Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-07
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.

plica,ion 10 The Board Of Public Works tor sup
scription to the stock OF said company, WHICH,
Ter due consideration, was declined, upon une
ground that they had no authority OF law u "'ahe
such subscription, apprised othciaiiy as ni.y
were Of the route which had been sslec'eu 'oi WV
extension Of said WORK. There LAD peen p.
vious advertisement of said company, 'h"' III ~
teen miles of said extension wouid DE- e' on wy
23d OF November, and bids were inVitea eI,o'u ~
inclY. Notwithstanding The refusal u me Do ,:
IN Subscribe 10 said company nolwilhslandlr g
the p!csden, thereof was informed that 'he GIN
cully should be referred 10 The General Assembly
he proceeded mol only 10 let ont the raTt adVei'
Used, but five miles, as l am informed, IN aou''
ton thereto. This extraordinary haste under me
circumstances. followed b. an immediate com
mencemenl OF the work, was designed 10 acquire,
as learn. vested right 10 the Stale snb'crlplicn.
To cap the climax OF this marvellous coDGnci, a
no,;.e vas duly served on The Board oil Public
Works. calling upon that body 10 show cause, on
The 31ih uii., why a!aSGamns shouin ho' ue
awarded against them, which is Still pending ana
undetermined, and in relation TO which II may
be requisite for you 10 lake some action. Inns
proct eding is The highest moral evidence that this
company is conscious, that in their selection oil
he route, they lave departed from The spirit and
and meaning OF The General Assembly; that they
have nothing 10 hope from your favor, and thai
their only chance oil Obtaining the co-cneSUson Of
the Stale is through the judgment 81 court oil
law.
The Board of Public Works, throughout this
whole difficulty, have had no other desire than 10
perform their duty and 10 execute the law. They
gave this subject an early and they believed tho
rough examination: some OF their members pa
lienlly Listened 10 the views oil distinguished men
and the Board finally called for the assistance o.
the Attorney. General. To all The views and in.
formation thus collected, they gave The most care
iu consideration, and their conclusion was thai
they had 10 authority OF aw 10 make the required
subscription.
Without, however, dwelling upon this subject
respectfully refer you 10 The report OF The Board
Of Public Works; wherein will be found, il dc
not greatly err, full and complete vindication
OF that body against unjust aspersiOns, as well as
ample evidence OF firm and faithful adherence
10 their trusts and duties.
As 10 myself, have long felt deep interest in
the extension OF the Louisa Railroad on The line
indicated in lis charter. When in The Senate Of
Virginia, aided in The legislation in iurlheraDce
OF This object; and, when honored with The CHE
Magisiracy oil my State, adhering 10 this policy
awaited myself OF the first opportunity TO press
and enlarge upon IT, | could not therefore, with
out concern, witness the efforts that were MAX ing
10 perverl the law, and 10 sink one of The mos
important enterprises OF The Sale into mere To-
cal Improvement, and felt bound TO exert al
The influence at my command 10 defeat this de-
sign, and 10 overthrow The exceplionabe and un
patriotic struggles which were making for its &c
complishment.
The Board OF Public Works was created by
law fort purpose OF carrying out the views o
the General Assembly, and whenever difference
OF opinion arises as TO those views, The power Il
settle ii should be reserved 10 you alone. The
proceeding on The part Of The Louisa Railroad
Company is the first that has been undertaken il
this Stale, and trust yon will, by The requisite
legislation, provide that il shall be the last of il
kind that shall be entertained in court Of Justice
By an act The last session, passed March 22d
iS47, it is made The duty Of the Board Of Public
Works, in appointing State Directors, 10 seec
such as are bona fdc stockholders. respectful,
recommend that Ibis section be repealed. Sucl
Directors are designed 10 represent The Stale Stool
in such companies. and are selected under The be
lief that they will faithfully represent that inter
est. can see no reason for adding 10 this ohli
CATION the influence of private interest, rroducin:
thereby, possibly, conflict OF opposing inter
ests The requirement. also restricts the range &
selection, not untrcqueh'ly, 10 the public irjuFy
The last General Assembly directed The Eoau
of Public Works 10 subscribe 10 Sundry inicrna
Improvements, then in contemplation It j.
