Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-18
ere long direct line commun;car;on ,~;,h

ere long direct line communication with
the extreme South. New Orleans. city
that has been SO long sleeping il fancsed
security, is being awakened % 1 feeling
sense Of her position. Imagining thai he
flow of the rich treasures which have bccn
poured in her lap. through the medium Of
the Mississippi river. from tho most mag.
niieent valley en- the face Of the earth
wculd never cease. she hss been hcrrto.
fore comparatively Indifferent III fgEAra 10
extending lines Of communication with
ncigbboring States. She has now awoko
to the sad reality that trade is being divert.
cd from her borders Unless she rises
from her wonted lcihargy and comes Up to
the support ofworks Of internal improve
mcnt in less ,l,rn twenty years she will be
beneath the notice Of man Of cnterprizc
who desires TO locate in fourishng and
prosperousport oi'tradc. She is, however.
taking a right stand on this subject, and ero
long will give practical exhibition Of her
desire TO extend internal improvements
The time is not distant when Richmond
will be connected by direct lines Of COM
municnlion with New Orleans. Gentlc-
men Of the Convention, when look Upon
this glowing picture Of in,er-conitnunica-
ton. nm flied with pride and delight
Every effort should bcmudc to secure their
construction. We should not be discour-
aged because of the indifference or apathy
Of Others.
have found very many who were un-
willing to aid and cooperate in this work.
have found men Of means and education.
men oflearning aud Of science, who were
unwilling to believe the truth or the prac-
ticabili,y of schemes OF improvement
They PREFER d a retrogradc to forward
movement. But the spirit Of tho age re-
buked their supineness. Every ago ofthe
world has had its peculiar and distinguish
ed characteristics in the progress and de-
velopment Of the arts and sciences; and th,.
man who refuses his AID ard co-opcration
in developing the resources Of the country.
stands in his own light. and viii ere long
have cause TO repent his remissncss h, the
discharge ofdn6cs necessarily devolving
upon him in this free republic. Virginia
may refuse to co operate with Tennessee
in constructing works ofimproscment. and
tho citizens Of Tennessee may withhold
their aid also, but what will be the effect
Of thisl@-what w,ll be attained by it,
The result will be that the opponents or
improvements will be involved in humilis
alton, mortlfcaiion and commercial dcgra.
dation You may refuse aid ifyou choose.
but remember your neglect and indiffer-
encc may bring rum and wretchcdncss up.
on the society in which You Snovc=-thd
family with whom you live. Stand in ilre
way of the construction Of improvements,
and the result will be that other portions
of your country. your sister States in the
coniederacy, will pass you by. and when
they have reached the acme oftheir great
ness you will be haunted with the presort~
Of undying and heart felt regrers. l in.
woke you, gentlemen Of Virginia, by tho
names of the illustrious dead, by all that
can sway your feelings or arouse your en-
ergfes, TO wake TO a sense OF your interests
and your rights. Arise, put on your ar
NOR, and 80 forth to the battlefield Of Ia
Dor, conquerng and to conquer.
Why, gentlemen, may you not claim
participation in this mighty commerce,
that flows over this milton like dc.ugcl
Why may younot come forward and Dc.
mnnd it as a part of your inheritancel-
Your geographical position puts trade
and commerce TO an almost unlimited ex-
tent within your grasp. Develop your
resources and extend your lines VI COM
munication with adjacent States and your
channels s,f,radc will be filled up even to
overflow.
You have resources in Virginia 10 an cx-
tent sufficient if carefully developed, to
make you almost suprcIpein power, wealth.
and greatness, and in all that dfgnifics
mankind. Yet, how many unnumbered
blessings have been rejected at your hnnds3
What vast and unlimited resources still Ne
undevclopcd and uncaird for beneath your
soii have looked upon the past course
Of Virginia with attention, and have some
times been filed with pride and pleasure,
but more frequently with pity and regret.
| | have seen her sister States pnssing by
hcrin the onward march Of improvements,
while she was standing still. Their motto
has been onward and upward, while Vir-
gina was standing at ease. One Of tho
most potent considerations in my cst;ms4
ton connected with this course of policy is
whether intended or not--ts inevitable
tendency to expatriatc your childcn.--
Crimes they have not committed, yet they
are banished from the land of their iatbersi
| Why this state Of thingsi Because Of tho
policy which has been pursued IN Virginia,
by which you have refused to develop
your resources. or hold inducements TO
your children, to remain around the pa
rental altar. II is true that the region OF
country from which come has iio reason
to complain OF this matter. because we
have received the benefits of that expa.
triatiom But in the name Of all that il
dear to Virginia, in the name ofthe mcthers
of Virginia, soemnly protest this day a.
gonst the continuation off that policy which
is daily banishing your sons and daughters
from, vour soil You have resources e.
nough in Virginia, If developed. to sustain
comfortably all the population you now
have or will have in the next half century.
BE true then TO yourselves. Betrueto that
destiny which sccfns To be waiting your
command. and the time will speedily como
when your youngmen will not. upon at.
tainpg maturity, ask thcrnseiyes to what
section ofthc country shall go in order TO
better myself They will be conten. ss
home. They will look around them. and
seeing close at hand ell the elements Of
wcalth-all that can stimulate the encrgesA
ic and cnterprising man to action-thsg
will say, the hosne6cld 10 broad enough
and we will stay on the land Of our fathers
--ue mW die and be buried NTH our 5ires.
The social question connecting itself
with Internal improvements, ,is one Of vast
,ntorost II - a rr,x.as s,rfUE~ tbarpo T. -