The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-03-21
THE DAILY DISPATCH.



The Legislature having adjourned, aud there
being 20 prospect Of any further aid to internal
improvements for the next two years, It becomes
the people of Virginia to consider whether they
esunot contribute something by their own enef'
gies and resources to keep the state from falling
backward In her career of improvement All
classes of our population must have seen enough
of the benefits of railroads AVID other improve
ments to their own particular employments and
private interests, to know that money or labor
contributed for the advancement of public works
will be repaid to them more than 'enfoId. Let
tham then consult together in neighborhoods,
towns. counties. and districts aud see whether
.o,,o -r.c.;.aI measures cannot be devised by
which the refusal of the Legislature TO PROVIDE
eve, for keepins UP some OF our most important
public works may not in some measure be RENE
died
A for the people of Richmond, we know 'hA'
,b.v are overburthened with city taxation 10
which has been superadded heavy increase %
tho State tax. throwing especially upon the COM
nercial class burthens grievous to be borne he'
,.s-a "a o,a measure of vital interest, which would
not demand an expenditure of more than nun
dred thousand dollars, measure "hich VIII en-
able our community by the increase of wealth
business
even the enormous load under which they now Ia
Dor and without which it may be doubted wheth-
or they can continue to stand upright. We mean
the deepening of the James River so as to allow
vessels drawing fifteen feet of water to come to
on. docks. With such an Improvement, we should
see a spectacle at the wharves of Richmond which
would gladden. the hearts OF every man who de-
sires her prosperity. Petersburg, our gallant
neghbor, "a city whose enterprise is equal to its
social virtues, and when we say that we can say
no mora,D is already agitating the subject of deep
ening the Appomattox to the same depth, and we
venture to predict she will do it. The truth is, II
is not natural advantages alone that make a peo
pie great and prosperous; it Is the ability to turn
those natural advantages to account. Our Yam
kee brethren illustrate this fact in a very striking
manner. They have no natural advantages, Ell
Their of climate soil; art and industry have
achieved all that has been accomplished in their
sterile SOIL and under their forbidding sky. Yet
the eternal rocks of their rugged coast are not
more stable than the broad and massive founda-
lions which uphold the temple of their prosperity,
the owering icebergs that float by their shores
more sparkling and beautiful, than its glttering
spires and pinnac.es.
The truth is if Virginia would be great, she
must no longer call upon Hercules for help. She
must put her own shoulders to the wheel If Rich.
mond would prosper, let her exert her own ener-
giles let her deepen the James River either by an
appropriation by the City Council, or by the vol.
untary contributions and labor of her citizens let
her avail herself of her immense water power
and build up manufactures of various kinds
Let her never forget that with communities as
with individuals, Labor, Perseverance, selfDe.
Iial, are indispensable conditions of success.