The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-09-02
FRANK f.. RlNES-THE PETERSBURG
INIELIIL.ENCEE- ,ELIE. N0D InDI n ~


FRANK f.. RINES-TRE PETERSBURG
lNTELLIGEN CER-THE NORFOLK HERALD
Some days since the Norfolk Herald contained
whitening, scathing article, against Frank f..
Rives, and the whole party who have lent them
selves 10 the shameful and most ignobe work of
destroying the Portsmouth Rail Road. That
article has been replied to Mrough the editorial
columns of the Petersburg Inlegencer, if bv the
editor, SO much more understandable is the attack
upon the editor of the Herald; but if. as we sne-
pect, by Rives himself then it is in perfect keen
ing with his whole conduct, in this nelarious
transaction. Instead 0f meeting and parrying the
home thruSts contained therein. he makes the
editor of the lnellgcncer, receive the broadside
and assume the quarrel creating false issue. and
making direct personal attack upon the editor of
the Herald, hoping thereby, to divert public at
tentlun from the true issue. The editor of the
Herald met the attack, Just in the manner he
should in his paper of yesterday morning, from
which we extract the following paragraph =
s." The plea Of a want of argument or nroof in
our article is mere begging of the question:
What we wrnte was only in the way of cam
ment; the argument and proof having long auo
heen furnished TO the pnc and to the Board of
Public Works; indeed, the late proceedings of the
Petersburg Company is proof enough, in all con-
science, to establish their participation in Rives's
operations for the destruction of the Portsmnutb
road. We are aware that it has been denied bv
its friends from the first, that The PETERSBURG
Company had any part or lot with Rives in his
sngdciOuS speculation TO stop the Portsmouth
road and when it became notorious tina, the Pre-
sident of that Company had used its property and
means TO back Rives in his Iawess attack upon
the Portsmouth Road in Jan. 1874, This iootprints
being visible IN every step taken by Rjves in the
contamination Of his SdgGciouS SpecUiaijou !,
was still urged that it was not with the consent
of the Company or Directory and more than one
of the Directors Were heard TO denounce the whole
proceedings as diShonorable,--yet the resolution
to profit by this dIShOnOrable proceedings met
with not n breath of opposition. Not voice was
raised in condemnation of the President. and that
which in lis lncpency was viewed by these
honorable gentlemen as 4 SneakiOg, underhand
act, which they were ashamed TO approve became
a II fair and honorable when they found that Rives
had verify succeeded in obtaining what thew so
ardentiy desired, the uninterrupted monopoly of
the travel But enough of this. We Iool, to the
next Legislature to investigate the natter and
we doubt not that they will find argument and
proof enough TO convince them, that in composing
the destruction of an important pnblic work in
which the State is largely Interested, there has
been pretty foul play As a body ever vigiIant in
protecting the rights, liberty and property of the
citizens, perhaps the fact may awaken in their
minds the enquiry whether there is not something
defective in the system Of laws which putS il in
the power of any sagacious Spectator to bnv up
a debt Of ten dollars and destroy an amount of
property which cost the owner five thousand dol
lars, by coercing payment with the memorable
pertlnaclty and seIlishness of ShylocIi or John
ny Hook. We are far from coun5elling any in
road upon the Just rights Of creditors but surely
it must be admitted that this is giving one man
too great power over another"
We have not seen the Petersburg InteIligen-
Ger for some days.-.Nc1r Era.