Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1859-07-26
RosELAsD. Elizabeth City Col
81 June TQ 1890

n
the 30th ult., written, you premise, atthe
solicitation Of numerous friends 10 Putt
nam county who have thought fit ID
!. admire" my representative course Oh
the subject Of .lhefinternal improvement Of
the State, was duly received. 5
Fl. " .sI desire (you say 10 make some
exhibition Of our gratitude to you fot
your past services in our behalf in the
Legislature, and we want to hear and seq
the man who has 30 ably and eloquently
advocated the Covingtof and Ohio Rail.
road E. and you 90 me tile honor 10 ins
vile me IT, 70 make q visit 10 your county
before the next meeting Of the General
Assembly,
Be pleased, my dear sir. TO present to
my fellow -citizens Of Putnam my cordial
acknowledgements for this their kind apr
probation on my humble .seryices III
their Ebehalf.'' OF this demonstration of
their kindly Remembrance and regard, I
am most proud. and ID comes the more
grateful 10 me at this time, when ann
just out Of a hard-fonght battie for the
internal improvement cause ef Dur State,
all-eoyered with the dust and sweat of the
battle, field. and victor Only by neck's
length, having been returned BY the
meagre majority Of three. But that ma
iorify, thank God !! il a liked fact. 4
and mine viii be again tlie honor IL
standing along. side HE statesmen Of this
Old Dominion who recognise, In: the
Covipgton and Ohio RAILROAD. the great
back bone Of our internal improvement
system. and a9public work indissolubly
with NE future prosperity,
and grandeur and power Of their Siats.
/ return 10 the Legislature, am happy
and proud to say. Jiwithoht shackIe upon
me, Sd far as the subject Of internal inn
provement is concerned. | distinctly
raised the internal improvement issue. "a,
pudiating and disdaining all compromise,
Whatsoever. and solemnly ayowing to tile
voters of the district. that no human con-
sideration could induce me 10 reversed
course demanded of me By every censid
Grafton DR. patriotism, duty, honor and
pride. and which with the$deepest con.
victions Of right / had been for near a
quartz ri q century pursuing, and the
generous. and enlightened constituency
who hayel sol long left me. free 10 do. in
this regard. whatever | thought besl
for the common veal, have left me free
still. And with the blessing of God,l
shall most IcertaiDly avail myself Of the
glorious freedom wherewith I am endows-
ted. ri shall support Railread. Canal,
Plank road and Turnpike, and every class
and form bill Improvement, in just such
degrees as IIshall consider Tia public H.
.terests to require On no other condi.
ton would II bold a seat in the Legisla.
tive halls. |
B cannot,5s6 course, foresee what is I'D
be Ithe fate Of Tie Covingtoh and Ohio
Railroad at7tbe next sessionof he Legis-
lature, but il will be them most misguided
and unfortunate df counseis, il the repre-.
sentatives Of Virginia shall not. next wild.
Ter. put this great enterprise beyond con
tingencyt. Its absolutely certain compile
Etion should be All absolutely z fixed fact
ID the pofisyI Of the. State, forthe momehi
this question istsettled, public credit, uni
der the.inspHing assurance Of thesurecon
summation ofthis grand scheme Of mate:
rialidevelopment will revive. and the grea
work. will1progress NOT only more rapidly
but far more economically than it can Din,
der any .system1of contingent and stinted
tappropriatian. Millions, indeed, wiiiIbt
saved in thef cost Of the work, and years
Iofltime lie gained in its construction. by
placing it on 4 permanent and secure basis
One thing is certain-and tits cheering
intelligence for every patriotic Eirginiar
1.-The fflancssRDf the State are in the
most auspieious. condition for the prose
cliion offthis great line Of improvement
Under the operation Of the present ta,
law, helped Old as il is by the creative
agency Of out, internal improvements
there lie. and will continue 70 be suffi
dent surplus in the treasury toscomplett
all our public works without the imposi
ton ola solitary dollar Of increased taxa
lion npon the people. That surplus aflel
| paying all the foating debt Of The Com
monwealth, and meeting every demand
on account Of The public debt and th,
Heiyil list, II more than half d million.
And what Is 4 sweefer lsolace still, tbH
existing surplus is destined to an annua
progressive incfease until we shall no
only have The most abundant means foj
| finishing AL our improvements, bu
eventually get back every dollar Of tEeil
cost, aud have our taxes gradually Ire
duced from their present high rate ID al
most a nominal amount. 3h
h The proposition IS lis obvious AS nh,
sun. AS our Improvements shall be ram
fled through our broad domain, in
creased value. and largely increased valu,
/ will be impaired 10 our lands. ForHex
ample, ID tie short space 81 six years, be
tween the assessment Of 1850 and that o
1866, the augmented value of lands il
eleven couniies Of Southwestern ViEginis
fpenetrated BY the Virginia and Tonnes
see Railroad. rose from SIX 10 twentytsis
millions Of dollars so that by construct
ing the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad
costing but 4 few millions. the CoHaon
wealth collects Il revenue on twenty-si,
millions, instead Of SIX. And wha
should cheer. and even make proud every
one who has stood firmly BIZ the i'm
provemert policy. the people are far able
10 bear tie twenty million. than ihes