Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-03-06
speech OF ur. sm,t.. or cre.ubr,cr

.5@tItGuce ot a Spteca dsLirtred in tie Senate.
hy .Hr. Smith ef Greenhrier, in snppo~t -
the Corington ond OLio Railroad bill.
Mr. SMITH said, it was aot his purpose to
r:;i" mo An elaborate G,cfcacc oi the BILL nc.
id !rr intend IL discuss the peculiar merits Of
ti,r Improvement il question. lie deemed i.
unnecessary 20 do 81. snail not, sli M. s,
speak Of the :!c:, and beautiful country
through which the contemplated line OF i'm.
,rnrcmcnt passes. and Of lis abundant rc
>o;ucc-. will not trouble the Senate with
any estimate whatever Of tie extent and value
o. the Western trade i. must necessarily com.
mand nor will speak q! its superiority over
ali lis competitors. in grHlir, distance, caeapneSs
and expedition. These topics have been present.
~ again and again to ;re popular mind, and
!a.c no doubt arc pe-::c:iy familiar 10 every Sc.
major OF this lluor. Ny object in addressing the
Senate is. to invite its attentions to The gGes.
lions-Is the State able 20 construct the great
work in which she has embarked, and ought i,
10 be prosecuted to completion SIS speedily As
practicable: Is she able: hope 10 Tot CT.
icnd the pride orany Virgnian, by p7opoundin.
The uuestion-b &.e ab!cs Whn doubts il? i
there any one Of n! conrarsaEt with the history
Of Virginia, with the extent Of ECr territory
her population, and her rineXhaus.ahic resources
D1th mineral and agricultural, who can f2r
moment doubt it? Ii information be
desired OH this point, TO whom can ". more
properly look than to the financial officer OF
the Government What does hc tell us =
What is his language: After stating the esti-
mated balances in the treasury, 81 the end oi
the fiscal years lSG0-'Gl he says:
when It IS considered that these balances
will remain, after all the debts and liabilities Of
the State. except the permanent debt, have been
fully discharged, the financial condition Of our
vcncratcd Commonwealth. must present source;
Of real consratuation to the country. And il
there be any disposed to look upon her present
condition CT her future prospects under the
jauadiced views Of prejudice, or who may sup
pose her resources in the least degree inadequate
TO her obligations, he is invited to examine the
tables comprising this report, and he viii there
find tie basis for the conclusion that in ali that
is substantially progressive, p:sc,icn and sio.
ricns, she Standg pre.elnnent."
lie then, Mr.. President, in glowing language,
represents the Comm ,lwcath as being in Il
most prosperous condition; nd perhaps she is
as inilch So NJ l!iS very hoHeHt, as II any
:urmcr period Of her history. Amid our Taric'!
sources Of revenue, J am gratiiied. sir, to find
that our public works have contributed their
I'll! share in swelling the public means The
ia,!i.cr and our late Governor, distinguished
nike for his ability and fidelity in the admin
:Stratinn OF tho affairs of the Commonwealth.
18th tell Us that Inc revenue derived from this
source has increased, and is increasing. The
Governor, in his late message, after noticing the
encouraging financial operations OF lie State
in other respects, says:
And, in addition to this, lie public works
have yielded thr las. two years On Increase Of
surplus revenue Of s2922 ,li'1.