Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-13
To The Editors Of The Enquirer.

We are 10 be taxed for all sort. Of things, and BY
all sorts Of people, if it is only called an Inter
nal Improvement | dare say that there are
many Improvements, that nigh, be very advan-
tageously made, even among The legislators
themselves. and that, too, without taxing Inc
people. But as nothing is good that Is cheap,
or, rather, that The people have not to pay Tor,
| suppose they will not be made. But, Messrs.
Editors, badinsge apart, if We poor tde-waier
people, (for such we and our country are uni-
versally held 10 be by all he upper aud noun
tain country of our State-those very people
who are disposed SO freely to dip their hands
into our pockets, and take what little we have
for their own purposes, } are to be those taxed
for ano,her's good, or supposed good, may We
moi be allowed 10 inquir- into the eIpediency oil
some Of the proposed improvements, aud If It IS
altogether RICH. and proper that al! the rich
parts Of the State should combine 10 Cypress
that part which is already poor, BY your own
showing, and which has not even asked Tor one
Of those Improvements, saving my friend OF the
Munsy Bill witch | presume be only throws
in every now aud then 10 make out full band,
or some one else does it for bin, that the gull
may be more complete; that il may D. said all
parts OF the State are applying for railroads.
No, gentlemen, We have in good truth asked
for none; we wan. none; We ask no boon OF Stale
or Federal Government, but 10 let Us alone;
give US free trade and specie circulation, and
make the Banks honest, or do away with
them; for, as al present conducted they are
preludcia. rather than beneficial; and whether
We or our country are rich or poor, we ask no
more; We are content. But il seems you will
not lei US alone; you say you will have our mo-
ney, although we insist upon il that all the
railroads and canals in christ-ndom will not be-
neh, US directly or indirectly. We used once
10 hope that, as those things wen, on, We should
be benefited by the growth Of our towns,
which would give US markets for the little we
make to sell; but, like Lady Tesze's beauty,
that deusion has passed away. Instead Of CIV
ing US markets, the reverse has been the fact,
since the railroads and canal that now go 10
the Metropolis have been completed As far
as they have been, they supply Richmond with
the little she wants; and they have sent the
tide.water country of TO look for other mar
kels. They do no, buy from US al all now,
whether from want of capital, mercantile
enterprise, or what. know not but such Is The
fac', mat small portion OF lower James river
alone now finds market al Richmond for their
surplus Productions Now, under al! these cir
cumstances, ,ru.; sha moi be considered mala-
Inc contemplated Tairoads. For, although iimay
D.. Inferred from wha, have said ma am op-
posed 10 all Improvements by Inc Sae o! by the
STATE agency, such IS not the case; and although
| may not De VIVA: the newspapers call an Sen
ighlrned and liberal friend Ui internal improve
men,s" meaning thereby, suppose, giving all
that IS asked ioI by any part Of Inc Stale, who.
the. The WORK is 10 be profitable or the reverse,
until We are driven 10 bankruptcy or reputation;
bul slill an TREND, and always have been, 10 he
development Of Inc resources 81 the Stale BY a 10.
di ious system oi internal improvement, although
may not be directly or indirectly benefited by
them
But, i, does seem 10 NE tina, Virginia has not
exercised ina, wisdom in me prosecution OF her
public works that she has teen wont u do in
Coz. ...,.,. s0uIr
aphorl.,ns tina, never should be departed from
10 carrying On system o! internal improvements
as well a. Other things. The first is nev.rlo CON-
mence work mat is no. maniiesily Juticious ard
that vii! not ultimately pay the interest upon ne
investment Tor, il il does mol do Ii he evil pre-
pcncerstes oTcr The good ina. il produces, and
although a iew may be benefited, il vii! be at the
expense q me larger nu:nber, which Is no. Just
or honest. The next one lhs, would lay down
is, ina, when WORK II known and determined
utility is determined upon, and set 70 work upon,
il should be completed with as lille delay
as practicable, and that no other minor work
should b. suffered 10 interfere viii the more i'm.
