Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-06
rCbntinxsd from Fourth Pace ]

nreat they are at tnls Gay Inc foae
raj Government have waged q war of eStermnatio
upon our commerce is pretermitted in the argument
we have here, aud the government of Virginia IS ne
responsible for all that has occurredfor the Iasnao
prostration of foreign commerce.
But passing this subject insist Is obvious 'u
the policy of the federal government IN
materially retarded the prosperity OF VI q
the southern AtlanticStates The pubc lana system
itself must have exerted disastrous influence over IN
DESTINY of thi. republic Immense tracts OF virgin lano
situated in the most desirable regions OF !o
one extending from the Canadian taxes IN me norh
the euf of Mexico in the south with all the advantage
of salubrious cline and Of fertile SOIL adapted to tn
culture of the most profitable staples known to tn
world with the full benefit Of well regulated law, resi-
ing on the authority of we'll established mild and be
p6cal government exposed to SALE rather forced upo
the market of the world, at price merely nomna
Hr 10 it wonderful that our people have been temple
to tear themselves from the land Of their fathers
seek and seize in the boundess west ilimtaple al
vansages of immeasurab!e affuence. 1t IS marTeiou
that the seductive influence has proven more poten
and destructive.
Potent as are these mighty influences they appear U
derive additional strength even from the hanu OF u
Divinity, and the order of Providence IN the geooglc
structure aud organization of the North American con
dneut.
Since the discovery of the power of steam or rathe
It's application as propelng force to locomotlon ~
value of the public lands in the West has been ihde
nitely augmented. The Atlantic slope o the aHeSh'
ny mountains is precipitous and sharP-the We$terl
slope on the contrary is but gradual aad regular al
fordin9 steam navigation western streams lo
hundreds aud thousands of miles. striking eSeaPl'
fcatiun Of this truth is furnished in the Potomac am
the Ohio rivers The sreamlets of the Potomac taRii
their rise in the county of Pendeton or Hignana ee
prscipitately over rocks and precipcss l'Piot
the level of the sea- and meeting the tide in the Dsc
Of Columbia; distance of about two hundred, or wv
hundred and fifty miles from its source While tn
headwaters of the Monongalia, finding their source
close proximity with the Potomac wind their tardy an
crcuitous course through the State Of Pennsylvania al
fordng steam navigation for hundreds of miles aoov'
the city of Pittsburg where it connects with the ALE
ohanG forming the beautiful and magnificent Ohio, roll
ing it, mighty volume through distance OF thousan
miles finally dsembogueing into the great fathef o. n
at Cairo giving increased value to the Puoi'c au
through which it flows and tempting the people OF VIZ
pina and of the world to form great States and com
munications in the North West The Lands secured o.
the acquisition of Louisiana in the full enjoyment
equal advantages presen ing as stroaS inouce
the formation of vast and fourishinS conmuneS III t
Southwest.
Yet, notwithstanding all this, Virginia has remained
,vhat Virginia is-perhaps the richest community Know
70 the confederacy-and one Of the richest communlte
known to the W, rid.
;nts ID to dispose of what have to submit on thl
question of internal improvements and ask the attrn
ton of gentlemen to the few remarks which propo<'
to submit upon this topic do not intend to complain
of the past do not intend to reve the future; but
ask gentlemen look at things as they areto coaten
plate the probable futureand to enquire, as become
wise men, the difficulties which are spread oeior
them. The present pecunary condition OF the STATE
I have already shown. We have expended twent,
two millions and half of dollars and have laid TN
foundation of increased debt to the amount OF seven
teen millions and half more. And yet, gentlemen say
nothing literally nothing has been and
il brought forward now transfer the power beyond th
Blue Ridge for the purpose of relieving the State iron
the degrading and ruinous policy OF the past.
Sir must say in all sincerity believe the doctrln'
of internal Improvement will be carried ont in deanc
of any opposition can make, or any opposition whei
is likely to DO MAGE I any shoud i be dree
ted and controed By those who are to pay, by thos
who have paid for these improvements or by those VIII,
nav comparatively small portion of the money mas
the delegates from Eastern Virginia If they will b.
induced 6y any argument which can be addressed t.
their intelligence to divest themselves of the power
controlling their money which is Obliged to DE ex
pended or will they retain the power OF directing 1t
expenditure themselvesl The mixed basis of represen
taon gives to the East the power Of controlling thl
subject themselves. They will eApend their money!
sityperhaps is destiny; but if they retain the pow
Or among the nseves, BY voting for the mixed basis
representation, they can direct the mode of expend
ture; they can decide to what Improvements shall
constructed and give any direction to them they Sc
fit.
Let US examine tho mixed basis as it has been pre-
sented for the adoption of this Convention 1t Civ.
to tue East majority of fourteen in the House OF D.
legates. The majority of that fourteen is eight. Eigh
Eastern delegates acting in concert with the Weser
To- this great question of internal Improvements. tt
city of Richmond has four delegates by the mSe basis
the city of Norfolk will furnish two more; the count
of Norfolk aud the of Portsmouth, will furnis.
two more, making eight, and msutny, with the ives
the majority Of the sature Here then, Is the major
ity already furnished and these eight members can con
troll and point the internal improvements OF this
Thus tn. cities of Richmond. Norfolk and Portsmouth
hold the Balance of power and control aud point ii
internal improvements of this State, and to Nor
folk and Richmond alLthe advantages which will resu
from that system. They con rol the action Of tn
West, because the West will be dependent them f
such improvements, demanded By the necesstie
of the West.
The mixed basis system it appears to me, with grea
Difference to the intelligence OF its opponents and witt
profound respect for their moral character and virtue
is essential to Richmond and Norfolk. than
any other portion of this Commonwealth. If the sys
tenn Of the mixed basis be established the cities of Rc
nond Norfolk, Petersburg, Alexandria aud Frederick
burg viii hold the bAlauce Of power in the Sta.e an
Civ. direction to our public improvements. And th
is the real state Of the between Eastern and West
ern representatives. The mixed basis secures the ai
Of power to the cities Of the East and enables then
to regulate and point the public improvements OF tn
State whilst the white basis renders the West indepeD
dent of the East by transferring the balance Of Powe
into their hands, thereby enabling them TO contfoi ah
direct the public improvements.
This is the great question ut issue between the Eas
and the West: shall the cities of the East retain tn
balance of power shall that balance of power b
to the West that the West may contro
and direct the public improvements of the State. A
long as the balance of power resides in the cities OF h
East. so long will the West be dependant upon them
secure Improvements for themselves, and be obliged
assist the cities in their schemes But give the West
majority Of fourteen III the House of Delegates as wi
be the effect of the white basis, and they will becon
independent Of the Eastern Cities aud control and drec
improvements for themselves.
Give the We tern people the power, and what woul
be their probable action They know not thenselve
what would be their plan of operations 1t is mpossi
bic they should know what system-what plan of ope
rarons they would project When they shall find them
selves in power having the monies of the State unde
their contr l-when they examine the financial condi
ton of the State and find they to be responsible m
the expenditure Of public money, having the power t
direct all appropri Itions-when they look at the maj
of the State aad how the public revenue can be ex
nended most advantayeously for themselves for work
81 internal improvements they will appropriate tn,
nnblic money facilitate their connection with Ba
more and Cincinnati Cincinnati will become the riva
of Norfolk Cincinnati will be important to tn,
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