Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-12-06

the hfet six months Two companies oi
igran consisting OF 2iO negroes have been sent to Ii
IBERIA from Virginia. larger number than has gone irot
other in the timciOr which a., 500 haN
been drawn FROM the treasury aud S. 900 likely to be AZ
propTiatcd in short time. The whole number OF cni
grants from Virginia Liberia since 1890, j. stated 10
$500. Thus appears that of the annual appropriato
OF $4,000 only 400 have been expended in six months
The board IL however in its Infancy, and doubtless great
results may be expected hereafter. IL the operation
OF the last six months be regarded basis for
culation and estimates should have an annual cmigrs
ton from this class of is0 which the board think would
least proven: increase OF the population This il per
haps correct but 10y the Of $780, the free coorc
population OF Virginia was oS Ss aud We may now sae
put down at IS 600. Suppose increase OF number
is prevented, when and how shall get rid Of thes
55,OOOE Shall and our postcriIy always endure III
existing evly trust not should not; and respect
fully urge the adoption of more efficient measures 10
their removal leaving the selection OF the mode To th
united wisdom OF the general assembly.
IL Is proper that should bring 10 the notice OF The
general assembly the condition OF the Washington monu
ment und On the ssj of February lSI9, an act VA
passed Nv the general assembly directing commissioner
TO bc appointed by the executive o procure model fo
the monument with all necessary plans and estimates io
It's erection TN the 10Th OF October following, the GOV
then in office appointed the commissioners who, II
compliance with the act, selected the pan fixed upon the
site aud procured estimates FOR the structure. I'm appro
praton, with the amount previously raised 10y individual
subscription exceed hundred thousand dollar
made 10y the legislature. The plans and estimates sub
united To the commissioners did exceed the amount ap
propsted Tn the 22i February 1850, the corner stone
OF the monument laid, with the most imposing
monies and the work progressed with most energct
caly II understood that the work with all its
tues and equipments would reIurc five wears for its com
plctuu When the commissioners proceeded Ia enter into
written contracts for the work. IL iumciIatel, found
that the estimates submitted much lees than
necessary complete The design selected, and according
" only part OF the statues aud equipment were contract
ell Tor, the commissioners prcierng In leave to the gene
raj assembly the option of finishing the work according tO
the p and OF appropnaiine the necessary funds at THEN
time They therefore contracted with Mr. Crawford
two the statues and for the equestrian group which
Ia surmount the structure and for few OF the equip
mcnts necessary to I'LL up the plan-thc whole sum
amounting >59,955, leaving ortyscNcn thousand aud
twenty five dollars q; tie original appropriation. which it
believed would bc sufficient cOlitruct the granite
portion of the monument
By the Code Of Virginia the act of I>I9 was amended
and the commissioners Who had been previously appointed
superseded. At the commencement of my official
career, upon examining INTO the subject, found that
ahont $4,000 had been expended in the erection oi the
structure and that considerable part Ut the wuik
TO be completed ici to be NV duty rcore aui2e
the board OF commissioners Since thF time, there has
been expended ia paving Tor the work previously executed
and in clrryng the structure, abou, $4,000, aud Nj
Crawford has received in part psymen of his contract
which executed IN $780, sll, 600. At the last
sion OF the general assembly additional appropriation
Of $50 600 made the drafts wtich wI~ expect
ei would be irawuby Mr. Cras ford in accordance with his
bu, yet drafts have been made TIL" actual
cost Of the work the end OF the last fiscal wear
SloJ9Is u, leaving uucNpended OF Tia, two apprOpra
tiou-, 50 ,o5 &c
TO De ,hippci the statues ct Thomls jefferson and
Patrick lleur and that he has completed of the 9th
equipments OF the monument The equestrian
II Washington IS iu course of preparation, and will
be completed no doubt consistent with it, prop
Cr execution
The granite portion Of the structure "a now nearly COM
plctri The Iron stairway III in short line be erected
the Tagging aud CgrhuE viii soon be bid and the super
utenirut and hbOers may be dismissed during the
have been hus explicit, that the general assembly may
understand at glance the position OF this work. II the
work IS 20 be flushed according to lie dcsgn-lud
Nir-niln would W-h To work undertaken Tor such
purpose uuhn'heiit will be Necessary that the
lct tor the additional four statues the eagles and other
necessary equipments should be made in order that the
monument shall bs flashed ia the tim, originally sup
posed necessary and that adequate appropriation be
made therefor
Ia connection with this subject carnot refrain from
~ pectiuly but earnestly recommending the Ingi-la
ture tl" prorrtN the purchase OF Mount Vernon by
the state o NirEi0il. And do at his time the more
particularly, because then" Is reason To apphcnd that it
about 10 pas into the hands Of trngrrs. The impor
iu,r ui tIr acquisition Ut thu property by the United
states, has frequently been brought the attention OF
ect met With little fIvur. For this should ever
feel thauG because, IT once the property oi the fed
eal government, might never have been able To pur-
chase r.. This should never be-. Whit mieht r,a-
iJnihy prefer that should hc the property Of the on
rather than hrlong to private individual Yet virginia
aud he only should Toe the owner and have control uf
lcr-i aui con4rrrl'.l spot. where the mortal t.,
mains OF h,r immortal Who els, but Nire shoull
Ut him whose will he rcycrci long one shall
live To- admire American liberty Aud should some ruth.
