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

-uO-fH-1I, y, AoSi'
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
The journal of the preceding day was read nnc
approved.
Mr. MARTIN, Of Henry. I move the Convention
take up the resolution of the gentleman from fits@
vana Mr.. TREDwAY) in relation to terminating the de
bate upon the basis question.
LIMITATIONS CONSTRUCTION OF ISrEhSAL NrRorR
HEHTs.
Mr.. WISE. ask the gentleman to suspend n mo-
ment ] have another subject which wish 10 call up
The gentleman had better wait until greater number
the members present
Mr. MARTIN. withdraw my motion for the pre-
sent.
Mr.. WISE. have prepared paper here which
think is intimately connected with the question under
dscussonthe question Of the basis OF representation
1t has connection with the State works Of internal i'm
oremen whether the basis of representation OF
the other is adopted. am more and more convinced
that this Convention will have to prescribe some limta
tions respect works of internal improvement There
are certain works which deem il our duty to make II
mandatory upon the legislature of this Commonwealth
to build and wish also to prohibitions in the con
sttutiou to prevent appropriations of the public money
to any other description of works than such rha
be Of general and State interest With view to draw
the attention Of members to limitations of sort OF
other that ought be provided-not limitations upon
the power of internal improvement for would vote
for no such mitations-but such prescriptions in the
constitution shall direct and control the appropra
ons of the State to such works shall most benefit
the Commonwealth and the interests Of the whole people
beg leave to lay upon the table and have printed the
following proposition proposition OF Limitation
The SECRETARY read the proposition, as follows:
All works of internal mpro, ement authorized BY law
to be constructed nwhole in part on State account
by State subscription, shall be classified into four
classes.
OF the works already commenced, the following to
w.t.
Shall be deemed belonging to the first class and
the legislature shall the same to be completed as
follows to wit:
Here insert where each shall terminate east and west
And Until the same shall be completed and finished.
no new works of any class whatever either wholly in
part on State account shall DO commenced appro-
printed for by the Legislature, except the following, to
wit:
QIere insert them)
And after all these works shall have been completed
and finished no appropriation shall be made entirely
from the State treasury to any work. except such
shall be reported to belong the first class by com.
petent civil engineer, in conformity to law.
Of the works already commenced, the following, to
wit:
(Here insert them)
Shall be deemed as belonging to the second class and
the legislature shall the to be completed and
finished as follows, to wit:
Here insert where each shall terminate, east and
west)
And after these works are completed and finished no
appropriation shall be made to works OF the second cnss
unless individuals shall subscribe and actually pay in
money two-hs of their cost Of construction And no
appropriation shall be made to works Of the third class
unless individuals shall subscribe and actually pay in
MONEY! three ffths of their cost of construction. And
no appropriation shall be made to works Of tn, fourth
class unless individuals shall subscribe and actually pay
in money OF their cost of construction And no
appropriation shall be made any works of mt ernal
Improvement until the works in the same class previ.
ously appropriated for shall have been completed and
finished abandoned. And no appropriation shall be
made to any works whatever of either class in iu-
ture except upon proper surveys and estimates return.
ed and reported to the legislature by competent civil
engineers, in conformity to law.
The communication accordingly laid on the table
and ordered to be printed
Dir. LYONS. Nv own mind has been directed to thi.
subject 1t has been mentioned by my frisnd from Ac-
conlac (Sir. WsE) and dare say. if the members of
the Convention did me the honor listen what said
they will recolect that said, in tie of the re.
marks which had the honor to submit to the Convex
tion upon this question that there OF ase
Internal improvements which, so far from desiring To
obsruct desired rather to see mandatory provision
in the constitution that they should be completed while
at the same time in connection with that, l thought,
there should be some limitation in the form of restrict
ion of the legislative power ne not to put it in the
hands of the minority of the legislature to control tie
matter | was in favor of such restriction, too 50
would insure, when the public money was expended in
works Of internal improvements that shond be expeni
ed in such should be useful by combining the interests
OF private citizens and the money of private citizens
with that of the State and forbddng The expenditure
of the public money any other works but those
Quoted on this principle beg leave, therefore, to
submit this paper to the Convention and ask that it may
be laid on the table and printed
TIL. SECRETARY then read the proposition, MS fol
lows:
l. The legislature shall construct a. practica
be having regard to the and finances of the
! State a rail road from on James river, &c
the Ohio river, passing as near practicable to the
White Sulphur Springs, having regard to distance and
expense And 1t shall render such aid may be neces
saTy complete the Tennessee md Lynchburg railroad
from Lynchburg to the Virginia and Tennessee line.
q When any county several counties desire to
struct within their limits, any work of internal improve
ment. and majority of the qualified voters shall so de-
clare at the polls, such work may be undertaken and
constructed by such county counties at their e1
pense and the legislature shall upon petition of the
majority Of the qualified voters aforesaid pass such
as may be necessary to raise upon the assessment
the taxable property of such county counties, the