by the completion of the Erie canal opening the commerce of the lakes to that city, are perfectly familiar to every one; the daily increasing importance of it, is also quite as well understood. Without the Erie canal, the city of New York would have been second still to Philadelphia. Great as the advantages of this work unquestionably are, those of the James river and Kanawha canal are undoubtedly superior. It possesses the striking advantage of lying five degrees south of the great northern work, and therefore, free from the ice which obstructs the navigation there, for so large a proportion of the year. It touches the Ohio river, far south of any water communication from the Atlantic whatever; and at a point, south of which there can be across the country no water connection. It will, after the first of November, command all the trade of a great part of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri-and most probably, of those regions lying still higher up towards the sources of the Missouri and Mississippi; for, after that period, it is unsafe to send produce north, in the direction of Boston, New York or Philadelphia. A striking and peculiar advantage presented by this line, is its continuity. There is no necessity whatever for transhipment. We will see canal boats, laden at the falls of St. Anthony or Council Bluff discharging their cargoes at Lynchburg, Richmond and Norfolk. The extent and fertility of the region through which this work will pass, is unsurpassed by any accessible country within the territories of the United States. Superadded to this, the rivers, canals and railroads, emptying into and resting upon, the Ohio and Mississippi, will bring from the remote interior, which in every direction they penetrate, their contributions, to swell still higher the rich tide of commerce, flowing through the heart of the commonwealth. The trade in Indian corn, which has recently sprung up, and is increasing with such surprising rapidity between Europe and America, will be almost monopolized by this line; and will of itself, presently, build up and sustain a great city. Norfolk must be the point for its shipment, for it can reach there and be sent away, without the injury which it is sure to sustain from detention at the more southern points. Indeed, this line will monopolize, in a great measure, the transportation of all the principal articles of food, which are produced in the Mississippi valley for consumption in our Atlantic States and in Europe. It is a fact universally known, that provisions of every kind suffer injury from the climate during their transit by New Orleans and through the Gulf.

We have seen what the commerce of the lakes has done for the states of Massachusetts and New York; but the country which supplies it, sinks into comparative insignificance, when looked at by the side of that I have just described. These are some, probably the most striking, but only a very few of the reasons which present themselves to the mind in behalf of this great enterprize. To elaborate the subject would require a volume. I earnestly recommend the steady, energetic prosecution of the work to its completion.

The South-west is already provided with a great work-the central line accomplishes all that is necessary, or that can be effected for the country through which it passes. The Louisa railroad is wending its

way slowly, but most certainly to the banks of the Ohio. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad, together with the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, provide our northern border with every facility of transportation to market.

It has been frequently proposed and very strongly urged, to construct a railroad from some point on this side of the Blue Ridge to the Ohio river at Parkersburg. It would seem as if even-handed justice required from the legislature for that extensive, fertile and prosperous country, between our northern line and the central canal, an improvement which would penetrate and pass through it about midway. I would advise the examination of this route by competent engineers, to ascertain its feasibility and its advantages. If upon full information this work should be determined upon and carried out, then, four grand lines of improvement passing from the western limits of the state eastward across the Blue Ridge, would pour the rich tides of that really fine country into the tide-water cities, and would unite, in one common and familiar brotherhood, the inhabitants of all "the grand divisions" of the state. In place of three divisions there would be no division, and instead of the senseless jealousy which now exists, one common interest, as one common parentage and glory, would unite them in a single effort for the advancement of the common happiness and prosperity of all.

Another connection between the tide-water of Virginia and the Ohio river, by means of a railroad, has been settled on in the public mind; nor will it be abandoned until the work is completed. Its importance, no one familiar with the results most likely to accrue from it will doubt. Its feasibility has been demonstrated by actual surveys, and the only question still in doubt of material moment to the project, is, at what point the Ohio river shall be reached.

