Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-12-04

GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
FcII0lb-CltazenS Of fhe
Senate and House Of Delegates ::

Senate and House Of Delegates:
welcome you, with great pleasure to the capitol, and
offer you my congratulations upon the condition in
which you will find the general interests OF the common
wealth. Notwithstanding the fears expressed by many
lest the liberal spirit evinced in the more recent legsa
ton OF the state touching the improvement OF roads and
canals would embamass our finances the reports here
with transmit you from the several departments will
shew that condition is sound and prosperous. In
deed there every thing in it to indicate the wisdom
of the legislature and to crafty the friends OF judi
cious but liberal system of internal improvement. II
will be, am sure, gratifying TO you, and to the people
at large, to know that Virginia has at her command
ample means to discharge all her subsisng public debt
with the exception of very small and nconsiderable
sum. Ii it were thought desirable tomorrow to wipe
the public debt sale at par oihe profitable and in
sstng debt amounts to 81, Sal 1894 H. The annual n-
terest and dividends received by the amount to
$43O 1852 OS; shelving that the stocks yielding this
the public debit that is, within 100000 of present
Indebtedness There is however, additional sum OF
Sc 600 600, which, under existing laws may be called
for ont OF the treasury and about OF which
of few years; hence this sum, although not now a
subsisting debt will become So and ought, therefore, to
be taken into the estimates OF our liabilities This view
shews the precise condition OF our financial situation,
and is fully sustained by the reports and documents
which will be laid before the Legislature. The sale it
true, has guaranteed loans to considerable amount,
for various Incorporated companies which securtyshp
some have regarded part OF the public but this is
questonably error, for knowledge of the
and the prospects OF the companies, whose bonds have
been guaranteed, will satisfy all that they are, will
ultimately be- amply able to pay their bonds, as, up to
this time, they have always done the interest them
This exposition is cheering to all, but to
more than the friends OF internal improvements, for
which the debt has been mainly created However,
whilst II shews the perfect capacity OF the common
wealth to manage her present debt without inconve-
nence it also shews the necessity OF the greatest pru
deuce and crcumspecton the part of the legislature
to avoid such increase OF our Indebtedness may result
in future embarrassment and additional taxation
| Nothing ought to be more cautiously avoided,
earnestly deprecated by the advocates OF the recent Ii
beral system OF improvement than such result.
would recommend therefore, that, except such
| are necessary to carry on the great works already
begun, such essentially necessary to con-
| tribute their and profit no farther APP
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 it.
Ii any thing can ever restore to Virginia that peeu-
mary and commercial ascendency which she pos
sessed in the conederacy, must be the consummation
of the system OF internal improvements she has already
embarked and the completion OF the truly great works
already commenced. Toendanger the system, or to
impede the prosecution OF those works, is to strike
fatal blow at the resuscitaton OF the commonwealth;
and nothing would be etlectua for this, a 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
undertaken and generously sustained by the public
funds and public credit, together with one or two pro-
posed but not yet determined upon, calculated to
develop very fully the resources OF the state and to swell
the tide of her commercial prosperity to its utmost
limits. The entire energies OF the commonwealth
should be devoted to their completion, but in such
way to avoid embarrassment and to escape onerous
taxation That this can be effected by the prudence and
wisdom OF the Legislature, l have no doubt.
1t is now reduced almost to an axiom, that the great
commercial prosperity in the Atlantic States, is only
attainabe by connection with the valley OF the Mis-
sssppi; and hence, from Massachusetts TO Georgia,
almost every state along the sea-coast competing
anxousy and earnestly with each Other Tor the shortest,
| cheapest, and safest communication.
Tie commercial ascendency OF Virginia was at one
period OF our history undsputed her natural advanta
ges OF navgable streams, climate and soil, gave it to
her. Trusting to these, we have neglected those artl
cal MEANS which could alone secure to permanent
ly; and therefore the commerce, which once whitened
with its sails seapors, has almost disappeared from
our waters. The example set US by our neighbors at
the North is OF wisdom, and deserves our m ost
earnest attention In spite OF bleak climate and ste
rle SOIL they have by judicous policy afforded such
facilities to REORGANIZATION and trade, that
merce with her golden tides has filled the land with
plenty prosperity and wealth. Our natural advantages
remain still the same; they are uneualled by any At
lanc state; and whilst it is s now probably too late
its present channels still it is in the power of demon
stration TO shew that vast deal OF what have
wisely lost can be reganed and that can still secure
fair division OF that commercial wealth and power
which is now monopolized by the North
Situated about midway between the northern boun-
Diary of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico, we
escape in great degree the rgos OF the northern win
ters and he scorchng heat OF the SOUTH Our eastern
border upon the river Potomac and the Chesapeake bay
dotted with harbors unsurpassed in safety and capa-
city The fleets othe whole earth could ride safely at
anchor within them. Our western border is washed
for several hundred miles by the Ohio river and at other
points along it. therich region OF Kentucky and the fer
tile valley OF the Tennessee of easy access Besides
this the country lying between the eastern and western
boundaries, ofwhch lspeak is unsurpassed for its fer
tty and the variety OF its products Minerals OF every
description are to be found fthe superior quality
nd in lneXlailStlble. whilst
earth in which they embedded, unlike other mineral
regions is OF the desirable character for husbandy
Let this country be penetrated by improvements connect
ing our seaports with the Ohio with Kentucky and the
valley OF Tennessee, and will ntuse spirit OF enter
prize into the population which must, in short time,
fully develop all Of our resources
The topography OF the country is most favorable Tor
the completion OF these great connecting lines From
Underwater to the Mississippi river at Memphis, there is
mountain barrier nterposng serious difficulty to the
construction OF railroad whilst the region rayesed by
is inferior to OF the same extent for mineral and
agricultural resources, upon the continent OF North
America The valley otthe Tennessee, one oil the most
magnificent OF all those washed by the waes of the
west the annual commerce OF which Is worth thirty
five millions Of dollars will find IN this road an outlet
for its rich products 10 the Atlantic And cargo Of
merchandise landed at Norfolk or Richmond would be
safely transported to the city OF Memphis, ready Tor dis
rbuton upon those mighty waters, in less than ten days
The "Virgnia and Tennessee" railroad will effect this
great object, when shall be finally competed and al
ords great pleasure to say, we are warranted in the
belief that it will be prosecuted with energy and des-
patch.
The James river and Kanawha canal having toy its
object the connection of tide with the Ohio river,
has for good many years been generously sustained by
appropriations of public money and, although it has
steadfasy in the APPRECIATION OF well informed reflect
ing men. The results 10 Virginia, which are 10 flow
from its competion, will strike the mind, upon little
reflection really stupendous. haye no doubt but
that the commerce passing through this canal will
rapidly build up the towns of Virginia, to the magnitude
OF the first American cities, and will rescue us in
great measure from the miserable consequences OF our
past apathy and naetien.
The effects upon the prosperity and destiny OF New
York, produced by the completion OF the Erie canal
opening the commerce OF the lakes to that city are per