Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-01-20
MR.. BOTrS' SPEECH
ON INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
tcoScLuEEp

1
II the plan proposed is adopted, cut of tina, iomids-
bic and powerful rival Virginia at the knees
aud its further progress Cumberland; anSa pow
erul Tor It's means, Its public spirit ITS energy anc the
ability with which its affairs have been conducted, aud
with which alone have contend for the trade and
travel OF the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys.
Ii will not be amiss contrast the advantages OF
this with the other, that proposed in connection
with the James River and Kanawha Canal, which hive
already shown must ultimately become continuous line OF
railroad.
In the first place, distance the route propose
shorter by 30 than that by Lynchbug Buchanan and
Covington and IS miles than that by the Horse
Shoe Add TO this that have 70 miles Of railroad aca
dy laid and IN active from Richmond To GoTdons-
yie and gives YOU hundred and three miles less
road lay than that by Lynchbug Buchanan and Coyng
tom aud hundred aud forty eight less than that by the
Horse Shoe and the Red Sulphur Springs This, though
perhaps the least OF the advantages of itself sufficient u
determine the question Another consideration IN favor OF
my plan that Is rival foreign company, while the
other prove destructive rival most i'm
portant Improvement which the State and individuals
have embarked many millions OF money. And II the
State Legislature will take lesson Of wisdom from
perience, they will look TO the Portsmouth and Roanoke
Railroad a a rival the Petersburg road. and in
tempaung the consequences ot the policy then adj pied,
may read the fate OF the james river canal whenever
allows the rival improvement to in competition with
IT, have idea that obtain for a moment;
and my humble judgement the Legislature would be
extremity short sighted IT ii did
will say nothing here OF the chartered rights OF the sub.
scbes the James River and kanawha Canal of the
plighed faith of the State, the canal as far n Cow
which, might be alleged, would be violated 10y adopting
the that has been proposed by the resolutions OF the
former meeting OF making delexaIon from Buchanan TO
the Southwest TO reach the Horse Shoe and leaving Gov
agIUn unproyided for and. il am asked how avoid the
difficulties BY the plan propose, answer, that,
far from my being rival TO the canal and thus inter
ering with the chartered rights OF that Company will
shew how il may be made auxiliary improvement that
will resuseitAie It's capital and make the great chan
mel OF trade between the East aud Wes-and TO the
pehed faith o the Snte 10 carry the csna TO Covington.
that faith redeemed. when the State offers them another
snd more eligible way market.
But again: BY the proposed by Mr.. Macfarlands
Resolutions offer costly lines OF communities
by canal aud the other by ralroad-to the Souhwes-
portion OF the State, while you do offer crumb
the Northwest. What does the Southwest ask At
your hands, Tor the present. than Macadumized road
from the Tennessee line through Abingdon and Salem.
connect with the James River Canal Buchanan While
you insist upon giving them railroad also, (or that is
part OF the plan fully developed and which will
be denisd) come, appehend by Lynchburg and Farm.
Nile TO with the road completed from
this city TO the Chesterfield Clover Hill coapiis, owned by
few private Individuals while with little more than III
the that would be necessary Tor this pun ose you
road r the Northwest. interesting their
turnpkes already constructed. which would
all their present purposes and time and circumstances
should require it hereafter, these urnPkes might be
yerted into railroads. least far might be practicable
Thus, by combining the interests the means and the
eges VI the various sections OF the country, something
may be accomplished for the benefit of the whole while
without It, nothing be done for either No. sir; while
your left eye looks TO the Southwest, do blind your
take disineresed enlarged liberal, enlightened pat
riotc view Of the interests Of the whole and administer
all their wants at the time.
Another point OF which this subject may be
&c I'd presenting advantage by means 10 be ovtr-
looked, the fact that the Godousye passes
mediatey in the nsghborhood Of nearly all the principal
watering places Ia the State especially by the White Sui
phur, certainly the requenred aud fashionable and
perhaps the most important Of whole Contemplate the
difference that would be made IN lew years to people
locked up IN the Of Virginia, II the faci-
held out all those thousands Of the South and Wet
the East and the North IN search Of pleasure Of health
TO here every summer where they pass
daily from place oi fashionable anoiher-hus
enjoying change Of company, a change of scenery, a
change OF climate, and change Of waters rather than that
system that would furnish such facilities and by which,
instead OF having their thousands and Of thousands spent
among u.s. we now induced to of aud spend among
| them.
