Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-03-16

into Inc Internal ImprorcmeD, fund; u woa'e
pay he interest on The three millions which nave
been borrowed Ia build roads and canals in The
Wes,. and The main huithen Of which has beer
borne BY The East Bow, with these tenehis be
fore Us, can we rejec, this amendment
But suppose | have over estimated he income
from The bonus; suppose will reach only sioo
600, Will moi this be an important suni-an Oh
sci worth a,,ainine7 Even his small amoun
would diminish our taxes one.ith, or, appropr
aed TO any OF The objects already indicated, DIS
prnse important benefits 10 the people.
rat this point, Mr.. G.'s remarks were inter
runled by ,hc expiration OF The allotted lme, bu
BIZ unanimous consenl ol The Senate, Mr.. G. wa.
allowed 10 proceed
MIR g. returned his thanks 10 the Senate FOL
the Indulgence extended 10 him. and proceeded
with his argument.
There are other important considerations
financial and Otherwise, said Mr.. c., connected
with this measuIe-ihe right Of way. Ii vi
amend the bill so as TO cause its provisions tC
be accepted BY the Baltimore Company, We Sc
cure ior the Stale in general, and The Nonhwes
in particular. an improvement, the advantages o.
which il is no easy task TO measure. The North
west as We know, contains inhexarslibe beds Of
coal and iron, which are two OF The great ee-
ments of national wealth, and which, with an
easy outlet to market, would add largely 10 The
value OF the lands in that region, and 10 the ge
neral wealth and prosperity Of lis inhabitants
The bes, btuminous coal have been informed
said Mr. c., lies upon the very surface OF The
earth, requiring none of The usual cost Of piiling
involving NO labor, indeed but The shovel
liag OF il up for USE And if this coal could
be readily gotten 10 the Southern market al
iorded in The Ohio and Mississippi vallies il
i, perfeclly nantes, that The lands in this
coaI-produciDs region, assessed now al abou, GO
ceus per acre, would be vastly enhanced in va
lue The same as 10 iron. Furnaces and iorses
would spring up throughout this iron region the
rnoinen, an improvement is furnished which
would take of their products 10 market. The
natural riches 0, the Northwest being thus made
available. an immense augmentation in The va
!ue OF it's landed property would take place :
Nor 10 this all. By lie vivifying influence oi al
improvement giving an ouilei to market where
none existed before and in country rich in all
The natural resources, new subjects OF taxation
would accumulate there And what, said Nj.
e.. will he the effect al all this Why, that d
large PORTION OF the Commonwealth, which has
hitherto paid very inconsiderabe portion oi the
public revenue, WILL BY means OF The increased
value OF lis aud, and the addition OF new sub.
jccls Of taxation, pay a large amour, OF taxes in
10 the treasury. This consideration, said Mr.. G
is worthy ii the .eiious attention o The TAX lay
ets and The taxpayers OF The S,ale-and is one
which determines me TO support This right of way
measure and ~ advocate j, 10 such form as 10 ST.
cure the acceptance OF the Baltimore Company,
and along with its acceptance the improvement
which promises 10 the Stale results so beneficial.
Nor should the justice Of The thing be over.
looked. The people oil The Northwest ask al our
hauts The simple privilege Of making road in
their own country with their own money, Of
money which they have al command. They do
no, ask Tor a dollar from the treasury. They
ask nothing which will cause the imposition oi
a cents tax upon the people OF the Stale. While
other sections are calling annually for millions,
he Norlhwes, asks only The cheap, uncosily boon
o., making their own roads for themselves. Can il
be refused herr Dare We refuse in Are we
not bound, as well by Inc obligations OF natural
Justice as OF parental duty, 10 yield her this pfvi-
,ese 2 WHY, said Nil. Garrett, The Stale is a.
much bound to provide Tor the Northwest as LOT
The James River country or any other section =
Now, with what justice or consistency can she
lavish millions upon other sections and refuse the
Northwest The liberty OF improving her own con-
dilion with her own means2 How can The Le-
qislalure vote to-day million and quarter IL
The James River improvement and Tomorrow
saw 10 the people OF the Northwest "ycu sham,
build your own roads with your own money ~
Lei il oe remembered ,ha, there is no hope OF i'm
proving the Nor!hwes, ~ Vagina mans To
make he road proposed b. This bill will require
an expenditure OF some Or 100000 OF dollars.