In determining this, a proper regard must be had to the chartered rights already secured to other companies, and care be taken to prevent à rivalry between the works, which might endanger the complete success of either. This great object can be attained, in my opinion, by selecting Louisville in Kentucky as the western terminus for the road; and it is of no moment whether this road be a branch of the Virginia and Tennessee railroad, the Louisa road, or a branch of the Alexandria and Gordonsville road, crossing through Manassa's gap and passing thence westward to the proposed point. The route is accessible to each, and will, in my opinion, amply remunerate the patrons of each, although all of them should unite in the work, and depend for their profit upon the respective branches connecting with the main trunk, which would extend from Covington to Louisville. The construction of a railroad from tide-water to Louisville, upon this route, has been a favorite idea with me for many years, and I am sure is one which will challenge the approbation of all reflecting men, who will take the trouble to investigate the subject.

The surveys of competent engineers have shewn that Covington is of easy access from tide-water. From thence to Louisville, although no engineer has surveyed it, I venture the opinion, is a route of more easy accomplishment, than any other now proposed, lying between

the northern boundary of New York and the valley of Tennessee. The great barrier of the Alleghany is, upon this line, in the county of Monroe, depressed into a gentle ascent, scarcely perceptible to a traveller on horseback. The insurmountable obstacle which the Cumberland mountains present every where else sinks down between Virginia and Kentucky, at the head-waters of the Sandy river in the county of Tazewell, into a low and narrow ridge. The residue of the line to Lexington, Kentucky, lies along easy and accessible valleys and plains. From Covington to the Kentucky line is less than 150 miles, and the distance from thence to Lexington, is still shorter. So that, when the united efforts of Virginia and Kentucky shall have accomplished the construction of less than three hundred miles of railroad, the falls of Ohio and the falls of James river will be united by railroad and canal, in bonds of eternal fellowship.

The advantages of a connection at Louisville are numerous and very striking. The navigation of the river below that point is seldom, for any length of time, impeded by ice in winter or the drought of summer and fall. Not so above. With this connection, the merchandize, intended for the winter and early spring supplies of a very large portion of the West, would most certainly be distributed from Louisville, having reached there from the Northern cities by this unimpeded southern route, whilst the water communication at the North would have been closed, so to remain for months afterwards. Nor is there any railroad north of us which could compete successfully, with this combined water line and railroad in the transportation of merchandize or produce. The diminished distance and the mild climate must settle in our favor, beyond a doubt, the question of competition. But this link of railroad from Covington to Louisville is but a very short one in the great chain, of which it will certainly form a part, stretching from the Atlantic ocean to the shores of the Pacific. The energy of the American people is aroused on the subject of this work, and its accomplishment has already been determined upon in the public mind. It cannot be believed that an improvement from which are to flow the most momentous results, consequent upon any enterprize since the discovery of the passage around the Cape of Good Hope, will be long neglected by this great and prosperous nation. The fruits of our glorious war with Mexico will be imperfect-the monument which the valour of our invincible armies has erected to our national grandeur and renown, will be unfinished, without the construction of this most stupendous work.

From the earliest history of the world down to this day, the commerce of India has been the prize for which the nations of the earth have eagerly contended. From the time when Hiram, King of Tyre, sent his ships to bring gold from Ophir to decorate the temple of Solomon, down to the last arrival of British merchantmen at the East India docks in London, there has never failed a stream, bearing upon its bosom spices and rich silks, jewels and pure gold, to give wealth, elegance, refinement and power to the nation of people fortunate enough to be its recipient. Great cities have sprung up under its invigorating influence, and won for themselves an immortal fame. But, commerce

changing into a different channel, has left these once opulent marts a "desolation and reproach." The same consequences which have followed for thousands of years upon a given cause, cannot now fail in our day and country. By means of our possessions on the Pacific, the obstacle which this continent presents to the direct line of vessels from India to Europe, is not only removed, but made to afford means of a more rapid and safe intercourse than the ocean itself could secure. If the East India commerce can then be brought across our continent upon a railroad, that road, seeking the best route, must pass through the midst of our commonwealth. From Norfolk, the best Atlantic seaport, or from any other tide-water city of Virginia, there is no difficulty in reaching the city of Louisville. At this point the Ohio can be easily bridged, affording, as it does, a rock foundation across the entire channel. From thence, through the states of Indiana and Illinois, the ground is favorable for a road, and the Mississippi itself furnishes a rock foundation for a bridge across its bosom, at "the Grand Tower," not far above the mouth of the Ohio. From this, if I am rightly informed, no water courses interpose barriers to the construction of a railroad, until the magnificent bay of San Francisco shall be reached. There is nothing, then, to hinder a car, laden with the rich silks and aromatic spices of India on the shores of the Pacific, from pursuing its continuous and uninterrupted course, until its journey is completed, and it rests upon the banks of the Chesapeake. To complete this line to the frontiers of the United States, Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, are all equally interested. These five great central states are unequalled for fertility of soil and variety of product, mineral and agricultural. That their united efforts could achieve the completion of the work to our frontier, without materially feeling the burthen, is beyond cavil or dispute. This view is not chimerical. The object can be attained-the enterprize will be accomplished.

