Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-03-03
SUBSTANCE OF THE REMARKS or

MT. Speaker, | ask the indulgence OF the Houre
whe Estate the reasons that have induced me TO CT.
ter the resolutions which have Just been read claim
10 be a warm and unwavering friend of the James
River Canal esteem it the great improv m mt of the
Commonwealth, to which all others are secondary
ana subordinate II the the State Of Virginia is destin
ed TO attain the proud position of RANK and wealth,
which her sons here 80 earnestly DESIRE and which ma
tufe has ordained tor her, it VIII be- in measure
me result OF TINS enterprise when completed to its ult
| mate destination. If this were proper occasion |
could enter into statistical argument to show the i'm.
mense benefits which it would produce to the country
and its perfect practicabty-the only difficulty which
seems to be felt by its opponents look with proud
enthusiasm to the point OF time ia the future when there
Will be continuous line of water communication from
the Atlantic coast to tine valley ofthe Mississippi, bear
ing upon its bosom treasure from every commArcisl
nation OF the earth. In this estimate OF the James
River and Kanawha Cenal, reflect the sentin ens OF
my constituents so often expressed heretofore on this
mented representative, John w. Thompson who per-
lshed here upon his post in the faithful discharge his
DUTY His mantle has fallen upon me. Though
far inferior advocate, equally friend of this great
| scheme, with which his name is Identified upon your
journals.
But, Mr.. Speaker, must frankly confess, that my
ialth and hopes are fast waning away; not because
am disposed to desert the ground which myself and nv
county have invariably occupied; because believe
this improvement when completed will be incompetent
to the grand results it is expected to achieve bnt ha
cause othe inefficient and dilatory manner in which its
affairs have been administered. am confident that
the doom OF this work is fixed unless there be speedy
The present incumbent OF the office of President is
an estmaole man, noble specimen of the old Virginia
gentleman. He has risen from one post of honor 10
another in rapid and unbroken succession and has fill
ed them with credit 10 himself and advantage to the
country But is he suited to the comparatively subor.
dlnate position OF President of this Company-a posi-
on demanding not genius and shining talents, but close
attention. arduous labor and plain practical, persever-
log common-p place. day cork Does this posi-.
ton require great man. business man. great genius
or great application; man of emnence of en-
/ n q n uhN thnn~t,
no farther than his business and whose "only aspira
tlon Is the prosperity of his employers The name of
Judge Mason is mentioned in connection with the Vice
| Presidency oil the Union. He is presiding, with
elegance and dignity, the Constitutional Conven.
ton OF Virginia, now assembled in our vicinity put
1t to the common sense OF every member of this House.
can man who has passed through such series dis
tinctons-whose mind is occupied with such high du-
ties, and whose heart is fill with such lofty aspira-
tons efficiently superntend the homey common place
affairs OF this canal? There sounder principle of
action, and which sedulously distilled in.
to our minds. from infancy to manhood than that success
IN any pursuit or enterprise in which may engage,
can only be attained by constant and undivided atten
tlon Much less can man Of Judge Masons tastes.
habits and engagements succeed in the laborious and
engrossng duties fthe Presidency of this Company.
while hng other offices, whose duties are inconpati-
Bile with hismportant position Let see whether facts
correspond with theory upon this subject. II my nfor-
nation is correct, Judge Mason has been along the en-
tire line OF Improvement but since his appointment
IN May le49 and has been far Buchanan but twice
Inc gentleman from Spottsyvana contends that this
mater OF no importance, and that Judge Ms pro-
ger place is in the office OF the company in Richmond.
