Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-13

forcrbc declaration Of one of our most intelligent
merchants Is the Legislature prepared to seal
the fate OF Virginia and to deliver u.s. bound hand
and foot, to the capitalists of Baltimore?"
n stranger to passing events might suppose from
the alarm which has seized the Editor of the En-
quirer, that the good town of Baltimore was en-
poying its energies and resources, in closing the
entrance into Hampton Roads, that the Catcrans
of Maryland were mCditating a sallcy into the
upper country for the purpose of sczing upon the
property, destined To the Richmond market. Should
the Enquirer be read some twenty years hence,
vii! it then be believed that this state of feeling
and apprehension was produced by proposition to
open the Baltimore market to the western division
of the State, by permitting the Baltimore Rail
Road Company TO conduct tho most important
Improvement cf tho age, through the centre of the
Commonwealth, or to incorporate company OF
own citizens to construct line of rail road
from the Potomac TO the Ohio. Although the only
effect oe the article will be to excite mingled feel
ings of disgust and Indignation, i'm the minds of
the western readers of the Enquirer, vet this paper
has so long governed and directed tho opinions OF
the lowand counties both for good and for evil,
that it 10 deemed proper shortly to examine the
sophistry and shameless injustice with which Mr.
Richie here attempts to dcludc the public mind
His picture of the whitening fortune, and migra-
ting intention of Il Richmond merchant, but pre-
scnts with the condition of thousands and tens
OF thousands of our most valuable and cntcrprzing
citizens between the Blue Ridge and the Ohio, who
cut of from all advantageous eastern markets.
whose commodities, unable TO bear the cost OF
production, and the present price Of transportation,
arc selling their farms, for what they Will bring,
and leaving the commonwealth i'll constant
streams, which can not be witnessed upon
leading roads without producing the most s;ckcn-
ing reflections. Can Mr.. Richie be ignorant of
the disastrous effects which the government policy
have for years, inflicted the citizens of the
Western division of the Commonwealth, by refer
ring to their avenues of intercourse, both to the
Maryland and Virginia markets? or are his synrpa-
tcs, like his Journal, rarely to be met with, above
thc Blue Ridge What other Government is to be
found, from the Autocrat of tho Russas down TO
the little Bcgic Kingdom, that is not invigoralng
It's agriculture, by opening to it new markets, and
for ,sr prod"otonS it ros s for Mr. e R SS
and the Virginia Legislature, to proclaim the doc
trinc, that the trUns-montanc coGntics, the back
woods provinces, are bound to Tie car Of the Me
r"pos, and arc only to advance, in proportion, as
they may contribute to its commerce and wealth.
Or is the Scottish rule 10 he revived for their gov
ernncnt, "taS them souudy, collect it ri"iCy, and
you'll keep them meek and lcwly." Ii these prin-
ciP'cs nave not been avowcd i'll terms, their spirit
cold have alone dictated the refusal permit tho
Baltimore RaRoad Company to construct that
magnificent work through the valley of Virginia.
Their malignant influence witnessed last WIN
ter, III the case Of the Stanton Railroad Compa
ny, and Mr.. Richie covcr,ly announces them,
for the government of the present General Assem-
by! Not willing 10 avow, openly, those GctcStable
principles, he attempts to cover them with IL can't
ing and hypocritical affection for the glory pros
perity, and indivisbility of the State. Those
hacknIed cPthets can only give colorado prccNts
to tho Hagrant Injustice which is mcGitatcd. Mr..
r. himself must know, although his views may
rarely extend beyond Shochoc Hill, that Richmond
has but little connection 18th the prosperity cf the
Commonwealth. The Mountain districts are rich
IN soil, proyerJially salubriOus, and abounlinr in
al! the elements of the most extended agricultural
, operations, rs well OF the most enlarged, bcne
hca! and diversified manulacturcs--yct all these
advantages, which no other Government, under
the sun, would fail to call into ininicdiata action
To- MIR of ,,,.
glory and prosperity OF tie State! and .hcse rich
Western treasures. OF which he asserts the abso-
lntc property to be in the city of Richmond, are to
remain unimprovcd and worthless, because they
cannot be delivered to their proper owners. As
! TO the city of Richmond, none could witness its
commercial prosperity with more pleasure than the
writer of this hasty article; but it is idle to na
CINE that the Western counties will submit to
policy, which doomS them and their posterity TO
poverty, and their country to the condition of an
unrcclau!cd wilderness, because it is the pleasure
of HI. il. and his friends to claim them as the pro-
pcrty of tic Metropolis. The Western peor!c dis
claim the collar thus attempted to be claspcd
around their nccks, and demand, at the hands
= OF the Government, to he treated free and
equal members of the body polite, having com
mon and unalieuaLlc rights in the pursuits of
happiness and the enjoyment Of property, which
the grosscst tyranny, alone, deny thom.-
ilcy claim, not as Il matter of favour, but on
the ground of undonidblc right, TO take the pro.
ductons Of their soil, and Of their industry, 10
whatever markets may offer them the best re-
/ turns, and to carry commercial intcrcoursc
wherever it may be found most beneficial to
them. There rights which none will openly
deny, but which were much invaded, nav, as
grossly sacrificed, by refusing to permit the Bali
more Company to make, at lis own Expense Rail
Road through the upper division of the State as if
Napolcan's Continental System had been introdu-
ccd, and military Gordon csabli: he'd, to prevent
all intercourse with the State of MARYLAND when
the Legislature, last winter, refused TO the Staun-
ton Petitioners The right Of forcing a Rail Road
from the Potomac 10 tie Ohio, the West was filled
with dismay and astonishment. The Western Peo-
pie had long been accustomed to the denial of their
political rights, and sore with the proceedings of
the State Convention, which had doomed them 10
perpetual and increasing incrority in the councils
OF the State, they had hoped that atonerlont
tho part of tho Eastern Superior; but this act of
power, against right-ths almost open avowal that
the Legislation and resources of the State were to
he directed to the repression Of their enterprise
their energies and their prosperity awakened them
10 true sense of their condition, and left only
the hope Of the oppressed and tho abandoned, that
returning justice might hereafter mark the course
Of their rulers. Mr.. Richie, however, teaches
us The folly oC%ich anticipations. lie has found
out that to open commerce with Baltimore, is
measure, which the pride of Virginia forbids and
asks if the Legisatrc is prcPcred In sea! the fafc
Of Virginia. aad Gcijrer bovHa hand ngd foot to
Hc CGp.taLsl5 u Baltimore" Does Mr. x. mean
that capital of FIVE millions of dollars combined