Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-20

muse mduy suCU,l WHO, UOt.
superior intellect and learning, AZ we'll
Is long diplomatic experience, have never had sufi-
cient interest at court to rise above the grade of
ronseilsr d. ambdss0dc.
To those of our readers who may express surprise
at such an arrangement, we may explain that it is not
unusual for European court to reward military
after this inappropriate fashion. This
s not the fret nor will it be the last occasion, on
which an old war horse has been led out to prance
on parade, under the trappings of high diplo
matio title.
OPINION OF GREAT FRENCH PHILOSOPHER
ON THE RESOURCES OF VIRGINIA.-ITS CON-
NECTION WITH THE CAUSE OF INTERNAL IN
PRovEMENTs.
The Paris correspondent Of the "New York journal
Of Commerce" communicates the following items,
republication of which cannot fail to interest our
readers.
"Barou Charles Dupin, member of the Academy of
Sciences aud Of the Imperial Senate, has just pub
shed in two large octavos, his Productive Forces Of
Nat,ons-a work on which he has been employed
for the two years past His purpose was
TO survey the progress of the principal countries of
during the first half ofthe present cenu
ry. The valuable volumes ara intended as an Intro
QuCtl0Q 10 ms ntpOrlb III
sion deputed to the London Exhibition of 1851. The
Baron was President Of that Commission. He ranka
with the ablest and most authoritative political arth
metcians of the world he ia eminent in political
knowledge and philosophy and in the mathematics
pure and applied His sia'istcs and ali his statements
in the present case have been drawn from the best
sources, and are systematically digested and an
noated. The United States, whose advances ex.
ceed those Of any other people, engaged, of course,
a large share of his research and study a. much
of space and care is allotted to the vast Republic
as could be afforded compatibly with the scope
Of bis undertaking and the number Of his pages
In the dedication, OF six pages, to his Majesty the
Emperor, Massachusetts, and New England ara
particularly cited and complmented. The strug
Gle Of New with Old England, in manufactures, has
his fsrvd wishes; he calls the rivalry second war Of
Independence. The notice of Virginia in the secOud
volume, commences with an elegant tribute TO Wash.
ngtou and emphatic praise of the veneratiOn for the
modern Epamnondas which seens 10 pervade the
Union. NO King no Emperor, ever received after
hs demise. homage 10 extensive. go precious, 81
touching, 80 glorious. Judging by her superfcirs,
her SOIL her products. h"r mineral richea. her rivera,
and her intellectual ENDORSEMENTS, Virginia, he thinks.
must have splendid destinies. II slre should duly
avail herself of her r6suurce-, she will b. able,
very many years have elapsed, tn boast of ten mil
lions Of inhabitants HOurishing mercant ls marn-,
grsa. fisheries; her productive industry will be deru
pled."
NJ. Dupin is a true philopher. He demonstrates
great results by accurate employment Of facts and
figures. And the cheering assurance which is thus
furnished, on the authority Of great name OF the
rapid development Of that power and Importance to
which our State must eooner or later attain, reaches
US most opportuneIy at the present moment. We
have Just passed the crisis of severe struggle.
few weeks since, the alternative Of advancement in,
or retreat the great work Of State progress hung
fearfuy in an even balance. The opponents Of in.
ternal improvements had, for years past, been ad
vancing with compacted forces intent on severng
the Stale Government from further participation in
the work of State improvement. They had succeed
ed in manning, until it nearly powerless for the
task, the right arm Of State finance. Some OF them
we're even employing questions OF federal politics.
with view to the final detrimenl Of the public works
Of the State and certain politicians were secretly
and openly asssiled and misrepresented in various
manners, lest their personal popularity might add
strength to the cause of Internal Improvement
One set of men were actively engaged in subject
ing large portion Of the State to commercial de-
pendence on Baltimore. Others have joined with
these to create similar financial dependence. Mat
ters OF lesser import were magnited till they were
made to overshsdow the great question OF interior
development. While odious Taxation has been EN-
ployed TO sink State credit premeditsted outcry was
raised against the Banks and every attempt made tC
create the impression. that bad currency, instead o
bad taxation, depressed the value of State securities
and impeded the advancement of State works.
Every device was employed, and all we're made to
concentrate ON one object. So active, 80 vigant 30
fhooo od
of minority, that the majority, without common
understanding, without organic stion, divided by To-
cal ieslousies, were inefficient for the proper guar
danship of tho one interest which commanded their
sympathes and endeavors. The majority, the friends
of Improvement met with defeat after defeat, at the
hands of an anti.improvement minority. The in
most limits of their citadel Of strength invaded,
until they we're driven to the very last issue, which
they were obliged to dispute under the heavy disad
vantage, not only of previous defeat but also of a
constitutional restriction on the power of the maori
ty. The question was at last tried: Shall the State
abandon entirely, to inadequate private enterprise,
the further continuance Of Internal improvements
The majority we're routed on this last issue. The
Legislature adjourned without voting dollar OF ap.
to the great lines of internal comnuDica
ton. Had this decision been final. the cause OF in
ternal Improvement would have received its death
blow. Had the members of the General Assembly
returned to their homes at this uncture State enter
prise would have been damned with the stigma of
The interference of the execu'
tive was required TO offer the majority opportunity
to retrieve to some extent the consequences Of total
defeat. An extra session Was called. sense of
common danger animated them to one successful
effort-one and but one yet that was euffoient to
establish obedience to the desire Of the people, that
their legislators shall never resign their official func-
tons without extending some assistance to the great
enterprises ON the completion of which go much in
dividual capital and Stale credit has already been
staked beyond the possibility of withdrawal. This
single triumph may possibly appear small thing in
the ewes of those who regard tho struggle as H
mere trial of strength between contending parties.
But the vast extent of present interests at stake,
and the still more significant future contingencies
which it involves, render this triumph inestimably
greater than every previous defeat. 1t is true that
opportunities for strengthening the Improvement
party, by uniting and consolidating the support o
the friends of smaller works, permitted 10 pass
unemployed 1t 10 true that taxation is still arrayed
against Improvement true that legislation still
operates to render Virginia the provincial dependant
of Baltimore and New York. But all this and much
more. equally disastrous and mortfying, cannot avail
to outweigh the great issue which has been decided
VIRGINIA WILL COMPLETE HER PUBLIC woRKs'-
With this guiding star kept stssdyin view, We may