Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-02-06

lied upon. This purchase was sanctioned by The
Stale of Virginia, and was rather an evidence Of
the ~liberality Of the company. What has this 10
10 with the question A large portion of The
senlleman's remarks was made up Of erroneous
statements, exhibiting the accuracy Of his mole
eyed observation.
MIR. LEE proposed TO Offer, by way OF amend
ment 10 the bill, a clause requiring The appropria-
ton o The Subscription Of one million, on the
part Of Wheeling, to The construction O, a branch
road from Buffalo Fork, the poin, Of divergence,
10 Wheeling, lie company furnishing The addi-
tional capital that might be required for this rui-
pose.
Mr.. EDGINGTON said, be would accep, no
such offer, unless in black and white from The
President Of the company.
MIR. LEE replied that il was designed as a pro-
vision in the charter Of The new Company. Ii
was useless, however, 10 altcmp 10 concilia,e
Wheeling. II they SHOULD succeed in this they
would have carried but all outwork, while The
great opposition from the champions Of the cen
iral improvement was sill 10 be- encountered
The tear is entertained, that The subscriptions 10
that work could mol be so readily obtained il Ibis
Northwestern Road should be authorized. Capt.
talisls would MOI res, their subscriptions upon
mere surmises, OF upon the contingencies Of the
grant of The right 81 way The privilege Of min
ing and manufacturing was The principal induce.
ment TO subscribers. How was il possible that
the canal with a railroad running parallel 10 il
and in lis vicinity, should be injured by a rail.
road al the distance oil more than one hundred
miles? II was The dictate of wisdom on the part
OF the friends Of the canal mol 10 assume an alli-
Jude OF hostility TO the Improvements OF The north
west. II was The first duty of The State 10 provide
the necessary highways for the people. II was
an outrage upon their rights not 10 allow them 10
make Improvements for themselves with their
own resources. All he asked of the State was
justice and equal rights. He was gratiied 10
know that his views on this subject were sustain
ed BY the ablesl men OF Virginia.
MIR. WEST proposed 10 amend the bill by
adopting Middle Island AS The terminus OF the
road. This was a compromise between the ex-
IRENE Northern and Southern termini proposed.
He was convinced olthe p~roprieiy OF this amend
ment by the arguments of the gentlemen from
Hardy and Wheeling. The act OF last session
had been rejected, and the Route 10 Wheeling de-
clared 10 be impraclicable. He was instructed 10
vote against any terminus South Of Wheeling.
If a more favorable terminus should not be pro-
posed by The Legislature, it was highly probable
that Pittsburg would be selected by the Company.
The terminus at The mouth Of The Little Kama
wha had also been reported by Mr.. Crozel as i'm
practicable. His amendment would provide a
route twenty miles nearer than either of those
SiSbOiPt PpbppSSG, INV 10 " Npbad OO Z
duced in amount TWO millions Of dollars. He did
not believe that the vigilant spirit which had
been manifested in the East would permit The
Company 10 select the most Southern route,
thereby endangerins The success Of the central
improvement, and The prosperity OF the North
western Turnpike and the Slaunton and Parkers-
burg road. He would appeal to the Legislature
TO selec, this route in consideration Of the condi-
tion OF The country through which il would pass.
They have No othpr pprovop,ont and he 10 no
yer received any thing at the hands Of The State.
MIR. WEST withdrew his amendment for The
present, at The request Of Mr.. EDGINGTON,
who desired a fair field for himself and Mr.. Lee.
Mr.. SCOTT presented, BY way of argument,
the following amendment:
Provided, also, that, before the rights, privile-
ges and powers hereby granted shall be exercised,
The said Company shall, 10 the satisfaction of the
Board Of Public Works, secure 10 be paid 10 the
Commonwealth, yearly, for ten years, from and
after the completion of their said road, a sum OF
money, which, together with the nett receipts
from lhe tolls collected upon the Northwestern,
and Stanton and Parkersbnrg roads, shall be
equal TO an interest Of six per cent. per annum
on the amount expended by the Commonwealth
in the construction Of the said roads.
