Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-16
For the Enquirer.
LETTERS

For the Enquirer.
LETTERS
ON THE IMPROVEMENTS, RESOURCES AND
COMMERCE OF VIRGINIA.
1t is contemplated, in series OF short LETTERS
of which thi, ia the first, to present psin' coin
prshensiye and busineaske exposition of the re-
sources of Virginia. and Of the vast territory, whore
trade che must eventually draw, and the ways ana
means 10 make thoss resources the most availabe 10
ourselves in the shortest space Of time In doing 3d.
shall coune myself to strictly practical views, and IN
no case depart from the acs and figures as they e1s'
shall not "miuce matters" however, for fear Of Of
Tending yet will not rudey assault any mans inter-
esls purposey attack the creations OF any one
But if the plain and unvarnshed facts, shal interfere
with existing plans or opinions, can only hope that
they may be- entertained with the spirit in which they
ara written and that the truth only may be sought
for with view to profit and usefulness.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The Provsions Of Nature in relation 10 the rodue-
tions of ART.
Improvement and progression" are the watch
words of the age wherever civilization, christianity
and liberty exist. But to part OF the world Is that
aphorsm so expressive, to the boundless fields OF
ENTERPRISE which the Western Continent presents
where all the skill and energy Of man are called forth
to combine and utilize the provisions OF Nature. In
no other part of the globe her works on 30 grand
and magnificent q scale, and consequently tue Ut
most efforts of art are required to make the combina
tions proportonste and effective. The most ambi'
tious could not aspire to greater triumph than to
turn the produce of the West from the tides of the
Father of waters across the Appalachian ranges, to
orr GREAT centres of trade and build up and enrich
the cities of The Atlantic.
Long since, the cities to the North Of US, though
less favoraby located commenced their struggles foi
supremacy in the trade with thei Interior New York
though then younger and weaker than Virginia, was
the first to take advantage Of the opportunities offered
aud has not only strengthened and enriched herse'
beyond her most sanguine expectations but has alec
been the means of developing much Of the previously
reproductive West.
Other cities followed, and secured to themselves
trades and gave to the producers markets, both un
limited and unparalleled. But to accomplish this
and avail themselves of the great and uDfaing laws
of commerce. they were forced to strain every nerve
and exert every energy, to obtain even an atom, Of
that vast wealth. which was, and is, invaluable, and
whose resources are unfailing.
Had Virginia led in this as che did in securing to
herself and surrounding States Independence, Liberty
and Peace, che might have continued in the van o.
Western Progression, and still led in all that makes
people great, prosperous and invincible.
To sustain such proposition it is not necessary to
refer to the practical views of the most practical
men, or the works commenced under their auspices
no better argument than the geography of the State
can be produced.
Here the mighty waters Of the vast valies of the
West and even the Great Lakes, are nearly connect
ed by natural channels with the centre OF the Allan
tic Shore Where else, from the bleak bills OF Maine
10 the sandy capes of Florida. are such provisions
msn;fsst What more could ART demand Of Ma
ture7 Has she not bestowed all that could be asked
of bountifu Providence 1.-THE most magnificent
barbors in the world, linked with the most productive
and extensive inland regions by the most accessible
water routes and that, too, through genial chime
and prolific country, where the valies are richer
than those of Golconda, and whose mountains are
more valuable than bills Of cbrysoe or gold.
II such ia the csse-and who will gsinsay it 7-why
are those Gifts neglected; those "taicnls buried7
Nature could not do more for W., and 1t was folly
10 watt for while We daled, others, more snterpris
Ing and perhaps avarcious, though less worthy and
even less able, "stepped in" before u.s. and the oon
sequence has been-if We have not sold our birth.
right for mess of pottsge I've have sacrificed
much of that influence which we might have retained
at the head Of the nation, and at present. the COM
rnercial interests Of the world.
But it s not yet too late to recover our lost ground
Indeed, il is even now more than half accomplished.
Our lines are nearly pushed to the rivers OF the great
West, and an avalanche of trade stands gathered to
pour down upon them. The people anticipate, with
rsstless snie1ty some action Of statesmen. which
may be the means of placing them, with all their
latent energies awakened in the van of progress, and
in active competition for share of the trade, which
has helped to build up many cities, and which is st
building up the mighty fabric of Western Empire.
Will those brilliant anticipstons be realized, or
will an iuconsidsrate action hurl backward still
another decade7
How big with prosperity or adversely seems the
slight turning of single word or the passage Of
single aot
Surely no thinking mind, no enterprising spirit no
man ambitious Of Virginiss good, can for a moment
doubt whether 10 give his voice or his inhusnce for
Southern Progressive Competition aud Independence,
or for the only alternstive Northern supremacy and
Southern dependence.
II ia true We might have awaited ourselves OF near
" one hundred years that have passed since Wash.
ngton and his oompstrots first called attention to the
subject. But the people have grown stronger, and
are willing to help the State to complete what she
has begun.
1t would be folly for to dictate to our solid bus
ness men and statesmen their course of action. They
see, as we all do the bad effects Of dilaory measures
for our unproductive capital invested in partially
finished public works, almost abandoned to rot and
decay. will still grow more burdensome unless the de-
signs Of the expenditure are carried out.
beg liberty, however, to express my views on the
subject in my next. s. II. DEB'.
RICHMOND, March Is, 1858.
FROM KANSAS.