Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-02

That the of the State do require them to
vote for but forbid their Voting for in order to
some result that they deem advantageous to the inter
ests of the State. This may be part of legislation but
it savors much, in my humble apprehension Of this
doctrine that is much talked of at the present day OF
a higher law. something above the constitution had
supposed that the votes given given With refer
cnce to the great interests of the States But learn
that that is not the fact and We are told-if under
stsnd what Influence this document and its revelations
are TO have upon decisions heretha it viii show
that In the existing stale OF the legislative power the
greatest abuses have been committed votes have been
given by gentlemen who knew that they were voting
wrong, but gave their vote to accomplish some other
object and if change be made upon this subject n
different result will be the consequence. Gentlemen
may honestly entertain this opinions but if men without
power vote under thess influences my mind does not
lead me 10 the conclusion that if they have power they
will vote under other and different influences Il may
be So that may be the result; but nothing that have
hea yet conlmends that result to my mind as the
Ole most likely to follow any change
rise also to say word Or two in behalf of this m oh
abused section OF the State that have the honor in
part to represent herc-l refer TO Piedmont. 1t is said
that she has got great deal. Well, believe she has
But have always been under the impression that sl,
had got it fairly, and upon proper prnc pies 1t ma,
be otherwise, cannot say. But VEL speak of the
people Representative that what we have got We
are entitled to. But claim if this report is 10 have
any Influence al all upon decisions that sllaI
have il fairly stated: have fair understanding Of tn
facts OF the We have been told that eight ter
millions have been expended in that section OF the coun
Try And This improvement that has been the subjcci
of difference between the gentleman from Logan (Mr
FERGrsoS) and the gentleman from Bntctourt. (Mr.
ASpEgsoS,) constitutes nearly the whole, or 9th
the whole Of the appropriations that are said to has
been expended within the limits OF this region vi;
not de;au the Convention by referring to all these inn
plovemeE:s. But viii say, that there are but YER
lew OF them that have been made commenced sole
or the bcnctt OF this portion of the State. The Oralc,
ard Alexandria railroad leads from Id,-Water TIN,
Mans|ahS Gap railroad goes into the Valley, and til,
most strenuous support that it has received has bee
from that portion Of the country, This great work
the james river and kanawha canal never undersoo
until cane into this Convention, To be Piedmn
work. know that in past tines, when this was almo.
The only improvement in the State the section of th
State in which reside lent it no aid-or at all event.
gave viry little support. ii any. had always under
tond il 10 be merely Richmond aud western nlcasur,
: advocated doubt by that portion oc the countr
through j; was to pa:s, and which it was to benet
Blu; i will be remembered that it was only within
few years past tha: this system of internal improve
. ments h., grown up in this State. Now here is on
gentleman from the west. the gentleman from Logu
tAlr. FEnGvsoN) ccn:ending that this is 4 Piedno.
measure exclusively aud that the west have inere
IN ii they Go rot support It. desire lis further ex
eu>on They are looking for railroads
Mr.. FERGUSON. Ii tie gentleman will permit IN,
will SaT tha; did not say il was not western inca
ure, that the took interest in It'll said n.
hing Ike that '1::: tina. the Trans Allegheny d:
not claim It as their improvement but preferred I'll
OTHER
MIR Chiffon I confess that am not yerv int
mate acquainted with the country in which the wor
IS situated hId. however always under,to that
WAS per- Of grand conception to the
Of the Ohio aud the waters Of the Chesa; canc-u..il
all; b; George Wasng,on-ad that it ioand rs h.uci
il not norc support i'll the west i'll the east.
: Mr. LEfCHER. would call the attention Of tn.
gentcm !rr moment to point to show the dis
roSii!cn go fur as the support Of this Improvement
concerned upon the part OF tat portion at least OF III
te':@"ne country. Ii he will recoliect Years az
when this improv reached the town of Lvnehbr
there was deliberate attempt made to stop it at tina
point and prevent it going beyond the Valley and ia
, improvement was not prosecuted until the people
Rockbridse and the people of Boetourt and that por
ton 81 the State, required bonds in tb
sum Of S:50.00o; TO guarantee the expenses ucurret
beyond that point
Mr.. Chiffon The gentleman SAYS that deliberat
attempt WAS made to stop the improvement at rha
point Will he tell NE BY whom it was madel
Mr. LErClIER. By the delegation from Lyuchburs
and that portion Of the region.
Mr. Chiffon. Was i: made BY the Botetour
delegation
Mr. LETCHER Bya considerable number OF them
Mr. LYNCH. If the gentleman will PERM, me.
wish simply to say. that if that course was taken b. III
delegation from Lvnchburg it to substitute IN
other Improvement for the west instead of the one
under discussion. They wanted railroad
/! mcnce ~ Lvrchturg
! Mr.. Chiffon Vow, if this subject is TO nfuenc.
our deliberations. there is piece of information
should like 10 have and that s be got b. askin. IL.
Clerk OF t'c House Of Delegates if can do so to g
back TO tie beginning OF this work, and ascertain wcr.
the votes came from which sustained it. II this i /,
have any influence upon deliberations ALL that
the proper SOFT Of information for 10 seek vcntur
10 affirm that II would be found that the west and tn
Valley hare len; more efficient aid to this work a
for utio
and for the expenditures that have been made apnn
than the east have douc Yet would not say that t,
was argument against the west, any more than tn
reverse of 1t would be an argument: against the
Because differ, said when first got up, from /.
gentleman in regard to this matter, matter of
mp ,r;ailce, which way it may be 1t cunsdere,
4 great State work in which the whole State iu,c
csed 1t necessarily commenced in Tide Water
commenced where navigation commences it could no
have been commenced anywhere else For it woul,
have heen Just well to have commenced the uppe
part Of house before the foundation built As
have commenced this in the west. And it has bee
steadily prosecuted and carried towards the
pletioH Of the original design and have doubt hon
cStlv and E,irl;; By all portions nj the State.
could not bat be struck with the condition of thing
presented b. the gentlemen from Boetourt and Logan
/ l.cssrs .i:puRsoS and FEsGrsoS One SAYS, tina
whatever may have been the desire i'll past times tn
west npt advocating tie extension Of this i'm
provene,.t all They want railroads. Now, thi
recent cri.:! and the gentleman from Boetourt say
hat the people Of the west do not agree upon this que>
tion. The gentleman from Botetourt, however think
that i: work Of gre:s; Importance and in whici
The western iI,en are Interested and the extension
which, the Western from his portion Of the Stat
at least. vii! h. io.nl advocating. Now if Won vi
20 to another portion Of the western men, thew VI.
argue that the central railroad the great improvement
Of the State; and II YOU little higher up it will b
argued that the Manass;s Gap road is ;he great i'm
provemen and so on as you approach the different sec
lions of the State The difference between these differ
ent gentlemen brought very forcbly to my mind one O.
Esop's Fables ! d" not think that Esops Fables arc
ont of order in this Convention for they are OCCASIONAL,
Quoted have i, versitied somewhere someth:
ike this:
a town once met to hold a consultation,
A to the ba>t method OF ortiica,ion.
A grave skiiul mason gave his opinion
That nothing but stone would secure the dominion:
The carver said that although tina, we'll SPOKE
Still h. thought nothing good as oak;
A carrier much wiser than both these toge,he-
Said Try what will, there is nothing like leather"
Aud so it will be found in regard to all these measures
When we set this constitution into operation thew
will find then now, that every section of the Stat,
has ia preat innroyement Stone l. the best in an,