Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-02
For The Enquirer.
RAILROAD.
Nlessrs. Editors

MesSrS Editors:
Ihave juslread pamphlets, entitled, "Proeeed-
ings OF meeting OF The Stockholders Of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company held in tie
City OF Baltimore on the 18th July, Is45, 10 con-
slider The act OF the General Assembly OF Virgi-
mia, passed February 10, l8i5-to which is ap-
pended the Report made 10 the meeting BY The
Chief Engineer" The facts, that this pamphlet
is now, for The first time made public, and that
copy has been carefully sent 10 our Governor,
sufficiently indicate in what quarter il is design
ed 10 take effect 1t is presumed, that The public
would much sooner have received this entertain
ing medley Of fact and fiction, il it had not been
for prudent apprehension that its early appear
ance woad be followed BY an early relulalion.
But publication, Of which recent public history
is complete relu,ation and Of which some
parts retule others, can never he DELAYED long
enough 10 be eheclual. AS The Legislature, for
whom il appears 10 be designed, has fresh re-
collection Of The elaborate discussions which ex-
ploded the positions here reasSercd in the resolu
lions of the Injecting" and partly refuied and
partly affirmed in ''the Report OF the Chief En-
gineer," minute examination OF those posi-
lions would be but mis-speni labor. II is the old
neous assertions, 10 the inconsistent sophisries,
and to The assumption OF a right, on The part OF
the Company, 10 dictate legislation in Virginia,
which we saw so much OF last Winter.
But there is one design developed in this IRE
port," which cannot too soon arrest the attention
of The State, especially as the report was prepared
"under The instructions OF the President and Di-
rectors OF the Company" and probably influenced
the action OF The stockholders. The Legislature
of last Winter passed such an ac as doubtless
il deemed just, al least 10 The Railroad Company
and most wise for The weallh-but this
acl moi satisfying that Company, il has kept It's
machinery al work 10 coerce The passage OF
law more agreeable 10 ITSELF
The Chief Engineer, in addressing The stock
holders, (p. 20,) remarks that the faction OF the
stockholders on this occasion, will decide the
course of events in Northwestern Virginia.
He proceeds 10 explain. that certain counties Of
the Northwest sare naturally disposed 10 favor
the acceptance of the law, and, so ling as is ac-
ccpiance is possible, will continue united with the
Wheeling interest," and defeat any attempt TO pro-
cure more enlarged discretion as 10 terminus"
He adds, that other more Southern counties, "in
the hope that the law will be rejected arce1erting
themselves 10 procure the grant Of the right OF
way asked for by the company, and originally
possessed by it." YET The Convention al Clarks-
burg had lien been held and had decided that
the people there represented wanted onya charter
for new and independent company Were The
delegates there assembled only "exerling them
selves" Tor The benefit of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company after all
The Chief Engineer, then, with great preci-
sion, states the case thus: "If The law be accept
ed, there is settlement of the question. Ifil be
rejected, and distinctly on the ground of the re-
restriction as to route and terminus, then the is
sue will be presented TO the whole Of Northwest
ern Virginia, GDcluding even the county of
which Wheeling is the capital, and which is in
leresled in having the road at one OF The lower
termini, rather than lose il allogelher,) ola road
ending al Cumberland, or going TO Piltsburg, or
road ending atsome point below Wheeling, and
nollower than Parkersburg and may, perhaps,
,oithout presumption, venture TO express the con-
viction that such an issue would unite the entire
North west in the struggle TO win new and bet
Ter law, not only with new discretion as 10
route and terminus, burfree from numerous other
restrictions which virtually nulify the privilege
offered hy The acl before you !" :. 81 may add,
tina, in the present posture Of affairs in that re-
eion, posponemenl Of The question to future
meeting of The stockholders, would dampen he
zeal Of these counties almost as effectually as an
acceptance OF the law" To sustain this opinion,
the Chief Engineer adduees the following extract