Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-06-29

The time has when Virginia should unite her power.
full energies at least upon more Of the great OBJ
ecs SO easily accomplished and necessary 10 her safety
ana happiness Perhaps State In the Union could do so
much, with 50 small of means us Virginia could
AZ is tme But il is be disguised that the unity Of
her common interest," State, is separated by numerous
mountains rivers and towns, from which thousand i'm
aginory communities Of special local have bee, i'm
erected in the hearts of the people, and their az
on 'utneo 10 these in neglect OF many of the greater
VI o1a'e enterprise The variety of these conflict,
hg real and imaginary local interests diversified as they
are over so large territory as that of Virginia and ono 80
thoroughly divided with mountain ranges crossed by
''saoe rivers could hardly fail impair that unity Of pu
pose "ihout which no State long maintain her dignity
power or prosperity The effort, therefore, OF dis
sushcc MEN, In our good old Commonwealth 10 atfain
small objects for little purposes have nor at all tended
ofeak down the lines OF division which have made
enemies where but friends should exist. Vr-
slnans have stood for forty years in deadly strife
against each other; and with higher motive than
mat OF resisting the great Improvements OF the State in or
Ger the oetterto subscye the dimnuyc. While many
iacrcd themselves that Virginia would be able TO ride out
the storm which pervaied the whole American Conlederacy
and avoid an increase of taxation OTHERS sanguine of bring
Ing hcr into the progression Of the times almost biindy
pushed forward system Of policy not less incoheent with
'seA than 1t was improbable 10 the Treasury against that
ndlscrmlnate opposition which consulted not common pru-
dcnce until find the State chequerei with works IN
progrsss ana unfinished unprofaie and nsolrent, quite
enough to rghtcn the Legislature from their poprety.
They are at last walked the condition Of things, and
lind an unproductye debt OF eight millions Of aoIrs
with which the people sadded The gatherer is at
The door, demanding the of payment No great line of
has been completed across the State 10 unite
80 their interests foreign trade almos, entirely
/ "'' Deoplp Qrc dcpendrnt uDun he nriuhbunup
| f';"s, of both foreign and domestic goods
| " 0 ~ ~ e-f'om the first TO the inurth in pep
a.'' ~ " '' ' '''s by the insolent fanatical alb
olIlonlsts our devotion and obcn. =, h Coro,;,r,o,
md laws OF the United States, attrio.- ~ , aud
want Of enegy and rights insulied cor,emned
by those entrusted under the federal compact with .r nro
'ection. And yet there is in this broad con,on
wealth, thought to be so ignorant, know thar va
ample means for the correction Of these nsches Bat
hc special local. and minor interests have swallowed up
II! others in the State Indeed The improvements been
So bacy managed for thirty or forty years that Virginia has
allen in the rear Of Staes known be inferior her in
tie elements prosperity and greatness. fno disposed 10
rift still further behind Qke hulk without rud
c wake up tho crew, and rig The old vessel
and take position in ne with the gallant squadron of Ane
r;can States, bending sail for the OF The world
We should take position worthy of worthy
of ,hcand of Washington Of Henry and of Jefferson. Can
"rity, acknowledged ard uiaGus aUlagon!sms? We
rust not Many great objects lie before Us, which may
easily be aItaned-obecis worthy OF best eons wor-
Thy of generous and confding people.
Under the new Constitution all the departments Of gov
"rnncnt and almost all ministerial officers dcrva their ap-
ponlIens and power directly from the common source of
sovereignty people. In the political organizations OF
he counties and corporations, equal and drec, epresen
of every local neres, has been sccueL ard il is more
probable that the Legislature may future be relieved
from very large portion Of business which be better
understood and better done, by those local representatives
Ii sn we may hope TO the grave md important
Subjects In which The dignity ard prosperity OF the
whole people are involved well considered and duly protect
ed. Ash whole, Virginia is truly great State! Divided
che been she has become colony for all prac-
sn s 81 "nSs and da DE-
Sided as she is no measure for The protection oil hr
nerce has been accompshed-no practical her
part has been attempted u carry terror into the hearts
of those who mediate the overthrow ard ru OF the Souh-
States Reliance Is alone placed in the Federal govern
ment for protection. BY the neglcc Of inte-
rests becoming relatively weaker daily and
mics stronger verifying their prediction of ncapaciy
manage our own affairs.
We have been led these reflections from fact that
bill passed both Houses of the Legislature the asI
providing for the establishment of line OF
between virginia ana the continent touching
England enterprise by which, if promptly execu'ed and
udiciousy managed, deadly blow may be iary given
Northern domination and by which commerce may be
restored and made only wla, before and short.
after the revolution but times greater In very few
;ears. And why should have free trade with Eu-
rope Is there any thar Virginia should he prohibit
ted from trading with all the World 2and yet sach is the
fact Not by statute but by law of trade, which the
of Congress and tho administration of the public funds have
built up and which only be pulled down by counrya
log measures of this State Those Ill Understand
the securing Of direct foreign trade into the ports Of Hgi
MIA and the opening Of the main lines OF improvement
rhe State None misunderstood them All are inter
ested them BY securing this trade dehs may be
pad without Inconvenience tho State will increase
rapidly in population, wealth and power The people will
become able, (as in other StatesJ 10 make their own
local improvements without rcsor,ing the Legislature
MEANS We shall become united people, and regain ha
political influence in the federal government which have
/ sustained by the loss of relative numbers