Sir, no President of public work efc eutly dis
charge his duties unless he is thoroughly informed of
all the operations In progress upon the line of tire work.
and ne cannot become familiar with these operations
except by actual personal supervision The gentleman
says that the Presidents presence in the Company Of
nee IS constantly necessary in order sign the warrants
ana checks that are issued and given by the company
Ii MS De So the TACT IS conclusive against his accepting
any other office The fact that he has accepted anoth
er responsible and important post is, it seems to me-
conclusive againstth the genemans supposon. II Judge
MS constant presence in this city necessary for
the purpose alleged, his Office would degenerate into
mere clerkshp and there would clearly be necessity
pany in Richmond
Let us contrast him with other Presidents OF public
improvements in Virginia. The President of the Vir.
ginla and Tennessee railroad is OF plain preen-
sons and practical talents, and consequently of
the most Iahorous, ndeatigble officers the common
wealth. His salary is but $780, and yet und srstand
ne Is atleast wohirds of his time upon the line OF his
Improvement; that he makes it point Of duty to 60
over me route twice every month, ard that he finds
himself SO much employed by his official duties as to
be Obliged to- neglect seriously his private affairs. Fla
has no time for other public duties and Offices and the
result OF this conduct in the unexamped veor
and rapidy which characteristics the progress of that
great road The President ofhe Vrg MIA Central Rail.
road also devotes all the energies of his mind and his
whole time to the improvement he superntends, for
salary of $500. Whatever the enemies of that work
may have sa aeains the scheme itself land very much
has been said against it, believe no one has utter ed
augh against the zeal the industry and the undivided
devotion of its President.
Mr. Tunslall. of the Danyille Railroad. had labored
in the of that work with zeal and energy which
has never been equalled betoehs salary but $1,000
| His enthusiasm and untrng industry have become q
proverb in his section otthe State. He has been
ridcued in small degree for his perseverance for
rearing and charging over the country, for wantony
exciting Its inhabitants, and tor emacIatnQ his own
person to state OF transparency, in perfect contras,
With the President of the James River Company. Mr.
Robinson, ofthe Fredericksburg Road, is another in
stance OF devotion and energy worthy the imitation of
bis contemporary in the James River Company
Those who know him need not 10 be reminded OF the
untlrlnS watchfulness and unwayering alerneas with
which he conducts The affairs OF his Improvement He
receives but $500 for his services (Mr c. has since
learned that he was mistaken in the of this Of
hcers salary, which is S3O00 Sr, who can say that
the President OF the James River Company wrl COM
pare in efficiency and attention to his duties, with any
OF the officers have mentioned Our President alone
has deserted the faith, and gone after false god The ea
preston deserted sperhaps too harsh be used con-
mex on with so good man as Judge Mason and # coud
have separated the private gentleman from the public
officer would not have used it, | recall the expr g.
sion in Difference to the excellent qualities of that
| teemed and distinguished gentleman. The company
over which he pesdes has met together N i,st ad OF
gently but sernly eprimandng the negligence ard in
attention OF which complain, rewarded his conducs
by adding another thousand dollars to his already am
pie salary ask the gentlemen from Spottsylvania aud
from Richmond. say, in al candour IN view of these
facts, it the friends at this work, whom represent are
prompted to the movement have Instituted by que.
rulous disposition Have we not right to compla n
| and to demand reform
In regard to the Chief Engineer Misconduct is, in nv
estimation, infinitely more reprehensibe. Appointed
by this Company to the responsible and arduous duty Of
conducting their works, and paid sal Try of $1,000 for
his services he has sought other offices and salaries upon
public works in North Carolina 1t is as impoFsi.
ble in my Judgment, for him perform all these du-
ties properly, ms to be in three places the same time
Ii he had the mechanical genius OF Fulton. and the
energy OF Caesar he could not properly discharge the
duties Of positions so incompatible, responsible aud
so labonous as these. Does the result confirm
nnsl WhasoE Ill.
dissatisfaction which we hear from the whole coun-
try in which the work is located!
The voice OF condemnation which is heard from all
the people interested In this canal is as powerful evil
dence against him the falling of Judith Dam il
self The Chief Engineer is responsible for all defect
i've works under his supentendanee. The company