Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-18

We are separated from the metropolis oi our
Stale, so great a distance, that we have no Iea
SON to hope that our agricultural products VIII
ever be transported TO the Richmond market, yet
confidently believe if the privilege herein Solicit
ed be granted US, A horoughfare will be opened
through our country, connecting with the BAIT
more and Ohio Railroad, that viii muse mo
the people of this region OF the Stale new sPi,
rir Of enterprise and industry. Our agricultural
interests will receive fresh imPulse-our farms
will be greatly enhanced in value-our popula-
lion RAPIDLY ncreased-and our industry richly
rewarded. The power OF The State will be
much strengthened, and her revenue greatly
increased. We propose 10 make this line OF itn'
proyement with our own means, and without
charge upon The treasury. And your memorial
lists would further suggest as consideration o.
The greatest importance 10 The ulure welfare Oh
Virginia and 10 the permanency OF her lnsliu-
lions. that BIZ The construction OF such an improve
menl as is proposed, the emigration from Eastern
Virginia, which is annually carrying on me
youth, the energy and wealth OF the STATE mo
distant countries will be diverted TO Western
Virginia in great degree, and thereDy give 10
ha, portion OF The State population purely vir-
enian in sympahies and predictions. ANA
your petitioners hunby conceive, thai no govern
menl desiring the prosperity and happiness OF lis
people, can with propriely refuse them SO hum
Die boon. What induced your honorable oo-
div 10 authorize The construction OF railways
from the Potomac 10 Richmondl-tfom Rich
mond 10 Peters burg 1.-THE Portsmouth rail-
road 1.-THE Winchester and HarPer's Ferry
Road, from Harper's Ferry 10 Gunner,
land ami the construction Of MacAdamlzed
road from James River, through Soush western
Virginia TO The Tennessee line: and The invest
ment Of large appropriations from me common
Treasury TO aid in their construction; Du' dn
earnest and patriotic desire 10 promote Inc pros
perity and happiness OF The people inhaol'ins nose
portions of the Stale; penetrated by ih0se lHh-
provements2 And shall our North western
section be refused the poor privilege oi improv.
ing our own condition, by our own means and
Industry, without charge TO the State! has moi
The Common wealth The same desire, and The
same interest 10 have this portion oil the oia'e
improved as any other portion OF the Stale =
Can il be that b. cause the great chain oil Inc Al
leehany and other mountains, between us and
The civ OF Richmond, render our commercial
conneYion with that city impraclicabe, that we
shall not, by our own means, open way 10 o1hef
markets without the Statel What else than rail
ways, canals and urnpikes, has made our sis'er
State OF Ohio great and rapidly growing COM
MUMMY? Our soil and Climate are hot INFERIOR
10 hers, and We, The want of those Improvements
feeble people; and 50 we must remain, unlil
your honorable body shall allow us The same
means OF improving our country that nave been
allowed them, by The government OF their Stale.
Your petitioners have learned win surprise
and regret that the inhabitants OF that narrow
neck Of country, lying between The Pennsylvania
line and The Ohio river and The county vi MAR
shall. situated on the extreme Northern border Of
our State are opposed To any great improvement
through North western Virginia, except II lerm-
nate al Wheeling II is now we'll known, thai
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad company Will
not extend their road 10 The city oil Wheeins.-
md your petitioners cannot believe that your mo-
norable body would deny Us The privilege Of con-
struclins railroad through our country. because
the Baltimore company will moi extend theirs 10
Wheeling. Are The inha bilants oil The Monon,
gahela, Kanawha, and Middle Island rivers and
their tributaries, TO lie deprived OF the blessings
and advantages Of local Improvements, because
The town of Wheeling cannot enjoy The iiulls OF
,heml Why shall The district Of country nereinbe-
fore described be tributary, against The VIII It's IN
habanrs, 10 The town OF Wheelins2 Shall We be
kprt in obsculily and poverty, because that town,
with population OF some 5000 partially adyen-
urers from other States, DEGREES il2 Has not tins
norton OF Virginia always been tue and loyalto
her ouvernment2 Have not our people wilh ala
crilv and pfomp'ness traversed on loot our sreal
mountains 10 aid in the expulsion OF oreisn Zoe
when invading The eastern portion oil ne state
Have wc been direlicl in any duty required vi usi
Have We not been faithful 10 The peculiar met
esfs Of our eastern brethren by inlerceping those
disturbing spirits from the free States on our bor-
der who seek 10 overthrow institutions peculiar 10
southern Staes2 In short, what nave we zone
Inconsistent with The honor OF our good old Com
monweab that we should be osiracIzed and le-
fused the privilege OF improving our condition IN
a way that cannot in any wise inure any olhei
portion OF The State Your petitioners are dec
ded OF opinion that The apprehensions OF The ci'
zens of Richmond and the James river country,
that line Of railway through This section Of the
STATE, will prove injurious 10 their cherished
scheme OF like imProyemsdnn, from Kmnm no 70
annual report of the President and Directors Of
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company II l. |
apparent u The most casual observer, that The |
lr ado and travel between the eastern and western
States is in creasing with sCch rapidly that IN
lew more years single line OF railroad will mol |
accommodate il, and Two compiling improve
mens OF the kind will effect saluiary check
On each olherand prevent monopoly by either.
Apart from these local considerations, are
NOT those Of a national character 10 be taken inln
estimation in our application! The general 60
veT0lllcDl lul the want VI poNcl VI
ulher causes will not conBfc; The eastern with The
western States by lines Of railway. Ought Vir-
sinia TO inlerposr barrier 10 keep them separated
Ought she TO refuse her people The right 10 comet
the chesapeake Bay with Inc waters Of The
Western States by railroad. Your petitioners
cannot believe that the people OF Virginia are In
different 10 any plan Of in,ercommuaicaiion, ty
railway or 0 herwise, tending u bind The STATES VI
this Union m IRE closely. Nor can your petition
ers believe here exists a single emotion Of lea-
lousy in The breast If Virsinian al the rspld in
crease and improvements ul the Wesern States.
The probable extension ol The INNS Of Inc
United STATES southwark, admonishes us oil the
Of more careful SOLE iiude ior HE pre-
sefvaliun of our Union, than we have hitherto
ieli the pf0,fcl;n. power OIL The Federal Govern
mcnl should have grealtr iaci itirs oi rapid ccm-
with the distant po;t"ns OF The con-
iedefacy than i, now has, and il bshoovss ine
Stale IL provide the means.
These considerations, combined with those oil a |
local character herein before indicated, prompted |
The inhabitants Of Northwestern Virginia by its |
delegates To meet in Convention al Weston, Lew
is county, in the month OF September last, 10
adopt such proceedings as in its wisdom, should |
be considered most suitable 10 impress your hon
orahle body with the lively interest entertained BY
your petitioners upon The subject oil this memoir
al; and 10 the published proceedings OF that Con-
ven;ion, composed as il was OF about 500 oil Tie
most intelligent and staid men Of North Western |
Virginia, your petitioners most respectfully refer
and in pursuance Of one OF The resolutions of
that Convention your petitioners pray that your
honorable body pass an ACT Incorporating JOINT
stock company, 10 constructs railroad from some
point on the Potomac river 10 The Ohio river, al
or above the mouth Of the Little Kanawha II
yer.
And your petitioners, as in du'y bound, will ev-
er pray, &c.