Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-03-28
A GREAT INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT MEET.

4
upon the motion OF Benjamin Csrpcr, Esq Judge Edward
Johnston was appointed President. who addressed the
meeting in the NEST impressive upon the prcsen,
eondnon Of Western Virginia and the necessity OF prompt
and decisive action.
| Ga motion OF John L. Anderson, Esq, MAJ. John L
Wilson was appointed Secretary; anI upon his motion
John I. Anderson. Thomas Shsnks. James l.. wood,lc
| Benjamin CsrPor, John Brugh. Green James. r. 4. An
dcrscn, Benjamin Ammen and Henry VI. Bowyer. Esqrs
| and the Rev John N. Johnst appointed Commit
tee To report preamble and resolutions the present
etisis, for the consideration the meeng when the said
Committee, alter retiring short time, by their Chairman
| John T. Anderson. Esq. made the following rspou-who
accompanied the said report remarks support
Of IT, VIXEN the preamble and resolutions unanimously
| adopted by the meeting
Whereas this meeting has heard with feelings of tho
deepest notification and regret the final rejection by
the Legislature OF Virginia. OF all propositions Tor the fur
Their extension ct the James River and k,nawhi Canao
m rheaion, because ot the gross neglect Of the ,ht and
interest OF the Wcs-oi trgr, because vt the alienation
Of cling (Which be the nseluence) between the
great divisions ut the State and dissatisfaction i'm ty
breasts OF many towards the govennsn under which
| live.
Without en,ryng upon the general duty Of every gov
eminent 10 assist its citizens developing the
the State aud providing safe aud easy les OF
ing the products ut their lab market and without
stopping show by Argument how this duy ON the part
Ut the State, consistent with highest in rests and
~ sperIty we maintain that ascc handed Justc.
20 part o the State alike required that the
| Nchtfsl Improvement sboald aband ,nrd.
eomm' with the avowed purpose Ut roaneciing the
Eastern and Western upon tn avowsl III, We,
were infuced 10 Subscn,e. literally, the stock o the
Company. Hos and Eh-rr has the money thus
becn di'poed at The tin 'h' Eau entirely
Not one cent oi the siN mions expended IN finishing the
Canal II lyhchbnrg has been 1T the benefit 10 the
West provided stops there ~ lar from IT, positive i'm
iry has benn jon1 g the Wet rul ~. down aud do
suoyng the C,nal Ile Mountain aud leaving the m .un
h'n (he most daueet"usl section OF the River inf
nlleiy worse cIndiu than before the old Canal
| a'fe. dy al M.
State contributed large portion and as thu has gonc for
the exclusive benefit Of the East justice required that she
shogld contribute > extend the work so AS T., make n
| benefit u the West also.
The excuses offered tor this neglect to wit: that the
Canal thus Tar had cost than should e. aud
that j. nnpryhta'le regard Idle srd 40 urd unvo
thy Ut the wisdom Legislature and ur,ed mainly t
afford preeuiu abandon it, As eli might uIan " ha
had built ho SO. hut who had failed cover II " III
root, complain that afforded him NJ protection and give
this As re is1n Tor not competing il. The Canal was
commenced tor ts purpose Of bringing the oiucts Of the
West Ia the East-s tonnage be obtained IN that
qdar'cr before II - reiched the work is abandoned and
The raised hit hls disapp lnted eXr.c, inn a,d
urprchibr! Such another instance ct unwie lesisla
ton, l. believed has never been exhibited IN any cis
ned country! ; millions ut money wasted and for all
i'e good has doie. las tar the West concerned
m ght a. well have been cast into the Sea.
The State being Tree from debt comparatively, and its
finances M the most prosperous idon there could not
have been favorable time for the t,su,up,i,n of
the work, had the Legislature ANY intention of ever doing
So We are compelled therefore regard its action this
a lrim
that quarter cut Oh and unes obtain assistance
tom 'mc other doomed in all future time I, drag
our produce 10 distant market through the mud or -
cur the hazards OF the navigation OF the river in s wors.
than MURAL condition.
The duty we owe ourselves, well those who are
10 come alter u'-'he sPnt Oi the which has dome
something To improve and better the condition. II Is belle
Ned OF every other part Of the civil zcd world forbid that
we should timely submit tn such of things
we are therefore IN favor o p'utUning the Legs
laure TO give 10 the Baltimore and OHIO Rail Road Com
atn e
Virginia . Buchanan, ON James River thence up the RI
Oho Rive.
As cannot be said that this right of wav will ;,,.f.
with the Virginia Improvement any pnger, IN 4 being
abandoned, there be prnex Tor rejecting such
psuon u however that sho aid DO done il will then he
o' the people OF the West calmly consider how lar II
Is desirable Ia preserve the present poltra connecl
that binds them their Eastern brethren and whether il
wal not be best that. Like Abraham and Lot of old they
should divide the land peIceaby between tn M the one
taking the East and the other West.
