The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-04-07
THE WHEELING BRIDGE.

for prisoner.
THE WHEELING BRIDGE.
The Wheeling Bridge case is exciting
good deal Of attention, aud it is to be hoped it
will receive from Congress the consideration
il is entitled to. The case may be briefly stated
thus:
A bridge, authorised by Virginia and Ohio.
from the shore of one to the shore of the other
of these States, is built, according to the re-
quirements as height above water, &C., as
they deem proper. That height pu, the bridge
out OF the reach of the chimnies ofany steam
boat then navigating The Ohio river.
Seren boats were either afterwards built with
chimnies high enough TO touch the bridge, at
high water, or had their chimnies heightened
to produce the same result.
Pennsylvania, instigated by Pittsburg, and
the part of the State thereabout excited by q
feeling ofhostility to Wheeling, and the i'm
provement located there, institutes n suit
against the Bridge Company, in the Supreme
Court the United States. The decision OF
the court our readers know. Chief Justice
uA0 JuuSC DoAHNis " ts'o N.Y. s,"'~
opinions adverse to that of the majority of the
court, and these opinions ore remarkably ciear
and conclusive in their authorities and argu-
ments, they do full justice to the sovereignty
Of the State authority in the premises.
But The decision Of the court declared the
bridge an obstruction to navigation, and The
magnificent structure, costing 100000,
would have fallen ut once before the neighbour
hood jealousy which induced the suit, but for
the motion OF Dir. Johnson, OF Md, counsel for
the Bridge Company, to appoint committee
TO enquire whether draw might not be made
to allow of the passage of the seven boats
(God save their chmnies y This motion gave
u little breathing time, and i'll this breathing
time 1t is to be hoped Congress will interpose,
and by declaring the bridge public highway,
preserve it from destruction.
In our opinion, it is very foolish thing in
Pennsylvania to press this war upon the
bridge to crafty SO small part other popula-
ton as dwell in and around Pittsburg! Ohio
(which has q larger interest in the navigation
of the Ohio river than any other STATED and
art, and their authority having permitted it's
construction, it cannot but lie considered un-
der their protection. Their permission, with
the conditions annexed, (which were literally
complied WITH induced company of enter
prising men to invest large sum Of money in
a work, which was for the public convenience
of an immense population in both States-nay.
Of people all over the Union-and they would
be recreant to their duty to their own sovereign
powers, as well as treacherous to the compa-
ny, which proceeded by their authority, not
to interpose in some manner to save the grand
work from destruction, and the company from
ruin. They, therefore, must stand in the rela-
ton of protectors Of the company; and Penn
sylvania is but warning against them, and ex-
citing bad feeling tow ards herself from them,by
her course. Unwise at any time, it is ex-
tremely impolitc now, that that State wants
friends.
We shall see whether Congress will inter-
fere-we shall see whether grand national
work has to fall sacrifice to seven steam.
boats with very TALL chimnies-we shall see
whether the sovereign authority of two of the
greatest States ia the Union is to be nullified
for the jealousy of little neighborhood and
seven smoke funnels-and whether thus, and
for this, the public convenience and the nation-
al commerce are to be immeasurably injured
by the destruction of a national highway.