Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-12-25

this State, animated by a feeling OF hostility q
prejudice towards the citizens Of Richmond. 4
not TO be trusted upon this question, and Oh
they will aid in breaking down the fortunes
Richmond and Virginia, to build up those OF b;
timore and Maryland.
Sir, for that party. as political party, I mex
not say, that have as little sympathy, ar
would confde as little in tlre,n, as those viii
make the objection. have good deal Of wrai
bottled up for that party, and hope TO sec the da
when shall plant many hearty blow in thei
sides-but not now, not now, sir and not upo
this occasion, nor upon this subject---at presen
AID upon this question, am disposed to bury tn
tomahawk, and unite with them hand and hear,
in generous. fra,efnal, patriotic effort, to re
deem the State from the degraded condition tina
awaits her, unless her active, influential and en-
terprSing sons, will come forward, one and ALL
to arouse her from her Rip Van Wrinkle slum-
bers.
Sir, that such course of policy would be pur-
sued, and for so gnobe an end, by that party, or
by any Legislature that could be chosen from a
nong the people, is what I can't believe, {donr
0fhece, and tcont beheue.
What, sir, road like this, that is carrying
] from two to four hundred thousand passengers
through The heart of Virginia yearly, and the
number constantly increasing--a road that is
empiying the rich and valuable productions Of
the great Valley Of the West into the lap of Vir-
gina in abundance and profnsion--a road that is
developing the resources Of the whole region of
State through which it passes, and furnishing a
ready way to market for every thing that can be
taken from the surface or dug from the bowels of
The cartha road that will heal all sectional di.
visions and interests between the East and the
west, and dispense It's advantages, its benefits
and blessings to the entire State by an increase
OF lis population, the attainment Of wealth. The
dispensation OF comfort and happiness, the en-
enlargement of industry and entefprize---all 10
be thrown away, from politica an.ipathy (Which,
by the bye, would be healed by the intercourse
consequent upon such line of Improvement to
the people of the city! Sir! sir! it is an idle
dreatn-it is the mere shadow of phantasm,
used only to excite hostility, prejudice and an.
prehension against this improvement, in ordef 10
benehi more favored plan of those who use IL;
but altogether unfit for nursery tale to impose
upon children, il carries with il no more terror
for rejecting mind than the story of Blue
beard, and has no more reality than the tales of
Munchausen. But if ii has become necessary
that we should, in our primary assemblies, in the
selection OF plan for our public Improvements,
guard against The wild, thoughlless, reckless and
destructive Legislation OF our own representatives,
and be driven from the choice of the most eligi-
bic and desirable route, from an apprehension
that II will be the object of the State TO break up
what II has itself bull up, only from political am
tipaihy 10 particular and comparatively small
portion OF It's population, why then, l say. it is
lime to have done with all improvements, and
time 10 arrest the further expenditure of money,
labor and breath upon the subject.
But as others apparently attach more impor.
lance 10 the suggestion than do, let us, for the
sake OF The argument, admit the apprehension to
be well ionnded-let us even 90 so far as 10 sup
pose the right OF way already granted to the Bal
tlnore and OHIO company TO ascend the Valley
OF Va, and tap road at Staunton-then tho
Baltimore company would, in my Judgment, ex-
hibit very little sagacity TO avail themselves of
the privilege; because, as ] will undertake to
show, they would have no just or reasonable ex-
peciaton OF divertiDg the trade from Richmond,
and would not therefore be justified in encounter.
ing the expense OF constructing their road, with
so little chance of success first, because, when
The producer or farmer reaches Staunton, he is
much nearer TO Richmond than BaItimore-beinp
within l2S miles OF the former and about 22O Of
The latter. Secondly, because he will have no
lndncement to encounter the transhipment Of his
produce from the freight train of the one comma
ny 10 the freight train of the other, which wobId
be attended with additional expense and delay:
and lastly, because Richmond furnishes a better
market than Baltimore. Strange as this NAV
appear, IT is nevertheless true and confess that
was somewhat unprepared for such result
when undertook an examination into the subject:
But II any gentleman will put himself 10 the
trouble OF making comparison of the table Of
prices current In the two cities, of the Same date;
at diherent periods OF the year, he will find it So!
\ have taken for illustration the last report
could find, oil dates approximalng each oiber.-
the one is taken from The Baltimore American of
The 10th, and the other from the Richmond Wbip
oil The Ilth, there being report in the Rich
mond papers on the 10th, and none from Balt-
more OF the llih, that could lay my hands on /;
bul u Is not TO be presumed that there was any
difference of prices occasioned by the difference
oil lime; and here is The result: