Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-03-07

MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 7. 1881
u On Saturday, the Debate in the Bkpuse of Dele
gates ON the Petersburg 'al way consumed ncarl,
tho whole day. Mr. Mcfarland, the representative
OF Petersburg sustained the bill with much ability
and was vigorously supported by MessrsSVenable
Watkins. Morris, Preston and Brouax. I, was 3D.
posed by Alessrs. Williams of Harrison and Maxwell
with tho sarcasm an hu,nour, which much charac
serrze their style Of Debatc-and finally passed by
majority of Ii.
we rejoice at the result on two accounts Eirst
as guaranteeing the success of an enterprize In he
attended with direct and important benefits we hone
and believe, to atown which deserves more than any
other spot IN Virginia, the afectinnae consideration
OF the Public TO large dependent section of the
Commonwealth and consequentially to the State a,
large. And secondly, we cannot but indulre the ex
pecaton, that the liberaty displayed towards this
application will disarm the southern rerion of Vir
ginia, OF the hostility with which it has invariably
met every proposition for the Improvement of the
Country. With the exception of Mr. Mcfarland
the representation of the country on the south side o
James River from the Campbell, Bedford and b.
tetourt lines to the Atlantic went in solid column
against the hoan bill, and with few exceptions is
ever found arrayed against every effort to promote
internal Improvement. After this manifestation OF
hostility towards, or indifference for, the wants and
interests of others, the hberalty Tor if you please
5trsttre) exhibited by many, whose claims as coren,
and as just as those of the Petersburg rail way haG
gust been repulsed-this returning good for evil
ought we think, what to soft en- the hearts and
expand the patriotism of our strait laced brethren o.
the "South Side" Such we trust will be the effect
p principle OF mngnanimity, if nothing else. Away.
recognized by Southrons must liberalize the state
public opinion in Southern Virginia
~ No time prolific in Hagran; po!iti
cal mposture and regeneration as this. Wherever
the eye is turned, it rests the revolving spectacle
of politicians who trade in principle: who accomplish
political ends by professions of attachment 10 prnci
plo, which when those ends arc accomplished, the,
abandon the spot or which when by the turning O
the wheel, it becomes their turn to have applied to
themselves, they eudc. or altogether deny Thus,
Benton and Rowan, new converts to State Rights
vote against Internal improvements, except when
Kentucky and Missouri are Interested: then presto
1t becomes constitutional Thus, IN 1928, Mr.. Pete
V. Daniel, thought rotation in office had tcndenc,
to purify and by consequence, preserve. Republican
Institutions the said Peter at that identical mo
ment, having been in political Office, seventeen
years and some months, and having since. complete
his fifth of century, computed the period of
generation among mcn--(Perbaps we ought not t.
insist so much upon tie application of his favorit
"rototio0" to his Vice ExcelIency, as the public nov
understand him to mean by that term. the cachanrr
Of Office for dnothcr) Thus too Mr.. Richie II
1924. while he in a minority, viewed the election
of the Hero Course !" and thus in 1881 Inc deem
1t wise and safe to elect him second time TO thu
Presidency, although in 1925, he and the Contra
Committee considered it highly dangerous to cleo
the same man twice to that office. Are we not the,
justified in saying, that there never was time il
this country, so fruitful in political prohigacy2
which, traffic in principle, and tho making it subser
Went TO personal interests, was so frequent audacou
and unblushing?
The inst anccs we have cited Of the prostitution o
tho most sacrcd principles to personal interest, ar
striking indeed, but numerically, drop in the buckc,
compared to that mass Of cases eXcmplfied in tn
history Of the few last years Among these, not tn
least fragrant is that Of the Hero tho second JeHcr
son, himself We call the readers attention to tn
following quotations from his frst end last Mcssar
to Congress, and thon ask him to contrast the scn
mcnt Of the quotation, with the Presidents deter
'l"a'iOh I" s'a"u seCohd Uiho lot the Presidency
az he prctends extortcd from him by the violen
solicitation Of public opinion
President Jackson, in his message to congress, ii
1929, says
"ThcIc arc perhaps, f1w men who can. Tor any area
lcnsh OF tune, enjoy office and power without being
less under the influence of feelings unfavorabe to the faithful
dis barge Of their public duties"
II he really believe thn the doctrine hero advanced
DC such MS tho good ofthc country requires, docs hi
acceptan nee ofa denomination argue for his pqtyiO
Hsm2"
In tho same meseagc, he says--
81 cannot but believe that is lost 10y the long cunuu
Of ~ Office, than generally be gained by the
experience submit, therefore, your consideration wheh
CT efficiency ofc government would promoted an
oca industry and integrity better secured, by general
tension n tho law which limits appointments 10 four y,ays
Ifthis principle be correct, how does his prcscn
course tally with the claims made for his ''Gisnicr
cTrduess1"
The same message further says
The proposed limitation would destroy tho idea of prnrcr
rencLnlu cnuLlcclcL n.I