Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-30

JGsh hands together, and with common effort, com
pete this work But when Trans-Alleghany asserts a.
conaton That Tide water should surrender tile pow
he sagacous people of that district notwithstanding
al Inc persuasion and eoquencs of my friend from Ac
comae, wall be apt to ask, "why is it that cannot
complete these works with the power where is;" Sc
mat 'nnK these appeals founded upon the system oil
internal improvements will fall unheeded upon Tide
wafer ears and will fall UNDECIDED upon Richmond ears
unless the ingenuity Of gentlemen can succeed in con-
elng inc sagaeious people Of this region that it is
oeuer Tor them to submit themselves their property
anu their interests to the government of others than 10
! retain it in their own hands
] Mr FERGUSON. As the gentleman from the city
OF Richmond has yielded the floor in order that may
Se' mysen right before ne proceeds with his argument
| VIII DO 30 as briefly as possibly can
shall not attempt this time to follow the gentle
man from Fauquer through his abored argument but
viii before conclude read to this committee part OF
The history OF this railroad from Salem to Buchanan
which think will be eectual reply to all he said
upon that subject.
Inc gentleman from Fauquier seems 10 have wholly
ana most strangely too mlsconceired everything have
SAID stated when was up before that an effort was
now nelag made to induce the people OF Richmond and
elsewhere to believe that if the west had the power,
they would so shape the improvements Of the State
to carry the trade and tavel to Baltimore And re-
lerred 10 an argument of the gentleman Of the city
Richmond Mr. SrASARD) tending to some extent to
create Tins Impression. He argued that if we obtained
majority IN the legislature, would have the power
10 construct improvements so as to reach Baltimore,
anu TINS ne urged as reason why should not have
Inc power But hear gentlemen outside of this Con-
sehtioh saying mat all our professions of attachment
lot the city OF Richmond have been hypocrtcal and
tnat II you give lis the power to make improvements
70 baltimore we Will exercise it. 1t was in relation to
un outdoor effort to humbug the people, that refer
rec, and to the gentleman from Richmond DIR. STAN
"Eo In relation to this restriction upon the cities
'ad SHOULD vote for restriction upon this city, and
uTon all the cities, if this mixed basis should he adopted
particularly after II avowed that this basis was in.
sisted upon to enable the cities Of this commonwealth
and particularly the city of Richmond to rule and
govern inc west; and that did not mean to so for a
pnnclpie here that avowed be for the express.
purpose Of governing the people Of the west.
Mr.. STANARD. Does the member from Logan
mean to say that | avowed any such purpose:
Mr.. FERGUSON. No, sir did not hear you avow
any such purpose
The gentleman from Fauquier says am holding out
eait to these people, that tell the people Of Rich
mend if they adopt my basis l would not only give
'hsm the full advantage of that basis, but the wes,
would carry on this great scheme of Improvements and
make them all tend to the city of Richmond. said
UGH thing said nothing like it. | said they had
been endearoring to bring the central road through
from the Ohio River TO the city Of Richmond, that great
improvement which above all others is calculated to
build up and make her commercial city did not say
We intended to pursue that policy in future Gentle
men may infer that from my argument because we do
not intend 10 pursue that policy did not hold it out as
an inducement adopt my basis, but said if the mix
ed basis be adopted the tendency OF the argument ad
dressed 10 the people Of tho west 10
change the policy we have heretofore pursued.