known thai large sums will be needed 10 meet sucl
engagements, in anticipation whereof, and 10 pro
vide The means promptly 10 meet them, The Law
authorizes the Second Andi,cr To make sale a
may be requisite, Of tie Stale Bonds. Bnt a
this provision may prove inadequate to maintain
the public faith inviclare, and as no reliance cal
be placed on The l3h section o" ian &C, 10 Great,
lund Tor internal Improvement" which author
Z.s sale OF our road stocks for reinvesmebt
deem additional legislation necessary, ard there
fore respectfully recommend the passage OF a Law
authorizing tue Board ci Public Works TO dis
pose OF the Bank Stock al not less than par, nov
held by them, when necessary 10 meet their pay
ments.
communicate herewith Preamble and Reso
iuions adopted by Inc Baltimore aid Ohio Rail
road Company, on the 25ih OF August last, Doc
No Is, acco ping an act, entitled ian acl TO au
lho:ize the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
rany to Construct the extension Of thelr rai'rodt
through the territory of Virginia" passed ihe 81!
March, 1877. The boon conferred upon thi
company is2 great che. By il We divide advan
iases OF iUcaiculable value. Of which we neve
could have been deprived, and give forever 10 :
rival company wealth and power. cannon lee
Indifferent TO these consequences, 10 which cal
ooy, in some degree, be iecouciled by the reflec
ton, that they secure local advantages for por
ton OF our fellow-ciiizens, probably beyond III,
reach OF a similar improvement OF our own.
truss, however Ina, further concessions are al al
end aud,ha The grant will nol be enlarged no mat
Ter now earnestly or cloqueDily pressed. recon-
mend this line Of conduct in no spiri Of ho>iiii,
10 This company; 10! admire their spirit ant
energy, and would rejoice 10 see il emuaed here
On the 30;n Of September last our peniieniarl
contained 2!l cCnvicis, Il diminu!iun OF iIieel
within The year. or this number 1871 are whites
and so are negroes. OF The whites SO are Viz
ginians; Of The blacks rs we're born within on
Slate. BY comparison with The preceding year
The number OF white convicls born in ViTgini;
has been reduced s in number.
Tie free reg.oes although numbering by Ii,
census If lS40 only lorly.nine thousand eieh
hundred and iouy-lwo, pcrpetrate nearly Two fifth
of the crime Of The State, although we have there
in seven hundred and forty thousand nine hundred
and sixty eight whites, and four hundred and for
ty.eisht thousand nine hundred and eishly-sever
slaves. This is a mouInful demonstration. |
proves beyond human doubt that freedom TO the
negro is curse and lis presence in our midst ar
evil Of the mos, fearful magnitude. Essentially
and hopelessly degraded, he corruprs the slave
win WnOm nc naplludliy associates, ana becomes
The ready instrument OF the unprrcired while
man, and TOO frequently his shield. And is there
no remedy? Are we bound TO bear this cancer in
our bosom, and see lis slow but fatal poison diff
fuse itself, wih9n! an effort 10 remove ia
The rgh, Of self preservation is universally
conceded 10 every community. 1t is the fouDda.
ton upon which resls all police regulations and
b. which alone they can be justified. The sub
j,cts or citizens of beigerenl power at wal
with The country in which they are temporarily
residing may be removed thereirom or 10 The inle.
fior thereof al pleasure. No enquiry is made
whether such persons are acting IN unfriendy
part. The general suspicion which attaches ,c
Them as aliens is full justification OF this cxer.
else Of power, however personally oppressive OF
destructive Of private fortune. Even in peace
This power can he and frequently has been eyer.
cised. In Pnggv TIC CommOaNcaih of Penn.
syran'a dsciced by The Supreme Coull of The U
States al their January term l642. Chief Justice
fancy recognizes The right OF Stale, in the cx.
ercise Of her powers over her internal police, &c
remove from her territory dsorderly and evil dis
posed persons, or those who, from he nature Of
her Institutions, are dsngerou, In her peace and
tranquility" And Mr. Justice Story in deliver.
ing The opinion Of the Court referring 10 The free