American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-12-08

II In
the general fund for public imprornen,.
1.-THE appeal. To be successful, should h,
addressed to the patriotism rather ,b,s
tho pecuniary interests OF the citizens !
| The contemplation Of Of tho period
when the great leading lines of railr,,I
from east To west shall be completed
cannot fail to awaken i'm the minds -
our citizens the most farorable antic;p,
tons Tor the future; but when the boIr
developed resources Of our own STATE
with the untold riches of our western 4.
southern neighbors, shall arrivo upon
our shores in search of an outlet 10 ,
foreign market, shall those fine prospect, .
be blighted or bu, partially realized for
want OF The last and only remaining lml
necessary tn the contamination OF tho
most siupendous and lifegivng system
that has engaged the attention Of Our
cilizens since the day when they shonk
of tho shackles of tyranny, refused to
obey the mandates of king, and decls.
red themselves an independent peoplel
trust not. 1t must not be. The Judi.
cious and experienced statesman will
not abandon the half finished scheme
nor leave it To be executed by his sue,
cessors, but in the prompt and faithful
discharge Of his duty, will press it OF.
ward to It's final contamination.
10 render these improvements pro.
fitable and enable our people to com.
pete successfully with their enterpris,
ing northern neighbors, the benefits
arising from the import and export
trade should be secured to them. and
the burden growing out of the coast
wise transportation in search of an
outlet, ought to be removed, constitu-
ting as it does an onerous drawback
against our own and southern interest,
and inuring directly to the benefit of
the northern route and the northern
merchant.
1t may be painful but nevertheless
profitable to rccur occasionally to the
history of the past; to listen to the
adomnition of experience, and learn
lessons of wisdom from the efforts and
actions of those who have preceded US
in the drama Of life.-The records of
former days show, that at period not
very remote, Virginia stood pre.emin-
emily the first commercial State in the
Union-when her commerce exceeded
in amount that of all the New Eng
land States combined-Shen the city
of Norfolk owned more than one hun
dred trading ships, and her direct for
eigh trade exceeded that of New York,
now the center Of trade and the great
emporium of North America. =
At the period of the war ofindepend-
ence, commerce of Virginia was four
time larger than that Of New York.
In 1858, the imports of the latter
amounted to the enormous sum of ono
hundred and eighty millions nearly,
while those of Virginia were not quite
100000. And during that year,
there were cleared from her ports g.
$50 vessels to foreign ports, while from
Virginia, during the same period, 292
and the amount of goods imported was
more than 4 millions of dollars, showing
conclusively that her commerce has
dwindled down into comparative insig-
nificancc. But will pursue the hui
initiating comparison no futher, but
rather enquire for the cause which has
thus deprived Virginia of her supreme
cy, enriched the north, built up its
cities, and thrown within its grasp the
almost entire control of and emolu-
ments derived from the commerce of
the country.
None will attempt to ascribo it to
superior natural advantages. Virgin
ia has greatly the advantage over any
portion of the north in oil tho elements
requisite to constitute commercial
and prosperous community; but, like
the unfaithful servant, she has failed to
improve the talent intrusted to her care,
and has failed to reap the reward.
We have not only permitted Northern en-
terprise TO overreach US but we have aided
II by aclua contributions of millions annu-
ally Ito the building up of their strong
holds" and that, TOO, al the expense of Tie
dearest rights Of our own citizens and the
southern people generally and moreover,
when we shall have expended some twenty
or thirty millions in the construction of our
great thoroughlare, and completed the inland
system terminating on ahe bay shore the IN
evitable consequence will be TO cast add.
tional millions gratuitously at the disposal
of northern merchants and speculators.--
Facts and figures show Conclusiycly Mo
truth OF this proposition.
In former communication to The legisla.
ture, briefly advered to some Of the adyan-
lagos resulting from the establishment of
such direct communication with foreign
countries as well as he necessity of having
the business transacted in vessels owned s.
manned by our own citizens. also show
ed, as | think concusiyely, that upon the
completion o: The system now in progress
Of construction, the trade Of the seaboard
would be amply sufficient to support line
OF steamers, and the only doubt resting up.
on my mind then was in regard to the time
when we should embark in that enterprise,
and whether it should be executed BY public
or private means.
Since tkeD, however. the relations eyistino