Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-02

That the int eress of the State do not require them
vote for but forbid their Voting for in order to
some result that they deem advantageous to the inter
ests of the State This may be part of eslaton but
savors much in my humble apprehension of this
doctrine that much talked of at the present day of
higher law. something above the constitution had
supposed that the votes given, were given with refer
cnce to the great interests of the States But learn
that that is hot the fact; and tod-f under
stand what influence this document and its evelatos
are to hare upon decisions hcre-hat it will show
that in the existing stale Of TIE legislative power the
greatest abuses have been committed votes have been
given by gentlemen, who knew that they we're VOTING
wrong, but gave their vote accomplish some other
object and If change be made upon this subject n
different result will be the consequence Gentlemen
may honestly entertain this opinion, but if men wbop,
power vote under these influences, my mind does no,
lead 10 the conclusion that if they have power tbey
will vote under other and different influences II NAV
be that may be the result; but nothing that have
hea us yet comments that result to INV mind US the
ole most likely to follow any change.
rise also to say word two in behalf of this much
abused section OF the State, that have the honor in
part represent here-l refer to Piedmont 1t is salt;
that she has got great deal Well, believe she has
But have always been under the impression that she
ha'! got II alF y, and upon proper principles l,
be otherwise, cannot say. But vel speak of the
people | representative tina. what We have got we
are entitled to. But claim, if this report is 10 have
any influence at all upon decisions that we shall
have Il fairly stated: have fair uu2rstanlin Of tn
facts OF the We have been told that eight or TEL
millions have been expended in that section of the coun
try. And this Improvement that has been the subicct
of difference between the gentleman from Logan (Mr
! FERGrsoSD and the gentleman from Brtctourt (Mr.
ANrERsoS) constitutes nearly the whole or 9th
the whole of the appropriations that said 10 hay
been expended within the limits of this region wi:
not de;an the Convention by referring to all these i
provcmcE:s. Blu, via say, that there are but yer.
few OF them that have been made commenced solei
for the benefit of this portion of the State The Orans
and Alexandria railroad leads from Iidc.Water. TIL
ManasSahs Gap railroad goes into the Valley, and TIL
most strenuous support that it has received has bee
from that portion Of the country. This great work
the James river and Kanawha canal never understoo
Gntl came into this Convention, TO be n Piedmot
work know that in past times when this was almo>
he only improvement in the State the section of TIN
state il which reside lent it no ad-or at all event.
gave II very little support. if any had always under
stnut it to be merely Richmond aud western measur,
advocated no doabt, by that portion Of the countr
through /; was 10 pass and which it was to benei
Blu; il will be remembered that it was only within
few years past that this system of internal improv,
mentS has grown up in this State Now here is on
gentleman from the west the gentleman from Loga
I MIR. FERGrseS) ccG;end!ng that this is Piedmon
measure exclusively, aud that the have no n,crc.
IN ii; they do rot support It. desire its further ex
en>l"n They are looking for railroads.
Mr.. FERGUSON. 1t tie gentleman will permit m,
will say that did not say it was not western mea
- : I,
Thing IKE that SAD that the Trans Allegheny d.
not claim It as their Improvement, but preferred an
other.
/ MIR. Chiffon. 7 confess that am not very int
mate y acquainted with the country in which the wor
is situated had, however always understood that
was part OF grand conception to connect the water
of the Ohio aud The waters Of the Chesapeake
alr b. George WaShington-ald that it found rs Euc
| II not more support in the west rs i'll the east
Mr.. LEfCHER. would call the attention OF tn
gentleman fer moment to point to show the dis
position, SO far as the support OF this improvement
concerned upon the part that portion least OF III
fieiaons country. 1.-The will recollect some years az
when this Improvement reached the town of Lvnchbur
there was deliberate attempt made to stop it at ha
point, and prevent 1t going beyond the Valley and Ia
improvement was not prosecuted until the people
Rockbrldgc and the people of Boteour and that por
ton Of the State required execute bonds in th
sum CT s:5000O 10 guarantee the expenses incurred
beyond that point
Mr.. Chiffon. The gentleman SAYS that deliberat
attempt WAS made to stop the improvement at tina
point Will he tell me BY whom it was mlde1
Mr. LErCllER. BY the delegation from Lvnchbure
and that portion Of the region
Nj Chiffon. Was i: made by the Botetour;
delegation
Mr.. LETeIfER. By a considerable number OF them
Mr. LYNCH If the gentleman will permit me.
wish simply to say, that if that taken b. til
delegation from Lynchburg it was TO substitute al
other improvement for the west instead of the
under discussion. They wanted railroad
Mr.. LETCHER Which Improvement was to com
mcnce IT Iyvrchhurs.
! Mr.. Chiffon. Now, if this subject is to inivenc
"ur deliberations, there Is one piece Of information
should like 10 have, and that is to be got b. asking IT,
Clerk Of the House of Delegates If can do 60 to
back 10 tic beginning OF this work. and ascertain where
the votes came from which sustained it. IL this i,
have any influence upon deliberations ut all lh:
the proper SOFT Of information for Us 10 seek venur
to affirm that 1t would be found tina, the west and tn
| Valley have lent efficient aid to this work IN
have con,cndcd more strcnuously for its completion
and for the expenditures that have been made upon
than the east have done Yet would not say that tn,
an argument against the west. any than II,
reverse of it would be an argument against the east
Because differ, said when first got up, from t..
gentleman in regard to this matter, matter of
| Importance which way it may be 1t was consdcrc,
great State work in which the whole State utc:
csted. 1t necessarily commenced in Tide Water
commenced where navigation commences it could no.
have been commenced anywhere else For it wout
have heel just as well to have commenced the uppe,
part Of Il house before the foundation WAS built as
have commenced this in the west. And it has bee
steadily prosecuted and carried on towards the
p!eto:i OF the original design and have doubt hon.
cstly and fairly by all portions of the State.
could not but be struck with the condition of thing
presented b. the gentlemen from Botetourt and Logan
! iMcssrs. AxpERSoN and FERGrsoS) One says, tina
whatever may have been the desire i'll past times thu
west are MT advocating the extension Of this i'm
provefnelt ut all. They want railroads. Now, thl.
whole system of railroads is matter of comparatively
recent origin; and the gentleman from Boetourt say
hat the people of the west do not agree upon this ques
tion The gentleman from Botetourt, however think.
that i is work Of great Importance and in which
the western nlen interested, aud the extension
which, the western men from his portion Of the State
at least, will BE- found advocating Now, if You vi!
% to another portion Of the western men, they W.
argue that the central railroad is the great improvement
of the State and If you go little higher up it will b
argued that the Manasslls Gap road il the great i'm
provement, and you approach the different sec
lions of the State The difference between these differ
.nt gentlemen brought very forciby my mind one o.
Esop's Fables do not think that Esops Fables arc
out of order in this Convention for they are occasionally
quoted have seen it versifed somewhere somet.:;
ike this;
| "A town once met TO hold consultation,
As TO the best method Of tortihcation.
/ A grave sklful mason gave his opinion
That nothing but stone would secure the dominion;
The carver said that although that we'll spoke
Still he thought nothing so goSd oak;
| A clrrier much wiser than both these toget!c-
Said try what you will, there is nothing like leather
And so it will be found regard to all these measures
When we this constitution into operation they
will find then now that every section of the STATE
! l.. e., SC tboI L..