Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-10-23
From the Al gdon Vrgieiar.
The Railroad Convention.

IL W III uc Stth py IloOcco'HSS III Iie-
ccding columns that great Railroad Con
ven,ion was holden in this place commcn-
cling on the Sth and terminating on The
9th inst.
There was vastnumber OF delegates in
attendance, much the larger portion Of
whom, however, We're from this county,
During intervals in the proceedings the
convention, aud the large auditory fspec-
tators, were delighted with thrilling strains
Of eloquence, and encouraged in the great
and glorious work before them. by gentle
men from various quarters Of the country.
We had intended to have given the views
of the gentlemen at large, but find we
have not room TO do them justice, and shall,
therefore, indulge in but brief review of
their efforts.
Judge Lucky, upon taking the Chair,
remarked, that as Tennessecan, he was
accustomed to conventions, for they were
common to both Wings and Democrats
but he reloiced that he here stood upon a
broader platlorm-broad enough for all,
of all parties, and where all might blend
their energies for the public good, without
distinction. There were such things, also,
as Northern and Southern conventions
but here, again, was broader platform,
where all could congregate, and where no
North, no South but where all could u
mite as the lovers ofour glorious Union,and
project the means Of developing the rich
resources of the State. What, said he, are
the achievements ofarms and armies, ,incom-
paIison with the work we have met TO en-
courage, which is hut a link in the great
national chain that is TO connect New York
and New Orlcansl
Gen. Clay followed, and gave brief
statistical account Of the prospects and pro
gress Of the work. He sad the company
was prosperous, but yet needed individual
subscriptions to the amount Of $500, 900
a sum quite too pitiiu to hang a doubt of
liual and speedy completion upon. He
deemed 50, ,00O,000 amply sufficient to CON
struct tie work; and the East, altho' it had
far surpassed the West in hbcrality, yet he
was authorized by the people there to say,
they would cover the amount that the
West might yet contribute. From Lynch
burg to Salem. some GO miles, the road
was already graded, and from Salem 10
Wyihevillc, 20 miles, it would be graded
by the close of next season, and in six
Wythcvillc. And in three short years,
should the $500 600 be speedily raised, the
steam whistle will echo along the mountain
sides Of Southwestern Virginia and Eas,
Tennessee.
Colonel l.. c. Haynes, of Tennessee, in
obedience to the enthusiastic call ofthe mul-
titudc, next appeared. He regretted that
some one else had not been called upon to
address the Convention, for having been
Withdrawn from this peculiar arena for a
time, he found himself unposted, unpre-
pared. He would however, manifest his
zeal, ifnot lis knowledge. He dwelt long
and ardently upon the paramount impor-
tance of liberal, unrestricted commercial
exchanges, and very properly attributed
the Impoverished condition of this particu-
lar region, to its isolation in this respect
Providence had done great deal for us,
and we were nov called upon to do some
thing for ourselves. Give us this iron high
way. and commerce will visit our farms,
our shops, our offices, our fresidcs. 1t will
scatter It's blessings upon all, and pour the
luxuries of the world into our laps. 1t is
this commerce that will enable us to build
this railway. and supply ourselves with
all the social, moral and physical enjoy
ments of lile, and is the source ofall wealth,
and power, and greatness. TWAS this that
built up Tyre and Sidon. Carthage, Ant
werp, Venice--it was this that has built
up all onr own beautiful cities-and it is
this that is to make our own isolated but
beautiful region. one ofthe iuirest and rich
est portions Of creation. Our surplus pro-
ductions We're useless without a market,
and a marketwas useless without tie means
of transportation to it. We may grow fat
by consumption, but we can never grow
rich. He then drew 4 contrast between the
towns Of East Tennessee ane Southwestern
Virginia, and those of the Northern and
Southern States. Here the unpaved streets
were worse disfgured by dllapidatcd bull
dings with hingelcss doors, one window
blind, and glassless sash-whilst there, in
consequence Of commercial exchanges,
which exchanges were created by railways.
every thing looked new, and beautiful, and
prosperous, and happy. And this contrast
existed in every thing. He had stood
upon the summit of Allegheny, and there
behcld a four-horsc wagon with ton Of
freight, drawn by eight pestle-tail ponies.
aided by four men with blackjack bushes,
fighting and scratching their way through
the mud, and yet these teamsters deemed
internal Improvements a ruinousinuovation!
From this scene, he had cast his mind
Eastward, and had there bcheld the horse
i'll iron harness carcering onward with the
speed of the flying dovcsand the whole
count y was smiling under the genial in
Huences of more liberal and spirited en-
terprize.
We would love to follow Col. Haynes
through all lis able and eloquent speech,
but have not room. We would love to
lay before the opponents Of our great inn
provement his descriptions Of the ludicrous
where railroads are not known, or where
the people have not the energy to make
them. We would love to enlarge upon
the tale he told of how our people feed
little grass and corn and cats to stock.
scarce them across the mountains. and kill
them on the other side, 10 get "a srnal! drib
Of money into the country. We would
love to reiterate his arguments in favor Of
the improvement, drawn from our superI-
or CLIMATE soil resources and water power