The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-18
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years, to keep vitality in it until favorinq
Circumstances should intervene.

years, to keep vitality in it until favoring
circumstances should intervene.
In 1852, when the raging swell Of the
railroad mania threatened to sweep away
the canal, | was the chairman of the spe-
cial internal improvement committee of 81,
and was the author of the committees re-
port that, it was then conceded, secured q
small but liie-preserying appropriation for
the canal. The committee said:
"Your committee have said this much
in behalf of the water-line, not with the
view of urging its extension to the Ohio,
but with the hope of removing some of
the prejudices which are operating as inn
pediments to its extension even TO Coying-
ton. To the latter point they do, by every
consideration Of sound policy, advise it to
be carried. Arrived there, it must await
the developments Of the future. Among
these developments will be found, your
committee trust and believe, that increased
income to the canal which win furnish
means for its more western extension, and
that lavoring change in the public opinion
that shall help it on to glorious consum.
nation.
When The Judith Dane disaster cast
cloud over the enterprise and brought
its friends almost TO the verge of des-
pair, had the honor of being selected
by It's depressed champions, among them
Walter Gwyn and John Y. Mason, to
make the argument to break the force of
this mishap, and | made the defence, for
the adroitness of which | received the
warm acknowledgment of the gentlemen
before named, and other special friends
of the work.
And in 1860, when proposition was
pending in the legislature to abandon
and sell out the canal, ] wrestled in an
argument of two whole days with the
railroad champions who were aiming
death-blows at the noble work, and at the
close of that argument | said:
GAS for the extension of the canal from
Covngton to the Ohio. that is point
which need not come under consideration
now and there is not dollar of appro-
pration in this bill for that object. But
what desire is, that we shall not, by
abandonment or selling out, fling away the
chance for its extension to the western
waters. Sooner or later, unless our coun.
sells now inhibit, that extension will take
place-an event, it is destined to be, that
will mark the future annals of Virginia.
and that will fling over her-God bless her
-"i oiiooo iauiilI StOIlcS tlal tne ETle
canal has beamed upon the Empire state.
1t may not be in my day and generation,
but done it will be-"
| care not whether these personal refer
ences be regarded out of good taste or not,
for | frankly confess that am proud of
the history of my connection with this
great continental commercial highway of
the nation--this, our own James River and
Kanawha canal. My humble fame in that
honorable regard shall transmit as
part of the inheritance for my
children. | own some laurels in that
proud connection of which do not mean
to be robbed. | trust they are green yet,
and that they will grow greener and yet
greener, until the prediction | ventured in
my last effort for it in 1860, when thick
gloom overhung the grand enterprise, shall
be realized in the broad lustrous light of
thousand, twice a thousand glorious
realities.