Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-03-28

cordng to the provisions Of an act, entitled, San
act, to incorporate the Staunton and Potowmac
Rail Road Company"
This amendment, is the work of majority of
the Senate who represent majority Of the peO-
pie. Their particular constituents, are presumed
to sanction the act. They, then, not to be the
sufferers; butthe amendment, its principles, and
its consequences, are to operate upon the mnori-
ty. The minorlies, in this State, by whatever
party appellatons they have been distinguished,
have at all times, been the victims of cruel,
persevering, and relentless policy. They have
been excluded from all stations of honor, proht
and trust-Their opinions, their patriotism, have
been scoffed, and derided. They have seen the
taxes they have contributed, taken from the puo-
lie chest, to pay band of public officers, select
ed exclusively from that majority, who had been
their oppressors. They have received back no
part Of it, to pay officers selected from among
themselves; and, if one of the prescribed, has
been occasionally promoted from the ranks VI
citizenship, he owed his elevation to a momenta-
ry listlessness or to the sudden pangs of fleet
ing remorse. This policy, while it held out pre-
NUNS to apostacy, punished as vices, the cardi-
nal virtues. of honesty and independence. The
minority man, OF this Republican Commonwealth,
has endured the same disqualihcations, the same
acknowledgements, which the Irish Catholic was
subjected to, in MonarchicaI England. There,
they excluded and punished by lar; Here, we
exclude and punish by practice. But when they,
have given up both lac and practice, would re-
sort to law to assist aud TO nvgorate the practice
But this amendment, seeks not to 'preserve from
the communicating influence of the uncOnstitutlon-
al acts of the General Government" those Of
our citizens, who, in their corporate capacity,
have actually received large subscriptions Of mo-
ney, from that Government. The "Dsmal
Swamp Canal Company" have received $780,,
900, in aid of their most valuable scheme of i'm
provement. But if it was unconstitutional, in
that Company to accept this money, it is equally
unconstitutional, that they should retain it. If the
Federal Government had no right to give, this
Company had no right to receive, and the amend
ment should have provided for its reimbursement.
Even handed justice" required that this Com
pany should have been placed upon the same
footing, with the "Staunton and POtowmac
Rail Road Company" But here again, her
scales incline in favor of the majority Invoke
impartial Justice, to minsle in our deliberations,
anu to infuse her pure spirit into the bosoms of
those, who would fasten upon vanquiShed, gallant
adversares, this new yoke of oppression. But
they DOE We are now to have an establish
at its affairs, and partake of the bitter cup of
communion; ali who dash from their lips the
poisoned chalce, are to be subjected to inquisi-
torial pains and penalties.
Against this unjust and high handed proceed
ing, it is my solemn duty to protest. But, Ion
ga inJ,r,a, iongg anbages.
-saa3s5a-
The House of Delegates, BY majority Of one,
hac in n
to the Staunton and Potomac Rail Road Compa-
ny prohibiting the extension Of the Road west.
wardly from Staunton. This restriction will be
received with hearty execratons BY the people of
the Valley, and must, we think, by all disinter.
ested persons be admitted to partake of the very
essence of unmitigated tyranny and unjustiGa
bic encroachment upon the natural rights of
large portion of our citizens What are the facts
Of the case7 The people of the Valley partak-
ing of that spirit Of improvement which is abroad
on the earth, unite in petition for the incOrpo-
ration of Company to construct Rail Road
from the Potomac to Staunton, reserving the pri-
vilege of extending 1t westwardiy to the waters
of the Ohio should it be expedient. They ask
for no appropriations for no subscription on the
part of the State-their wishes are confined to
simple act of incorporation. This reasonable
request is denied them.-They are told YOU
shall not extend your road to the Ohio. because,
in that event the produce of the West will find
market at Washington or Baltimore instead Of
Richmond, as it ought to do and wil-when the
contemplated impr ovements of the James River
shall be effected.-The James River improve
ment! that dog in the Manager" still beginning
never ending''-How long is the Improvement of
other parts Of the State to be postponed to it,
How long shall our citizens be told, you must
not make this road, you must not open that river,
nor dig that CANAL lest the interests of the James
river section may suffer. The improvement of
the James River has already absorbed more than
a million and a half of dollars, and its compile
ton is still Indefinitely remote.-A choice has
not been made. even, of the manner in which the
improvement shall prosecuted. Who can pre-
tend to say whether the bed of the river is to be
improved, whether an independent canal shall run
along its margin, or whether Rail Road from
Richmond to some western Points MOTTO be prefer
red to either. For years this scheme has Knocked
the hopes of its friends, and frustrated all
plans Of Improvement in uther parts of the State.
Its completion Is in the future in rus, as Mr..
Randolph says-and so it will be for years to