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

on that very day, the Isl OF January 1875, the
House oi Delegates adopted resolution 10 the
elect that the Executive be authorised 10 an
point three persons, who, or any TWO of whom
should make accurate examination and survey
oil James River, from Lynch's Ferry, in Camp.
bell county, upwards; an of the mos; convenient
course for ruad from the highest navisable
part 81 said River, 10 the nearest navgabe part
ol The waters running into The Ohio, This re-
solution, amongst other things, provided, that
these commissioners should be attended by a
guard OF 80 soldiers, and that Goo should be
appropriated towards detraying the expenses. Ii
was finally passed by The Senate; and report
was made under il 10 The next session OF the Le-
gisalurc, on The Slh day of November, 1885.
Another bill was passed at this same session
OF The Legislature, connected with this subject.
which will ever reflect the highest credit on the
General Assembly OF Virginia, while the events
Which attended and grew ont Of lis passage,
would brighten The ia;fesl page in The history Of
the world. On the 4th of January, 1855. in
the House of Delegates, it was ordered, that
leave be given IN bring in bill "for yestiny
in George Washington, Esq, certain in
tcresl IN The companies i1r opening and extend
ing The navigation OF Poowmack ana Jam, ;
Rivers" This bill was passed by both Senate
and House, without The slightest difficulty The
sislbe, while il alone is sufficient TO show under
whose auspices this great work was begun, and
how high was the estimate in which The Legs-
lature then held it, The ac is in these words:
Il. Whereas ii is the desire of The representa-
lives of this Commonwealth TO embrace every
suitable occasion OF estityins their sense Of the
unexamrled merits OF George Washington, Esq.
towards his country; and it Is their wish in parli
cular that those great works for lis improvement
which, both as sprinsins from the liberty which
he has been so instrumental in establishing, aud
as encouraged b. his patronage, will be durable
monuments OF his glory, may be made monu
mens also OF the gratiluGeot his country:
=. BE il enacted Jy The Genstal Assembly, Tba
the Treasurer be directed. in addition 10 the sub
scrip;ionS ne is already authorized 10 make to the
respective undertakings Tor opening the naviga
lions Of Polowmack and James Rivers, 10 sub
scribe 10 the amount OF f!ty shares 10 The former
and hundred shares 10 the latter, 10 be paid il
like manner with the subscriptions above men
toned; and that the shares so subscribed, be, ant
The same are hereby vested in George Washing
Ton, Esq his heirs and assigns, forever, in az eff
lectual a manner as il the subscriptions hat
been made By himself or by his attorney"
Gen. Washington declined the acceptance Q
these shares; aid his patriotic and noble letter OF
the occasion, 10 the Governor Of Virginia, en-
bodied in an act Of the General Assembly, pass
ed at its next session. which appropriated lhcs
shares in accordance with his wishes ito snel
objects OF public nature, in such manner, ant
under such distributions, as the said Geo. Wash
inelon, Esq, by decd during his life time, or b,
his last will and testament, shall direct and APP
point" might be read with especial benefit BY al
public men Of the present day, whilst il urnishe,
indeed "a fresh and endearing proof of his title /,
the gratitude Of his country" and can never lai
toeIalt even his "illusriuus merits" in the estima
ton OF all mankind
BY The act tor ycstns this interest in Genera
Washington and BY that Tor clearing and i'm
proving the navigation OF Jane. River, together
the Legislature subscribed on The part OF The Go
vernment for 2G0 shares OF the 500, which wa
made to constitute the stock of The company, a
5000 share; being two-fil,hs of the whole, ant
making subscription OF $4,000, TO be paid il
hard money, as provided in The act OF incorpora
ton. Al tina, day, This sum, as we all know, wa
very large one. Considering the burdensom
! debt, which then hung upon the young Common
wealth. incurred in her struggle Tor Liberty, ant
The Strengthened condition Of her finances, as ey
hibiled by report made at that session, the sub
scrption mas; he regarded as liberal iE the OK
lreme. II is feared, gen; lcmen, that under ik
circumstances you would shrink even from con
temptation oil the subject; and you seem dispose,
10 halt at present, when your means are at leas
comparatively easy, il not superabundant
These acts and resolutions form the first chap
Ter in The history Of this great work. Is it no
enough 10 excite you 10 renewed cxerlon, and |,
bring you 10 The resolution that you will rot per
mi, that 10 fail, which your glorious iurcia,hers ST
molly begun? Blu, ,hi. is only part Whel
the who's is seen and considered, you will adm
that this great work caBno, stop.
A CONSTITUENT