Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-06
TUESDAY MORNING. ApR.L 6.


improvements
Three months have already elapsed since the
meeting of the General Assembly, and yet but
title apparent progress has been made in the bu-
siness of Legislation. The task of putting the new
Constitution 10 operation has proved to be far
more difficult and embarrassing one than was gem
orally anticipated, and much time must necessari-
y be c, nsumed before it is completed. The i'm
portant bill concerning Commissioners of the Re-
venue has not vet been finally acted on by the
Senate, and as it will, in all probability pass that
body in an amended shape, the whole subject will
thus be reopenediu the lower House. 1t is, there
fore, much 10 be feared that considerable delay
will yet be experienced ere this troublesome ques-
ton is disposed Of This is a bill directing Com
mssioners of the Revenue to list the taxable pro-
perry of the Commonwealth, and transmit their
returns to the Auditor of Public Accounts. These
returns must be placed in possession of the Gene
raj Assembly before complete tax bill can be fra
med and adopted, and it is believed that at least
two months, if not more, will be required to
Bile the Commissioners to perform the duties as
signed them.
In view Of these facts, we were not surprised at
the proposition emauating from the Senate
yesterday, that a joint committee be appoint
ed to consider the propriety of taking recess and
holding adjourned session next winter. This
proposition, will be seen by reference to our
legislative summary, was voted down In the
House of Delegates. but deeming it not improba-
Bile that the movement will be renewed at future
day, avail ourselves of the present occasion to
express the hope that before they seriously enter
%op &c IL
law-givers will make adequate provision for carry
ing on the great internal improvement enterprises
OF the State. We trust that their action on this
subject will be such as to preclude all suspicion
that Virginia will, in any contingency, abandon
the support of these works in their present unin-
ished condition. We have fully embarked in the
internal improvement policy, and it is manifesty
too late now to reeede Or even to pause in oul
onward career; we must either go steadily forward
or must be content to lose all that we have
hitherto expended and see the Virginia and Ten.
nessee, the Central and Danville Railroads, ant
other leading lines of improvement arrested, be-
fore they have reached point at which suff
Gent amount of trade and travel can be obtained
to pay interest on the money expended.
Moreover, the aid of the State is virtually
pledged to the individual stockholders to these
works, and it would amount to an understandable
breach of faith Oh the part of the commonwealth
to withhold farther assistance in their prosecu-
ton. This view of the subject is SO clearly and
forciby stated by correspondent, +" Progress, y
whose communication appeared in our paper q
short time since, that we reproduce his remarks
and beg leave to call special attention to them:
s' Not alone to that class of our fellow citizens
who have been induced to aid with their private
capital, the of internal improvement, but to
every who has anticipated benefits of any
sort to result from the speedy completion of the
great State works now in progress, would appeal.
would call upon all to take warning from what
has occurred in reference to the James River and
Kanawha Canal, because it was arrested before it
was much more than fairly commenced. The city
of Richmond and the Bank of Virginia, own
ing little less than a million of dollars in the
stock of this Company, suffered sort of finan-
cial paralysis for years because of the failure OF
that company to progress with the works. Many
individuals who subscribed largely to the stock,
were greatly injured by the worthlessness oftheir
investments, and the producers of tonnage were
all disappointed in their anticipated profits, grow
ing out of low transit charges. Was not this
treachery to your city, to the Bank of Virginia,
and to all the individual stockholders in the
James River company! Most assuredly it was.
What would be said of the first capitalist in your
city, # be should project and set ON foot, under
his guidance, great commercial enterprise,
solicit his associates and friends to join him. and,
as soon as they were committed to the full extent
OF their ability to pay, desert them, and coolly
tell them, 4 have changed my mind 2! Would
not every honorable man in the community pro-
nounce him infamous and treacherous to the
last degree? This was the conduct of the State
of Virginia to your city, to the Bank of Vir-
ginia, and to every individual stakeholder in the
James River company, Like causes will pro-
duce like effects always, and | predict, without
the fear of being upbraded hereafter as false
prophet, that, if this Legislature shall adjourn
without providing adequate means to prosecute
the great system of railways now in progress,
the very same results will come to pass on the
Central road, the Virgin and Tennessee road,
the South Side, Danvilie, and Orange and Alex
andria roads. 1t can't be otherwise. The in
cipient cal ital in all those works will have
been expended, the roads will all be stopped,
without reaching any point from which ade-
quate tonnage can be commanded to pay inter-
est on the money expended. The Directors of
these corporations will adopt the old policy OF
taxing local tonnage, to pay interest on capital
expended to attract .t6reign tonnage; and then
the people will begin to cry out against those
who projected aud managed these lines of tran
sit, and, finally, the whole subject of Railway
improvement will be as odious in the eyes of the
people. as the James River Canal ever was or
ever can be-
In addition to all this. we may remark that the
secondary effect ola delay on the part of the Com
raonwealth to provide for the prosecution of her
great lines of improvement, would be disastrous