Let say word upon the subject Of the proceedings
Of the late Harsonburg Convention, and show only
how entirely the plan propose would accommodate Them
| bu, how much better than their cwn.
They propose extension Of the railroad from GOrdons-
yle to Harsonburg II practicable; If not railroad TO the
eastern base Of the blue Ridge mountain with Macada.
Led road across the mountain - Hurrsonburg: II they
cannot tha they then ask for Mocadomzed road from
| HarisJnbu'g 10 GOrdDnsvle.
app'ehend the difficulties 20 be encountered in the pas
OF The Blue Ridge by railroad will be found great
to Justify is prosecution, unless the line Of improvement
the Of the railroad to the eastern base
mountln, with MacadamiLed road from that point to
II arsOnburg much expense would necessarily be incur
red in the construction both Of the railroad and Macadam
lied road the mountain: but the rarosd Of lG
miles was oeady built 10 the base Of the mountain there
would then be 10 miles Of Macad lnized road TO make 10
reach ilansO1burg; while they within Is miles Of
! Siaunon, with Mscadamzed road already made no In.
valley 10 that point; and az they could cary heavier loads
and IN perhaps the less time on Macadimized
road % miles the Vol ey then 10 across the noun
iains, think likely n both roads were now built
| would be more produce wagOned 60 Saunion 90 the
Valley, than mountains to the termination
o. me nlfond at the eastern base u the Blue
! Ridge; particularly when the distance Of railroad
travelling would be very the And II am hight
~ my views on this subject, surely they would not be will
ling to encounter the expense Of ehor Of tho
they have proposed, the benefits would be altoyes,
/ inadequate to the cost.
now propose answer and remove sI the obieetops
that have been urged IN various forms to the plan propoe
and especially those that have been made bv the pubc
| Of this city.
The first with them magnitude and eonse seem.
TO be Tie apprehension that by mad suicidal de-
sttucyc, mreraby inluuaedspOcy Of a future dsy the
Legislature Of Yngins will permit the Baltimore and Obi,
Company ~ TAP the ro1d Stanton. and thus carry of
the aos 10 Bnnmore and especially that the political par
" now IN the ascondsnt IN this State animated by feeling
OF hostility ant prejudice towards the citizens OF Richmond
are not 10 he trusted upon this question: and that they viii
ald ~ breaking down the fortunes of Richmond aud Vrgi
| MA 10 build Up thOse Of Baltimore and Maryland
Sir Tor that party, political party need not say that
have o. little sympathy. and would confde a. ti,e In
hen, as those who make the objection have yod deaf
OF wrath bolued ~ fo that party and hope The day
"hen shal plant many hearty blow their sides-bnt
not now not now sir and upon this occalon nor upon
the snbJ.c-ai pfosont sud upon this question: ara die
posed 10 bury the tpshawk aud with them hand aud
heart ~ one generous, aiernal, patriotic ehu 10 redeem
The state from the degraded condition that swat, her IN
ICES her acye in ientl and enterpnsng sons Will come
forward one anj a her from herl Rp Van Win
| ke slumbcrs.
Sir that such II policy would b, pursued and
TOT 20 ignobe on end by that parry by sny Legislature
mat could be chosen from smong the people what saaf
5'tis0e doai bsiisSe, and VoaT bstsse.
What sr road like Ibis that is carrying from Two 10
Our hundred thousand passengers through the heart Of VIZ.
gnia yearly, and the number constantly Increasing road
inst empvng the rich snd valuable productions u tho
Valley Of the the lap Of Virgins in album
dance tnd prousiona road that i developing the resour
ces Of the whole region Of the State through which h pas
SEE and furnishing ready way msrke Tor every thing
that can be iaken from the surfsce dog n m the bowels
o. Tie eafh-a rad that will heal oil secii0na divisions and
interests Leween the East and the West and dispense it,
aoyanages is benefits and bess tOthe entire ste BY
an Increase II Ne population, the attainment q wealth tho
dspensauon Of comfort and happiness, tho
u industry and snierphIssll ~ bo thrown sway from