Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-01-14
Your friend,
EVAN THOMAS.
Baltimore. Jan. 8, 1858.

EVAN THOMAS.
Baltimore, Jan. 8. 1858.
NC. 2.
Our Guests: Welcome and honor to
them, from hearts filled with Joy and gratu-
lation. They have, eaten of our sa,t-so
may our friendship be sacled. and our fu
ture intercourse be frequent and happy.
NO. 8. 4e OF.
The Union of the States: Its true foun.
dauon consists in commercial intercourse,
and wide extended and we'll connected
system of National Improvements, stretch
ing from ocean TO ocean.
NO. A.
The President of the United States: Our
country's Chief Executive Magistrate; the
only sovereign on earth whose subjects per.
nit him TO be their servant: all honor to
the office and TO him who is SO faithful to
its duties.
NO. ..
Thomas Swami: Standing upon the
banks of the Ohio, and looking back over
the mighty peaks of the Alleghenies, sur.
mounted by his efforts, he can proudly ex
clai, ceui, Uidi, Uicj.
Mr.. Swami responded by saving, that he could
scarcely find Language, u thank:his friends for the
distinguished compliment which had been paid
him.
In responding 10 the sentiment which had JUS
been drank, re should do violence to his feelings
ifhe should attempt to disguise the embarrassment
in which he had been placed on this most inter
esting occasion. In his conne cton with the great
work, whose completion they were here to cele
brute, he claimed no of merit than was shared
" those who hid been associated with him in the
administration of the affairs of The Company.
am here, said Mr.. Swami, upon the soil of the
Old Dominion, State to which, owe my birth, nnt
with which am connected by some of the most
cherished associations of my early life; and can
truly say, that those uniting efforts in which fo
four years past have Teen engaged with the Di
rectors of this Company in endeavors TO advance
the prosperity of the State of Maryland and her
great commercial centre, it is not among the least
of the pleasures which the occasion affords, that
have been enabled TO make some contribution 10
the State of Virginia, through whose territory thi'
road has ,raversed distance OF more han two
hundred and fifty miles in reaching The point here
we now stand. Within the limits Of this good Olo
Dominion-nmong. Virginiaus-I csn never feel
that am stranger. CCheers from the Virgin
an.s)
The occasion is one in which feel PRIDE when
look back upon the stupenlious line or 'oad over
which we have paSsed-a line three hundred and
eighty miles in exent-binding together the waters
ofthe Ohio and Chesapeake; when reflect that
il has involved an outlay of more thon seventeen
millions of capital when contemplate the diff
cnltes with which it has had to contend at almost
every stage of its progless-n work unsurpassed
in its engineering features and the boldness of its
original conception, by any similar work in this
country-may not add in any country-l cannot
conceal tie proud satisfaction with which stand
before you, us the representative of Il at public
spirited Stale, by the zeal and energy Of whose cit
liens. we have been enabled TO accomplish these
mighty results. (Applanse.)
AMI why are we surrounded by large aud dis
tinguished company who have done rs the honor 10
unite with us in this jubileel Why do see here
the representatives of States otLer than those i'm
medateIy interested in the results OF this work.
Is there anything NGtiOn1I in the claims of this
great enterprise? Does il bind together important
Extremes of our glorious Understanding in all
future time the broad fabric OH which our hopes,
as people, must always SO mainly dePend!-I
Why are " e honored OH tbs occasion 10y the pres
ence OF his rxcellcncy the Governor, and LegiSla-
ture of the State ofMaryland, and Tie Municipal
authorities of the city ofBsltnore7 Has the pros
rect which it reveals 10 the tempting trade of the
West, brought them 10 unite with US in this COM
mon jubilee3 Why, sir, do Isee here his Excel
lency the Governor, and the Legislature ofonr own
State, and the Municipal body which you so ably
representa- Does 1t give assurance of increased
rrosperityin the future in that neglected portion
of Virginia which has been so long paralyzed by
the absence Of facilities which you are now per-
nitted 10 enioy2 am almost forced 10 the con-
viction, from what see here to night, that in the
Of this important chain Of communities
lion, we have Contributed something, not only to
your State and to mine-to the State Of Virginia
and the State of Maryland, but 10 the Whole
Union. [Great applause.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the pio-
neer work ofthis country, Before the extended
system ofInte4nnl Improvement which now en-
circles Within its grasp, the length and breadth of
he whole country had given evidence of the re-
uIlts which we have been since called TO witness,
his mighty work had entered upon its Westward
progress. The idea Ola connection between the
Ohio and Chesapeake, had been foreshadowed as1
far back as 1854. But the credit ofthe original
charter under which this company was organized,
was due to the citizens 6fthe State of Maryland:
In HE active struggle which has since sprung up,
,ther states have preceded us, New York has
stretched hetron arms the very hea1t Of that pro
region toYwhich our attention has been so
long directed, and Pennsy1 gania is evennow exul7
ting nj The achievement of a. similar tTinmph,