There is already a greater length of railroad in the United States, than would, if in a single line, connect the two great oceans-and the stock of all is profitable. But the combined commerce of all these roads is but a tithe of that which would pass across our continent from India-how then could the road fail to pay such profit as would amply compensate capital for its construction?

We cannot misunderstand or fail to appreciate the value of the prize; and the construction of the proposed road to Louisville, is a most powerful means of securing it to ourselves.

The legislature has been munificent towards the City of Alexandria, since its re-annexation to the commonwealth; and it is pleasing to know that this course is equally approved by the dictates of wisdom and of justice. This liberality has expedited the completion of that really great work, the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, as far as Cumberland, in the state of Maryland. Upon this canal, now nearly ready to be opened, presently will be transported a coal trade, inferior to none in America, either in the quantities carried down upon it, or in the quality of the mineral itself. Alexandria will be the chief mart for it, and the commerce, thereby brought to her wharves, will

not only resuscitate her, but must give such impulse to all her interests, as cannot fail to raise the city to a high degree of prosperity and advancement. The works undertaken and proposed by her enterprising citizens, leading into the interior, are important to her wellbeing, as well as that of the country proposed to be reached by them. These works deserve the patronageand support of the commonwealth. The other public works of the state are prosecuted generally, I believe, with energy, and promise much usefulness. The Danville railroad company is pushing on its work to completion with great vigor, and, as far as I have been able to ascertain, on the most favorable terms.

The subject of reform has engaged the attention of our citizens, more or less, ever since the adoption of our present heterogeneous and unwise constitution; it was the offspring of exaggerated sectional jealousy-not of an earnest desire to reform abuses too intolerable to be borne. The evident distrust of popular authority and control, which is written upon every page of it, has from its birth rendered it justly obnoxious to the people at large. It is most unfortunate that greater concessions were not made, then, to the exercise of power by the people-a few alterations in some particulars would, in all probability, have obviated the necessity of another convention for half a century, notwithstanding the inherent defects of the constitution. These defects render a call now inevitable, and certainly nothing short of a thorough constitutional reform will satisfy the demands of the people. The sooner this is accomplished, the better for all the interests of the commonwealth.

pose

The county court system, as such, is repugnant to the fundamental principles of republican government-it has high judicial powers, it has high legislative authority-the power of taxation and of selecting and appointing important executive officers. It is a self-perpetuating body, responsible to no earthly power for its action, not even to the people whom they tax, and whose money they expend for any purwhatever, that to them may seem good. The practical ill ef fects of the system have been less felt by the community, because of the generally highly intelligent and meritorious character of the magistrates themselves. As a body, the magistracy of Virginia is of the very highest respectability; but whilst it affords me real pleasure to bear testimony to this fact, I am constrained to say that the power confided to their hands, should be entrusted to officers directly responsible to the people.

But the most glaring wrong perpetrated upon the rights and intelligence of the people, is to be met with in those provisions touching the right of suffrage. The rule controlling that high privilege, now, is a purely arbitrary one. The principle governing the right of suffrage under the old constitution is discarded, because too restricted-and the reason for it, discarded also. It is a rule now, without principle, and without reason to support it; senseless and insulting in the distinctions which it draws, and most pernicious in the consequences which flow from it. The abrogation of this provision of the constitution, and the substitution of the proper one in its stead, would, in my