Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-05
FoR THE WING.
FoR THE WING.
Dialogue betveen Captain C. and Citizen of
Richmond.


After the usual salutations, the Citizen address.
es Captain C.
Citizen.--You no doubt recollect, Captain, the
con versation we had board the Richmond in
relation to the Rail Road to Harrison's bar:-since
the publication of paper which gave the sub
| stance of your remarks that subject, various
propositions for rail ways have been started, and
really have felt DESTROYS to hear your opinion on
them.
Captain-Well, sir, confine your enquiries to
the water, and guess can answer them.
Cu.--Then, Captain, let us begin with Pick.
etts the friends of that project say, that point a
fords the best harbour on James River being sur
rounded with high hills, and the water abundantly
deep. Now, what say you?
Capt. with smile)-My good sir, the first is
powerful objection with me-the hills are too high
and the river too narrow to give seaman breath
ing room. In the heat Of summer the air is COM
pletey obstruced by these heights; in the day you
have a hot sun pouring down upon you, and at
night swarms of moschettoes from the swamps,
without breeze strong enough to blow off
your nose. In short, sir, no crew can stand work
there during the day, and deprived of at night
without being subject 10 sickness: constitu.
ton of iron cannot stand it. AS to a harbour
every part of the river which is land-locked is q
harbour, provided the anchorage is good.
CH.-So much for Pickctts. Then, Captain,
will pass your favorite point and ask yeur opinion
of place l think they call Swineherd's, some
miles below Westover.
Capt-I suppose you mean the bluff that ter
| inmates Lne RedCn from flOOGS up!
| Ct.-Yes, near Rivor-Edge. Now must inform
you, Captain, that philosopher of our town
makes this part of James river as crooked as
rams horn, and places River Edge about three
miles north of Westover, and in fact nearer Rich
| mond.
| Cdpt.--Impossible sr-you must be joking
! What! River Edge three miles north of Westover
| and nearer Richmond? That's a Eotion that may
| do for the marines, but can't gull sailor. The
fact is sir, if my compass points true, that River
Fdue is nparIy Of WeStovpr nd cf
course is farther from Richmond (Which is nearly
West of both,) by nearly the distance from West
over to that point; and if l am not mistaken, the
water in shore is generally shoal and entirely unfit
| for vessels of much draught. Your philosopher
may he good philosopher, but should not like
to sail by his chart.
Cit.--As you have driven me from this last posi-
| ton, must take you out of James River TO York.
Have you seen the various pieces in favor of York
| Town?
| Cdpt.--I have seen one by Civis but guess he
| will find it hard to convince ship masters that the
ghosts of Decatur and Perry likely to protect
our shipping against the cannon of the English
| Navy but 10 my plain understanding, that writer
seems to have but little reliance himself on that
sort of security, as he to think, that in
the course of time, we shall have the more sub
| stantidl defence of powder and ball. Until that is
the case, for one prefer James river. Do you not
rccoect that during the last war, the enemy, then
lying in the Chesapeake Bay, sent up their barges
at night and captured the revenue cutter lying in
York River7 York Town must ever be exposed to
such visits without the reqisitc Notifications.
| Cit am convinced, Captain, that something
must and will be done, and / am disposed to think
that the termination Of Harrison's bar is the point
to which rail way must run, the detention oil
vessels up James river is immense disadvantage
to the mercantile and shipping interests; for in
stance, observe from the Norfolk Beacon that the
ships Tally Io and Richmond have made pas
sage to Liverpool and back, whilst the ship Fama
was detained in James River receiving a cargo
Now it certainly cannot DO expected that We
should remain as are, if a remedy Can be applied
and that remedy, l believe, is rail road. Bu
what OBJECT do you think it would have on ou
: city,
Capt.-It must be to tho advantage of you
town You cannot suppose that Richmond is t.
follow the rail road. Your men of capital are al
r in Kichmond-there tho produce of tho uppe
country must stop for purchasers-thcre too
must stop Tor storage; and if you have any doub
on tins subject, your merchants may regulate tn
matter as you please by becoming holders of tn
stock. Should, however, jealousy exist on Won
part, the only possible case in which it can do tn
city injury is by permitting the stock to fail int
/ possession of some Of our great northern CONNER
: cial houses. In that case sir, an interest direcu
o opposed to your city must spring up: the conse
quences Of which mono can forcsee. But, sir, yo
u should recollect that you Richmond merchants ca
u now coDtrou this matter as you like; but rest al
sured that trade will avail itself of all tho facie
? within its reach, and any opposition which locj
interest may offer, must in the end, yield to tn
public good.
. rrc