Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-03-11
JAMES RIVER EXTENSION.


The Lexington Gazette, of the 9Th Instant
contains call for a meeting of the people upon
this subject, and an editorial article commenting
upon the same topic, and lamenting with deep re-
gret and modification the indefinite postponemeht,
by the late Legislature, of the bill providing for
extension. We were before well aware of the
strong, universal and pervading interest withwhich
the people of the Valley have ever regarded this
great Improvement; the alterations OF hope and
fear, the long AM narrowing suspense, which
they have been compelled to endure. inhaoihng
a region Of country unsurpassed IN fertility by any
portion of Virginia, their fields teeming with rich
and abundant evidences of the lavish generosity
of nature, their mountains filled with incalcula-
bic mineral treasures, they have been debarred
from any and every avenue to a Nirg mia mar
ket; forced to convey their productions by the
slow, tedious and toilsome process of wagons, or
trust il to the mercy of the furious mountain
flood ;-frusrated in every effort. disappointed in
every hope to obtain from the Commonwealth OF
Virginia the equal and even. handed justice which
alone they ask until, at last, they have begun TO
look upon the Blue Ridge barrier erected by
nature, to prevent all communication OF East and
West and left by the Commonwealth in the pre-
else condition with which nature seems to have
sought to accomplish that object. Under such
state of things, it is not at all strange, that with
every disposition to link their symPathes and bu'
siness with the East, with every desire which
loyal affection to the State can suggest, to conri
butte their trade TO Virginia city, they yet arc
compelled, by the obstacle Of this mountain ram
part and the continued refusal of the State to re-
move that obstacle by the extension of the James
River Improvement, by the instinct Of self preser.
walton ITSELF seriously to reflect whether the Crca-
tor has not marked out the proper avenue for their
trade down the smooth path of their own Valley,
even though it may terminate i'll Baltimore, and
build up gigantic metropolis IN another Com
monwealth. Such must inevitably be the result,
if the future legislation Of the State remain un.
changed. The James River does not run more
surely to the sea, than the trade OF the Valley
must flow TO Baltimore, swelling with its tributary
waters that great ocean Of wealth and commerce,
unless Virginia hew out n channel which will d.
vert the current from IFS natural direction, and
bring its rich and generous tide TO the wharves Of
her own rising emporium.
We Yesterday expressed the hope that our
friends in the Valley would not yet yield to dis
courarement, on account of the failure Of the re-
cent Legislature 10 extend to them the benefits of
the great Central Improvement We have mark.
ed the deep tone, not of anger nor disoyalty, but
of sorrow and modification, with which they have
received the intelligence Of the repeated failures
OF their dearest hopes But we rejoice TO see that
they have not yet surrendered themselves 10 the
suggestions of despair. The Gazette, comment.
ing upon the last indefinite postponement Of the
subject by the Legislature, says: "The question
l." NOW in the mouth of every one seems TO be-,
"What shall we dol We say, that although we
shave been again disappointed, let the West
"make one more struggle for jusce--let the
"next winter, make loud and earnest appeal
for our rights, and we think that our prayers
"cannot pass unhceded. The East cannot Ger
4" tanly much longer be blinded to its own inte-
"rest." This is the right spirit. TRY AGAIN.
"Neyer give up. 1t is wser and better
Always To hope than once to desPair."
Though no prophet, nor the son of prophet,
we venture to predict that the prayers Of the
West ,oH mot pass UNDECIDED" at another ses.
sion OF the Legislature. The people of the East
are disposed to do full justice TO this grea; ques.
ton. There are signs not to be Mistaken that a
sense Of right, well as proper consideration o
its own interests, is awakening the public mEd
in all directions, to broad and comprehensive
view Of the policy which, more than any other,
promises to make Virginia One People, TO en-
nance beyond all calculation, the elements of its
growth and vigour, and to bind East and West in
eternal links of brotherhood and love.
We intend to return TO this subject at an early
day, and in the mean time, we hope, that, in the
election Of Delegates, the people Of the Eastern
portion Of the State will have an rye to the
choice Of men Of liberal and enlarged views, and
arm them with authority to disregard all mere
selfish and sectional considerations and strike for
the prosperity and glory of all Virginia.