Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-03-06
$5G0,00G'


the public works for tho years 1857? over
the wears 'j6-'51 oil so92 900. and an increase
in the year SO over the year IS Of $2j0,0iI0
IIpw remarkable the Increase How and
whence comes it Obviously from the COM
prion Of the more productive lines Q" I'M.
proverneat. end the improved condition Of
ctne-S. DO yon require further proof, Mr
President, Of the prosperous condition oi thc
Commonwealth? Does the Senate require It !:
Is il required: by an one? il 81, II Is lnrhlsh-
ed in the hicunlal report Of the Auditor. NJ
page 800 OF bis report he informs us that the
receipts will exceed the liabilities for the year
ls,;t, hv the SUN Of $2l4.slG Il; and for the
wear 1851, bv the sum nf $619," 65; and,wcrc
ti.csc balances unaffected by future legislation,
there would remain surplus in tho treasury
on the lst Of October, 1861, Of the sum Of
sS94,l52 81" 1t is true, that large ap2ropri-
alonS have been and will bc made during the
present session Of the Legislature. W hat may
hc tho aggregate amount Of these approprla.
t;ons. cannot tell have made no eStiina:"
and shall make none The task would be dIti-
Gait, If not mpracticablc, and | leave 1t to
others who have taste for the operation.
confess have no desire 10 indulge in 50 uncer-
tain speculation. 1t may be proper, however,
70 remark, that some Of the appropriations
r;I Constitute direct charge on the treasury,
whilst the greater proportion will be raised by
loans.
!, was said by an Intelligent and respectable
ncriber Of the Senate, day or two ago. that
the debt Of the State, amounted TO twenty-nlnc
or thirty millions Of dollars, and that it consti
tuted a mortgage on all the real and personal
estate of the Commonwealth. Well, be it so;
and what Of il? In my judgment, that portion
Of the public debt which has been incurred on
account of our public improvements, was most
wisely and jndiciously contracted And Why?
Because it has added 80 per cent to the value
of our lands: has consequently increased the
revenue. and We have already seen, that tho
income from our public works has increased
and is rapidly increasing. But. Mr. President,
the fiscal aspect Of this subject, is drY and IN
Interesting, and as never at any time had any
gccni;ar fnii'lnesS for figures, here dismiss it.
There arc other views, Mr.. President, which
would now, most respectfully hut earnestly
urge upon the consideration Of the ScEalc-
Here. and elsewhere. the commercial dcpen-
dcncc Of Virginia and the South upon the
North, has been. and still is deeply deplorcd.--
The potent voice nl the press has been raised
in stirring and thrilling appeals TO the country
against it. On the Court green, on the llust-
inCs. and in the Legislative Halls, il has been
condemned, denounced, and s7urned in elo-
oucnt and indignant terms. The people every
where. South Of Mason and D:yons line. in
their primary assemblies. have raised their
voice in thunder tones against il. Tns is
ali right. Il is as i! should be. The
North has too long fed and fattcncd upon
the slave labor of the South. She has grown
rich and powerful. and. will a,id, nSolent
u,mn our labor. And now has she treated lbs !?
With kindness and courtesy? No, sir. no.
She has treated rs IS her dependent colo.
nie=. fer seri;>. her hondsmen. Let, then, this
se7vic and dependent condition cease, and
cease speedily. ! rejoice TO know that lnIe'
neniencc--colnmcrcia indcpcndence--of the
North is now the watchword-the order Of the
dar MAY it come quickly. a direct foreign
trade is upnn the lips ofcvcry onc-ln the mouth
nf almost every man, woman and child III the
country. We owe il, Mr.. President. to nlr-
selves and to our constituents, by all practica
ME and nrope. means, to ipvite capital into
Virginia. Let us establish ard hu;li up i'm
unrtinr towns on our seahoards. To this end.
however. and 20 maintain Il successful and
profitable foreign trade, Hc must have back
country trade The treasures Of the West
rlust be poured into the Jap Of Virginia We
must seize upon the western prize. and make
!, onr own But how shall this be accom-
pli>hed? The answer is obvious enough
Pass this bill Open this great central the
ro,lchG.r,, and the object is accomplished 'T'
sinia. then will very soon ne brough; back 10
her tnrmcr position. AID be *ha: sae once
.as-at the head OF tilc Coniedrrac!' ia
strength. power, ard all the clements whci con;
s,itn,c the true greatness Of State. | will
here Nr. President, take leave 10 refer to the
AUDITORS strong and impressive recommends
tim Of the improvement in question This is
of fertile lands Tow open to our lines Of i'm.
rrovemcnt ri and discarding The idea o; any
orhcr policy. than tina, which looks 10 the
SPEEDY com 7lcton Of the great State road de.
s;snc to connect our seanoard with ths ,iissls-
uppi va!ioy. wo mus. Zee! encouraged in tho