Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-02-03

MI.JOHN Ii. GUSTS thought that II , ,3uo
wasa fair compensation Tor thfee-loufths OF me
labor, 900 dollars was sufficient Tor one-tourth.
The motion Of Mr.. Harvie was lost-ayes As,
noes 60.
The order OF the day was then called for by Mr..
PENDLETON.
A bill 10 incorporate the Potomac and Ohio
Railroad Company.
Mr.. EpGlNGION remarked, that this vas
the third time he had been called upon during a
short legislative career, 10 resist an application
identical with The one now before the House
The Baltimore and Ohio Company having been
twice defeated have again forced him 10 assume
4 hostile attitude. He was compelled 10 lake his
position in defence OF the rights and commercial
existence OF The CITY Of Wheeling The gentle
man from Hardy (Mr. Lce) asserted that these
applications were not identical. He would en-.
deavor 10 satisfy the House Of their complete
identity. For woy years he had himself favored
this application, relying upon The Law Of 1865
MIR. McLane, when IL the city OF Richmond,
asserted, that the object OF The Company was
10 select a terminus on the Ohio River as
far South as possible, in order that they
might secure The trade and travel Of the Missis-
sissippi valley. Since that time he had declared
his opposition 10 The grant OF tine right OF way.
The company did not dare 10 bring forward their
Dill again, Dul CAIGlNS', W SUClCSSlSC dpIliCd-
lions, indirectly, TO attain their object. Last ses-
sion a bill was introduced by The company and
every question connected with the s%aIjecl was
discussed b. Mr.. McLane. The bill was advo-
Gated by the ablest champions, and opposed
by himself almost unaited and alone yet with
these advantages, The bill was rejected by a
majority Of iorly, and the Legislature decided
that the right OF way should not be granted, unless
The company selected Wheeling As the Western
terminus Of their road. Defeated in their schemes,
chameleon-like, they present themselves IN a new
aspect. The gentleman from Hardy Advocated
the bill OF last session, and Immediately after H.
passage, BY his agency, called together The
Clarksburs Convention, and advised The rejection
of this proposition. Alter lie COMPANY had de-
lermined TO violate their contract with Wheeling,
relying upon the influence OF private interest, lher
present a golden bait 10 Parkershurg and 10 The
counties through which The road nigh; pass
Tile Legislature declared by a solemn act, thai
The relations then existing between the COIN
pany and Wheeling should not be disturbed =
In The language Of the President Of The Company,
and in that Of the Clarksburg Convention, is
found The identity of the present application and
the one which was rejected al the last session
They concurIed in the declaration lhalthe true pc
licy was 10 reject the law, and then apply agar
to the Legislature. Flow is The question desis'
mated a, this time? Just as il was the la>l
session -"The grant OF The right OF way
Before entering upon a history Of This app!ica-
ton, he would reTly 10 several positions assumed
hv The gentlemen from Hardy. He asserted thai
The Legislature was bound 10 grant an applica-
lion Tor an act OF Incorporation 10 any Company
that proposed 10 construct a road with lis "
means. Was il true that acts OF incorporation
were lavorabiy received by the Legislature unless
they were carefully guarded? Ii was usual Ia
enquire what The effect Of the act would be upon
the corporaiorS themselves and upon the interests
Of others. The gentleman says, ven should moi
deprive one man of The right 10 construct = road
because another has a road already. Such qucs.
tons are frequently presented and address them
relves 10 The public Interests. The gentleman IS
no less ~iLcorrec, in his statistics than in his legal
positions. To excite the patty rreJudices Of
members he alludes 10 the high profits OF The man
utacturers of Wheeling. The gentleman in.
dulcrs SO frequently in his aerial flights amongst
the clouds and is SO much dazzled by the slorics
Of his revolutionary ancestry, that he is rendered
irrapabIe Of determining The practica! questions
nj This dulI artb, and all his calculations will lie
,onnd 10 be as far from the ruth as his estimates
of The profits Of The Wheeling manufacturers.
