Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-12-19
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
tooNCLUsIUN.)


(0oNCrUsIUN.) ...,
1t is proper to invite your attention to
the fact, that Of the debt thus stated, the
commonwealth has guaranteed the bonds
of internal improvement companies and
other corporations to the amount of 49,,
898, 500, and that the faith of the state is
pledged for the punctual payment of the
interest and final redemption of the prin-
cipal.of these bonds. The interest of
portion of this amount has been, and will
be punctually paid but that upon the bonds
of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal COM
pany has been in default since the lst of
January, 1854 and it is certain that it
will be impossible for the James river and
kanawha company to meet its next pay
ment of interests. The State is bound
for the payment, if the companies fail, and
in good faith she should provide the means
to enable the companies TO make the pay
ment. Nothing would contribute more
To raise state credit than to demonstrate
An MlaCrity to meet all her engagements
without cavil or possibility of failure.
The general assembly should not
hesitate to step forward promptly and
manifest an unmistakabIe determination
" EhlHS US LdAhllOu "IlbICNCI dIIlUulL IL
necessary to place the credit of the State
above suspicion even to the most skepti-
cal. The State taxes are acknowledged
to be exceedingly moderate and the
proud spirit Of Virginia will never revolt
at any increase which is required to pro-
tee. her honor and maintain her faith,
and at the same time enable her to pro-
sscule to completion these works which
are essential to her prosperity and exalta-
lion. She is able to stand side by side
with her sister States in equality, and
her sons will be satisfied with nothing less.
ln my FIRST communication to the legis-
lnture ia 1851, l took the liberty to pre-
sent to their consideration the skeleton Of
system of internal improvement for the
State, somewh hat general in it's character,
but which it was confidently believed
would, when carried out in detail, re-
dound alike TO the advantage Of every
portion Of the commonwealth, render her
the great thoroughfare for the commerce
of the tceming west, occupying as she
does a commercial position equal to any
part Of the continent, and secure for her
the elevation designed by manifest dcsti-
ny. The system thus recommended, |
"m happy to state, met the appreciation Of
that Legislature, and it was to great extent
adopted, appropriations having been made
for the construction of all the improve
ments recommended, SO far as it WIS
deemed prudent to apply the public means
at that time. Among the first thus re-
commended, and probably the most i'm
por:ant, was that of Covington and Ohio
railroad, an enterprise which, in point Of
magniGcence, grandeur and prospective
pecuniary profit, is equal if not superior
to any that has ever been presented for
the consideration Of the Legislature. The
liberal appropriations made to this road
at the succeeding session, which met the
hearty approval Of the entire State, was
an earnest of the fixed purpose Of the
representatives Of the people to construct,
without further delay, this important
work. The amount appropriated having
been judiciOusly expended chiefly on hea-
w portions of the work, and much of the
residue being under contract, it might be
deemed an act of supererogation in me to
attempt an argument to prove the great
benefit which must inevitably result to
the State from the speedy completion of
this enterprise, and yet, l regret to say
there are rumors of an organized opposi-
ton, calculated to prejudice the public
mind, and probably endauger the con-
summation of the scheme. The necessity
for such work passing through the centre Of
the State, and connecting the east. and west
together, has attracted the attention of the
saSes and statesmen Of Virginia for more
tlAn three quarters Of a century. Washing
ton, Jefferson and Marshall cxpatiatcd on
the advantages to result from it in connec-
ton with other improvements farther west
waVd and scanning the vista Of the future,
ioretold with prophetic accuracy its accom-
PilShment, by this identical route, at no
distant day. 1t is true they saw it dimly,
rs belonging to the future, vet thev saw
the lmme"surabIe length and breadth of
the productive and almost interminab!e
west. They saw the bosoms of her ma
Jestic rivers and expanded lakes covered
with the rich product of her fertile soil
seeking an outlet and transit to different
m0rts of the world. They measured and
compared distances, and found a harbor
on the Chesapeake Bay nearer the great
western garner than any other point on
tho Atlantic. They saw and compared
the genial climate and depressed noun
talns OF Virginia with the towering heights
of the ice bound Aleghanies upon the
more northern routes, and doubtless ner.
ceived, in anticipation, the ports on the
Chesapeake Bay become the points of de-
parture across the Atlantic, our ships the
vehicles Of transportation, and our citi
zsns the recipients of the large profits de