Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-06
Remarks Of Mr. GOODE,in Committee of tho Whole,
on Wednesday, AprH lG, 1851.
Mr. GOODE said

on Wednesday, AprH &c. 1851
Mr.. GOODE said
i Mr. Chairman, have wish TO place
on the records OF our proceedings some memorial Of my
opposition to the claim which is asserted bv the west
and to the principles which That claim has been sls.
tanned put confess that come Onward with extreme
elncahce-the EXTREMIST reluctancc-a reluctance bor-
1erng upon dread to participate at all in this debate
his eeng of dread is to be referred in so.e measure
10 considerations connected with myself alone, and
winch may not, therefore, be brought before the body
but 1t Is to be ascrbed in far greater degree to IL
tent CONSCIOUSNESS OF the real magnitude OF the OCCASION
and the difficulty of collating and presenting the pr-
cpls on which that decision mu2t rest Nor can feel
indifferent to those momeItous consequences which
are told must ensue to the degree of responsibility
which must attach TIE individual actors in these
scenes.
ST. 1t is grave task to accommodate constitution
form of government to million and half of souls
The successful application OF the science OF government
10 the actual condition CT organized communities has
gwen 20 the sages of antiquity, Immortality of fame
The successful calculation of the great principles of the
science of government has advanced elementary and
ethical writer's TO prominent position among the public
benefacors of mankind 1t is beautiful illustration
Of the progress OF civilization that the nlaxns and truths
evolved by the mind and thought of Locke the
familiar household words of the whole family of Ameri
can citizens knowledge Of these maxins and truths
generally, if not universally dfi,sed 1t is present
with all classes of society, the result of labor and
derived from our ordinary intercourse with
society from aaon from periodicals-it inhaled
from the political atmosphere which we breathe
In the present advanced stage of political science it
might not be difficult to accomplish, the great object of
our mission If our population were homogeneous, cur
pursuits congenia our interests unmarked bv slrik ~
and by pal pabe dvarsities. Reluctant as We may be
to admit it, these dversities constitute the real Oh.
ces to progress.
All government to lie valuable or in anyw;sc useful
must be adapted to the condition and circumstances OF
/ ,l.c~
who neglects this laxim fails TO note the manners
and customs. the virtues and vices the partaltcs and
prculices, the habits of living and modes of thought
and every characteristic Of the people, sgnally fail
in the exercise of the hi III functions of his sto DC
cupying the position we do-2ssembcd We {"
rame system Of government for the commonwealth ii
becomes duty from which cannot shrink, 10 exam
inc into the condition of the body polite, the
great diversties Of interest, with all the material a
moral phenomena which stand revealed in our social
| system
Consiierered member Of the American confcdcracy
Virginia occupies prominent and imposing positi H.
materially affecting the entire structure Of frame OF
poitv with the notifications Of the several depart
ments-leglslative, executive and judiciary Already
have We been told that federavc relations, require
US to establish republican forms; and we feel confident
assurance, that this demand is sustained By spona-
ueous and universal assent of our people
Reposng on the States of North Carolina and Tonnes
she Is divided from those republics throughout the
entire extent of her southern border by parallel of $50
80 north latitude III her northern border she is sepa-
rated from the State of Maryland the Atlantic bv
parallel of about $50 s. north latitude Her north.
western point to be found in the most northern point
Of the county of Hancock. uttns far oct between the
territory of Ohio and Pennsylvania in about 100 30
north latitude. Thus displaying whole territory
north of $50 3d. That line notable in the recent dis
cussions-destued to exercise important, influence
on the future career of our country and in our geo
graphical position, furnishing motive for delicate at
ention to those important domestic interests acri
nor iouslv assaed By Infatuated flna;icsm. Her lon
;i,udna extent from the Capee to the extrcme western
point OF the county of Lee, Is abort 80 dlSta Of
hear five hundred miles. In the executive departments
Of the federal government the area OF viGgi, is cal;
;uated ut $1,000 square miles. In some Of the seoe-
seventy thousand square miles Our own iv"I -
:ip. have reported the number o acres Of e
commonwealth to be about 100000 which being re-
uced, affords Of about 900 square milc cx
elusive of land covered b. water.
And here sir wish TO pause, to invite the attcn-
ton of the committee to the fact that this rich her
age from fathers. affords to the citizens OF fr-
sinia IN average wealth Of than $500 per cap
ta being about forty dollars, than the average
wealth. Of the citizens Of New ork confirming the esi-
mate in Virginia to the subject OF real estate and
computing in New York ever; element Of wealth, known
to the Law of the Empire State Yet are We daily en-
erained with melancholy strains of mOurniu eloquence
painting the misery and depreciation OF the old donIn
ion This rich inheritance, received from our fathers
$ marked by various and beautiful geographical define
atoms constituting in themselves important phencne
Ia entitled to receive the profound attention OF this
oodv.
Entering our State, on its northern border mid the
gorgeous scenery Of harpers Ferry. the Blue Ridge
axes it's course in direction nearly parallel with the
en- dividing her territory through its whole extent
passing our southern border and stretching away IN the
distance ill it loses itself in the cotton regions OF the
south And here let pause and collect my courage
Shall be deemed guilty of treason in daring 10 refer
this great phenomenon Sir, there are those among
who affect to deem that there is no Blue Ridge with
IN our limits These gentlemen OF expanded intel
.ect of enlarged views of comprehensive patriotism, OF
,nagnanmity generosity, universal bcnevoence and
orothecly love! These gentlemen know no North
10 Sout-ihoush fell Fanacism CRASHES at the North
and silent suen suppressed consciousness ofopprc7son
,cows the visage of the South These gentlemen know
40 East no West but Aurora still gids The watcry hor
zon and the setting sinks behind distant western
nils They affect to regard the Blue Ridge IN
real and sbadowy existence, shrinking from the touch and
vanishing from the view But there stands the Blue
Ridge, performing the high functions of its destiny
MARKING diversity of soil and climate occupation and
production and stamping ind elbe characteristics upon
nan There it stands in all the beauty and grandeur Of
its proportions reposingn its strength stupcndous
,ton Of the Divinity And there 1t will forever stand
accomplishing the high purposes of its creation
Taking our position the crest of tho Blue Ridge
ancne at its eastern slope and sending the eye To meet
the Atlantic we shall comprehend within our view an
rea of sixteen millions OF oil land OF the aggregate
assessed value of 1885 100000 Turning TO the west
and looking at the distant western confines, the Sun, the
chariot of Apollo dispenses his genial rays on thirty
three millions OF acres Of land of the aggregate assessed
value of 100000
And here pause once more, to invite the attention
10 fncts deemed important If this oil 9oOocuo
the value Of the Western lands ba deducted from the
sl55 100000 the value of the lands OF the East
there will remain the sum of $36,O0o,oO0 THIS fact
is important as establishing majority OF interest IN
land IN the East which has been contToTerted here il
has been asserted that the West had majority OF IN
erest in land and this assertion was hazarded on the
mere fact that the Western lands were of greater super
fetal extent than those of the East but the fact here
stated refutes this pretenson and it is now made n. maui
fest that the East has majority OF interest IN real eS
tote II is also important to observe that this of
$50 900 is fund brought by the East into the common
stock as a fund to be taxed over and above what Is
brouabt bv the West to the stock OF the same
description property wheneverrea estate becomes the
subject of taxati M
It has been attempted to excite eaousies and dlscon
tents between the Underwater and Piedmont ranges,
founded on the past action Of Piedmont, on the great
subject of internal improvements 40 not propose at
III { DaIr Inf 4