Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-04

tnan it does the point from whence it starts Luoh
~ New York and Pennsy Every portion Of those
o.ntoa"ealths have been furnished with the artiur'a!
.e.'es Tor commerce, but the increase il population
anu Tue value Of property has been much grea.e: in the
OF the cities of New York and Fliladel
ia than u the western portions Of those States But
suppose Virginia should no. have been in The federal
government, but IN independent s;atc-Go forbid thai
..S should over happen il III: day and generation.
suppose Underwater had 10 :rne-a! government /"
appeal TO- for tho purpose Of obta.nn. prot, lion
against external a;;"c. and the improvement, OF
those facilities which mature has rivtn them arl
mat firgui, an inlr;'caicnt government !her
uheS would DC as dependent upon Us of Tie wcs f,r
protection rs We oE the west wcr. upon them for
our internal improvements Then We could say 10 them
assist Us TO make our improvements and we will as.st
10 protect you tand this state of mutual dependence
""u.u nave secured Mutual cooperaton,l if you will
nn' then protect yourselves. But unfortunately pcr.
ha?s Tor Us in th'srcspec from our situation We Of lie
"cst nave not been Ill position thus 10 dictate terms
uV mere Is another strange thns connected with thi.
suoect OF Internal improvement by The general govcrs
II was sa,o BY distinguished man in Congress
from tE'S state that upon all subject Of internal n.-
te:eats. every mans construction of the federal
sl.lon vas exactly in accordance with his own inter.
eS'S ana bele;e il is true And do not believe tina:
h portion OF the United States has consulted its sup
me- ieSts more exactly in the Interpretation of the
constitution than Underwater and considerable, portion
o eastern Virginia, and whose Interpretation quad,
r"iesu're exactly with their interests What is the
.i'Se VI Tue federal constitution frcm which the right
mas oecn derived tn make internal improvements and
~"ich Is created more or lc's discussion throughout
the country! 1t il the one to regulate commerce
irnin which the Underwater people ana tie eastern
people generally contend that the general government
~ rSnt Tor the promotion of commerce to construct
oroys hight houses. &c They say to regulate means ia
ana OF course to authorize light houses &C. to be
built Yet the constitution is silent Oh this subject
| bCIIpS 1irltI 10 ,rnI
mentioned They are only to be implied as mean.
20 facilitate But When it is proposed vote appropr
ati"ns III the way of making roads and building canals for
the purpose vi facilitating that in which the
West are Interested twas horrible surpation and these
strange Inconsistencies. have been INDUCED in bv this gov
ornamental majority here Bat Inconsistencies have been
li;ulged III b this governmental majority here not
merely IS 10 the extent of the power Of the general rov
sGtnent TO make improvements hut as TO whether hcy
nad not unlimited power that subject and these chm
opinion ON this point to have bc regulated
hy the consideration OF whether Virginia had or had IN,
tcontrons Influence in the general government nj :,
tiGi:. Now, neither Washington nor Tie elder Adj: -,
sy"r Claimed the right Of the general roy.rnmc,: !,
make internal improvements IL -. lie. .,..,l . .
e5n nations Wore tacn Of suc character Tia, thew had
cou,h I" do to preserve The ship q: state from the
shoals which surrounded her, and :hey had no liz.
are nor !2ans 10 t!ra their attention to the develop
| l,ent {" he resources Of tie COUNTRY BIZ, Thoma.