less hand ever disturb his scpucre at the houured dead
change the primitive simplicity oi his former
IAN and e would feel at that had been lost which could
not De- ,'mael ia dollars aud cents. II il can be pur
chased 'hrn upon fair and reasonable terms let 10 il
once that preserve IL in primitive nplCi-
and LcIuyto he freely rssOrr hy all admirers Of
true greatness aud henan liberty, aud be gizcl by
all Sho may pass upon the beautiful Potomac.
Considering the character VI him whose name hl,
brown this halo Of glory around the spot and in view OF
lie fact tlIt Foremost usual in whatever was good aud
srcA he priIed the ir,t agricultural society that
ever met IN Virginia, do not know that the property
could be appropriately disposed OF than to convert il
into a model farm aud csauh upon It q state a.rculti-
raj school II this disposition should meet your APP
probation then mighhs well to consider the pruprcty
oi establishing there ! literary institution of some Kind
upon different basis The first object however should
be- the -.pui-iton VI thc property
Ia Iny Inst message To the io~i.Ituc called the
eutou D -t body to the Importance ct the agricultural
interest OF tie state, &c. cia, legislative did and offer.
"a some sug.euon- for th,i: consideration. Amid the
trduOu- and complicated duties o.! the .cs-ion Incident 10
putting tie constitution into operation and the g.eat
and absorbing interest FELT upun the subject Of internal
improvements that failed receive the attention
which It entitled 10y it. merits The importance
" this interest may be better appreciated when We con-
iler the number OF those engaged in the pursuit. the
amount invested the beuchts To result from wise and
IdlcIyu SYSTEM and the eviI- that follow it,
elect. The value and therefore is import tncc has been
aud will continue to be greatly enehanced by the
progress aud completion "i the grand system 81
internal Improvements that las been wisely projected
These by adding the value Of real estate will bring
into Ii-tDn every ni -O that be made to Weld
anything either for the support Of mar and
render the augmentation Of IT, prDlUctNene- npor
aut than II j. tfue expressed u my first incs
age that IN government wisely aud iudic)usly admins
tered 30 ~i generally be- OunI best leave the yirou
branches Of industry individual enterprise without, at
tempting control them by lc.-l1on But this apple.
with Dfce 10 agriculture thar to any all OF the
other pur-g Why then should that which the true bi
-is Of al weahihc most Important the useful th,
most honorable aud the most widely diuscd-bc the mos
neglected Of iF Our government has IN various way
F ru support 10 commerce" mechanics aud manufacture
10 uppur protect aud defend the fret our vessels al
continually upon tie ,ert ADD will visit the fur
ucTnD-l sea. Tor the guidance sud encouragement 81
mechanic patent Office has been established yhp.c car
boz boar at ttu srDo,sH experiments Of skill
tni -cirnce during the past and he present. 40 time
Lred br l,tiu travelling ground thr ha4 been ono,
frOI o. 90 making experiment. that end IN ruin Ou
manufacture even against constitutional restraints. hay,
received be D'erug u the government in The Torn
~ projection. whilst agriculture, upon ahe' they lt,
dependent iDI vitality, aud which must support them s
i'!t ~ giOpr f NubOut system ai support TIL
lpuii BE- IlE shall DO Ds fs'ncIirI answer v,y,