Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-20

sSat much larger portion Of hiB dercrp tion Of prop
ery is at this time. and under peculiar circumstances
ALWAYS heretofore been possessed by the eastern
portion of and let me tell gentlemen that
the day is not distant when large amount Of that pc.
culiar property-wil be held by our western citizens
That the slave population is increasing in much great
or ratio in the western than the eastern division Of the
state In 1910 the slaves in the tidewater district
amounted to l727al in 1850 to l7s,6Sncrease $500
In 1910 this population in the Piedmont district
900 $50 i'm $50 234 O67-increase II 59I The slaves
tof the valley in 1910 amounted to 1861 in 1850 to
lss 7es-ncrease 5l0l. In Allegheny in 1910 to
2OO4O in 1850 to 24436--increase 1896 Capital in
the east n 1910 1896 ISL increase 1887 capital
in the west in 1910 s53,T3I, increase s9497 and
this increasing ratio is notwithstanding the greater adj
vantaees enjoyed By the eastern people, to retain their
slaves With tie exception Of the counties bordering
or convenient to the free States of Ohio and Penusy-
vana the slave population has been constantly and
pdly increasing in spite Of the drain to that species OF
roperty in the borders counties effected By the art,
and feonies of the free soilers aboonists and fanatics
of the North Now that the strong arm 81 the federal
government is not only pledged to the protection Of
property, but Is believe about to be honestly and
houorabv called into action for the recovery and restOr
alton of abducted escaped stolen property the
citizens of the west will feel that healthy sentiment
will soon pervade whole country and that they may
again hold that property ms securely as any other
i The people of the west will find Mt least believe
that it is their interest to hold this peculiar kind pro-
manufacturing and mechanical pursuits snort time
since the trans murtane people Were comparatively
poor they had but little except their unimproved
lands; their mountains crossed and their valleys inter
sected by nothing but by unimproved md almost mpas
sable roads But by their industry, their economy and
by the sweat of their brow they have become compare
lively wealthy and independent and when attain
that wealth and ability to procure others to discharge
that labor and perform these services Which they
accustomed to execute themselves or have done by
IN TINA
that constant labor which they rely for its
slant application to their pursuits. The Gay is dis.
tant when in all probability, the slave population OF
Western Virginia will approximate in numbers to that
of the east The territory is larger the lands equal
ly fertile the climate congenul to the valuable produc
lions of grass wheat md inferior to none i'll pas
turage and altogether capable of sustaining popua
ton equal to- if not greater than the eastern division of
the State. When we attain equal wealth. and which
we intend do and have assurance that slaves
will no longer be permitted by the federal government
tito be stolen abducted and that if they escape we
will be aided in their recapture, that kind Of property
will increase in enfod ratio in the west to what it
does in the east and simply because we will stand
times in need of such assistance than the cast and
this species Of property will no longer he peculiar TO
the east Another position taken BY the east is Lal
that the west being less wealthy aud paying less
than the east if the governmental power trans
erred them they would abuse It for their ag-
grandzement; that taxes would be Levied on them for
peat attempt rccapituae the strong reasons
urged by gentlemen from the west, to show the asity
and unsoundness OF that position. will say this that
if they will not be satisfied by the different speakers
who in my opinion, have demonstrated the entire
sounness of this position that believe they would
not be converted from their though should rise
from the dead. Every argument every principle of
honor, every thing that honorable and enlightened gen.
temen can produce convict them of the error of their
opinion has been presented to the committee
will state that the part Of the Valley from which
come and which have the honor in part to represent
the Rockingham, Page and Pendleton district has been
slow to enter State account into the scheme of in
terna improvement That according to my recollec-
ton Il have not consulted the iourna4-seIlom
vote given by either of these counties favor Of these
great improvements III whole the rule Of three
6fths BY the State, until eight years past
when they forced in selfdeence to embark in this
policy they found they to be taxed whether they
I'd :ny .hing in the of improvements no.
and that II they were 10 Uc lcy IL wo.
their interest to vote for the different and
lay in claim for improvements in which they wero d.
rec.ly interested.
RI will give you fact to show with what reluctance
that part OF the Valley assented to plunge the State
to this scheme OF internal improvement in whole or in
part on State account. You know there is co;npruv
incorporated in the Valley called the New Shenandoah
Company, for the Improvement Of the Shenandoah
river and its tributaries; ut that time the law as well
recollect that when threeffths Of the stock
the State fthereto by the company to subscribe
the remaining two-ffths Some twenty-five or thirty
years since and after 100000 $4,000 had been
taken by private subscr ption, it proposed in gen
eral meeting Of this company to invite the State the
board Of public works. to take two-ffths OF the stock
The meeting determined by a very decisive vote that
the State should not take any part or lot in this i'm
provement Yes sir, these people OF the west who il is
said would rob and plumber the east decided by mn
nrty that the State should not be permitted to tale
80 al,
on by private enterprise private capital, aud not even
in part by the resources of the State.
Is this the people VINO would plumber you, who would
imprudenty spend and squander your money for their
own selfish purposes think such is not the desire Of
the people Of the central part of the valley and such
believe not the feeling Of the people of western Vr
gnia am perhaps as familiar rs any gentleman of
this committee with the central counties of the Valley
with Rockbridge, Augusta, Shenandoah Pendetou Page
and Hardy, aud such is not the intention desire Of
pie extends. They would disdan to deprive the east
unjusty of one single cent. The gentleman from Eau
quer, (Mr Scorr to satisfy this committee that no re-
lance be placed the protestations of the west
and on these guarantees aud limitations which they pro-
pose to insert in the Constitution bring. forward ON an
thortyI do not know whether European or Amer
icanto prove that Justice and equity were new
er sufficient to govern the COUNCILS Of men state that
| do not know who is the author of that sentiment
| 4 VOICE. John Quincy Adams.
1t is not sound-it IL libel upon humanity AMI j. con
tradctcd by history Whoever will look into the histo-
~ of man will find that it is not 1t is NOT true
that reason justice and equity never sufficient to
govern the counsels of men, and that it is interest and
interest alone which ever induced men to try the cxpc
ment of sefgovernmeut.' 1t is admitted that Mr.
Adams is high authority, that lie was a harmed nan
and patriot but we all know that many subjects he
he had his peculiar notions but repeat the statement
is not true and is contradctcd BY history doubt not
Mr. Chairman, bat your acquaintance with history in
forms you that not long after the Greeks by their valor
and patriotism had expelled the nyri;. hosts of the
Persans, and after the battle of S=emis in whi. that
able general aud wise statesman but proAigate polii
can Thcmstocles had distinguished himself to the nd
miration Of all Greece; when the Grecia fleet was an
chored in Athenisu harbor he, Themisoces told the
citizens of Athens in general assembly That he had
hit upon design which might greatly contribute to
their advantage but it was not fit to be communicated
to their whole holy" The Atllenians ordered him
to communicate to Aristodes only, and if be approved
Of it to put it in execution Themistocles then inform
ed him. that he had thought of burning the conieder-
ate fleet at Pagarca' Upon which Arsteles went and
declared to the people, that the enterprise which
Themistoces proposed was indeed the advantage.
ma in tho world hut mt the same time the p,,,st p,ust