Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-04-22
Ffon tAs LsIinxtea Gsssfis.
TO THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN vIR-

a
Rockerdse. held stths Cour Hoase Lexington, Mon
day the 9Th Of April 1885, were Instructed address
you, on their BEHALF on subject Of vital importance TO
them. and in which deeply though remotely
Interested In the discharge Of this duty We desire
preach you that spirit OF onae regard which should
always characterize the intercourse between brethren Of
the great political family. And in the name of this
ancient commonwealth. and by all the ties which have
long bound us together as citizens Of and be-
loved country, We ask that You will deaf
this, perhaps the last appeal shall make your
sense. not OF bbershty, but OF Justice.
IL is now almost seventy years since Virginia throw OIL
the colonial yoke and declared herself free and ndepen-
dent State solemn compact then entered into. by
which her citizens incurred all The obligations each other
incident to the establishment Of government in civilized
community and the government itself assumed all the
sPon,biities which attach designed for the
common benefit, protection, and security Of the people,
and intended TO promote their happiness aud security
All who became parties to the social compact bound
by that TO aid only in defending honor glory
OF the whole State, but to Contribute the prosperity
well as the security OF portion Of the
The obligation Of wise aud bene6cent government 70
provide commercial facilities. by the construction Of works
OF internal Its citizens
or subjects, acknowledged by the whole civilized world
And even some OF the most despoc Ia Eu-
rope are at this actively employed
strucOn OF canals aud railroads. the purpose OF promo
ing the prosperity and happiness their subjects aud the
citizens OF most Of the States in this Union the
enjoyment ui the gres; and inspprecabe advantages re-
sulung t'om vigorous and successful prosecution OF Il.
bera system OF internal Improvements the governments
they have established tor themse Aud find the
Inhabitants OF OF the States (car,ed out Of terri
tory once belonging TO Virginia, and until recently abode
OF snNagcs and wild beats) transporting products of
their erle fields along artificial channels Of commerce for
thousands OF miles, ana undeseling in your mar
kets.
The obligation upon the STATE contribute
to the Construction OF works necessary afford their
zens the means OF carrying internal commerce. is be-
leved has not hitherto been denied Virginia IL is
true mat many OF your most distinguished politicians have
denied to the General Government power appropriate
money TO works Of internal Improvement; they have
uniformly done so on the ground that the po
and obligation e. construct such works peraned exclusive
~ to the governments and the people of the States
The motives which induced your ancestors, and ours
to become parties TO the same social compact, ubyi-
Gus You enjoyed much greater facilities tor carving
commerce with foreign nations aud with the other cello
Mes than VIC DID, but were much exposed danger
from foreign invasion; whilst We rep-sng IN the perfect
security 81 mountain Businesses felt all the inconveni-
resulting from total exclusion from the benefits Of
commerce. The great purpose for which the compact
formed, better the condition of oil the parties TO
IL We became bound 10 rally IN the defence OF your pro-
perry and your homes time Of war; and you became
bound 10 assist IN overcoming, far practicable obsa
Giles which Oom The enjoy Of the markets Of
the great commercial world
Whether We have complied with part Of the aR.ee-
ment or not We are willing 10 cave 10 your decision
II there battle field either Of victory OF defeat, du
Tag The long and glorious struggle OF the Revolution on
which the blood Of did minge with and
dow freely that your fathers we Know NOT bo,e -
The history of the battles of Gufcrd OF IN. Cow.
peas and Kings mountain and Of the siege OF Yorktown
bears that did not tail TO comfy fu
y with the Obligations resting them. Neither did we
tail TO do our duty IN the OF 1914 No call was ever
made Tor our services that promptly and cheerful
ly complied with. And many there who marched TO
defend your property, who returned We do not
pretend TO have done than duty nor shall we now
ASK you 10 perform more than and con-
hdenuy believe 10 be yours We be told as we hay.
often BEEN that we rendered services, paid for
them We reply, that the powers that required the
services liked the Psy-Ihai the pre paid half the
amount which mercenarY soldiers would have demanded
and besides, furnished iu proportion OF the fund.
