Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-01-16
James Rirey and Kaya,,ba Connanv

james hipeF dHd hGHdnhd Company
There appeared in the Richmond Wing either late in
November, early in December, writer under the sigma
ture of Citizen Of Virginia" who made sundry rs
seemed u well sustained charges of and
vagance III the management Of the Company, well as
ncupncity Of the President, Directors &c. &c. No soon
did that writer appear than he attacked in the harsh
est manner, by who seemed standing ready aud per-
haps with but little else do, under the signature Of
" Justice" But then the defence Of Justice"
flying the clique another under the signature of Erich
mOnd," his aid, the Wing of the 9Th of De-
cember-and this Richmond" thatI now have word
or two To say-Premsing however that never "Rich
mond" until day past-and although ii seems
rather late discuss what he has said the public
yet the election of the President obviously the OBJ
ect which "Richmoud" designed promote since that
election has been postponed future day. by wise
and sautary intcTpostiOn of tire Lcgsature-a reply
" Richmond" - IN good time.
Ii seems quite manifest TO me, and ann the public
will agree with me, that from the ull knowledge the
whole subject protested by "Richnond," well as from
the authentic OF Iniormation," at his hand
and in his reach that his production be considered
little less than the official defence of the Prcsi.
dent himself-and | have lle doubt from the triumph.
ant air, which through his article, and from the
length of time since it appeared, without any thing
sand against it, that he and his party have often chuck
led IN their sleeves ut the success with which he had killed
OFT opposition.
Now "Richmond although there is much matter in
that publication for the serious and alarming appre.
hensiOn, yet for the present. have only time consider
that portion Of IT, which yourself obviously regard
the most essential for your purpose. You say ought
"be conclusive to every candid mind -" refer the
dence Of the Chief Engineer OF the Sate-ha evidence
extracted from the report the Board of Public Works in
the fall lo4O and page 1876, is, quoted by yourself in
the following words: CosT-lhc Of the canal up
Lynchburg nearly Si,5O7 OO0 which makes 1t 32 s57
per mile and If the Locks at fret intended had been
made Of good stone, 1t might have been S35 900 per
mile. The has certainly exceeded the anticpaiions
OF the public, who expected IT, from early reports be less
than 100000 per mile: hence have opinions unfa
yorablc TO the management Of the Company-whereas
the Of the disappointment is fact, that the
cost underestimate IL may be recoocted that in
1881, my minimum estimate SOS 600 per mile Board
I e.. hut uv own p4tim ATE
has also been exceeded, IL attributable the general in
Of prices which has taken place since, throughout
the country; and ia degree also the great npdity
with which the work has been pushed" Such is the evil
dencc which you have summoned your side, and triumph
aniy array conclusive to every candid mind" Now,
take no exception 10 tins tesnony but think II easy to
show that II avail IN what have undertaken
II will be recoccted, stated in the quoted paragraph
from the State Engineers report that before the work
begun, the charter enacted there Of
umaics largely varying from each other, Ia the Of
II. The minimum OF the State Engineer 5000 per
mile; the other, less than 100000 per mile But unforu.
natey for purpose the President aud his aids in their
wisdom, rejected the former and adopted the latter enste
They went hcad-hld IL all their way-Inade a work
largely exceeding the estimates OF the stat" Engineer, and
double their own and now, having not only gotten
through with the which have been placed in their
hands, and the State reduced to the Of bankruptcy,
To say nothing of the total loss OF the individual ockthc
public, all, well the individual Stockholders, injured
and disappointed, speak somewhat that which they feel
What they say Is denounced rs mere insignificant
charges and the opinions of the Chief Engineer, dir
regarded when they Rycn overwhelmed and burr
ed by the party You espJuse, dsntsred from
than years BURIAL and brought forth to shield your
/ men.
I confess " Richmond whom road you, that consi.
dcnng the fluent style Of your article, and the appn.
confidence aud triumph with which you put II FORTH
felt serious msgiyngs as 90 my own capacity 10
dcrzand yoi-I could realise myself, how could
be-, that one, eminent like you, DOR guess rightly who
are) second only IN the clique which be-
long, could, In tie defence Of friend, summon witness
10 your side, every line and letter Of whose testimony,
YOU write IL yourself 80 ~ show tat tat friend knows mo-
thing Of tho great subject which he las successfully and
uOusly sought the confidence Of the public But reading
/ you aud again. find was right What thon
IL the substantive effect Ut this evidence, which be
conclusive every candid mind1" Why. IL less than
place the defence which you have undertaken and prove
your TT for their places the ground that they
know and understand their business but because another
with whom they differ does understand IT, The State En-
gncor knew you wrong from the beginning, and told
you 20, but you would not believe hm-and now, whom
your have worked the confidence uf the public in
them, 90 rags and tacrs the cry BE-; Save me! mel
for although knew better, tho State Engineer, whose
\ admonitions we dcspsod did knew better. But such ~
/ "Richmonds" Defence have only given him The full
benefit Of iand be is content with such defence,
! am.
Now, Richmond, I done with you-und done
with the subject, until sec in PRINT the Presidents Book
read bv him Stockholders, Proxies, nc. &c, Ht the
late annual meetnr-And fear you will think am hard
hearted since have been unwilling 10 indulge you, even
in the ingorous privilege, Of hiding the Of your
friend behind the opinions ol another with whom both
YOU and him always differed. But trust You will acuut
me Of the mputadon, when remind you, that have re-
| Trained from commenting the greedy seclovc, which
could avail gclf Of The true opinion, without the grace
first 10 acknowledge the Of the false one. would
sign myself " Stakeholder, but ~ nonsense-our
money has passed under the management Of such emnen
~ competent hands, hope am not persona-that IL
now oil gonc--and have no other concern or con.
nexon with them, and shall adopt other title, than what
' truly am-- A TAX-PAYER