Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-07-23
THE NEXT GOVERNOR AND THE IMPROVE
MEST SYSTEM

MENT SYSTEM.
Nothing in The prospect OF Gubernato,ial sspra
ons promises lairer than The large number of saes
men who have been mentioned as candidates for the
post of Chief Executive, when we consider that mos
OF them identified in sentiment as we'll as by loca
intereet, with vigorous policy of State Improvement
Before the accession of the present Governor, the
anti.improvement men had no effectualy succeeded
in binding down the energies of the State, that the
Executive has been obliged to employ every resource
to prevent complete stagnstion-the biennial sys
tem of Legislation Offering him but lite hope OF as
slstance from that quarter.
However, encountered and di:organzed as the
Improvement party wera found to be in the last Le'
gislature their overwhelming strength. when fairly
aroused and consolidated for a single week, was
enough to decide the policy Of the State in the very
crisis of impending defeat. After hard struggle, il
was decided, last spring, that Virginia will not relin.
qush the construction Of the great works to whicE
her honor and welfare are alike pledged. This was
ALL but this WAS great triumph. BY persistence
as untiring "a il was cautious and adrot, the oppo-
nents of internal improvement bad fairly tied the
hands Of The majority. The struggle on the basis
question, in which Western men profeesed to insist
OIL the necessty of liberal system Of represeu.
tation for the benefit of internal development, bore
no fruits whatever of encouragement to our hopes
of progress. From the moment that the Con-
venton of lS50-'5l adjourned, Western men seem
to have forgotten that the power which they
struggled for was to be employed in tho work
of advancement. The North West was busted with
the works destined TO pour the wealth OF the Ohio
into the lap OF Baltimore, and, following their exam
pie all the friends of public works relaxed their e!.
forts to control the general policy OF the State. Auti-
Improvement men afforded An access to the
reins of power, even more unlimited than under the
mixed basis of lS29-30. They were permitted to
WELD the apparent prestige Of majority. An excel
lent gentleman and good Democrat was elected TO
the Speakers chair: but one who, however we'll dis.
posed, represented al anti-improvement people, and
hence could not be regarded the exponent Of the
progressive party. The most inveterae opponents OF
internal improvements obtained full control of the
sinews OF war. The reports Of finance committees,
the schemes Of taxation and all the incidents in the
arrangement of governmental details, were concen.
rated for the purpose OF discouraging appropriations
and preventing their application. The upshot of all
which is, We have, under constitution which pre-
scribes all equal and uniform rule, about arbitrary
and unequal system of taxation as the wit of man
could devise. Merchants capital is taxed from ten
10 twenty fold more than tina. of any other pursuit.
Wholesale business is discouraged, and every induce
ment held out, TO our traders 10 become the mere
retail hucksters Of wares from New York. Philadel-
pha and Baltimore. double tax ia piled on private
credit, until many people seek rsie in endeayors 10
practice quackery on the usury laws. And last worst,
saddest of ALL public credit is taxed until it is worse
than beggared-until bonds which could command d
premium Of ten per cent are now peddled in the mar
ket at heavy discount The avenues of commerce
and Of private and public credit, afforded the high
ways to State improvement hence the re action.
tionsts me-clesey blocked them up, while the
chosen guardians of the route slumbered at their
post.
The Legislature Of 1857 SO has done literally no.
thing towards the remedy Of these disasters. RslyDg
for a momen the immediate advocates Of great lines
of railroad held together just long enough to secure
for these mesgre and temporary relief and then
fed the field, ignobly leaving to total defeat the gal!
liant little band who had faithfully assisted in the
brunt Of battle, and continued to wage war to the
last for the sake of those local improvements which
are needed to pioneer The way for more extended
enterprises. No organization was kept up; no loyal
reciprocity was preserved. The Improvement party
is etil scattered militia The next Legislative ses-
sion will 6nd them as raw and undisriplined as did
the as and all the obstacles which the ski Of their
opponents could devise still remain in their psth TO
check their onward march. We sincerely trust that
We may have yet another Governor of Virginia who
will employ the choicest offerings of his thought md
labor in the cause which urgently needs their e1
ercee and influence. Give US again Governor who
will take ha stand at the head of the column Of pro
gress and lead forlorn hope if need be- in the name
Of internal Improvement.