Mr.. Edgington next presented a brief outline
of the history Of this application. in 1927 an
act Of incorporation was obtained from Virginia,
similar in its provisions 10 that granted BY Mary.
land. Virginia had al that time embarked in no
grca, Improvement. The James River and ka
nawha Company commenced their operations
about the year 1852. Acting upon The suggestions
ofthe father oi his country, Virginia endeavors t.
complete The connection between the James and
the Ohio, and refuses 10 grant permission 10 the
Baltimore and Ohio Company 10 select u terminus
L nI.. lnI.,,, ~, ~I,nI az tha 7 ,tIn L.
nawha. This permission 10 The Company re-
manned a dead letter until 1884. They then GO
10 Wheeling, and induce lis citizens 10 believe
III. the interests of wheeling and OF The Compa-
nv are connected. III 1875 The city was in.
duced 10 subscribe, and an unqualified sibscrip-
lion Of tWo-fiilhs was obtained from The Stale,
upon condition that the road should be completed
TO Wheeling. In 1888, The Baltimore and Ohio
Company appeared before The Virginia Legisia-
ture represented by their President. The inter.
ests Of Wheeling were entrusted 10 the vigilance
of MIR. Knishr, Il man who was equal in all re-
specis 10 the hoasici ancestry OF The gentleman
from tiardy: amt upon him cevolvcd The task OF cN
posing The trickery and dislo esiy II his Comra-
ny. Most al The arguments oflhe gentleman from
Handy were cullcd from The reports 9th. Compa-
ny, and had all long since been exploded. These
Ieports seem 10 have been drawn Nv those who
EGu dGOpltu tic StHllilItLt VI i dIlCN ldliu, 'lal
Language was vouclsaitd TO man, 10 enable him
the better 10 conceal his thoughts" Circum.
siauces were concealed, which il brought 10 lielI
would have shown how much reliance could be
placed in the generosity and honesty OF this
Company. Volumes have been heaped upon
volumes, 10 induce The Stale 10 yield 10 their de.
lnandS. They held ont the inducemen', that a
great benefit would be conferred upon The Stale
and upon The Ciiyct Wheeling. a subscription
If ,0as,cG0 dollars was obtained from He State,
and | 900 900 dollars from Wheeling, upon their
declaration, thai W!rciing was 10 be ilr ie.mi-
nus. Having secured their effects, iher disrc-
gard Wheeling, aud Gcsirr 10 build up Baltimore
alone. Now, their object Is 10 90 as lar Suulh on
the Ohio as possible, 10 continue their railroad
across Inc bend ot the OHIO 10 Cincinnati, and
thus IL secure The immense trade and uavel Il
The valley al The Mississippi. (Nr. f.. here cx-
hiibi!ed a map 10 The House, showing the route
contemplated for the future extension of the load
to the West, by which it appeared that all the
trade and travel OF The West would be intercepted
by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and diverted
from The central improvement OF Virsinia.)
II had iecn admitted b. the organs OF TIE
COMPANY, that it was their interest 10 strike
The Ohio al The point farthest South. Wheeling
had complied with the Terms Of her subscription
as far as was practicable. The company hav-
ing obtained all hey desired world give The 90
By 10 Wheeling, and destroy The prospects Of the
second city in the State. The opinion was pro
nounced hy ore Of the abie>t lawyers in he
county (Nlr. Schleish) that Wheeling was Al p,e-
sent legally a stakeholder Of the company. Her
subscription had been lost by an CT OF omission
on The part Of The company. Until the year
lsi3, Mr.. McLane h d regarded Wheeling as a
slockholder. The company having cheated their
own Legislature thought there could Re no dill
Guilty in deceiving Virginia Legislators, good
easy souls. He had co-opelaied with Mr.. Nc.
Lane until he discovered the Objects oil The Com
pany, and then he did not hesitate 10 avow his
hostility. In view Of the fidelity of Wheeling
10 The State, in The hour Of dargrr-in considera-
ton OF her liberal contributions 10 The treasury,
and her increasing importance as a iDanuiac'ur-
ing and commercial city, he would appeal TO The
Legislature 10 in,crpose It's power 10 preserve II
from destruction.
He would next call the attention OF The House
10 The accuracy Of The gentleman's statistics.
mn. E. here presented tabular statements, The
correctness Of which would defy contradiction,
showing the relative wealth and population OF The
copn.ies of The Northwest, interested Tor, or