Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-02-13
From our Richmond correspon5ant.
SENATE CuamnER Feb & 1854


question OF internal improvements still in
sm i' mo one can now say with any
certainty what is to be the result of the
action Of the present Legislature. am
at a loss to determine at this late period
OF the session, whether any of the leading
lines of Internal Improvement will receive
such appropriations as are necessary to
push them on to completion or whether
or not there will be any appropriations at
all 10 works of general character. As |
told you in my first communication early
in the session these great lines in which
the whole State is deeply interested and
which are calculated TO develop her re-
sources, augment her wealth and increase
her power, are completely at the mercy OF
the Turnpikers and the anti-Internal I'm
provement men of Eastern Virginia, and
this is especially the case in the House of
Delegates. You may recollect, Mr.. Edi-
tor, that early in the session | alluded to
the "dove-tailed' condition oil these in.-
portant lines, and that then expressed
the opinion that If one went the whole
must go, unless the anti-Internal Improve
ment men who are justly responsible for
this state of things would come to our re-
lief. They cry out with sort of holy
horror--with their hands extended and
their eyes standing aghast, "Save, oh !!
Save the Treasury--save the Old Domin-
ion.' Whilst by the course they are now
pursuing and have pursued for the last 10
years they have cost the State enough to
build every leading line which has been
projected. 1.-THE ants would now unite
with the friends of these important fines
which every principle Of State pride and
State economy demands, tfei. rapid COM
pleton, they would save the Treasury
and aid in carrying out magnificent
scheme which must rebound to our inter-
ests as manufacturing and agricultural
people. II we could get the ants to come
up to our aid we could further our schemes
and save the State million this session.
They ask for no appropriations-whi
the Tnrnrikers and all other important
local Interests will require at least million
if not more this year. and then we must
have repetition Of the same system OF
bargaining, viz: If you'll tickle me III
tickle yol.P Aad this too, for years to
come until these great lines shall have
been completed.
There Is, | find, no difficulty in the SEN
ate to the passage. of any of the important
Improvements. Alr. Douglass of King
William has offered some time since in our
house compromise of three millions for
the Covinston and Ohio, for the next two
years. This augurs well as. far as the
Senate is concerned-and great praise is
due to Mr.. Douglass. an anti-Internal I'M
provement man, for this evidence of his
liberal and enlightened course towards the
Covington, which as an extension of the
Central to the Ohio, is to be the greatest
road in North America: not merely as re-
CARDS its Importance to this State in devel.
oping her resources in making her n high
way Of travel between the North and the
South, the East and the West, in doubling
the price of millions of acres of land
which is now surrounded by Chinese's
wall, which is capable of supporting
dense and thrifty population, not merely
holding out inducements to her hardy sons
to remain on her borders, but uniting the
capital and enterprise Of adjoining States.
SO important is this work considered BY
the great travelling public, that the united
South is interested in it. An intelligent
Southern gentleman who has been travel.
ing extensively. over the States of NIissis-
sippi, Louisiana aud Arkansas, informs me
that great interest is manifested by the
whole travelling. community. They are
anxionsly looking to the propitious day
when they can come through upon the
soil Of the glorious Old Dominion, which
is slave territory, on their way to the Vir-
ginia Springs and the Northern cities.-
They all look upon the work az a nation
al one. 5ss..=.z .5rt
Good policy and regard for the well
fare of the South. demand the building of
this road, and one half of the annual ap.
preparations for muapikes and small local
improvements for few years to come
would be sufficient to ensure its construc-
ton. Our State should profit by the poll
cy of Georgia in connecting her borders
by through lines claiming one Southern
commonwealth with another, and Offering
great facilities for trade and travel. -
: | see Col. Crozet hanging around the
city, instead Of being at his post at the
Blue Ridge, Tunnel-a great work IN
which the people of the entire, State, as
wen as in old Augusta-are fast losing
condolences as regards its completion in his
life time.e However, since the Board of
Public Works have got after him with a
sharp stick, we learn that the enormous
floods of water which were never
ceasins, and ,inundating the workmen, are
greatly diminished, and the VIGOROUSLY
hard gray rock which he exhibited about
through the couiisry has recently become
much softer. Why is it. am frequently
asked that the Board of Public Works do
not displace this Old superanuated man
and put into his place some active, ener-
geticssyohng man who in place of hanging
around the Capitol would be- at his post,
attending to his duties. If this were done,
the work, we haveino doubt, would be
done in half the time. s.
Asst is now 1o'clock at night, bid
you adieu, with the promise that you shall
hear from me again. et fti