Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-03-12
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To he Editors 81 he Euquirer.

deem il Of The utmost Importance, in refer
ence 10 The interests o.lhe entire Commonwealth
that The people Of those counties in the East
whose Delegates and Senators, uniformly, vote
against Internal improvement measures, in which
The State embarks, should examine This grea
question, in all its bearings. Mr.. Tunstall o
Pitlsylvania said a very true thing, when he told
the House, substantially, that the People, Re-
personalities who make merit Of their opposi
| lion 10 appropriation Tor this purpose and pre-.
sent il as claim 10 the Peoples favor, are they
who keep The People in the dark.
| Ihave neither leisure nor materials al hand for
detailed or elaborate exposition Of The views,
which lake il, are well ascertained 10 be correct
upon all This maueT. A synopsis, very brief, Of
these views propose 10 present, and | invite
others To take up The subject and press il home
| upon the constituents al gentlemen, who repre-
sen, counties such as Northampton and HALIFAX,
that will not consent 10 use the public treasure
| in The construction OF Improvements.
abstain from saying any Thing OF The result
ing general benefits Of local or sectional works.
Upon that point should be met with The down
RICH, assertion, that those benefits do not extend 10
counties and regions OF the State which do MOI re-
ouire such works; and | should scarcely hope,
w.
Ia show how, although an investment should
Weld The State lille or no interest or DIVIDEND the
wealth OF The Commonwealth may be enhanced
and all its interests foslered.
NV purpose is 10 offer 10 The consideration oil
those 10 whom specially direct this communica-
ton the financial vier which is taken OF The pre-
sent condition of The State as 10 its interest in the
Improvements which II has projected and foster
ed If I err not grossly il is inevitably iobe con-
/. Guided that the Representative who will not COM
ple,e by Stale aid, the present works, and those
hereafter TO be constructed tributary 10 them, Is
unahiul 10 The peenniaJy, The doaaf and ce'h IN
teress Of those counties, which have never asked,
received or needed improvements. or course
do no, include works improvidenty embarked in,
and Improbable, 10 any great extent. remark,
then
lst. Virginia, prior to The present session, was
involved in impIoyementS To the amount OF six
or seven millions OF dollars
D. These Improvements, many, and by far The
larger portion of them, are incomplete, and as in
yes,menrs, comparatively valueless.
3d. The Stale is thus, losing the interest on
her investments.
4,h. There must, therefore, continue pcrpe-
pelual loss, recurring perpetual taxation in an
unprosperous Common wealth, OF the present ra-
Ito OF The lax 10 The properly upon which II IS I'M
posed.
5th That loss may be saved by the comrie
lion OF the system Of works, as il has been fully
demonstrated that, when prudently devised, they
weld the interest on their cost cite Massachu-
sets for illustration.
9th. The additional deb! required for This pur-
pose, will become thus, al no distant day, no ad-
dit,onal debl-oM render good The e1isting debt
and will add immensely 10 The value OF The pro.
perry Of the Commonwealth, which constitutes
the taxable subject
Tin. That increase OF value being, 81 course,
10 The neishborhood, and at or beyond the termi-
nj OF the works, WILL pro tanto, disburihen all
other portions Of the State OF taIes-and,
9Th. Thus The temporary grievance OF TAXA
| ton becomes looking to results, 10 The present
in its relation 10 The iuure-apporcnt. mol SUB.
,antial.
In all this have entire confidence. am not
swayed BY any local considerations. II my own
county, although one OF The large taY-Paying
counties, had, al any time, received ole dollar
from the State for these purposes. or needed or
asked dollar, or enjoyed the benefit of any ap-
preparations 10 works in the adjacent counties or
neighborhood, my Judgment might be warped
but such is mol the case.
repeat, that / trust others, whose more ap-
propriate province it is TO do 50, may devote
The mselves to The important object OF rightly in
forming the public mind upon 80 grave matter.