Mr.. LEE said that he would accept the amend
ment, Tor The purpose of quieting all complaints
Of injustice TO other Improvements. Since the
sonoc OF juoticc Of the meunIer from Fauqnier
seemed to require it, he would waive all objec-
tons, although he had thought six per cent. was
TOO large dividend 10 be allowed.
MI. BOCOCK said that he had prepared an
amendment similar in its provisions TO the one
Just presented. The only difference was, that
his amendment provided for the payment of five
per cent. for an indefinite number of years. He
had no intention Of entering al large upon the
merits OF the bill. He was ready, however, to
declare his sanction OF this measure. Although
he was a Southsider, not within The influence
OF the proposed road, and generally opposed 10
extravaganza appropriations for internal improve
ments; yet he would not reject an application
from any portion OF The Stale for The privilege TO
construct a road with lis own means. This can
not &c considered an application from The Balti-
more and Ohio company. The bill authorizes
books of subscription 10 be opened in various
counties Of The State, and provides that The act
OF incorporation shall take effect when eight mil
lions of dollars shall have been subscribed. In
what manner was the Baltimore and Ohio Com
pany connected with this subject They might
furnish a portion OF the capital. he had no OBJ
lection 10 the investment and expenditure OF any
amount Of foreign capital within The Stale. The
bill was on the same footing In this respect with
the Richmond and Ohio Railroad bill, except that
in the latter cas-. the introduction OF foreign ca
pital was considered as a recommendations
This bill was not identical in principle with
those formerly rejected. What alteration can
it make in the existing relations between The
city Of Wheeling and The Baltimore and Ohio
Company2 The company will not be released
from any Of lis obligations by the passag &c OF The
bill. The act of las, session will not thereby be
repealed. What has The want OF fidelity OF the
company in its engagement with The city of
Wheeling 10 do with The bill before the House2-
The object of the bill is 10 incorporate a new
\ copopapv for Tho pnrpcSa IF roneIructinC a rai IL
road from the south branch of the Potomac River
10 some point on The Ohio not south OF Parkers-
burg. All the arguments arIayed against the bill
are irrelevant. We are constantly told of the
wealth and prosperity Of Wheeling, and Of The
poverty of the surrounding counties. Wheeling
has already the benefit of the National Road and
other Improvements, by means of which she is
fast growing TO greatness. Should ibis rich city
alone be regarded at The expense OF the prosperity
OF a wide region OF %country7 Every argu
ment adduced in opposition, tends TO establish
the p~ropriely of the passage Of the bill. Shall
all the considerations OF interest TO The North
west be sacrificed for the manufacturers Of
Wheeling7 1t was OF far more consequence 10
promote The agricultural prosperity of the conn
try. II he believed that this road would come in
10 competition with the central improvement, lie
would still sustain it. II would be unjust 10 re-
turn hostility for friendship. de believed that
the passage Of The bill would stimulate The sub
s~cription to The Richmond and Ohio Road. Bal
tinore and New York were competitors for The
trade and travel Of The West, and II was expect
ed that the latter city would furnish The capital
for the Southern route. The Southern road
would have an advantage in the competition for
the trade of the Mississippi valley. Between
Parkersburg and Guyandotte was TO be found the
very wors, portion O; The Ohio river FOR purposes
of commerce. The great valley Of The Mis-
sissippi, which was rapidly growing in wealth
and population, would furnish an abundant
trade for both OF these roads. They would
moi be rival routes; but il he were satisfied that
thew would compete with each other, he would
still be found as the friend and advocate of both
Mr.. BROADUS moved The indefinite post
ponement OF the whole subject. The held had
been enlarged and there seemed to be no end 10
ibis discussion. The session was rapidly drawing
10 a close, and ii was lime 10 dispose Of This
question. He was surprised at the amendment,