Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-11-18
To the Editors of "a, tyAi<

contest between Riehmond and Ckarieioa the Wes
| orn trade.
| To the Editors Of the WAis:
| Mess's Editors-ln reading the proceedings OF the
meeting the subject Of Internal Improvement held
tho Exchange, ON Tuesday evening last furnished by
your editorial remarks, find the following passage;
"Mr. Bolts made powerful effort for the Louisa Rail-
road scheme, but surpassed his ability, induce
the Richmond public think practicable expedient and
Jud'eiors The vote taken late, when large and
most enlg htened meeting had become thin from cShas
ton bu, had the whole population been there, his
louisville tnd Stanton scheme playing people tnk
into the pockets OF Baltimore would have repudasd
/ ny much larger proPortonate majority"
Now certainly, no reasonably object, uat the
Editors OF the Wing, any other Journal should think
themselves and they choose upon the pIsetcaby and
cSpodicncy ct this, other work ct improvement
which the State, individuals asked embark their
means, but when they think for n whole com.
munlty aud advance views that erroneous perhaps
mischieNous IN their effects, becomes necessary that
there should be understanding of the facts
The opinion then, expressed by the Editor the remarks
above quoted worth just much aud more the
opinion OF other respectable and inelsen, citizen; and
while meg Re as he represents that the had been
taken when the meeting full the scheme presented by
VIZ Bolts would have been repudaied by much larger pro.
poronate msjory, yet there those among us
Their fsto far ber,en," who entertain very different
opinion there even, who think that ii the vote
had been taken at any time when the meeting was full.
II
to that OF the a. who virtually voted against his proposition
there that number OF persons it will be re-
collected in tho entire city who stood committed to Mr.
Maeiarands PLAN tha has obtained favor where clse
''h0 stood their ground manuy until nearly every body
else had left the and would be il the
IS ayes had been taken the meeting which adopted Mr.
Maciafands original resolutions, how many Of he
constituted the majority Of 4s that on the latter oc
easion adopted the resolution, That this meeting con-
ours IN the views expressed at former meeting PEG
pie Richmond and sufficient reason for changing
them"
Indeed has been the fortune Of the writer OF this ar
Gle 10 have met with scarcely oil the five hundred per-
sons, who attended that meeting. who did not believe As
well m the expediency pacucabty OF the plan OF I'M
ProNemeni proposed, with the exception OF the aforesaid
forty eEh-and yet this heTaded the sentiment
almost unanimous Of this popuous and enlightened civ
protest against il
First, because believe il 10 be pros, mistake in nont
Of fact
Secondly. because believe i, calculated to produce
very mischi-vous consequences.
What was the proposition submitted by Mr. Bots =.
modified by him. which the meeting called 10 yoel il
was In substance and Phraseolosy well recOected
follows:
Resolved. AZ the this meeting that IL is cane
dent General Convention should held al an e.ry dsy
either stanton Richmond 10 take into consideration
the most practicable and desirable mode Of connecting the
waters OF the James and Ohio rivers by continuous line
rail- road"
Now, Certainly be reasonable that every man
who consuts the public interest should desire befre The
State citizens should emb rk IN work of spcb
nnde IS this, that only all the light of experience and
science should be collected together but that all or at es,
other Portions OF the Common should be con uied-
as 1t would be only by combination of the resources and
energies al the whole that such work could be ACCOMPLISH
ed-ond might not the rejection OF such proposition by
the people OF Richmond 4 time when 50 respectable
portion OF the State agstng rlis perv scheme give
rise TO the charge Of sehness not rashaes thai they
had become welded particular scheme OF an od
vdusl or sectional interest which were resolved on
sustaining al sacrifice the public interests no,
snen course OF acn"n likely TO increase the prejudice al
ready existing in VI the country against the c
| Sens a Richmond which TO deprecate more
than ycurselYssi-~i they naturally enquire why the
'rsac q. particular plan which Ia tern
and N'sien water by line ol rail road wards of
500 rifles m extent passing by the Clover Hill Coal Pts IN
Cb seriiold 10 Fsunyie thence Lynrhburg and Bueh.n
an then South West 10 the Horse Shoe New River land
to this extent running sm0s parallel with James River
anu hanawha Canal, thus fuInhing lines Of improve
ment TO the s. w. rivss each other and providing
non'ng Tor the North West passing the Red Sulphur
sPrGss IN Monroe 10 ChaEeston and Guvandoe, should
be unwilling 10 subject proper and Tsd scrutiny be
tore II II adopted or at with the
another scheme OF only 354 miles OF to be laid 1.-The dis
lance from Cordonsvle 10 Guysniottc passing through
Siaunton CovingIon by the White Sulphur sprngs 10
Charleston and Guyandoite which would all the pu:
poses ct the Northwest with proper lateral roads, aud by this
meas harmonic the interests Of all parts Of the State and
| which would rival asi OF our own great improve
mems, upon which millions nave been expended but
leave II TO work out its salvation with the great
Southwestern McAdamized Railroad as a feeder from
Buehanani but US nval to the baltimore AMI Ohio
Railroad, which would ct once be off at Cun.bcr-
L
up as well against the scheme itself the citizens Of
Richmond If shall be believed. that they, with single
voice IN the Legislature had soeinnly resolved upon
the line Of Improvement for themselves and refused 20 meet
people Of Louisa, AlbemaTe, Augusta Rockbrdge Bath
GreenbriGr hanawha and the whole Valley and Northwest
in COnvenionto compare views and ASCERTAIN which was
the cheapest, which the best, which he most pr.eton
bic route, and which would accommodate the largest
interest.
For these reasons, then, regard the article alluded
10 mlschieyous in Its consequence as would have
been the action OF tho meeting, II IL had been by
number sufficiently large 10 have commanded confidence
or respect as indicative Of public sentiment. It may
| also be mlschIeyons in another point OF view
| For one, | believe this Convention must be held
believe the road will be consuccd-I believe IL IL the
only practicable and desirable route that will rival and
pui down the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad as A great
thUroughfne for the travel aud trade OF the Rrsat Wes
aud II may be that foreign aid might be asked 10 build
up this great improvement, by which time look upon
II ns neat 10 eeriain ih.i you yourselves will have
changed your opinions and become wafm advoo,tes for
is prosecution; Ia which event. will u not have been
unfortunate not mischieyous, that the oa6ing d. Der
Of the City Of Richmond has already prom lunced as Inc
judgment Of It's enlightened citizens, that the scheme B
" imPraetiedbie iasTpsdient, and inJudieious."
Upon the subject Oi improvement IN Virgins, your heart
~ IN the night place, but you will me for sa, ny
mpetuosi upon this question has led your judgment
ast1y-and hope the county will understand that the
people OF this city are Eeither committed ~, nr against
tins or any other plan of connecting the Eastern West
efn waters by continuous line Of railroad are
TO adopt that which may be hest calculated to elevate the
fallen fortunes Ut our native State.
take leave TO subscribe myself friend the nteres s
and welfare Of tho entire COMMONWEALTH
N. D. propose II your columns sre open to froo dis
cussion, which cannot doubt go more at large into
this subject at future but distant day. and shall DO
happy to discuss the merits OF the pIsns with any
friend Of tho Southsde plan. either before the pc ope or in
the public prints, as they may prefer