Anticipating that the Legislature of Missouri will, at its approaching session, be called on to decide how far it will pledge the State to the encouragement of works of Internal Improvement, and, conceiving that the measure has not been sufficiently discussed before the people, we propose to submit a few remarks in reference to this subject for the consideration of our readers. The embarrassments that have been experienced by some of the States as a consequence of their connections with works of Internal Improvement admonish others to exercise great caution; but such cases are not to be regarded as proof that a State, acting on facts peculiar to itself, and wisely adopting the policy indicated by such facts may not afford substantial aid to works of Internal Improvement, with safety and profit to the community.

It may be admitted that where individual capital and enterprize are adequate to the accomplishment of works of Internal Improvement, it is better that the State should avoid all connection with such works; but cases may occur where owing to peculiarities in the physical character of the country and the social condition of the people, important works cannot be accomplished without aid from the State; and in such cases three points are presented for consideration. First, is the work proposed calculated to promote the prosperity and general welfare of the community ? second, in what manner shall the State afford assistance? and third, to what extent?

The State of Missouri possesses within her own limits the elements of a great empire; her mineral wealth may be regarded as inexhaustible, and her agricultural resources equal perhaps to those of any other State of the Union; but, for the want of facilities of transportation neither mining nor agriculture will pay a profit to the producer, except in a few favored

locations adjacent to navigation. And, hence, the Iron, Coal, and fertile soil of large districts lie undisturbed, and are as useless for all practical purposes as they would be were they at the bottom of the ocean. Nor can the products of these districts reach a market on terms that will enable the producers to compete successfully with more favored locations, without the construction of works of great magnitude; a short rail road would be of little utility in Missouri: and the individual capital that can be spared from the ordinary channels of business, is inadequate to the construction of lines of sufficient length to be useful to the community, or profitable to the stockholders. And, hence, it may be regarded as almost certain, that unless the State comes up to the aid of individual enterprise, no important work can be accomplished within its borders for many years to come; and it remains with the people to determine whether they will continue contented with their present condition until the neighboring States shall have become so densely inhabited as to compel a portion of their population. to emigrate hither, and bring the means and enterprise to develop our resources, or, whether in view of their own individual and social interests-actuated by the progressive spirit of the age-they will without further delay, enter on a course of manly competition with their neighbors.

But should the Legislature incline to afford substantial aid to works of Internal Improvement, in what way, and, on what principle should the State proceed to accomplish the objects proposed? Not by undertaking the work wholly on its own account for the history of all such enterprises shows that individuals can, and do manage such matters with better economy than can the State Governments through their agents. But if even this were not the case, yet, it is scarcely possible that the State can construct a work on its own account without doing injustice to a portion of its constituents. No improvement can be so located as to afford equal advantages to all. For besides the commercial advantages, the real estate situate near the line of improvement may advance to double its former value, and still the fortunate owner bears no greater proportion of the burthen of constructing the work than one who, by reason of his remote situation, receives scarcely any benefit in return for his portion of the contribution.

This inequality of benefits accruing from works of Internal improvement is inevitable; and a case could scarcely be conceived where, in our opinion, a State Government could embark in an enterprise of this nature without doing injustice to a portion of its constituents. But the state may become a stockholder to an extent commensurate with the general benefits of the improvement, without violating the principles of equality especially, if the work be extensive, and calculated

to constitute a basis of a general system. The policy, recently adopted by some of the States, authorizing counties to subscribe for rail road stock, is calculated to distribute both the burthens and advantages of constructing railways and other works of improvement more fairly among the people than any other principle yet discovered. For it frequently happens that individuals whose estates are situate near to lines of improvement, though possessing ample means, refuse to subscribe for stock, avoiding all the responsibilities and inconveniences connected with the enterprise, that they may be the better able to avail themselves of the benefits accruing from its accomplishment. And some of these will not scruple even to profit by the misfortunes and embarrassments of those who, actuated by a generous public spirit, improvidently undertake more than they can accomplish. Justice demands that such individuals should be compelled to contribute their fair proportion to the improvement of the country; and this end can only be attained by state or county subscriptions. To the credit of the age, and happily for society, the individuals of this class are generally in the minority; and it is therefore in the power of the majority to compel them to be useful, without violating the principles of justice.

We regard subscriptions for stock, on the part of the State, as being preferable to any other mode of encouraging works of Internal Improvement; but even subcriptions should, in our opinion, be limited to such works as are necessary to constitute the basis or outlines of a system. Let us first of all project a system, and then construct one or more of the main stems or trunks; and the branches will be made by individuals and counties wherever they find it to be their interest to do so. By adopting this policy, it will be in the power of the State to impart life to a system which, when once fairly under way, will be carried out by individual enterprise, while every branch that shall be added will tend to enhance the value of the stock belonging to the State.

