Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-18

ty millions of dollars, would her consumption Of
merchandise be less. Besides this the very organ
izaton Of commercial facilities would guarantee an
Immense accession of mineral and agricultural PRO
auctions.
In this connection must impress upon all in |
tcrested the indispensable importance OF providing
for the improvement Of the James river the COM
mon outlet of so much Of the Chesapeake trade
It's distractions affect the trade of Norfolk Rich
mond, Lynchburg, and kanawha; and each of them |
Is alike interested in securing the perfect naviga-
ton Of this noble stream. Your Committee have
not chosen to awaken controversy by designating
any particular mode by which this shall be done;
they are that If the interests appealed to
shallbe convinced Of its paramount importance the
means will be readily devised for its accomplish
ncnt The able and comprehensive report Of Lieut..
Stsnsbury which we have embodied in an appendix
will prove the entire practicabilify Of this work and
the moderate to be employed in its compile
ton.
We may properly add to those resources which
are directly derived from Virginia alone the pro-
ducts OF the Siaics connected with her by the lines
eli improvement under construction. Tennes
see and kentucky, and North Carolina, will natural
" find their direct outlet through the Virginia
and Tennessee. the Southside and Seaboard rail-
roads, under continuous and connected con-
sfruction the interior Of the States referred to-
The prosecution of the Canal or Central Railroad,
or the construction OF branch road into the OHIO
Valley, viii add much from those quarters; and but
few years will clapsc before the perfected facili-
ties will bring this great the legitimate
ports of expectation. We viii not enlarge upon
the commercial results of extending these lines into
the interior of the Southwestern States and the
national aud international intercourse which will
pour through Virginia. invigorating her local i'm
proycmcnts, frcighting her vessels, and filling her
ocean steamers. 1t will be plain, upon investiga-
inrrcal advantages of our own-nonc have the
ried products the local patronage, the rapid com
munication with the Transatlantic cities. Enter
prise is doing all it shorten the line of
ocean transit In this the cities of Virginia cannot
compete with Boston or New York for the transat-
lantic intercourse of the Northwestern States but
the mail and merchandise transportation, witt, the
travel between the great Southwest and the cities of
Europe, belong lcgitimatcly to the Virginia ports
of the Chesapeake, and will be certainly secured.
In cmbarking in this contest her citizens and com
mercial cities have high duty to perlorm they must
shake themselves Of every sin of sehshness or of
Jealousy. They must cooperate with rivalry of
devotion to the common cause. There should be
greater jealousy between Richmond and Norfolk
than between Philadelphia and New York-yct
though separated from each other by greater dis
lance, the joint population of the two former cities
isscarccy equal TO suburb Of either of the two lat
ter There can be no incompatibity of interest in
| the harmony of these and other Virginia cities
Let them unite their patronage upon the org1niza-
| tion of Foreign Commerce. and their dcstnies are
established.
| Yet the competition will be intense. 1t will re-
quire energy, union, perseverance. The North has
enterprise capital, experience; the South possesses
the world staples Of cotton, sugar, tobacco with
| immense mercantile consumption. The prize is
worthy the efforts ofthc gifted intellect or the
most matured experience 1t is strife to be fought
with weapons congenial to the enlightened human
ty of the pres age 1t is contest fraught with
consequences scarce inferior to those which hung
| upon first great struggles. Virginia has the
deepest veneration for the Union, cordial ad.nira-
ton Of those sister States with whom she contends
for her heritage but she cannot break the bread OF
dependence, sink into the position of inferior.
| to those who were her equals.
| 1.-THE commerce to which we have adverted be
not utterly abulous-f its capacities be not perver-
| ted by introduction into our own ciies-it
the and brothers of those who subjected viii
dcrness civilization, and gave IN empire to free
dom, who Drawing a deadly climate and desperate
strife, planted the flag of Yorktown upon the Sierras
of Mexico, be not utterly the instincts of
their race, then must the glorious and peaceful
umph of Commercial Independence reward their
patriotism and enterprise. The rewards ofindustry
and of enterprise will be reserved our citizens
and the shameful tribute be abolished forever.
|
ton of the following resolutions:
| Resolved, as the opinion this Committee, Tia
| lines of mail other steamers, or other vessels
| from Hampton Roads, TO port or ports of Eu-
rope, ought to be established and Virginia North
Carolina ,nnessce, Kentucky md such other South
States ard disposed TO aid in the enterprise
should be appealed to- and appeal should also be
made to Congress 10 bcstow upon such line the
mail facilities which extended to the North
lines; and the bars which obstruct the naviga-
ton of James River, should be removed.
| Resolved, That Committees be ar pointed to men,
orialise Congress and the Legislature of Virginia,
and to prepare address to the public, upon the
subject aforesaid. and the great Importance to the
| people of Virginia, and the South generally. that
| they should conduct their own trade directly on
| their own bottoms, and with their own men and
means
Resolved. That lines of packet ships, screw pro-
pellcrs, mail steamers, ought to be established
between the exporting cities of Virginia, and the
West Indies, and South America.
Resolved also, That the people of Virginia be re-
quested TO hold mectingsin their several Counties
cities and towns to>eect the objects of the forcso
ing rcs olutioD and that to this end it be recommend
cd to them to adopt organization by the ap-
pointment of standing and corresponding col,nit-
tees, or otherwise to them shall seem best.
Resolved That the merchants of our Atlantic CT
ties ought to import directly our Virginia ports
the productions of foreign countries used and con-
-lmcd in this and the ad onng Suites; and that it
be recommended TO the merchants of the interior
and the people at large aid in this noble enter
prise