Is il expected thai Virginia will ever furnish This
vast amour, for this purpose, when che is already
commiued To other STATE woke 10 the amour, oil
- or i5,o0o,0007 The people VI the Northwest ex-
zee, themselves, no such thing. They know wei,
LAT 50 tar asexpec alton from State means arecoD.
cernrd, they ar doomed 10 be peni uf forever in
the Businesses Of their mountains. Virginia Is
not able TO provice roacs and canals for them. MOI
never will be- Now, in this CONDITION Of in
ability oil The Stale 10 provide herself Tor this por-
ton Of her people, will she deny leave 10 others
10 do il to do 10! he. what she Ii in duly bound
TO do herself, but which she can2oi from inability
do II Maryland will develope for he! he re-
sources Of large section oil her territory, anc
make richer ant happier large portion Of her
people, shall We be 50 nnjusl and 50 unwlse as u
Withhold our consent /. would be monsrous
injustice. and cruel tyranny, said Mr.. G.; and
this consideration constrains me, Tor one, moi only
to grant the RICH, II WAY, hu! 10 gran il in ar
available shape Hence il is, | would not nsis,
upon terminus, and route known TO be unac-
ceptable, but would amend ibis bill SO as 10 make
il available for ali The purposes proposed TO b.
accomplished by The grant OF The Right Of Way.
These are some OF The general considerations
that render me friendly 10 the proposed ament-
menl and TO the Right Of WAY IN general. |
proceed now, said Mr.. G., 10 set tor;h the rea-
sons which impel me, as an Eastern man, 70 ia
vor both.
The people OF the East have been heavily
taxed, Tor The last twenty years and more, 10 raise
appropriations for internal Improvements in the
West. The principal par, OF This burlhen has
been borne by The East, while that section has re-
ceived return in no shape whatsoever. II has been.
10 US OF The Eas', unmxed, unmiligaled taxation.
Some six millions and more have been appropri-
aed 10 the James River improvement, alone. Nor
has this work OF Eastern taxation stopped. Large
appropriations have been made al The present
session OF The Legislature :-one million two hun
dred and thiily-six thousand dollar, TO the James
River works; nine hundred thousand dollars 10
the Danvi!e railroad; Two hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars To the Alexandria canal; three hun
died ,noasand dollars To the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal; several hundred thousand dollars 10
the Louisa railroad; with others, TOO tedious 10
menlion"- amounting III all 10 nearly three nil
lions Of dollars. Nov, The resul, oil these heavy
appropriations will be large increase OF The
pubic debt and OF rhe lakes Of the pei ple unless
fund can be provided, wrnout cost, which will
pay the interest on IN amount appropriated; in
WHICH event IL VIII " ~ lsbt, uut a SluIh d. al
times worth lis par value. Now, Sir, said Mr.
G., hrs bonus provision, embraced in The amend.
ment proposed by my friend from Southampton
furnishes, or will furnish, this nteresl.payns
fund. II would bring INTO the Treasury a sum
sufficient TO pay the interest on the internal i'm
provement debt contracted al the present session
and will, Of course, save US the necessity OF rails
ing The taxes 10 provide Tor the increased liabiii-
ties Of The Commonwealth. Well, Sir, il The ef.
iecl of The amendment, will be 10 save US from in
creased taxation, can |, as an Eastern man, OF
pose il Can l. representing in part that portion
Of the State which bears chiefly any increase,
burden Of taxation, dare take ground aeains, any
measure which is 10 project that portion from al
ditiona laxalon7 ! put il 10 every Eastern Sc
mater on this floor, and TO every Eastern man il
The Commonwealth, whether the strongest consi
delalions Of interest DO not require him 10 sup
port, with all his might, this important amend
menl2 And put ii 10 Western men, 10 the in
lernal improvement party in the Senate, il tlel
do not owe 10 the East The adoption Of this mea
sure2 For long series OF years We have been
taxed in The Easl-heavily taxed-to build road.
and canals for our brethren Of The Wet Million.
upon millions have we contributed for This OBJ