed The Senate as well as The House of Dale
gates, under The title OF san acl for clearing and
improving the navigation II James River
II was this acl which gave birln 10 The old "James
River Company"
Al the same session of The Legislature, "Mr
Madison presented, according 10 order, bill Tor
taking survey of the Rivers, James and Po-
tomac, and OF the nearest Western waters to liie
head branches of the same, that may be rem
dered nayisable This bin passed the House
of Delegates, but like the first one mentioned,
was finally lost on hx same day, Ohe Isl day OF
January, 1850 in Consequence of disagree
ment between the Senate and House abou, GER
tain amendments made 10 il ia the former body.
These dsagreemens probably arose from the
fact, that these bills, as passed by HE House, con-
lained much more extended provisions for accom-
plishng The objects designed by them, than The
Senate al lha, lime considered prudent; Tor again