poraut one unil il is completed, when il would
mainly Contribute, o. perhaps entirely So 10 the
making Of he next most important, and 50 IN,
ultil III he Improvements that are really want
M woul. b. comnelei, and that, 100, without in
rowing the S;at2 10 an irfeGccmable debt. Bu
mas ms course beeD pursuet7 No-wh sor.
row may b. said, ~ the Stale il has not been
Pardon me gentlemen Of the Legislature, past
AMI present; bat system o; los-folling 10 use
your own 'erm) has been atop:e.. BY which even
iae turnpike from line kla has been brousDr
oo the genera! pile, ard il you will vote Tor mine
| ~iil 4, yours; and So all schemes, whether
age OF sma 4 good q cYi--no questions have
been a,sed- nave been pressed on together 10 ne
advancement. y our pubic cebl and bu sma 4 be-
aefi 10 any The Portsmouth Railroad stand.
ont n bui rcie: 10 is a waning bedeon oi
useless rival Improvements and 50 Wi spue
9.nefs, II carried oul, that are nov projected.
There are some Improvements now IN
Ger VA. and o'her, projsee!, that will as far a.
human foresight can see, be ol grfa, and lasting
value 10 The Sac, and c.hsfs nat cannot keep
tlem,sires in repair; and hose TOO which will
{ & more than any ~ t:S. Now the improve
ment that stands foremost II all others, is the
James and X ana VIVA; ina, seems 10 be admpct
III aslies 10 h paramount 10 all others Next
presum. IN importance, will oe found, the South
Western improvement, wh.tner BY rail or Mac
adamized roac; ne next | presume, will be me
L5uisa road provided il can gel into he valley.
" ilh these linen think Virginia might be very
well content Al ieasi Tor the time being, as these
: fully occupy all the resources the State can
command, 10 say nolhiDs ni that worse than
throw away ., money, the Danville road. Com
no al
Improvements, viii moi only enable Us 10 carry
On any neT ones that might be thou hi advisa-
ole alter mature examination OF The proposed i'm
proyement and reflection thereon, but also al
once create sinking fund over and above pay-
ing The interest on Inc lay by which 10 redeem
the principal, il il was considered advisable 50 10
10.
As 10 the terminus u The James and Kanauha
river improvement, and when and how prosecu-
ted, would have 10 a later period 10 decide al
Ter il gels &c Buchanan. Much diversity OF opin-
ion seems 10 exist between The Lynchburgers
and the good people Of Buchanan, about The
points where The South Western improvement
should leave the James river, whether al Lynch.
burg or Buchanan; roth parties seem 10 think
TIA; The reasoning Of each Is conclusive as 10 the
poihl. Being Tide water man, lar removed as
am from The scene OF strife, and not even secon.
darby interested in the matter, except as lax
payer, which, 10 be sure, IS a very serious mat
ter; may be presumed al Least 10 be prepared,
upon he hearing Of both parties 10 give disin-
teresed opinion II, as ii seems, there is now
but little doub., that the Louisa road will
go into the valley | suppose as mater OF
course, il will find lis way either 10 the
mouth Of Nouh river or Buchanan, as soon
as may b. alter the canal ges up 10 The LATER
place, and then as cons querce, whether By
will go 10 Salem, as soon as there is railroad
from thence TO the Tennessee line; and allowing
The road should be originally made from Lynch
burg as the point o! departure from The James
river, ii must inevitably, in a short time, be dis.
continued for all the freight will certainly seek
the wafer line, ant passengers except those GO.
Ing 10 Lynchburg direct, and there 10 STOP will,
Of course, take the Buchanan route, thence Gown
the valley 10 Rock6sh, and down The Louisa
roac, ether 10 Richmond or The North. That
road is already done-thai from Lynchbarg i.
L.. 49,