Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-16
House OF Delegates. january Is, 1916.

House of Delegates, January ID, 1870
REMARKS or Mr.. PENDLETON, Of GILES AND
MERCER on The motion TO reconsider the pofe roget
ing Me6alou the construction OF the South Hesi-
ern Road.
MIR. Speaker-The motion just made by my
friend from Londoun, 10 reconsider the vote reject
ing The Southwestern road brings again The me-
rits of the bill before the House; and in view OF the
deep ineres, felt by all Southwestern Virginia
in The proposed measure, ask The Indulgence OF
The House, whilst attempt TO remove The preIn-
dices which, in my judgment, arising alone from
the want Of correct information, defeated Tins OH
on former occasion. The bill under conside-
ration proposes The construction, on Stale &C.
count. ola McAdamlzed road from Buchanan in
Bo,elourt, TO the Tennessee line, a distance OF
about $50 miles, passing through seven OF The
Southwestern counties ofthe Stale; and seventy
five thousand dollars is appropriated by the bill
TO commence the work. These are lis gene
raj provisions To lis passage, various obIec-
lions have been urged: first, we are told
that the Legislature has no power to construct
The work on Stale account; secondly, that II
would be pnwse to do SO, Tor various reasons;
and last and not least, the West has been re-
preached with a desire 10 squander The public
money, whilst The East is bearing the burdens oil
the Government; that whilst we have paid no.
thing, comparatively, the disbursements have
been made in The West anil for the benefit OF The
West These objections, propose 10 consider
in their order-promisng 10 satisfy all candio
men, that there is not in fact shadow OF loun
dalton for The objections urged. To the FIRST,
might content myself by affirming The tact,
that appropriations have been made by The
State for purposes OF internal Improvement,
u,;,boni disnnlp for more Than sixty wears, and
| believe my friend from Halifax may well
claim The credit OF originating This question OF
power. But, sir, after its undsputcd exercise Tor
more Than half century, under the visilant scru-
tiny (and lei me add, with The recorded APPROVAL
of the purest men OF this Commonwealth, il
should be regarded as settled upon every prlncl-
pie Of prcscriplive right; nor should even The IN
senuily Of the gentleman be permitted 10 disturb
il. have always understood The gentleman 10
belong 10 that party, that denied that The General
Government possessed The power 10 make such
improvements, and held that il was one oil The
powers never granted 10 that Government. And
where ask does The power reside, II not IN Inc
State Legislatures Sir, il does belong TO The
State as an inherent attribute OF sovereignty, and
is a power, necessary and indispensable 10
the existence Of Government, with no other IL
mutations than that imposed by The character OF
the work and the means Of accomplishing il. 10
an enquiry into these considerations invite The
attention Of The House would refer 10 the re-
mol, Of The Second Auditor OF the Both September,
1873 shelving the debt and resources oil Inc Com
monweath:
Amount Of Internal Improvement :.
debt SooSo"oo ."
Amount of debt for subscription 10
Banks foo'io' "