The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1858-03-10
TERMS.
@sy" Circulation equal to all tn,
other City dailies combined.

other City dailies combined.
The Legislature-Will it do Its
duty?
It is very gratifying to lis, as it will
doubtless be to every citizen of Norfolk,
to learn that there is now prospect that
the Legislature of this Commonwealth,
summoned back to the post of duty which
they were on the point Of recreantly aban-
don;ng, will proceed to the fair discussion
aud prompt passage Of some Of the vari-
Gus measures of Internal Improvement
which have been brought before them.
Eyca If Virginia had not hitherto en-
tered upon any enlarged and beneficent
policy of Public Works, it would be high
time for her to adopt one, in view Of the
wonderful material strength and great
ness which have beer attained by her
sisters Of the Confederacy, through the
instrumentaiity Of such policy. 1t is
this which has made New York the En-
pirc State Of the Union, and her great
seaport the commercial emporium, as she
boast,ngly but truthlull7 cali. herself, Of
the whole country 1t is this, whose
sa.tt have given TINT city the wcll-nish
absolute domination sac ROW holds oyer
t;l, monetary affairs OF tic United States,
ati2 make al other sections her abjcct de-
pendants aud secvie followers. II is
this policy, covering Massachusetts, with
complete net work Of railways, that
has made t!.at commonwealth 50 power-
tut il; wealth. aad population, and that
authorizes her to dictate imperiousIy and
VITA impunity ia political aud socia! mat
ters 10 all Ter peers, t. truck and dckcr
viii. the ciandestinely potential Lobby at
Washington, aud 70 buy the passage Of
las!i, & any moment, for the protection
es l,er interests 1t is this policy, too,
which is building empires, almost yearly,
up..r TIE broad prairie. Of the Vest
5uoh are IL. fruits at homc--on our own
centincut-not to consider its significant
adoption. as the true tactics of national
sggraadize,;.eatb by tic Gar Of barbarJus
Russia.
But Virginia las already. an1 very
early, catered upon the execution Of a
programme Of Internal Improvements,
for tie development Of hes resources
through tic !sciiitation ofinland commits
aicat;sr. She stands committed to it by
abuadal.t presidents. She has made in
srstgncuts IN railroads aud canals, almost
witi,c;,t cxccpticn prudent and pyactiea-
bic. ami which Cannot fail when flashed
80 prove immensely profitable, not only
in aer direct receipts into the treasury As
stakeholder, but in the increased aud
manifold Industrial actiyity-agricultu-
raj, manufacturing aud commercial
which they will generate, the ausmcnta-
tioo in value Of the property Of her cit;-
zcns, aud tue bringing at once into mar
kct o. her vast if aot iimitcss mineral
wealth, now dormant and unused.
These Investments are thus fAr unpro-
daetiyc, save IN m Increase IN the val
ration Of real estate in some sections pcn-
etratei by certain uncomplcted railroads
"a valuation, however, differing from
actual value in that it is entirely norni-
raj ard .actticus, Il mere thing Of auti-
cisation. and dependent altogether 'yr its
realization ON the complct,oa OF Che
works upon which it is predicated. 1t Is
question Of some moment, therefore,
whether these Investments shall bc made
directly available through The Small cou-
summation Of these works, or shall DO al
loWcd to veu,ain, E,r an indefinite torlu OF
years longer, SO much dead stock.
A great deal of salutary legislation
may he done in . very few days, il our
Senators and Delegates are disposed to
do their duty to the people, Let there
be an uranimity in patriotism and good
will amongst them, and we have no fears
THAT they cannot harmonic in practical
aud specific action
asAe Hon. James l.. Orr. Speaker of