Jefferson; hear the conclusion Of Il. tenn wl. TIE ii
4
barraSsnrnt. recommended in his message 10 Conrr,ss
appropriations for the construction Of Internal improve
licits lie oil however, consider that probably there
WIS some difficulty III REGARD TO the coust uioMa now
G., bit he indicated, ri the time that the powe:
excited u considerable extent, and if there was uny
drth; about it, it might be rcmedeil by IN amendment
w'ic; would c.ohc the general soycrnncu: clearly am
| distinctly, with the requisite power Well on the ia,
sage ola bill before Congress, 1T that time making mn
preparations or works of !atern" improvement boil
;i senators iren TINS Stale acvGc"tcd it, and in oppo
!t'on 10 the FederalisiS without word Of complain,
from these ha!a twas the doctrine the democratic
party III Sir Jefferson time. in opposition 70 The feic
ra!lsss This IS not all In 1915 aud 1916 the leyi.la
turc Of Virginia In TWO successive sessions 5v uian
nous vote, called Congress make an appro,ria ion
to form CONNECTION between the James river and the
| hanawha But when the regns Of the federal govern
men; no longer under Virginia. contrnI tho eas,cr
majority having control Of the Legislature finding prob
ably t!at they themselves did no; REQUIRE these annro
pratlnn from The general government, changed ground
AL ten"i1ccd the exercise uf an such rcwar n, n
gross usaTp"tion, aud when the proposition was before
Congress 10 make great horoughflre through the yol
ley OF Virginia towards Tennessee they threatened re-
o-siol mus they acted the part OF the dog in the
uIanSer They would neither make the apprnuriation
themselves for us permit any BODY else to do il
And Whit Is still moro remarkable this governments al
majority has continued to support different admin
lstratou Of tho general government which bav,
poured cut millions for the benefit of other states and
W W1eQ GINA
Tor share Now, this al done BY tie governmental;
majority and by one ORGANIC cd upon princpics anta
nstic To he rights and interests Of the west crn neon
II the Underwater or eastern gentlemen have right -
form their r'ca creed doctrines Of interpretation
OF tie constitution upon the basis of interest or the nv
OF rawer claim for the west an eoua! riph r. I ,,c
same thing, if they think proper
! think baye satisfied auf gentleman ;yI,, I'm. h
ore ;Sith lis attention. that The western ucor mr.
srge ms or:y cf them have no interest now that would
Id!;ce them 10 embark into not erei: an in;acinas
bat Eysc:n Of appropriations for internal imcyr
mems, end certainly majority ra b. secured - al:
tines III connection with the Sufficient TO preyeu,
forever rily Improper scsion the subject,
Bat suppose ! an, wrong Is there no other mode
BIZ which an improper appropriation Of public money
c":!i be prevented, than by all unequal di"isin,
Of political power between the cast and west
1t seems 10 Inc most clearly that there il. Protection
FOR property is your Object and your only object in c. ln
ing unequal representation for the east aruwed here
Ought nc: tnen let me ash, these of protection
/, be limited to that object Should they carry with
then, he power of rnlirg and governing the interest
Of the great c tie community in every other re-
Spect The gentleman from FaGquier hot only frank
admitted that there but source from which b,
aprreheH,ed danger, and that from the desire u
make appropriations Cor internal improvements but he
ur her and conceded that restrictions might be i'm.
posed that would prevent such evil but he was fearful
he said that such restrictions might prevent the consruc-
to Of such Improvements necessary for the good
OF tae community The gentleman took occasion to say
so tina he had acted himself member Of the les,-
uic with berlty Thu: sub;ec, aud had voted for in
pr"'emcnls IN which neither he nor lis constituents
We're particularly interested in have no personal ac.
qChla!ce w!t the Of tie gentleman in the leis
latre . the SUBJECT bat Iaenowledge that all the in
formation that has come is evidence ct the truth
OF his declaration. and can assure him that he can
make no claim 10 regard 10 the }iheralitv of his course
that will not most cordially accord 10 him. And il
his constituents have at Inst r.apc the reward of his
course aud have at last obiacI some nd, .ntares from
an Improvement, they are justly entitled 10 il,
Eastern gentlemen must recollec; that Tho coin, ,hc
make is most extraordinary, not say nost
gau. For the purpose of guarding against abuse in
particular and one particular only thew demand tho
whole power of the government in every other purte.
lar TO prevent the passage Of one law they demand
tina: they shall have the power Of passing every other
law Now is there l ask again no ether mode Of At.
taxing this desired object Of securing this protection
without such enormous grant Of power as this in
wolves? 1t seem, that the u9 raicrea system Of
taxation itself would give every security that any rea
souabe people could desire to prevent every probable
abuse, admitting tho danger, tho existence OF which
to such All extent deny. And, perlni, to say
here as perfectly neutral on this subject as i Is
possible for human beings to be on any issue Is