Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-16

Sir-the claims Of The Southwest, IN my
hnmhle Judgment, are OF a character moi Il
he overlooked. The twenty-five counties IN
Ieresed in this improvement, paid INTO INC
public Treasury, in The year 1885, So1
| fs9 9a of which the seven counties through
which The proposed road will pass, paid The
sum of $25, al Sl-more, sir, Than has ever
been appropriated by the Stale Tor public I'M
proyeme in those seven counties, except tEt
nconsiderable sum appropriated TO that part o
James river touching Botetour Sir, ask gen.
emen TO consider these things, and II We are
never TO receive any aid from the Staie-il
we are 10 be forever shut out from the markets
il we are to be driven 10 look elsewhere than
our own State for improvements TO enable us u
develope the hidden treasures Of the Southwest
The res onsbiIity shall be yours and not ours
| | tell you, sir, that The union OF Eastern and
Western Virginia, is all that can preserve those
delicate and important interests OF the East
TO which any more distinct alusion is unnecessa-
~. Why will Eastern gentlemen, then, nad'y
| plunge INTO policy 50 suicidal-a policy winch
must render the West aliens 10 the East, ana a
no distant day force US, bv The aid OF foreign COT
polarions. 10 carry The rich products OF The WesI
bevond the limits OF the CommCnUeaith =
| warn gentlemen not 10 press their hostility 70
the West farther Already have we suoln'''ed
n The Injustice OF our Eastern BRETHREN until SUD-
mission has almost ceased to he virtue. l ne
spirit Of INSTRUMENTATION IS ALREADY making us
appearance. and that most iata OF all calamities
10 aur State. a SEPARATION, has been spoken
of. For myself, should deplore such an event,
and The fear, that this feeling may rIpen INTO
prejudice. causes me 10 ob!rnde my opinions up
on you. stand here, with oppoHunilieslo speak
ON this subject, that have not been vourhsaled 10
rj h,,o a IN 'asf prn
Vrginian, whose blood has not flowed unworihily
in The veins fihe men OF The Revolution; all my
sen imens, all my sympalhies are with Virginia.
She has not 4 name among her honored dead
that do not veneraie, spot, from her most soil
lary mountains 10 her waye-beatfn shore, that
do not love Ii may he, that when left Eastern
Virginia, ! LOST some of that jealousy that Is
working SO much injury 10 The State. But
among those men Of the mountains, found those
who fought by the side Of our fathers, 10 gam Inc
priceless heritage OF a nations ireedom-l saw
those who beheld that lion whose roar al Yorktown
was hushed inlu amazed submission 10 the potent
Split OF a people resolved 10 be tree louhd
there men who in 1912, when The Inst can
non doomed its note OF defiance across me
Atlantic, fastened 10 protect alike me pro-
petty Of the East and the honor OF The non,
many OF whose comrades, The victims oi
an insalubrious climate, siumbef III your son
without a mark 10 designate their graves leaving
n the sympathies of their friends, and the justice
If their country. the bereaved families mat sur
v;ved ,bem know the West and ior The
nersunal nrobitv and worth OF their men, ior inc
virtue OF their women for their high appreciation
If all that adorns or digniies human nature
they are worthy oibearine the name, or being IN
trusted with The honor OF Virginia, Such IS The
testimony of one that knows them. LEI mol,
therefore, gfound!ess Jealousy disturb mat bar-
mony that unites the Interests and affeclicns Of
The Stale. Believe me. The West IS your snfest
ally, your most valuable friend and II from lear
OF a growing influence you dir0rce iouIscli from
that West. which is one day 10 reflect renewed
luslre on The glory OF Virginia. posterily will re-
proach the act as one Of The most unfortunate
ever perperated To illustrate her character,
might refer you 10 my honoTed friend from
Washington who has gallanlly advocated The
connection of the East and West Tor nine success
sire years He has asked recognition OF her
claim he has consented almost To beg, as men
dicant. al your Treasury, a neutrality-suspicious.
he should have commanded magnificent inheTI-
lance. Has he ever appealed 10 any consi-
deralions, but TO your sense oil justice, or your
perceptions Of interest? Has he approached you
with menace, when, year after year, ne mas AZ
lorded you an annual opportunity OF correcting
your own injustice! SIR, ne mas sought no"ins
by indirection, norallemped 10 e1tou any thing BY
threats; and did You know him and his people,
you would never fear that your aid 10 him would
be received with ingratitude, or repaid with
wrong. II is alike polite and just that you
should cherish the West. The decrePiude OF
Virginia will be but temporary. II you will l.
The lime must come when The West, in the spirit
of beautiful incident in Christian history, will
offer her bounieous bosom TO sustain The sinking
energies OF her venerable parent.