You tell that you must retain the power ia order
govern us, and then you ask us 10 make system of rail
roads that will build up eastern Virginia, increase its
wealth and enable you to continue to govern us; but do
gentlemen not that if pursue the dictates
Of interest would, hereafter, in they force the
mixed basis upon US, vote against all Improvements
coming to Richmond, because it would increase the rep
resentaton against based upon the power of wealth
! 7 Il
that we would pursue this course, and did not man
to say would pursue this course but that that
The legitimate effect of their argument They tell
ing US il VIC did pursue this course assisting
/ them to perpetuae eastern power.
l i have held out threat to the city of Richmond
IL the mixed basis should be adopted, can defend the
restrictions upon the cities upon principle, although
conceive there is principle in the basis itself can
defend it because the wealth in cities c eases in lar
ger proportions according to population than the wealth
the country and the wealth of the cities ought not
be brought INTO full requsition to govern the coun-
try But while population may increase slightly faster
the cities than in the country it does not increase III
The ratio the country that the wealth does If you
adopt the basis Of representation contend for we
cannot restrict the cities, because go for the equal
rights of ALL We cannot restrain this city or any other
without changing the great fundamental principle Of
government that avowed ut the outset whereas, if
sour policy prevails It'll policy that denies the rights
Of manthat restricts the rights of the people, and We
have rs much right to deprive the cities of their rights
Under this restrictive system they have to deprive
Of ours.
But the gentleman from Fauquier gives lis very in
eresting Of his lnbors for the good of Richmond
~heu thi. road from Salem to Buchanan was pending
Ys says that lie regarded it then the commencement
railroad down the alley to Baltimore, and he set his
Wits to work to defeat it. Being an internal improve.
ment man he had to work in the dark he prepared
an amendment to be offered when this Salem and Buc
anan road up for consideration, to stop all fur
Their expenditures of money the Southwestern ma
csdamized rond and put it into the hands of Doctor
Yerby of Northampton to &c offered He says he knew
that the members from the Southwest welded
10 that ulacadapzed road that if he could get this
amendment attached to the railroad it would lead to
It's defeat. Well. when the ryder offered to the
Lynchburg and Tennessee railroad bill providing for
this road from Salem Buchanan the amendment OF the
gentleman from Fnuquier offered by doctor VERIFY
and adopted and the gentleman from Fauquler had
oreseen it defeated the ryder So lar 40 good Inc gen
teman from Fauquier. by piece Ct parliamentary
strategy succeeded in defeating this monsrous western
scheme of railroad to Baltimore and thus protecting
the interest Of Richmond. But mark the ssqual. AT
ter this extraordinary feat OF legislation had been &C
complished by the gentleman from Fauquer. and the
interests of Richmond saved, the railroad to Baltimore
defeated this Salem and Buchanan railroad came
ND as independent proposition, unencumbered by tho
anendnendment to stop the macadamlzed road, and
how do you think this faithful sentinel upon the watch
tower voted upon that bill Why, sir, both he and BIZ
colleague voled for it. Laughter. This consiuer
sufficient answer to his argument for the present
Mr. SCOTT, Of Fauquier. L never said that would
oppose them. On the contrary, have always said
what repeat now, that voted for all these roads,
have condemned, as the gentleman from Logan (Ar
FRRcusoN we'll knows this self polcyuPon every occa
sion, aud avowed my willingness have testified BY the
substantial evidence of the votes have given TO GUILD
roads in every section OF the country, no matter how
they confictsd with other and rival interests got the
Manassa Gap Railroad upon that doctrine; gotthe Or
anee and Alexandria Road upon that doctrine; anToca
ted the right way upon that doctrine; voted lot the
/ Parkersburg Road upon that doctrine. Inc TACT 49,
there is tendency in these improvements 10 go down
the Valley, and the gentleman has introduced evidence
of the danger. He aud appeals trumphantiy to
Tide water, to give up soldiers when this battle is
to come off, when the danger with her present power is
imminent and the gentleman knows it. Now J repeat,
it is convicting me Of no inconsistency, LOT nave al
ways had enlarged notions upon this subject OF internal
improvements know it was for the interest oil Rich
moud that it should be done. knew that 1t was Tor the
interest of Underwater that it should be DONE so took
the course did, the contest was between the friends OF
that connection and the friend, of our road omitted
to state another part Of the history to which beg t"
call the attention of the gentleman from Accomac
i mir. W,sE1 omitted to state in my argument one
fact which will put this matter 10 rest that so soon as
L tba dor Mr Poyfop and