OF which the payment out OF which your
own troops were paid, OF pockets. We affirm
then, that We have faithfully performed our part of the
agreement; ana We ask you IN no spt OF reproaeh but
Ia eSneor sad we hope we may do without offence
you performed your part OF the agreement We humbly
conceive that you have and " YOU will bear with US
we WI" endesvor 10 point out IN what you have failed do
80.
We enjoy scarcely any greater facilities for carving the
products OF our soil 10 market no than did when the
compact entered inton l776 And in some respee,
our condition Is worse than II 40 years ago. and uog
ing from he LIBERAL aid gwen by the BRITISH Government
towards the Construction ct the Weland canal IN Canada
II my well be doubted condition would not have
been better at this time. regard facilities o carving
oar produce 1" market II the connection between Ia coun
ty and England hsd never been dissolved And tits de-
Inonsuable that condition would have been infinitely
better than IS now when you transferred the northwest
territory 10 the General Government 1883 you had
the Blue Rioge. instead OF the Ohio, the line For YOU
have ony refused afford Us the means Of getting 10
market yourselves but you have prevented II. from gan
them from Others.
We have SAID that condition to market for the
POoues OF our son. was worse IN respects than IL
va. forty ytsEs sgo At that time it will be remembered
oy lhaSooas now hEing IN this county that the great
Valley Road was perfect thoroughfare along which ira
Neies were community vending their way droyes to
the west ahOding stosrsby good market, at our very
coors Tor OF least surplus products; but
now, we zee but here and there traveller and tht a
long intervals, moving along, SOLITARY and alone Why
To change II Is because the general government has
constructed great AND splendid road the great
All gLany mountains the public expense along which
hundreds Of thousands If travellers pass annually
between the Eastern ees and the great Mi sssppi val
ley instead OF passing through part Of the country "a
they would DO. II they had good road whist the same
government was prevented by the sctYe interference OF
your immediate representatives. IN Congress alone from
constructing similar ad along TINS valley, extending
from Buis N New York. the Ct y Of Orleans A
bil iT the construction Of such road was before Con-
gess about the wear le27 and one vote OF pass
ing at our memories do not deceive us Notwithstanding
81 Of your immediate representatives, voted against H.
was at that lime, that your most distinguished Re
presentauves made the celebrated exclamation Of gory
enough io one day. and moved 10 adjourn soon as the
yO Csfeat Dg the bill announced. Thus Won per |
eeye It was at least ia part through the action Of your im
mediate representatives,, Of which you approved that we
lost almost the only market had and were prevented
from hayIog channel opened, through which we could
have reached the great markets afforded By the northern
and eastern cites.
But that not the only instance which you have pre-
without your aid, aud but for your soise agency 10 prevent
IT, by an act Of Assembly passed the sh az March s27
concerning the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company |
you expressly prohibited the Company from Tunnng the,,
road south Of the town Of Parkesburg Had you not done
So admits OF no raonsl doubt that though the distance
would have been greater hs Company would have prefer
RED the route along this valley down the Kana,ba 10
any more northern route for their road The facility Of
eohsuuctnga railroad, running through a comparatively
MT county, and running with the Of the streams
aud bills, instead u them and through depr.sn,
instead OF through high mountains; the getting Ear Of the
competition with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the
immense uade and travel from Tennessee, TO which a
branch oi their read could easily have been e1tsnded
aud the travel - the Virginia Springs together with the adj
Yaniage Ut striking the OHIO point t. which large
sleanDohb can always come would have induced On un-
hesiistng selection Of the valley route had u been left 4,
the option Of The Company Bot you refused them the per
mission Dsoeoi u, aud did the eSpr,g 81 ground
mat you meant TO secure the benefit Of whoio trade To
build up your own towns, by extending the canal instead
"a suhsung 10 be carried O swell the sire Of the rival
cities Of negnDofng State. Not only the idea dis