Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-03-04
RICHMOND DAILY WING.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.. ssacu T. ists
THE ROANOKE VALLEY.
MR.. TUNSTALL..

NIX. 1UNS ALL.
We solicit tho attention OF the people Of Wiz.
rinia, To the strong and co nclusvc array ot facts
and figures set forth in the address Of MIR. Tun-
stall. 10 tho freeholds Of Pitts, lvana, which will
he found in todsS's paper. We must DO allow
I'D to express our profound regret at the determl-
nation expressed by MIR. Tunstall, to retire frcm
IN. public service. Ii ,s rarely that any consiit-
uoncy is represented with superior ability, zeal
and fai,hfuness, to that which the talented dele
gate from Pittsylvanla has exhibited. But this
were all, it would he but feeble tribute TO his
valuable character and services. Mt. Iuns,aIs
legislative course has been enincnty character.
nd nv a large, comprehensive and patriotic
policy which embraced all sections ot the
Commonwealth, and sought the general, rather
than local aud limited advantage. We therefore
IN. more regret that measure, wise and good IN
itself as beyond all dispute Is his bill Tor the I'M
,,ovsmen, ot the Roanoke and Dao Rivers by
lock aud dam for Steamboat navigation. should
have failed Of success. Certainly II ability and
zeal if argument and reason, could ensure the trl
umph Of any measure, that bill would he now
law
IL IL an undenAblc duty OF this and of every
Comnonw,al ,h, To provide the people with an
avenue. To- msrke, Tor the predictions 81 their >ol
and lahonr. Ia SO dong, the State contributes
no, only to local and individual wealth an hap
p,ness but TO her strength and prosperity.
Such have been the admitted policy AID ac'u'l
practice evrh If monarcnical governments, Which
more mun.i,rnt To al. Ir chiiorrn than Reru1! =
can Virginia. have established Railroads and c.
mails at every point where they were necessary
tr the full development of their resources. Such
has h.,n IN. course Of the y rr,h"rn and Western
States Of our own coufedcracy and the result has
h.en seen in their vast. RAPID and STEADY increase
of power and POI u.atl,n. Virginia, the mother
of States mas been '>tled asrue 10y Youngsters.
VINO W. c but yesterday at the knee, and she now
stands IN her decrepitude. gazing al tho Young
giants of the North and West. and wondering by
Whit mage process they attained their towering
stature and tierculean strength. And yet. when
the secret Of their growth is revealed. she reso-
Iutely refuses to adopt a similar policy. she per.
m,ts the ell Inents Of wealth and greatness 10 re-
man inlbedded in her mountains and Vales, and
refuses to speak the tsgiving word which shall
cause their resurrection.
We presume that few Of the people OF Ni'g-
MIA are acquaint with the boundless fertility
an resources Of the Roanoke Valley, or certainly
their representatives could not hesitate in bestow.
Ing the trrfling sum whIch IL necessary TO give
them sale and speedy Onilst 10 market. The
Virginia counIi al ,ne ufOn the Roanoke River.
viz: Brunswick, VI cliIenburg, Halifax, PItsyl-
wanna. Henry Patrick. Franklin and Charlotte, as
eupea,s Nv Mr.. Tunstails statistics, have a popu-
l4t,on of I33.4l5, produce 554,o0O bushels Of
b,,-h .Is u md
si0ouo lbs. of tobacco. Add to these the Roa.
noke counties of North Carolina, and we have
grand total from the Roam Ike Valley, in pop,a-
t,un. OF 235,6l5, producing s16,50" bush Is
of wheat, $40 800 bushels OF corn, and 43, 767,-
600 lbs. of tobacco. The only means OF getting
to market which this immensely fertile region
possesses, is by hatteauS and wagons.
Ii seems most strange that the two States OF
Virginia and North Carolina, should not long ago
have provided for the Improvement Of the River
which flows through this Incompatible country.
IL can be dpne at II small expense many parts OF
it being already navlgable f,r considerable dis
iances but yet, ia consequence vi occasional
shallow, and falls, the aid of art Is absolutely
Indispensable. The sum of three hundred and
ffy thousand dollars expended in the construction
OF locks and dams, would be sufficient to render
thu Roanoke aud Dan naviga5le by steam oats,
and enhance beyond all calculation the prosperi.
" OF the Roanoke Valley.
f. carnol be- denied That This section of country
has contributed It's iu! proportion To the burthens
at the State, and therefore entitled Itself to some
r.'url Of legislative bounty. NJ. TUNsrALL, in
h, carefully prepared table Of Statutes, shows
that whie the Roanoke counties contribute almost
IA large 4 sum tn the of The State, as any
other eight counties within lis limits, and much
Larger than the revenue generally from the same
number OF counties, they have received a mere
pttance in comparison with that which has been
bestowed upon other sections Of the Common.
wealth. Common justice, then, apart from I'll
other considerations, would seem To demand that
the Roanoke cuuniies should receive at least,
such an am unt Of aid ia proportion to con,ribU.
t,ou az has been cheeTiuily grlnt,d to other pOr-
tons Of Virginia.
We feel assured that legislative aid to an
or ct so deserving, cannot long be deferred
T1e universal assent to its Propic;y and erpcdl-
ency, Is striking argument IN its favor. We
earnestly hope that the impetus already given to
c measure by Mr. Tunstal'. may keep the bail
~ motion, until complete success crowrs the lonr
and devoted lubors Of IL able ADVOCATE.
THE WIG CARRIERS
tsa sJarcs Of great y,1auOn % us lint many Of gur
cry subscribers have iiioi get t1f p.ue w1in the
lat few dsys One Of the agoin been
IN the uck.ls'. wlich anot Impossible to avoid
We will, howrvcr tske esry steps IN have hess accid pr
ubys,d Such oi subscribers T. led Get satq
days, Mondsys Tuesdsy's pspe5, have copy d
yesterdays country paPe', containing the reading matte
ul sil three days.