Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-07-12
DIRECT STEAM COMMUNICATION.

In resuing the brief sketch or tho views OF the various
speakers Old Point cannot but refer 10 the admirable
speech OF old College mate Thcs. t.. Preston, ESQ., {"
Abingdon who introduced his remarks with eloquent
ordum He could refuse 10 give feeble expression L
she voice OF West Augusta Che iavo:te retreat of Wash
ngton in behalf Of the great enterprise under considcra
,ion Mr. p also alluded in impressive terms to III,
peculiar associations OF the scene being surrounded by
his fellow citizens Of Eastern Virginia, famed for the
chivs and the talents and services they had ponrec
the Of their country He desired to see th
mountains and the sea coast united BY ndssouble bonds
and the proposed scheme presented the prospect OF e
fecting desirable result.
Ii appear strange and unnatural 10 ALL tina, vial
all advantages, Virginia should stand in seconda,
out in an eighth tenth class, in and wealth.
We should indulge envy, should We aim pluck
laurel from the brow Of Northern enterprise ntegrybC
should all generously compete for the important advaIta
ges within reach. WHY is il. that with ali fine so
and genial climate we siaGa and see ourselves su5ser
Went the greater skill oi Northern sisters, with
her granite and rugged climate Look IT the enter
prise OF New YORK who has The name OF the EN-
piro State',hroueh which the fruits Of commerce
from Tie tropics, pass, swell her wealth. Our noble
estuary once sheltered nanhcr vi sails, and the
of Virginia three times great OF
New York But bold and patriotic citizen OF New York
&Clnton conceived The grand idea of uniting the Of
1he Lakes with the tides OF the Hudson opening the i'm
ense resources the West His scheme regarded
chmerca but his sagacions vision and strong will prevail
ed and the splendid rcsuta before the world BIZ
New York did noreshe great railroad along the
nc side by side with the canal and these noble i'm
provements have much business they do IN
immense back country-fennsyva Ohio Michigan Mis-
sour, &c-was thus made contribute 10 the wealth Of
New York. What is position in ths regard? Il
the back country open rich than that opened
10 New York; Ii is diamond mine which ha. yet bec,
touched; and if establish communication from
tide the Valley of Mississippi will have mn
Aaddin's lamp which will furnish any Of riches
The various Virginia improvements, in progress will
produce the happics and most fuc,yns results when they
reach their intended termination Where is there such
roadstead lies within the borders OF Virginia and where
else these works better terminate than in the
Die estuary our feet
Tennessee is striving noby furnish linz in the chan-
and the North will pour its wealth this scheme because
abe will derive the final benefits Lee; our great water line
communication be completed the West and the vast pro-
ducts OF Ohio will be shipped directly our tide water The
Southern ports The Mississippi &c. from their moist hot
climate unsuited for The shipment of cereals The grain
and flour New Orleans spot and corupted-and
hence the necessity of sending them market by the
cuitous of the Lakes Nc ii furnish port
whose climate and othor advantages will secure transpo
tation OF grain 10 Europe in sound condition. we shat
necessarily obtain trade which Of itself will build
up wealth Western Virginia is alive the great work
and already laying down feeders for the great
which result in the benefit of Old Virginia. shc is
there designated One single article Of which mountains
are found in Firgnia0n is equal any othor in the
word-wil sustain the enterprise under considera
ton and encourage and enrich azans. The first
blow struck in the Revelation by few sons of Virginia
succeeded in achieving independence and laying the
foundations OF noble government Let this
spirit animate and succeed We have
given up New York nearly all trade. She imports
S930OO0O and exports only about onc-half of that
We have better harbor ports Europe
and better back counry-but made tributary To
New Yorkalthough for portion Of every year her
commerce is deadened by The rigors of winter while
own is always free, The exports of Virginia 81
now only S3000G00 and he. imports Inc inco-
siderable sum OF 100000. Why do send millions
of tobacco flour &c. New York and made tributary
TO her! 1t Notifying fact every Virgnian-and We
should all hope TO sec the day pass by, when Vlrgnian
shall be called man OF resolves but Of acts Virginia
has contributed intellectual treasure national
councsye she is sinking lower and lower the scale of
power The grand conceptions Of what she might be- should
be worked down into the masses and this scheme chimr
cal as II may 10 some will yet be accomplished Bu
we cannot stop with three steamers to Europe fol-
postal purposes The very instant the
men our waters will DO whened with canvass and enter
prise and capital from the Northern States will find this
great Southern trade II will deveope all the
Virginia. Appeal. from this Convention vii! be hailed in
the West with pride the glorious work of striking link
from the chain commercial boadage-and our motto vi"
be, as in days OF yore, sic semper tyrGnnis
We shall continue sketches of the debates.