The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-06

enterprislhS, since IL Is more Wlueiy dispersed.
In Massachusetts the railroad system has
been rapidly extended, but by private and cor.
porate enterprise chiefy-but that system, like
the common school system, which may be well
adapted to State of small area, and of dense
population, consisting Of commercial and manu-.
featuring towns, is not so well suited to a large
thinly settled, mountainous State. The landed
property of Virginia has increased from 2ll,-
93o,50S to 274,6S0,226, or 29t per cent. in the
last ten years-an increase, we will venture to
say, greater than in New York during the same
period, the period of the completion and tri-
umph of her system of public works.
We present these views as qualifications OF
Governor FLoYD's argument, not because we
oppose his policy of completing the great lines
OF public works, on the basis already COM
menced, although we think too much has been
begun at once, but in support of his caution
against carrying the policy to excess. We hope
Virginia will 60 on and complete the great lines
of works now begun, provided their ultimate
cost will not render her debt more than fourteen
vi hitCCii DuJ tSIlL1aIeS Vi IJHRluttTo
are very illusory, estimates of income are very
uncertain, and such system once begun is hard
to stop. Ohio has debt of $2OO0O,OoO, for
public works that only pay half the interest
although her population is over two millions,
and her territory very fertile. Works. however,
extending from the sea- board to which converge
natural and artificial communications from the
interior, will be more productive.
The commentaries of Governor FLOYD on the
late measures of Congress, relative to the ter
ritoral and slavery questions, we insert in ano-
ther part of to-days paper. The Governor says,
that the resolutions Of the last Virginia Legis-
lature, have not been explicitly repudiated by
Congress- but admits that by Federal legisla-
ton not a foot worth having,~of the late ac-
qured territory, is left open to the Shareholder.
And the Governor, therefore, recognizes the
aggressive policy of the North-and proposes n
tax on Northern produce and manufactures.
Now this could not have been what was meant
by the Virginia resolutions. They referred to
the disposition Of the territory more than any
thing else, and they demanded share for the
South. That share has been denied-not in the
mode then threatened, but in one equally etiec.
tual-equally wrongful-equally insulting and
injurious. Virginia did not protest against the
mode, so much as the effect. And she did not
pledge hcrsefto measures of retaliation, so much
as of redress. And from what we know and be.
eve of Governor FLOYD, he cannot be satisfied
with the efficacy and aptitude of mere com
mercial restrictions. AS Chief Magistrate, he
is, however a representative of the people,
and he finds that the people either miscalcu-
late the effect of more decisive measures, or
are more disposed to submit to the wrong that
has been perpetrated than was believed, provid-
ed they can be assured Of peace in future. This
accounts for the course of Governor FLOYD. But
as these great questions continue to be consid-
cred by the people, with the light of subsequent
events, we are persuaded that the public senti-
ment will rise to the true exgency of the occasion,
1t is time, it is a question that cannot be
passed over with expedients and palliatives.
The sentiment of union, as well as Of honor
equality and right, dictates frank, decided
manly and determined course. With Virginia
the South is strong enough, morally, to redress
herself and save the Union peacefully. With
out her, the danger of disunion, Of civil war, of
despotism, of anarchy, is greatly augmented.
Virginia now holds in her hands the peace
and the Union of the States. The liberty that
her bravery contributed so much to achieve, the
Constitution that her wisdom did so much to
form, let Virginia now have the fortitude and
the consistency to save.