Ist Therefore, Received That this meeting deprecates
the Indication OF sett purpose, tbs proceedings Of the
GENERAL Assembly VI Nrglnll 10 pers en- Of
pocy, which has aienateI CITIZENS from the r Govern
men and driven many ttem into exile from their M
ave an1' ad "hich has proved bane the welfare and
g"y o the Saie and that especially has the ,tnae
denial Of justice BY the Legislature recently IA To
the western portion Of the Commonwealth ia tile reIec-
uon OF the earnest petitions OF People or the
Of the james yer Canal filled us with gef and de
IND Ihat u Is tire duty Oi tle Government Of Virginia
OF the highest obligation, by ats legislation 10 the en-
D slim lta th,
production I" me Country aud as Tar practicable pro-
vide that the cIzens OF thus Comm lnweath shall receive
a. adequate reward for their honest ahour a. is s.c.
10 the citizens OF Sister States by the Legislation of their
respective toverFmenis, aud that the steady and faithful
performance Ut this duty. urged by the highest consc
rations OF Patriotism and plbic policy
d. That with uniesn regret We are constrained sol
EMMY 10 declare that Government has been inc cua
bly, delinquent m the discharge hs high trust for wears
plsi and that IN the proceedings the assembly recently
III session. We have n" indication that the dominant puw6
q tg ~ g|e8F .ttgFa
this important subject.
II That IN the opinion Of las ncs.ing is the settled
policy OF the Leg stature &" Virginia tu stos the james X
yer and kannwbl Canal Lynchbug as IS indicated by
is late procee dmgs.
9TH That the Abandonment OF said Improvement i, 4
higrhnt violation Of the public faith an act Of great iis
ice TO th- Western people they cannot tImey sub
mt Co..
OH That Judging from tie proceedings OF the late I.c
Es"tnr' THIS meeting - med 10 come Ia the painful
conclusion that II Is the settled purpose uf large ,rity
vi Eastern Virginia t. abandon the whole sysr. Of Int
nal Improvement n the West and l., withhold al f,rhs,
ard 10 the Western people opening facilities TOR the trans
poAIoh o their pfoduc" o. market, and 10 enable them
10 PttptHl'e tins injustice and oppression upon the Wet
II IS her determination 10 rriu M il.ir hands the pnitci
power 10y refusing 10. organize Convention Ia ansni the
Constitution upon equitable aud 'epIblican pr ncplcs
9Th. That Eastern brethren must have on,
common origin and character, M supposng that bcir Yves
tern brethren will long submit such Justice and oppres
! sion. F'
stu Thsi rhc tine has nrayst when !, L,.,,,,c tho
Western people gr1voly consider what n,ens,o4 tty
should adopt Ia assert aud the rghs aud for tbs
purpose tn7 meeting respectfully .minonds 10 their
mss'etn brethren ~ all the colutos West u the Blue
Fl's 10 ei meetings OF the people take into conJe-
td'on the pfcscni condition Of Western Vtg,nn and to
I,'oneI yen measures as my be necessary promote
i's inteiess and TO secure anu maintain i.s Tishis
S1 INT a. citizens of Virginia We would ren,cs 10 scc
OIL causes OF local Jealousy ond Biographical distinctions
ie"'ed ana mat We would regard division 81 the State
| ~ public calamity inferior only IN eno,my To being
rnsaded and treated a. province and not a. an IN
icRfh part OF the bonm nvGgh ~ the continuation of
the present oppressive aud diast Gus policy boa whilst n
would be most painful 10 our yens r,be and hello
we'd Commonwealth severed IN twain we would or fer ~.
Peaceabie division 70 remun0g any longer IN State Of
/ yss.nege 10 tho East
lOih That ~ urEng the measures here recommended
We are not actuiicd 10y any hostility 10 tho city D Hc
nond; on the CONTRARY would gladly AID IN building no
our Metropolis q the policy Of the State PERMITTED snd we
bro tender our thanks 10 IT. czes Tor jealous support
NE have given ~ N the Lcglanrc vel o. the other
] EasisrI Members who have noby stood by U.s.
llth That Col John r. Anderson, Col tn mas Sh,nts
Beaamin Cerpsr Henry VI. Bowyer, Francis r. Anderson
| John brgh, WIN. Boyd, James u. Wilson, Ma0in No
teunn' John Shirley, Joseph Hpnnah, Nsthon r. luct.
hn1 Green Jones Esq's, be appointed committee O., cor
/ respond with the Western s,t,rt IL ..