Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-10-22
rHE, BARS.

The BARS.
Judge Caskie's friends strive very hard to salts
fy the business men of Richmond that they need
not elect a representative who will press actively
for an appropriation for the removal of the OBJ
structions in James River below the falls They
tell us the city ought to do the work ITSELF and
take no part in the unconstitutional scheme of In.
ternal improvements by the General Govern
ment.
On the question of consttutionaty we deem il
enough to refer to the authority of Mr.. Robert q
Scott, the very Leonidls of tho "Spartan Band, >
who took an active part in petitioning Congress
for this very appropriation. If we are not greatly
mistaken, he was the author Of one ofthe petitions
sent to Washington from this city. And we we'll
remember that when the first steamer of the Rich
mond and Philadelphia line came to our port, Mr..
Scott, in an animated address upon the boat during
her excursion down the river, and possibly when
she was directly over the famous bar ITSELF de"
claged himself most warmly in favor of the desr-
ed appropriation on the ground of both consttu-
tionahty and justice.
Then, as to expediency: Is it not plainly the
interest Of Richmond and OF all the country with
which it trades that these obstructions in the river
should be removed by the aid of the Federal Gov
| ernment? Is our city eXchequer SO prosperous
| that it has more. money than the Council know
| how to spend Is there no purpose to which our
| resources can be applied, except one which Con-
gress, according to Mr.. Scott, is bound to accom-
| plish for US ? Are our canal and our railroads
all completed, our streets all paved and graded
| our public grounds paid for and boautifed cur
debts all Cancelled, and our taxes reduced to trfle
that we can afford to disdaiu that help from
Congress which is unquestionaby our Ne?
But Judge Caskie tells us he is for removing
the bar as decidedly as any other man. How does
he propose to remove t? He shall tell the reader
n his own words, spoken a the African Church
| come to the bar of the James river, [great
laughter and applause; land will give the gentleman
the advantage OF that bar. Applause He may make
all the capital out OF 1t he The Congress of the
United States have been asked by the city council to
appropriate 5000 clear this bar; because he
says will not remove it. Now, if it were left to me
| would remove it at once. weald give the S45 =
900 and more 1t 1t were necessary to it at
once-because, if it were removed, standing piece
of capital in every congressional canvass in this dis
trict would be removed also. Immense laughter and
applause.
If you elect me TO Congress shall GO there and do
all can-although the gentleman has said he did not
see how | could do 1t conslstently-to present the
claims OF that Improvement along with others,
to give II lair and full chance before the Congress
OF the United States. Loud cheering But gov
need not expect me TO cote for any Of these Inter
nal Improvements along with those appropriation bills
into which they will probably be put for they APP
preparation bills They corruptlng bills; bills of
extravaganza, and in many instances of fraud This
then is what | will do, aud there is another thing |
will do also and that is, will go to Congress aud
obey instructions, if you send them 10 me, or will
resign. Great Cheering
Mr. BoTrs Will you obey instructions that will
compel YOU to violate the constitution?
Mr.. CA.k'Ei Undoubtedly not. | told this people
would resign my seat EAppause
Here then, we have Judge Caskie's decartion
that the Internal Improvement bills are CORRUPT
ING bills" for which he will never vote His an.
swer to the question of Mr.. Bolts, shows that he
considers appropriations for the improvement of
rivers and harbours unconstitutional herein diff
iering directly from his leading supporter, Mr.
Robert G. Scott, whose legal opinion is entitled to
very high Democratic consideration, since he was
| one Of those who were stongly recommended as
the nominee for the Office of Attorney General OF
the State. The Judge promises to endeavour tc
get appropriation for James river into the River
and Harbour bill, and then TO uote against the bill
itself, as Mr.. Seldom did before him. If his con-
stituents instruct him to vote for the bill, he will
resign. rather than obey.
Now, we ask does any reasonable man sup
nose, that, in this EXTENDED district, instru cions
on a question like this could be obtained from a
majority of the voters either way? 1t Judge
Caskie be elected he need have little uneasness
on the score of instructions about the bars though
f vote could be taken, we have no doubt M
lority would declare for the appropriation.
The plain course of the Wings of Richmond,
who know that the prosperity Of the city depends