Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-30
~, ,ss E.,;,o,. of the E,nouirer:

Gentlemae: You viii confer favor on seVe-
raj OF The sub cri5e!s &c your paper, W ,hssi""s
me enclosed editorial al The Virginia Fa'iio' "
Ian ION 1919. in relation 10 he Tennessee anu
I Inno ,r Rail Road SOUTH WEST.
From tie Lynchburg Patriot.
1yNcHBURG AND TENNESSEE RAIL
ROAD.
The lime is "a idly approaching when lhe id'e
~ mi, imporan; measure viii b. deteruinsu.-
Notwithstanding The able advocacy oil lhiee "
me lea.irs journals u the Metropolis no'"nh-
Standing me triumphant vIndicaIon OF us iaiPoi-
lance both as STATE AMI national iinP'o.c
men. notwithstanding The concurrent testimonies
OF scientific and practical men OF rs ieasio'i,9
and Iranscendent importance; no'wIths'aholng ms
tac that scarcely plausible or Wen iouhaeu oo-
lection can be urged against u; nolwrns'dha,hs
all these things our latest accom- inauce Us We.
i;sye thar its passage is extremely doubtful. II
e no, Tor US 10 trace the cause oil inns s'a'e oi
limos Whether it proceed ffom The jealousy
n rival improvements or The timii calculations
II politicians. arising from The tear Of increased
TAXATION. or general apathy and lndinetence 10
an such measures as would deve'ope Tue ie-
sources and resusctate The waning fortunes VI
our State. or all these conjoint causes, We De-
li.ye that a heavy responsibility resis upou 'ie
present Legislature 10 whose hanus lne 'a'I =.
his great measure is committed, ana 'na'
the people will hold to just accountability lhose
repfssen,auves who shall contribute 10 Inc aeiedl
of measure Of such vial moment 10 the pios-
perily and permanent power d virginia ~ inc
present sess on passes by without any lhins oeins
done. other and rival works Will divert the tIdde
which VIRGINIA now holds in othe hollow oil her
hand" and other States will reap the rich har-
vest which she may nov garner IL her own DO
som, The advantages which she has ioolishy
thrown away il may he then loo late 10 retrieve
Blu, there is consideration connected with This
work which addresses itself with peculiar force
a, this iuncture in he affairs Of Virginia and oil
the South. The present critical condition OF The
South, induced by the Tell spirit of Northern Ia
naticsm, spirit more reckless in lis manifesto
lions OF host ily 10 Southern institutions and dis
regard OF the compromises OF the Constitution
than al any former period of our history, gives il
an importance OF ,ranscending weight. II is not
the inconsiderate language OF The alarmsi, but The
words OF wise, prudent and discreet men that We
use when we say hat the Union is III danger. All
men ieel and see the peril that menaces The South.
That il may be arrested tor season we believe,
but that the cataslrophe may come is al least
probable. The Union may be dissolved, TOR
who can sci bounds 10 that wild and wicked spl-
rit of mischief and fanaicsm which seems 10
possess so large portion of our Northern brcth-
REM VINO can calculate upon safety 10 Southern
institutions when The spirit OF aggression and hos
tily 10 our rights instead Of diminishing but
gathers in intensity and foTce2 In giving utter
ance 10 these Thoughts, we cherish no sentiment
OF di.loyally 10 our glorious Union, and should
that result 80 mu,h 10 be deplored BY every lever
of human freedom come, The responsibility, Inc
crime, The curse will resi- upon The heads of the
guilty wretches, who, dead 10 every sentiment OF
honor and PATRIOTISM, woula trampe under loo'
that sacred compact by which that Union is &C.
menled. So imminent, indeed, is The danger that
The whole Southern delegation in Congress, with.
out distinction Of party, are now engaged IN sol
emn meeting 10 determine on some mode OF
maintaining our rights. The Legislature OF our
Stale Tor the les, fortnight has been similarly en-
gagged. When the confiict comes, as II may come,
LEI il be renienh ered thai Virginia E.u> Vi neces
sity b. the battle gfouad. Fer capacity 10 resist
must depend upon her own Resources her wealth,
her power and her facility OF communication
with her Southern ai!iss.
