Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-02-05
RIGHT OF WAY.

We gave place i'll unr columns on "Wednesday
to plain and Common sense view OF this alien
crossing lopc and intended 10 accompany the
publ, alton with ley comments oi oar own but
lie p;ess u engagements postponed our purpose
until TODAY.
We will now say, that this question presents IL
self 10 our minds a one ct genera state policy
which should he disenlanslcd, as tar as possible,
ior, al; eXiranen;.s ara purely local cunSIdrra-
lions, and all rmha raising connexlnrs ami look
inc al i, il, thiS aspect are constrained 10 hope
iof The >ncress u ihiS important measuic
We must confess that We cannot see how The
claim il makes upon the justice OF The Stale is 10
be resisted. A large portion Of our fellow'citi-
gems have the misfortune 10 be cul of by nature
from the markets Of The world, and ask the prlvl-
Iegs al having an outlet 10 those markets, 10 be
provided ,citaoul COS, 10 The STATE. A proposal so
obviously founded in natural justice, il seems 10
us ought 10 receive The most favorable considcra-
ton OF those who have in keeping the welfare OF
the Stale; and we fear that The repeated rejection
of this reasonable demand OF The Northwest will
tegei, in our brethren OF that region, deep sense
Of injustice, and, with il, enlargement and alien
alton. What enhances too the claims OF The
Northwest, is, that This region has ever been
found mos, liberal in voting appropriations
for The general good.
But The controlling consideration in this matter,
in our Judgment is one pertaining 10 all improve
mcnls Of a general characlcr-'hr effect Of a
Railroad through the heart &. ~ Northwest, in
stimulating tie enterprise escloping The resoul-
ces, augmenling the population, and advancing
The social, political, agricultural and commercial
importance Of a great section Of the Stale. These
results, we are induced 10 believe, will bless the
Commonwealth, >houd The proposed right Of way
be conceded, and thus thinking, we hope The wis
dom Of the Legislature will be found uniting, as il
did in 1927 in the general gran; OF The privilege
ranging from Wheeling 10 The mou b Of The Lii
tie hanawha, and leaving il 10 be determined
hereafter wha, shall be The mos, eligible poin, on
the Ohio for The terminus OF the road
Another consideration inclining US in favor Of
The right OF way, is the we'll grounded apprehen-
sion we are under, that if Virginia loses The pre-
sent opportunity OF realisiOg, without cost 10 her
SELF an improvement which promises 10 her pco-
pie new sources Of wealth and happiness and new
glory for herself, she will lose il in all time ,c
come. This reflection, Of itself, attaches 10 hi,
subject the gravest importance, and should chal-
lenge for i, The most careful and anxious conside-
ration Of hose who have the matter in hand, and
Of all who value the welfare OF III common.
wealth.
II we thought established interests would SUI.
Ter material detriment from the granting of the
right Of way, we should be found in opposition
to the grant; bur, from all we have seen and heard
upon The subject, we are satisfied that such will
not be The case-cn the contrary, thati will builc
up grea, and important interests, without pros
trating those already existing.