Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-10-28
FOR TIE SPECTATOR.


ed in some very structures upon the recent =
resolutions of the Baltimore and Ohio RAILROAD
Company, and the Winchester and Potomac Rail
Road Company, and the Valley Turnpike Com.
pany, to permit Plaster and Salt to be transport
ed along their respective roads free of charge for
freight on the two former, and of toll o the lat
ter. Unjust acknowledge that was no less sur
prsed than greved to observe the tone of the re-
marks Of the Compiler, for its editor is
not only man Of talents, and a gentleman.
but his editorial course has on all former oc-
casions been marked by the utmost lberality,
and the most enlarged views of policy in
regard to the subject of internal improvement.
Even now, feel no desire TO quarrel with him
about his course on this subject, for feel assur
ed that little investigation and reflection will
induce him to abandon the crude suggestions
which he has thrown out in regard to the action
of the companies above referred to.
Let us for a moment look into the character
and tendency ofthe measures which are excepted
to, and see whether they are obnoxious to the o5-
jections urged by the Compiler
The Valley Companies, (Which Were institut-
ed by the way to promote the public interes,s,)
Influenced by a due regard to the public welfare,
and by an enlightened selfintsrest, have resolved,
in order to induce the farmers Of the country to
patronise their improvements, TO relinquish tho
claim to toll and freight certain articles Of in
dispensable necessity to the agricultural interest,
which they had right by law to exact! Now
upon the face of this measure, there is nothntk
in it injurious to the community. On the contra
ry it offers a very important benefit to the most
,,,I,, bla r,hs n e Al
mers and graziers, by reducing the price of pais-
ter, the most important agent in iertilizing our
soil, and sail, an Indispensable condiment for our
food, and a necessary article in rearing our stock
1t indirectly benefits too every other class of So
ciety, by augmentng the production of the coun-
try, and thereby increasing the aggregate wealth
of the community. All these are certainly very
desirable objects, and merit the countenance and
support of every good citizen, unless it can be
shown that in promoting them, you sacrifice 9th
er and greater interests. The Compiler thinks
we dol think we do-not. So here we are at
issue, and facts and reasoning must be resortedto
to settle the point.
The Compiler says that as the State is large
stockholder in two Of these companies, they have
no right to sacrifice the public interests by ren-
gushing the right TO toll which belongs to this
'Dhole State for the purpose of promoting any Sec
tional interests. Now / propose to look at this
proposition in various aspects.-And in the frs,
place as TO the question of right in legal point
OF vlow.-Are not all our joint-stock companies
organized on the principle that the majority of
votes, as ascertained by standard fixed in the
act of Incorporation, shall regulate the action of
the company Was not the State fully appraised
of tho principle when it entered into the partner
ship in these companies, and did it not, by enter
ing into that partnership, consent to be bound by
the act of the majority. Have not those majori,ies
acted in the cases complained of! Can the State
that acuivm ,Ec DE from, tho nor,
nershipl think not-what say you Mr.. Edi-
tore
The legal question is then clearly with the CON-
panies But how stands the question of moroI
right! Were not the Pulley improvements inter-
ded TO benefit the Pulley interests and is it not
the moral duty THE directors of those companies
so to shape their action as to fulfil the purposes
for which they were created? Is it not only the
moral duty of the directory Of such companies to
do SO, but is it not every days practice for them
to do so. The railroads from Fredericksburg to
Richmond, and from thence to North Carolina,
were Intended to promote the interests of the
country bordering on those improvements, and
have they not, in order to draw trace and travel
away from Norfolk to Richmond, reduced the
price of transportation of passengers to mere
song? Did any body complain of this action asX
wanton sacrifice of the interests of the Com
monwealth in her character of stakeholder in
those companies and more especially, did the
Compiler hurl its thunder-bolts against those
companies for it : l rather think not 7hen
1t was my bull that gored your ox-but no,D your
OK cores my bull. Eth! Mr.. Editor
But again-Is not the general interest COM
posed OF the aggregate of particular interests
And is it practicable for any improvement to af-
feet all the particular interests! Is there any
man who cherishes the ethiopian notion that you
can by any scheme promote the interests of all at
the same time and in the same way Common
sense admonlshes us to shape measures so as -
TO afford facilities to each one of geographical
divisions, and by promoting each separately to
add to the common aggregate of prosperity and
haPpiness-l am ready to admit that if circum-
stances permitted us to advance all at once,
would certainly go for that policy-but when they
10 not, why then | must go for them separately,
rather than permit one to be sacrificed to another.
The Compiler will probably understand the prac-
ical application which l would make Of this re-