Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-05-17
Ia IHE VOTERS OF VIRGINIA.

canvass. in which / have been actively engaged
since the adjournment Of Congress. Unless my
voice shall greatly improve, Of which there IS
little hope, It will be impossible for me again
TO take the stump, prior to the election, now
en- near ut hand. Under these circumstances, L
have determined to address my fellow-citizens,
through the newspapers, in review Of the vari'
Gus issues which have been made in inc can-
yass, between my competitor and myself.
Most Of the issues which have been rendered
by my competitor, relate to my course III Ooh-
gress, and have little or no bearing upon the
questions Of State politics. For my actioh as d
| Representative in Congress, | am directly anne
nable to the people of my District, aud 1t Is a
source of pride and satisfaction to me- 70 KNOW
that nv acts and votes have commanded their
onnrobation. as is evidenced by repeated cleo
tions from the Fall of 1854 to the present
time. The vote of my Congressional District,
at the coming election, will, l am persuaded
show that | still enjoy the confidence which
has been heretofore reposed in me. by those
who have known me best and known me
longest.
Without further preface, | proceed to an
exposition of my views on the important queS-
ton OF
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
AS the editor of the VALLEY Star l was ade-
cidcd advocate of the Internal improvement
policy Of the State. If space permitted, |
might cmbody in this address many. editorial
articles on the subject. all showing that was tue
friend OF q liberal and enlarged SYSTEM eilpra-
cling all sections of the State, in its influence
This, however. | canno do, without cxtehuihg
this address far beyond reasonable llm'tS' ana
| am compelled, therefore, to contine iayseii 10
the votes given by me, as a member OIL 'ie ,"te
Reform Convention, which, feel persuaded
will satisfy all reasonable men that tue ih'cr-
nal Improvement policy Of the state mas no
more devoted friend than myself. TN reference
to the journal of the Convention, page 7o4, II
will be found that Governor " iSc presented
the following proposition: ,
provided, That nothing herein contained
shall prevent the Legislature IRON extending
such aid to the James River and kanawha
Company, and to the Central Railroad Compa,
nv. and the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad
Company, or any of them as may DC necessary
to complete a connection between tic '"i'''
River and the Ohio"
On this proposition, the ayes were II noes
64-my vote being in the anlrinative.
Mr.. Strothcr, of Rappahannock, then pre-
scented the following:
The Legislature shall provide for the con-
struction of a railroad from CoVihg'oh' on 'he
James river to the Ohio river.
I'm This nroposition, the ayes were 4j, noes
G2-my vote being again in the affirmative
This mart of Mr.. Strother's proposition beng
Ios, he asked leave to Withdraw the residue
which leave was granted, and it was according
~ withdrawn. cu. .;,.
THAT nothing herein contained shall be con-
strued to prevent the Legislature from render
ing such aid to the works Of Internal Improve
ment already undertaken. rs may bc necessary
to render them ultimately available and profit
able to the State"
This proposition was also lost: ayes 1T, noes
65-my vote being again in the affirmative.
Subsequently,. Col. Floyd presented the iol-
lowing proposition:
That nothing in this section contained,
shall be construed to prevent the Legislature
from extending any aid it may think proper,
to facilitate the completion OF the James River
and Kanawha Canal, the Central Railroad, the
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, the South
Side Railroad to the City Of Norfolk, and the
Orange and Alexandria Railroad to the town
OF Alexandria" This proposition was also re-
iected, ayes 30. noes -, my vote being record
ed in the negative.
voted against this proposition because it
contained no provision for the prosecution and
completion of the Covington and Ohio Railroad,
which | have always regarded as one of the
most important and valuable Improvements in
the State, and one that should not be overlooked
in any provision on this subject that might be
Incorporated in the Constitution We were then
forming. Such is my record on the great ques-
ton OF Internal Improvements, q question oil
growing Importance, and of the deepest interest
to all sections of Virginia.
DIVORCE OF TIE STATE FROM THE HANKS.
Nv competitor and his friends have had much
to say in regard to my views upon this subject,
and great efforts have been made to arouse the
bank influence of the State against me. have
met this issue in the discussions that have &C.
CURED between my competitor and myself, and
| intend to meet it by fair and manly argument
in this address, in order that the people may
fully understand my position. All the argu..
ments and considerations that might be urged
in favor of the proposition, cannot be presented
in this address, and | must, therefore,, content
myself with presenting some OF the more proml-
nent, and in the most concise shape practicable.
At this time we have 1.-TWO varieties OF
banks in Virginia. They are thus described
bv Governor Wise in his last mi message,
and most truthfully described: They are CON-
netting with each other, and their collisions
and iealousies are not the best influences to
ease the difficulties Of the times. Without
drawing any invidious comparison between
them, | urge merely the fact that the existence
of the two is not most favorable to the harmo-
| ny Of our money system; which was the best
or worst, either alone would be better in m
opinion, than the two, with all antagonism
| between them. ~ARtdgonism crisis md uiU
erist." Such is the state Of things. as described
BY one whose position has made him familiar
with the facts. 4 war OF determination has
been waged and is carried on between these
two kinds of banks, and so long as one Of them
has the benefit Of q connection with the State
by being the depository Of the public funds,
it enjoys a positive advantage that enables it
to Cypress the other, and must In the end Sc
riously embarass its actions. My policy is
''hands off" separate the State from the banks,
and leave the two varieties to demonstrate their
relative advantages before the people, who arc
interested only in securing the safest and best
system. ] have no doubt the new banks are
as sound and safe as the old. and I would re-
licve the former from the influence which the
connection between the old banks and the State
enables the latter to WELD over them. Let
both occupy the same platform. Give no lcgis-
lativc advantages to the one that are not at the
same time accorded to the other.
When the suspension Of 1857 occurred, Gov
ernor Wise gave an "order to the Treasurer to
continue to deposit the public funds, in the
three repositories as usual" provided they
would receive the notes of the other banks and
credit the same to the Commonwealth. At first,
it was understood that, after the deposit banks
themselves suspended, they would no longer dis
credit the notes of the other suspended banks.
But the Virginia and Exchange banks soon re-
fused to receive the notes of the other banks,
and place them to the credit of the Common
wealth." In a short time, thereafter, the Farm
crs' bank followed the example Of the Virginia
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