The amount of stock which the State ought to take, will always depend upon so many circumstances that each case as it arrises must furnish its own rule; but, in our opinion, it would not be sound policy for the State, in any case, to subscribe for stock exceeding one-fourth of the amount required to construct the work; for if individuals and counties immediately interested will not bear three-fourths of the burthen, it would be unjust to place more than one-fourth on those whose condition can scarcely be effected by the improvement. And, besides this, the State should not become a subscriber for stock in any work until individuals had given evidence of their confidence in its utility, by making liberal subscriptions.

Scarcely any subject can be presented to the statesman or

political economist, that requires more reflection or a greater degree of caution, than that of perfecting a system of Internal Improvement, and establishing the principles upon which it shall be carried out. A radical error in the plan or in the mode of execution generally proves fatal; and is worse than doing nothing; for it stands in the way of a second effort. No error is more common than that of undertaking to do too much in a given time. This has occasioned as much embarrassment perhaps as all other cases combined. By withdrawing a large amount of capital and labor from their usual employment, derangement is produced in all the pursuits of the community; and while money is more difficult to obtain, labor, provisions, and materials advance in price, until a revulsion takes place and the work of improvement is suspended for a time, or perhaps abandoned entirely. One must possess a thorough knowledge of the commerce and general resources of the community, before he can arrive at just conclusions in respect to the amount that may be applied, in a given time, to works of Internal Improvement, without embarrassing other pursuits. Time is an essential element in all calculations relating to what man is capable of performing; limit his action to a day or a year and you limit his power: the crowning act of a great achievement may be performed perhaps in a moment; but in most cases that act is one of a series that have given employment to the time and talents of the individual for many years. No great work could be accomplished in Missouri in one, nor, perhaps, in ten years without the aid of foreign capital; but if we were to commence on a proper system and pursue it steadily, we might, in time,by the use of our own means, achieve all that can reasonably be desired. But are the people of Missouri willing to wait on this slow process, while they labor in competition with producers in other States, who enjoy greater facilities of transportation? We know that there is a respectable portion of our citizens who are prepared to oppose any and every proposition to connect the State, in any way whatever, with works of Internal Improvement; and our principal object in discussing the subject, is to ascertain, if possible, whether a majority of the State entertain similar views.

We believe that the subject has not been fairly discussed. The friends of the measure have not been sufficiently explicit in defining the nature and extent of their plans; and, the opposers assuming that their policy is calculated to involve the State 'n inextric be embarrassments, the argument between the parties has proceeded without an issue. In justice to themselves and their cause, those who claim assistance from the State, should show that their views are consistent with the principles of equality, and that they ask nothing that may not be granted with safety.

Should it be proposed to construct a railway from one end of the State to the other, all must admit that every part of the community would be benefited, to some extent, by the improvement: and therefore, it would be just that all should bear a portion of its cost. And, in such case, should those more immediately interested in the work subscribe for nine tenths of the stock, would it be unreasonable to require that the State should take the other tenth? She would be bound for nothing beyond the payment of her subscription and the debts of the company which her stock represented; and it would be reasonable to expect that after the improvement was completed the dividends would pay the interest on the amount invested. This is a fair exposition of the principle which we advocate, and which, we believe, may be adopted with safety to the community.

It is not a sufficient answer to our views to say that, in every case where States have undertaken works of improvement on their own account it has been the cause of embarrassments, and, that the works themselves have been badly managed. We advocate no such policy; nor, should we approve of a proposition to loan the credit of the State to an incorporated company. We simply propose that the State should become a subscriber for stock, on the same terms that citizens or corporations subscribe, and that she subscribe for no more than may be deemed necessary to insure the accomplishment of the work.

We feel persuaded that there is nothing in our proposition. that the most cautious individual can object to, with reason; and we cannot think otherwise than that, if this subject were fully and fairly discussed, it would receive the approbation of a majority of the people. For we are unwilling to believe that they are so wedded to old prejudices, so destitute of State pride, or, so regardless of individual interest, as to oppose a measure just in itself, and, withal, calculated to ameliorate their individual and social condition.

We respectfully invite the press, favorable to works of Internal Improvement, to discuss the subject for the consideration of the people; for, we feel assured if it is permitted to slumber until the meeting of the General Assembly, no act giving aid to such works will receive the sanction of that body. For notwithstanding a member of the Legislature might, as an individual, be in favor of the measure, yet he would not feel authorized to vote for it, without knowing the sentiments of his constituents. We have often heard the Legislature of Missouri abused for its neglect of Internal Improvement; but we do not remember to have heard that any specific plan has ever been offered for its consideration. Let those who have been in the