The mineral treasures of the Southwest, now
undevelopcd, would supply the material for such
conflict in abundance. Salt, great necessary
Of civilized life, might b. produced 10 any ex-
tent Saltpetre, iron and lead sufficient 10 sup
ply The wars of Napoleon himself, would be at
our command The mighty and tceming valley
OF the mississippi, with lis vast supplies, would
be Brought IN direct contact end communion
with us SO with our Southern Geighbors, the
Carolinas and Georgia. Norfolk with lis mag
nitcent port, and Charleston with its broad
harbor, would be good offsets to New York and
Boston, All of this vast section would thus DC
brought into a sort Of social commercial AID
political unity. Virginia, though she might have
10 bear The blun. OF the fray, yet the slightest
n H., hanr ri hp fol no
Potomac to the Rio Grande Containing with
IN itself all the elements Of national independ
ence, and physical and moral resistance, we
hazard nothing 10 saying the South would DE IN
yinciole
Though We concur generally in the resolves OF
our Legislature upon The subject Of Southern
reh,s. vet al last such resolves are bul idle aud
,mputen, amulcts oil SAFETY. Ii is in the idea OF
our strength and power 10 resis! aggression that
our safety consists. The history OF The world
shows that sense Of justice is tuIa feeble reed on
when weak and distracted nations can rey: blt
that Inc surcsl hope oi safely is to DC ioudd IN
unity OF action, concert OF will and he fail de-
vplopemen. Of resources both physical and mo
raj The g.ea, art o, modern warfare, developed
hv Napoleon is the celeri:y with which large
body OF men can be concentrated a! single polt
within a gi?cn lime Ought this fact 10 be los
in twenty days bring together upon our bor'.ers 10
army eouslling in numbers and lefoci:y The
hordes Of AuiIa; for itwould be the mercenary re-
,usees of European congusions Tat would lead
The van in this wafare Of desolation upon our
fire-siGes and fields. A large and respectable por-
,ion Of our Northern brethren would keep aloo
from the conflict Ough, we Got TO be prepared in
case OF this dreadful emergency 10 meet III how
long would il take an army iom Tennessee OF
Mississippi 10 come to our add No man can
DENY but ina, in case ot such condlc virginia
you'd be Ten fold stronger win this great
means Of communication VIII h5r Southern
sisters than she now is. 1t is question then
with those TO whom her honor, her Interests and
her safety are committed 10 determine, whe her
in The event of collision which thy deem
probable and in lie poss billy OF winch an Pru-
dent men concur, they will place The state ~
an attitude which will secure her safety, or per.
nit her to fall an easy prey to the hrst onset oil
The legions OF IA acsm. Shall she-the mar.
tial virgin Of the confederacy, await the conlln.
geucy Of such a conflict unsrmed helpless,
rrostrate, or shall size stand forth with her bos-
ON mailed for the contest and her arm yet
mighty either to smie or to saver
In This hulrici article we have passed by The
advantages OF this WORK as G safe aud profitable
investment Of capial-We have overlooked the
benefit which would accrue from il 10 The sec Ion
through which il would pass-lhese have been
sufficiently discussed heretofore in the columns
OF this paper-we have addressed ourselves 10
the higher considerations OF slate pride aud South
err safely, and We appeal 10 The members oil Inc
Legislature 10 lake into serious consideration The
suggestions we have urged.
An improvement sustained by so many con-
sidera,ions OF policy, public utility and safety,
and sanctioned by The concurrent judgment OF 50
many wise and practical men, must commend
itself 10 ina favor OF a rejecting people. That
nne.enlhs OF the people Of this Commonwealth
ii the subject were brought before them in all It's
bearings would approve il, we confidently be-
ieve, and ina, those who, tramplins under foot
ancient prejudices an sectional icalonses, shall
lend their support 10 this great enterprise, will be
hailed as henefactors 10 the Sia'e BY all who va