Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-22

Ut TIC IS"1"Wt
GOV SMITHS MESSAGE.

Thi, State paper has been published in lie
Alexandra Gaz,,e, ard Immediately follow, in
The same paper lhe comments upon The mes
sage, OF the Richmond Times" paper printed
and published In this city. The object in thus
placing he two papers in juxla position cannot
be mi.conceved-nor will an enlightened people
be al a loss 10 decide upon the real merits OF the
case If uaprovokcd and uncard for censurc
gives weigh; an! charac'et 10 composition, whe-
iEer literary or political then may il safely be al
firpec, that IL the Richmond Times" The need
Of praise is Justly due, and should be awarded =
But if, on the other hand, lofty cunceI tions-bod,
original and patriotic spcculations, commend
themselves 10 public favor and respectful consi-
deralion, then something other than illiberal cfi-
,icism should he awarded his Eyceency Gov
Smith. Ridicule is certainly severe weapon;
but, while il is severe, il is sometimes dangerous,
even in the hands I'll those using il, lest j, might
GU! both ways.
H. however, The evil genius OF an il-advsed
moment hurried the "Richmond Times" into
harsh and discourleous language towards The
Chief Magistrate Of a great and enlightened peo
pie, il is not too late 10 make the "amendc honora
be-" and frankly 10 confess our monentary errors
10 which all are liable, tends 10 exalt our moral
virtues. The "tmfnte m. sdom and goodness" that
rules The Universe never bestowed upon humaui-
ty conception TOO grand or loo daring for lis due
execution in the time oil need. With The concep.
lion, The ability follows. They are like cause
and efec', and only require the'mora energies and
physical abilities with which mankind is endow-
ed, TO effect the greatest and noblest objects or pur-
suits. And is il not plainly demonstrated both in
the present and past agesl The world was Ut
lerly aslcunded with the bold designs and lofty
conceptions Of Columbus-lhe profound specula.
lions OF N, wton-lhe genius and science Of Full
ION, and the towering ambition and indomab BILE
spirit of Napoleon-bul The world is now tho.
roughly convinced, that that which il looked upon
as entirely ethiopian is no longer rid and absurd
spccaoiions, but plain and unqncsiionable mat
lers OF TACT. Why then, in adranec condemn The
projeci Of TWO railroads, because "Ihey SEEN 10
| have been proposed without any accurate know
Ledge oil the ealu:es Of The coun,ry"-As-
suming arguendo, that the localities pointed
| Oil by Governor Smith in his message are real
| " Objectionable, as regards the rou;e al The Two
railroads in question, sill; il is not perceived why
| that should pr. ludice The measure proposed mas
much a, The proper and necessary surveys will, as
matter cfcourse be first made BY practical and
experienced engineers. That railroads can be
constituted On Inc routes proposed, a5inils pre-
sumo, of no ubI; but thai The rou'es proposed
by the Governor are the best and cheapest, is quite
| different matter Having no knowledge upon
the subject il is left 10 Others 10 decide |, |, The
magnitude Of the proposed Undertaking that
| alarms the "Richmund Timesl' If such is The
TACT let il not he overlooked, That propositions
which are familiar 10 he world, need only the
common mind 10 originate Them, whi!r il IS re-
served 10 the few, The chos few, 10 calighten
| hr world, with their superior powers Of concep-
tiun. ms ance The moicrn develoPtments of The
late De Wit Clinton. with regard 10 the New
York Canals. In 1921 he was generally and
bitterly denounced for what were then cons drred
his wild and ruinous notions But how stands
the matter Bow1 Ishis memory sill denounced7
So far from il, il is on the contrary embalned in
the warmest and best affections OF his fellow
men, and will live forever fresh in their grateful
recolleclons. Instance, also, the Magnetic Tele-
graph that moves with The velocity Of light itself
Is not Iris the age Of reason, and, in The Ian.
guage OF The Governor, ''ulilarian s" Shall,
then, the noble Old Commonwealth stand still,
while The rest The Christian world il rapidly pro
crossing in learning, ,cience, arls, commerce and
agriculture Forbid II patriolisrn--forbid il ge-
Mus OF magnanimhy Estimating the future by
! the pas; ans reasoning from analogy, Great must
he The blessings, ana immense the advantages,
from The completion Of the proposed wofks-ior
while Virginia is among the tairc.t portions OF
the globe, with landscape adorned with many OF
The richest beauties of indulgen Heaven, she al
the same time is capable Of producing in srea;
abundance most Of The valuable fruits OF