Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-04-13

from the Advocate that Mr.. Goggin made very
favorable impression. and was rather too hard for
the Governor, who. it seems, was made to feel
very sensibly the disadvantage Of having a bad
cause. What made it still more annoying. some
of the Governors own Wing speeches were used
as instruments for demolshing him.
VIRGINIA AND THE BALTIMORE AND
OHIO Rail. ROAD.
The proceedings in the Virginia Legislature ON
the bill to allow extension Of five years to tho
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company for tho
completion of that portion of their work to be con-
structed within the limits Of Virginia, were made
known to our readers a few days since, and thew
were calculated to produce serious apprehensions
OF determination on the part OF Virginia to with
draw from her engagement with the company an
contracted in 1898. The Richmond Who of
"Wednesday has the following paragraph on this
subject:
baltimore and Ohio Rail Road-.The bill rela-
ting TO this Company has been laid upon the Ia
Die, ana VIII not be again taken up during the
present session. We have not ourselves given
any close attention to the bill; but with such in.
formation as we have Of il, derived from the dis.
cussion and conversation with tho members we
should think 1t had substantial merits, and such
as cannot fail to ensure it favorable considera-
ton when presented under more proptious cir
cumstances. 1t was, however, introduced late
before the body, and came for hearing during
that confusion and ndisposition TO attend to bust
ness, which always charactcrizes the closing
scenes OF tedious and protracted session. Sew
cral gentlemen who voted for Mr.. Crutchfcd's
amendment, on Saturday last. and amongst then,
MIR. Lewis, of Westmoreland, and Mr.. Leake, of
Albemarle, expressed great doubts about the pro-
priety OF their votes, and intmated purpose Of
moving Il reconsideration. The subject will no
doubt receive full and fair consideration next
WINTER
n oil ,l,l Al. L.,,- n
understanding Of the actual position of Virginia in
relation 10 the Company, is requisite to ensure a
prompt reversal Of the vote by which the amend
ment here referred TO was carried.
The facts OF the case show that the subscription
OF Virginia to the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road
was asked and given as a consideration for a.
6andonng the route first contemplated through
Marylan and adopting one through Virginia. 1t
was thought that two fifths of the estimated cost
of constructing the road from Harper's Ferry to
Cumberland would be a fair proportion for Vir-
gina to contribute and by her act of subserip-
ton in April 1888, Virginia virtually acknowl.
edged the proprety of this estimate by fixing her
subscription al 81 05S, 900, two-fifths of the sup
posed cost.
The language of the first section of the act, a
portion OF which we quote, will show the UNDER
standing witch existed on this point:
BE enacted By the General assembly, That
the Board of public works be, and are hereby
authorized and instructed 10 subscribe to the capt.
tai stock of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad COM
pany TO the amount of million ffty-eight
thousand one hundred and twenty dollars, being
ftco tfMs IF tie estimated cost IF constructing the
Tatboad Of said company through the territory of
M's state, bci,ceen Harpers Ferry and Cumberland
IN tie State Of Maryland: Propided, that the said
sum shall not he paid until six months after the
said company SHALL have proved to the satsfac-
ton of said Board of public works, that the said
road from Ilarper's Ferry, west, through the terri
tory 9f this state to within about six miles of Cum
berland and from thence through Cumberland to
the City of Wheeling in the county of Ohio has
been actually completed and in operation with
single track.
ture of Virginia to make the States investments
secure beyond all probable contingencies. The
road in its progress TO Wheeling would pass
through another portion of Virginia territory in
the North Western part of the State, and it was
stipulated that the subscription should not be
paid until the entire road was finished from Har-
per's ferry to Wheeling. Another condition pre-
scribed the 4th of July, 1912, as the period be-
You'd which the operations Of the Company could
not proceed.
The substantial advantages which Virginia ex-
pected from the location of the route from Har-
pcr's Ferry to Cumberland within her territory,
have been secured to her. That portion of the
road Is completed: The whole line, with the ex-
ceptlon OF six miles. is within the limits Of Vir-
gina, running through the Valley counties of JEFF
ierson, Berkeley, Morgan, and Hampshire. Ii
would be a monstrous violation of good faith.
such as Virginia could not but shrink from, if now
advantage were taken of failure to fulfil
nominal condition merely-a condition which en-
tered not into the spirit Of the conlract-f advan-
tage were taken, we say, of mere failure in
point OF time when there has been none i'm point
OF TACT, to refuse compliance with terms Of the
States own making after having obtained all the
benefits OF the agreement. That the company did
not complete the stipulated work within the stpu-
lated time is fact which rebounds to their credit;
1T shows that they would not be hurried beyond
the line OF prudent management and safe proceed
ing for an object of real importance. The
whole period since 1888 has been one of unusual
difficulty, and financial embarrassment, as eyery
body knows. The able and experienced gentle
man at the head of the Company, whose master
ly management of its affairs has been signalized
at every step of its progress through all this peri
cd of difficulty devoted himself to the steady adj
vancemeut of the work with so much skill and
judgment as to secure that object without impair
ing the resources of the Company.
1t would mol have been consistent with his we'll
Judged policy to waste money, when every dol
lar was to be husbanded, on portion of tho
route that must lie uDproductve for some wears
yet to come. The " heeling section might have
been completed, doubt, within the specified
time, and thus literal compliance would have
been made with the law bearing upon all parts
OF the road within the territory Of Virginia. But 10
what end! Not to satisfy any scruples of reason-
able men-not TO evade any difficulty that reason-
able men would aPprehend-not to secure any re-
ally important object. 1t would have been
wasteful expenditure of means at time when
means were net D be procured very easilv