The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-21
The jaime. River and Kanawba Canal.

The James River and kanawba Canal.
In the House of Delegates, sometime durinl
the last week, the subject of the Canal having
come up, a call was made for all the informa
lion upon that subject in the hands of tn
Committee OF Roads and Internal Improve
, | nents Mr.. CHAPMAN, of Monroe, the Chair
| man of that committee, in reply to this ca
gave the House TO understand that
would report in a few days, and that Ii
the meantime the information laid Def, r.
IL warranted the belief that the parti.t
who had undertaken to execute the worl
Constituted, probably, the most powerfu
m onied association in the world The,
were not only able TO carry out this pro &c
with perfect ease but could execute schcn. O.
of much greater magnitude. In few days
Mr. CHAPMAN presented the repor. of tn,
| Committee 1t is remarkable document
and will command the attention Of the
whole eonntry--of the whole world indeed -
| We insert il here
RgPosTl
The Committee Of Roads and Internal Naviga-
aoh, on the part OF the Senate and House OF Dele
Gates, IN response to the resolution of the House,
tssns for the proofs If any, in their possession.
,hers Company, 10 execute the contract made by
| mem with the James River and Kanawha Com
I "
| The testimony which has been adduced before
| he committee consists of an extensive correspou-
| denee, giving the names, position, and III some
cases, brlei biographical sketch of the cFal
persons connected in interest, or in influence w th
hose who propose to undertake the completion Of
the enterprise Ia question. Ii exhibits combined
power OF capital, Of commercial connection, of po
| iitical strength, aud Of governmental sympathy,
| rarely formed, and ramiication with other great
| works OF internal improvement, bringing the
| ter spirits who control those works To aid In the
construction of the one here proposed and evinc-
1 disposition he 10
tnis particular meme, which renders il certain
| accoinp lishmeut il once undertaken Your com
nittee have no hesitation ia expressing their be-
def, that but for the political aud hnancial crisis
which now llnpends over the American Union the
! contracting parties in France would have been
ready, by this time, to enter vigorously upon the
| prosecution of the canal
The house of beiiot des Minieres, Brothers and
company, aud their associates in Europe, consti-
tute ono OF the most powerful financial organiza-
IONS OF the present day-abundantly able, it
YOU'D appear, to complete the Virginia water
tlne on the grand scale projected by them. and,
also, - establish and maintain steam and sail
INES between Its ocean terminus aud foreign
portsthun giving premise of redlizng in the full
est manner. and the shortest time, the splendid
fesulta long anticipated by the many friends and
| advocates of This great State Improvement
The committee are Inspired with equal con.
adence in the disposition of the house Of Bellor
les NJ nieres, Brothers and Company TO carry out
the stlruiatlons entered into by their agent here
- soon As the condition of the country wi justify
then OF prudence III undertaking Il work which
requires time and peace, and financial assurance.
ior It's accompii shment ANY settlement of our
vn.It5 20 ne oo .eIhment ana remove al cause OF
experimenting civil war, will, it is believed at
ince restore that confidence which has given place
- rear and distrus., and naturally deters capital
ISIS from making large investments.
Your committee, therefore, take pleasure in
aging lhat, IN their opinion, there is ample
ground for the General Assembly to act upon the
propositions which have been made and thai il
would be safe and Jusiifable to grant the charter
asked, allowing reasonable tine for the restora-
Ion OF the condition of things existing when the
PROPOSITIONS We're submitted.
II inslp f,,1l
10 the resolution OF the House, present herewith
report Of the remarks made by Col THOMAS H
ellis, The resident OF the James River and Ea-
naWha Company, before the Committee exhibit
ing comprehensive view of the evidence IN his
possession ia regard to the disposition and abiIi-
~ ~ the absent parties to fulfill their contract.
furnishing other information of an interesting
character connected with this most. imp0rtanf
,ublect. I'"N'
All which is respectfully submitted
Such are the deliberate conclusions of a |
committee composed of some of the most in |
teillgent members of both Houses The evil |
aehce iald before them by Col. ELLIS was in |
aeed, overwhelming. 1t seems to us strange |
mat any man should entertain a doubt as to |
the 0ottfy, at least, of the parties, after read.
ing III, or hearing 1t read 1t will all be laid |
before the country, if, indeed, it has not al
ready been. In the meantime, however, it
may not DO out of place to publish the follow
ing translation OF a letter from NJ MERCER
the French Minister at Washington 10 Col.
ELLIS, III connexion with the report of the
committee 1t comes under the sanction of
MS hlgh oillce, although, of course it is not
oinclai- Morally, it is entitled to the same
weight as though it We're official:
WAsHINGTON, January 81, 1851
SIR IN reply to the letter W hich you did me the
inst, ] take pleasure il Informing Won. that INV
Government has instructed me to lend as Inncb !
moral support as is compatible with the reservs
mpoSeh by my official position, to the canal |
scheme proposed by the house Of BeIlot des MI
lleres, Brothers and Company. which is now be-
or me LEGISLATURE Of Virginia for its sanction
ms Is proof, sir, not only of the interest felt hv
NY government in the realization Of this enter
Prise, but OF the confidence with which the ner
IONS who control the measure inspire il in every
aspect; otherwise, the Government would GER
AMY not lend it support which it is NOT in the
labit IF granting for fight and trivial reasons
Mr fauI the French Consul at Richmond will
70 Lole 10 lay before you documents which will
no" tnai the government has not taken this step
vthout hrst col Getting the mo- Information
WITH reference TO the enterprise
avail myself OF this occasion, sir to assureyon
u my distinguished consideration.
:, HENRY MERCER
Mr.. Ellis President &c, Richmond
We presume, of course that all minor oh
ections TO this great scheme will disappear
Let but the work be once completed. and.
mong other benefits which the State will de-
i've from 1t, it will put an end at onca and
reate centre of attraction so powerful that
very improvement will tend to it las naturally
S the members of the solar system tend TO the
uh. 1 he great cause of quarrel heretofore be-
Ween different railroads, has been their inter
erence with each other. BY UNNECESSARILY in
reaslnS productions, this scheme will give
ii Oh them more than they can possibly do.
no mus leave no room for quarrelling There
VIII be no jealousy of any railroad, on ac
CUNT OF It's tendency to carry off trade TO ci
les beyond the State. 1t will be 10 the advan-
age OF every railroad to have its terminus
ere. For the lower part of Virginia is to be
he Emporium of foreign trade such as not ,
My the world never heard Of but such as
he imagination of man never conceived I'll I
lis work should be completed on the scale
roposed, we have not the slightest doubt that q
/ thirty years from this time ten millions of
ms annually will pass along it, If it be so
le ports on the Chesapeake waters must be
rowded with shipping, from all parts of the
'orid' TO an extent unimagined by New York
Liverpool The Imagination absolutely
'eis beneath the grandeur of the prospect +
hich, after all, is matter of sober calcula-
on.
I
MIR. Preston, of Sonth CaroI,n,