Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-21

ms men, was Inc compact between the parties -
Inc law was accordingly passed in The form
aAoucu to-the parties on each side having yo-
leo IN us favor. After the Passage oftbe law the
stockholders proceeded 10 have the ,u,o con,re,.
ing routes carefully surveyed by a skilul and
competent engineer, which surveys resulted ve,y
decidedly in favor Of the Southern roure-,he
Northern route, in fact, being reported 10 bcA.
most entirely impracicable.
AT this result, the friends the Northern route
seemed TO become alarmed, and then. forsoob
for the FIRST time, boldly lake The ground that the
stockholders had no lawful authority to extend
the road on the Southern rou,e-ihat thcy were
prohibited from doing so, no. only by the terms
Of The original charter itself, but by all the subsc-
quent legislation in relation 10 The road. Now. in
reference 10 this, il may BE- remarked that one OF
these two things mast BE- very clear: that if such
be the law either Inc friends OF The Northern route
were Ignorant OF it a. The lime they made the
concession 10 the friends OF the Southern route 10
leave The question OF route open, and hat this was
an alter thought or that, If They knew or be-
!leVed that such was Tie law, they designed 10
practice flnesse or fraud upon he friends OF The
Southern route, and 10 enrap them into the sup.
port OF a law designed for their own benefit oDiy.
One or The ether horn OF the dilemma they are
bound 10 take and they may take The one which
is most palaiabe 10 themselves
Having taken This position, however as 10 The
want OF lawful auhcrty in the stockholders 10
conduct The road on he Southern roule, and know
ing The influential position oil the Governor as
the head OF The Bard Of Public W o,ks, and that
all his predictions and sympaihies were in IA
vor OF the Northern route, they determined 10 iu-
woke bis aid in support OF this new R0.!coal au-
horny posi- ion. In This hey readily succeed; and
THIS he Board Of Public Works are hroue hi in
third
| holders are about 10 meet Ia decide between the
Two routes The State proxy is instructed to vote
for a new survey Of the Northern route in The
absence o. any ground or p'eiexi Tor doing so,
except that the frs, survey had MOI given general
satisfaction. A resolution, also is passed by the
Board, 10 be presented 10 he stockholders al TIE
| meeting, intimaling thar The Board entertain "se.
rious Goubls" whe her they could with prophecy
subscribe the States appropriation, in case the
Southern route is adopted But all these appli-
anccs tail OF ihcr desired effect. The State pIoxy,
not oonceivins himself bound TO vote according
to the Instructions, declines doing So and The
Southern rou'c is adopted by the overwhelming
majority OF lO1S 10 Al, and by majority Of III
independent Of The State vote. Alter This. these
PRIOR 'serouS doubts" oil The Board as 10 the pro.
prieIy OF making The State subscription, al once
! Tipen into clear sense of duty not 10 make it,
! Recourse is necessarily had 10 the proper legal
/ tribunal I" enforce The iaw-not, however until
the Attorney General had been consulted and had
given an able and decided opinion against the
! Board The law has been deliberately adjudi.
Gated, and Tie result is known to the public.
This understand 10 be The true history O, This
singular and unprecedented c, n'rovefsy-and il
so, il does seem Ia M that whilst The friends Of
The Southern rCu'e have aced with good faith
throughout, The friends Of the Northern route have
been guilty o! wasing with them most uDgen-
I erous and urg1acioGs controversy 10 say he
least OF ii, and pfo;faclin2 il to most uDreason.
able and uHjusliiable length and that Messrs.
Voolfolk, Drneaie. Gfat;an, Chrsnan an even
his Exceency himself, would find themselves
puzzled 10 invent or offer an reasonable excuse
q apology for their conduct FAIR PLAY.
-~~-
TENNESSEE CONVENTION. - We un-
ders,and (say> the UGion) that letters are in
town giving he most gratifying accounts of the
meeting Of ne Democraic Stare Convention of
Tennessee, held d, Nashville ca he Sih OF Janu-
airy. The convention was numerous and highly
respectable, and all its proceedings were conduct.
ed with the utmost regularity and harmony
They nominated no candidate for The Presidency,
but they appointed very respectable and able de-.
legation 20 attend The National Convention.