Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-08-19
ADDRESS.

ADDRESS.
The Commissioner appointed 10 open books of sub
scrpiion To the aor Of The Richmond and OHIO Railroad
have requested me 10 appear before the people o amp
bell to day. and address them II ,h ect Of that road
setting ioh the character mud ects OF the proposed
work ills pfscticabilty mud cost aud the ad,snta
ges hich nu, reasonably be cxpeciod To now from il,
construction. M, only the town Of ynchburn and the
county Of Campbell, but also 10 the State and the nation
a, large.
Tho Commissioners themselves manil,st the deepest
interest IN the success Of the work they have entered
upon The performance Of the duties assuned them
with energy aud zeal and though subscriptions. thus
far have TALON short of their expectations they enter
tam Tho most sanguine hopes Of success. Nothing more
Is necessary 10 secure ii. they think than 10 sci the
claims OF the proposed Improvement fairly before the poo
pe:-and II, by such addresses shall be- dellv cred
here to-day The subscriptions shall be much cnlnped
still, Information will be disseminated, the subject will
be ag'taed The merits ui the work will be generally IN
des'ood and appreciated. and thus the great end which
they have IN view cannot fail 10 be- advanced.
Heretofore have confined my sell stu ly 10 the line Of
my proiesson,neye having doya,ed from IN sinleu
stance for the pnp Of following mp any other object OF
anhilon or any other source Of profit But when such
call NJ this Is made me- such is the cstimiie Of the
mporianeelndeed, the necessity oil the proposed work
not only 10 this section of the State but 10 ynnia md
the Union that though have malu thu subject OF m
teroal improvements my study. were To refuse 10 make
a, least effort, should feel that would be- blind In
tho true glory ard highest interests of Virginia aud deal
10 the luudcsi calls Of patriotism
Inc great works OF antiquity, gentlemen. were dsipn
ed ny tts inonhfclis and omperOrs-and executed by
hords OF Sorts hondsmen and captives and for the mos
part. were intended only memorials Of the greatness
and glofyo the monarchs and cmperlrs " no designed
them But In this aye and country it ii otherwise. Ou
great works are designed by the people thcmscves,-
they arc executed by their means freely Overland
lppI thp upv 4
tiona wealth and resources and the concentration Of the
national energies. II them are 10 have such works
IN virginia, We, the people, plan and execute them
ourselves.
How strange then tho apathy which CA Sig amongst
rs on this subject How different IL the feeling mani
tcscd In relation to national politics and all the concerns
OF the general government On III approach Of Pres
idcnal election what do we see 7-Whal animation =
What excitement What a number of Conventions
Mass mcetings.-nnd primary assemblies What ,nul
tndes Of people Of all ages and conditions attend them
what distances they travel --wntat pcrse thew incur.
what sacfahco OF time and convenience How ia
uenily they lsten;--how able the Observation-Disclosures
much moro capable they become of casting intelligent
votes. Whal is the of this ? Are our liberties
IN danger DO vtl questions atiso Nothing of the
sort. The question only questions of national policy
questions Of xpodelcy. Now, why should not great
questions of State policy be canvassed in similar man
ner Why should n1t take an equal interest il,
ihem since is clear that If we desire to effect the pros
The parts;-and that II we neglect any part the whole
must suffer
Or has Virginia already accomp shed SO much that
she may retro from the field ofactve exeon and
leave her sister States to toll until they bring up
the rear. Iheto indeed time, gent enen when
we had just cause TO be proud Of the relative position Of
Virginia among the sister Sa'es.-a time, in the early
history Of the colonies, when she the first resist
the encroachmen,s Of the British Crown;-a time after
the war broke out when she gave General to the A.
merlcan armies, and h-rself distinguished
champion of our lberiies;-a time, after that General
achieved these liberties, when this great constitutional
government was formed. with him its head and Viz
GINA entered upon fair and honorable compoton with
har sister States in the OF national glory and nation
al prosperity. Then she was the largest, and most
populous State in The Union In oihet respects they
started upon the from The point Where does
she stand now2 New York has twice as greata popuIa
,on,-Pennsyl vania has larger population, Ohio
has larger population Virginia is already fourth
rate Stale Other States close behind are advancing
In population At the rate of from 20 to 80 per in
ten years, while Virginia is anos, stationary Massa
chusetts has popralion of9i persons the square
mileVirgina. 9i,or tho density Of population there
is about five times as great as II is here.
But will rot pursue this contrast furthey All of
us know the condition ofVlrgina, every where, to De,
TIA, she ia either declining siaonary,or very slowly
improving. Now what is The cause Of this II is that
the other States nave uniformly Systematically, and Wig
orousy pnrsuod enlightened system Of internal i'm
proyemens, while we nave failed 10 DO so. Massachu
sets contains within her borders 700 miles Of Railroads.
New York, 1900 miles Of Railroads and Canals Penn
sylvania, an equal nnmber;-Oho, large number Of
miles, knnw no. how many At the tcrmin of these
great Improvements, the States which have mention
ed there large cities g'eat empoums Of Commerce,
rivalling in numbers wealth, and the eegancies and
comforts which they afford, the cities Of Europe. And
every where, between these ternini, either Furnishing
villages. other popuous cities, have sprung up The
whole face Of these States presents unvaried scene
Of animation, activity and prosperity land highly
mprsved;-s resources fully Developed products
freely in,erchan,ed Every man has m,rket at his
door.
Now what has been tho system of Virginia She
has been without sfes. desgns;-but they have
been executed. What has she accomplished 2 She
has only $50 miles of Railroads. Massachusetts, with
only oned!th other area has twice many miles Of
Railroad az Virgins, OF Massacauso.'s, in proper |
non 10 her s.ea, has tea t!.oc5 as many miles. |
c,.z..,n- - : IL