The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-07
CITY OF WASHINGTON FRIDAY MORNING DECEMBER 4 ls4e
Extraets from Governor Floyds able and sIoqasas
Mes1sge.

Extrasts from Governor Floyds able and sIoqasa,
4 Mss1sse.
y FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE, OF DELE
GATES; welcome you, with great pleasure. to the Cap
ioi and oifer you my congratulations upon the cond
non IN which you will find the general interests OF the
Commonwealth notwithstanding the fears expressed
by many lest the liberal spirit eynced in the more recent
legislation OF the State, touching the Improvement oil
roads and canals, would embarass our finances the re-
ports herewith transmit to you from the several depart
mens WIZ show that our condition Is sound and pros
wisdom OF the legislature and to crafty the friends of
judcous bat liberal system Of internal Improvement Il
Virginia. s sea @ s psfse
pie means to discharge all her subsistng public debt
WIN ne exception OF very small and uncomfortable
out the public debit sale at par OF her profitable and
stocks would effect it. This present sub
slsng debt amounts to 1854 294 II. The annual in
43o752 0s showing that the stocks yielding this sum
are worth, at par I7920O, about the amount Of the
public debt-that Is, within $362Oo0 of our present in
900 900, which, under existing laws may be called
Tor out OF the treasury and about rs 900 900 Of which
WILL Il IS thoughts be certainly demanded in the course
Of few years hence this sum. although not now
subsstng debt will become SO. and ought therefore,
be taken into the estimates OF liabilities This view
shows the precise condition Of financial situation
and Is fully sustained by the reports and documents
which will be laid before the legislature. The State, it
Is true has GUARANTEED loans, to considerable amount
for various incorporated companies, which securiyshp
some have regarded part OF the public debt but this
unquestionaby error for knowledge of the resources
and the prospects OF the companies, whose bonds have
been guaranteed will satisfy all that they are or will
ultimately be, amply able to pay their bonds up to
this time, they have always done the interest them
This exposition is cheering to all, but to none
which the debt has been mainly created However,
whilst it shows the perfect capacity of the commonwealth
to manage her present debt without inconvenience also
shows the necessity OF the greatest prudence and crcum
n tn Lane N
crease OF Indebtedness may result in future embar
rassment and additional taxation Nothing ought to be
more cautiously avoided earnestly deprecated by the
advocates Of the recent liberal system of Improvement
than such result would recommend, therefore, that,
except such necessary TO carry the great
works already begun such essentially necessary
to contribute to their and profit, no further ap
preparation should be made for the present out OF the
treasury. make this recommendation with the greater
confidence, because believe the of permanent
and wise system Of internal improvements depends upon
If anything can ever restore to Virginia that pecunary
and commercial ascendency which she possessed in
the confederacy, must be the contamination Of the sys
tenn OF internal improvements she has already embarked
in and the completion OF the truly great works already
commenced To endaDger the system, 10 impede the
prosecution of those works is to strike fatal blow at
the resuscation OF the Commonwealth and nothing
would be efectua for this lavish expenditure OF
public money upon Insignificant projects from which the
State at large could never receive any benefit.
The great works OF internal improvement already
dertaken and generously sustained by the public funds
yet determined upon calculated TO develop very fully
the of the State, and to swell the tide of her
commercial prosperity to IFS utmost limits. The entire
energies of the Commonwealth should be devoted TO
their completion, but in such way 10 avoid embar
rassment and TO escape onerous taxation That this
be effected by the prudence and wisdom of the legsa
is now reduced almost to an axiom that the greatest
commercial prosperity in the Atlantic States is only at
and hence from Massachusetts to Georgia we see almost
every State along the seacoast competing anxiousy and
earnestly with each other for the Shortest cheapest and
The commercial ascendency Of Virginia was at one
period OF history undspued her natural advantages
Of navgabe streams, climate and SOIL gave il TO her
Trusting TO these, we have neglected those artificial
means, which could alone secure il 10 us permanently
and therefore the commerce which whitened with
its sails our seaports has almost disappeared from our
waters The example set US by neigh bors at the
North one of wisdom, and deserves our most earnest
attention In spite of bleak climate and sterile SOIL they
have, by udicous policy afforded such facilities to in
accommodation and trade that commerce with her go
den tides has filled the land with plenty, prosperity, and
wealth Our natural advantages remain still the same
they are unequalled by any Atlantic State; and whilst
il is probably too late TO divert the commerce OF the
Atlantic cities from its present channels still il is in the
power oil demonstration TO show that vast deal OF what
we have unwisey lost can be egained. and that
still secure fair division OF that commercial wealth and
power which is now monopolized by the North.
Situated about midway between the northern boundary
OF the United States and the Gulf Of Mexico escape
in great degree the rgors OF the northern winters and
the scorchng heat OF the South. Our eastern border
upon the river Potomac and the Chesapeake bay dotted
with haIbors unsurpassed in safety and capacity The
fleets Of the whole earth could ride safely anchor with
in them Our western border washed for several hun
dred miles by the Ohio river and at other points along
the rich region OF Kentucky and the fertile valley OF the
Tennessee Of easy Besides this, the country
lying between the eastern and western boundaries OF
which speak is unsurpassed Tor its fertility and the va
rety Of its products Minerals Of every description
be found OF the most superior quality, and in quaint
ties absolutely nexhaustbe, whilst the earth in which
they are mbedded unlike other mineral regions Of the
try be penetrated by improvements connecting
ports with the Ohio, with kentucky. and the valley Of
Tennessee and will nfuse spirit OF enterprise into the
population which must in short time fully develop all
oil our resources
The topography OF the country is most favorable for
the completion oil these great connecting lines From
tide water TO the Mississippi river At Memphis there is
construction Of railroad whilst the region traversed by
is inferior TO none OF the same extent for mineral and
agricultural resources, upon the continent OF North
America The valley OF the Tennessee, of the most
magnificent Of all those washed by the waters OF the
West, the annual commerce OF which il worth thirty.
s rich products TO the Atlantic. And cargo OF mer
chandse landed at Norfolk Richmond, weud be safely
transported to the city OF Memphis, ready for distribution
upon those mighty waters, in less than ten days The
Virginia and Tennessee railroad will effect this great
object when shall be finally completed and affords
me great pleasure to say we are warranted in the belief
that il will be prosecuted with energy and despatch
object the connection OF tide with the Ohio yer
has for good many years been generously sustained by
appropriations OF public money; and although il has met
with strong opposition, II still maintains itself steadasy
the appreciation OF well informed rejecting men The
results 70 Virginia which to flow from its compilation,