Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-09
FtR TIE FNQr!aER.
To he .Nmyers Of he General Assembly Of
Fugiuid.

Gentlemen Lei us, ii yon please, resume the
course OF our history OF The improvement Of the
James River and lis connection with the Western
waters which has been unavoiiably interrupted
for few days. You have seen, that in less than
one year after the termination Of the Revolution
ary War, The Legislature iurned lis attention 10
this important SUBJECT, Influenced by the special
recommendation Of Gen. Washington; and that
the first measures adopted ior lis prosecution
we're upon The motion oi Mr.. Madison. Those
measures consisted, as has tecn shown, 10 orga-
nzing company Tor the improvement OF The
river, (of which company the State ITSELF became
a member,) and in directing surveys 10 he made
for The conen plated connection between the va
tcrs Of the James and those of the Ohio River, 10
both which objects The Legislature vocc mos IL
bcral aids; under the circumstances Of the times
exceedingly liberal.
RELYING doubtless, upon these measures for ei-
fecting This important object and awaiting their
results, the Legislature Cid Iiuie more Tor lis ac
complishment Tor some years except BY passing
repeated acts, tor granting such indulgence and
giving such additional aids 10 the James River
Company as they required for executing their
part OF the contemplated work. In 1870 it was
probably discovered that The work was not pro-
crossing with such energy or with such prospect
OF success as satisfied the people, and that more
active and efficient means were required OF the
Government. Accordingly al the session If 1870
III, resolution was adopted appointing hve
commissioners ITO view the route OF central
communication from the James River Canal To
the great falls OF the Kanawha River" This
commission tailed to act; and al the following
session Of ISll-'l2, law was passed, ap-
poiniing twenty-five commissioners Tor SINH
lar purpose with power for any three or more
of them 10 act AT the head OF this commission
will be found the name al John Marshall, Tho
late Chief Justice ol The United States, in esi-
maiing whose worth. pcserity will only doubr.
whether most 10 admire his wisdom or venerate his
purity This great man, with those of lis asso-
ciaIes who acted with him, proceeded 10 execute
The commission, and made personal and accu
rate survey OF the whole route regardless OF The
tolls and hazards 10 which il exp sed them,
Their Report was made to The Legislature al It's
session in lSl2-l:; and few extracts from IL
will show what was their opinion oi the char
acer OF this great work, and how high was their
estimate OF its importance. They say LET The
Importance attached, BY men best acquainted 9Th
the subject, 10 The commerce OF the West. attest
its value. The exer.ions which other States ar
pear 10 be making 10 secure II, will probably
awaken Virginia 10 that part Of il which should
naturally belong 10 her "Al that part OF the
State Of Kentucky which lies above Louisville.
and all tina, pau al The Stale OF Ohio whose
trade would pass through the river OF that name,
nigh. reasonably De expected 10 maintain large
portion oil their commercial intercourse win The
A,lantir States, through The James or Poto-
mac Certainly in contest for this interesting
;rize the States through which these rivers run
have geographical advantages, The beneh Of
which they can only lose by supiGeuess 10 Them
selves, or b. extraordinary cxerions in others"
"There is sill another ASPECT in which III sui
-.
neo,ion u hich generally attends free commercial
intercourse, The strong ties which are formed r.
mutual interest AMI the interchange o! good ci-
ces. bind together individuals Of different conn
lies. and are well calculated 20 cherish those
friendly sentiments, those desirable dispositions.
which al present unite Virginia 10 consider
bic portion oil the Western people. AT all time
The cultivation Of these dispositions mast BE- de>
rable but, 10 the vicssitnde Of human affairs, III
that mysterious future, which IS -. ~ reserve,
and is vet hidden from US, events may occor to
render their preservation loo valuable 70 De tsti-
mated in dollars and cents"
In commercial roin, OF view, these commit.
sioners, in compliance with The law under Whici
lhey acted, attempted 10 give some estimate Of
Inc value Of this improvements but in lis pol-
cal aspect, they declared, in terms which might.
al his moment, well he deemed prophetic, that
events might render it 800 valuable 10 be esi-
mated in dollars and cents" Who is there ,ha!
does moi now see the discomfort, dissatisfaction
and dssenson, if no, The imminent danger OF
disunion between he people OF The Eastern aud
Western portions o. The state, growing ont OF
this very question And VIVA, virginian 10
there, who regards the integrity Of The State. in
her already reduced limits who is mol prepafeo;,
in view Of these considerations. 10 say win
Chief Justice Marshall, the continued union
and harmony Of the people Of the Old Do,
minion. is ",oo valuable TO be estimated
in dollars and cen,,7" L cannot Dc be-
lieved thai The present Legislature ~.li, 10y rs
supineness," no! only lose US The benefit OF those
commercial advantages, 10 which our seosr,spthi-
c position emile u, but expose Us 70 The in.
ev,afbIe hazard Of becoming dsafIseled, i net
dsuni.el people. Resa,d viii be paid to s' he
md Marshall. Why, gentlemen, il you listen
moi 10 their couusels, then would you no, hear,
though one came 10 you from the courts Of Eea-
ven. SoNc1ii ocN1'