The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-02-23
THE DAILY DISPATCH
wednesday Morning. Feb. 23, 1853.
From the Enquirer of Monday.
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD.
roScLvpED.1

| Pennsyl ania law, under which they would
| dare TO invest their money. That law was
procured by gross and flagrant frauds upon
| the legislature of Pennsylvania, and was con.
ceived in the ar,fui purpose of imposition upon
Virginia. 1t had no bona fide intention in it,
| or abeutit. The child of fraudulent purpose,
its birth was an absurd trick upon one soyer
eign legislature, and its life and use, vile inn.
posture upon another, to cheat it out of favors
destructive TO the best interests of the State
To comprehend the strength of the case
against this company, must give brief his
| tory ofthis transaction.
| There once stood upon the statute book OF
| Pennsylvania, law authorizing railroad
from Pittsburg to Conneilsvile in that State
| about thirty miles from the Maryland lne.-
This law expired by its own terms, in l842, the
| road rot having been commenced as requi.ed.
| Ii suited the Baltimore company to revive this
grant, with the right TO extend the road from
Connellsvile to the Maryland line; but this
could not be done openly, as Pennsylvania had
| just refused to allow any connection with the
Ohio, except on terms that gave every advan.
| tage TO Philadelphia over Baltimore. 1t is Gu
| rious to see the tricks resorted to, to attain
| their purpose.
An act was passed entitled an act "for the
| relief the oreyseers Of the poor of the bor-
ough Of Erie, and for other purposes.''-
Whilst this bill was pending, several sections
| were added by way of ryder, reyiving the
Piitsburg and Conpellsville act, and authoriz-
ing its extension TO the Maryland line. Before
this law was signed by the Governor, the
| trick was discovered, and resolution was
moved and carried as an amendment TO a reso-
luton entitled "a resolution legaiZing the cleo
ton of justice ofthe peace in the borough of
Dillsburg, and for other purposes" by which
so much of the law entitled can art for the re-
lief of the overseers of the poor of the borough
of Erie and for other purposes" as revived the
charter of the Pi.fsburg and Connellsville
Company, was repealed. II this trickery took
place in 1913.
In 1916, the Baltimore Company made an
open and proper application to Pennsylvania
for grant to go to Pittsburg. The whole
State was aroused TO the great commercial inn
portance of the measure, and most stringent
Limitations were thrown around the grant. The
charter, fairly obtained, could not be accepted
and this Baltimore Company resorted again
to their cunning and disgraceful contrivances.
Whilst public attention was rvetted upon their
apen and avowed application for a route to
Pittsburg, there stood upon the private calen-
dar Of the house bill entitled ''An act au-
horazing the Court Of Quarter Sessions of
ANeyhany County to racate Delardre Lane,
and for other purposes" Whilst ON its pass.
age, the following section was moved as ry-
der and carried:
SEC.6 That the 7th section of the resolu-
tion entitled an act legaliziag the election of
a Justice of the Peace in the borough of DiVs-
burg, and for other purposes, be and the same
is hereby repealed; and that the 7th section
Of the original act, entitled an act for the re-
lief of the orerseers Of The poor ofthe borough
of Erie, and for other purpose be and the same
IS hereby continued in fuH force"
rod hot
cept the parties to the fraud, knew or suspect
ed that the law had connection with the right
of way, and the existence of the law was not
divuiged uasta after the adjournment of the
Legislature.
My question, as to the truth of the statements
imposed on the Virginia Legislature, may now
be answered by any honest man. When Bal
timore authorized and instructed her agent 10
impress upon the members of the Virginia Le-
gisature that she had right TO take her road
to Pittsburg, by authority of Pennsylvania
Law, was not the statement virtually untrue
and fraudulent? Was it not an imposition on
her own agent, and through him, ON the Legis-
lature? This statement has the form of truth,
although it is. substantially, untrue. But the
second statement will be pronounced untrue
without count.
The second statement was, that unless a
satisfactory grant was made by virginia, the
Baltimore road would go to Pittsburg, under
existing laws of ennsylyania (!) and thus
Virginia would lose. and forever, this golden
advantage. Now, is not this an untruth!
Could Baltimore, dare Baltimore, enter on an
expenditure of S3O00,000, under the shelter
ofaicharter obtained by such means?
will not dwell longer on this point. here
is 10 doubt that the Baltimore company re-
sorted to untfuthful and deceptive representa-
tions of these most important facts, to induce
the Virginia legislature to make the grant of
1871; and il is equally certain, that these false
statements, knotcn By the company to be false,
mainly induced the passage OF this improyi-
dent charter.
There are numerous other points of enquiry,
which will come in aid OF this prosecution. |
have not place to name them here. All, and
each will take complexion from that vile plea
of their own turp,ude in the procurement OF
this law, which aimed to cheat their agent out
OF isis stipulated fee. The company will stand
at the bar of justice on trial under quo
warnnio, issued by the Attorney Gen raj OF
the State, to test the validity of the law OF
1877.
The validity of that charter will be denied
by the State, on the ground oil false and fraud
ulent iInpositoBs and practices in its procure
ment. They will be estopped from, denying
their fraudulent designs in establishing their
records of court otjustice, that they did es-
tahlish such agency. Whilstsher agent scorns
the charge, they have SO characterized the
agency, and will be held 10 all its legal effects.
The issue of fraud or no fraud comes before
Virginia jury. Its a question OF tact, and
the company by reason OF their plea will hold
very much the position of a low cuiprit on
whose person stolen goods have been found
Thev stand convict by confession OF the quo
ansme," and their every act will be scam q
through this dirty medium Of Their own lafnish-
ing. ONE. w ~ niso"5
Lieutenant Haywood. U. 8. NJ, whose
death from yellow fever, on board OF the un''
ted States team Frigate Sarannc, was ahnoun-
ced the other day, was a native OF Belfast me-
His service in the Mexican war was substantial
ana briI!ient. His gallant defence OF san Jose
will be remembered BY all.
uThe receipts into the Treasury OF Cali
fornia during The last fiscal year, were $685.
ss5. Expenditures sss7 $40. Excess OF ex-
pandirures s6al,0e4. The Assembly have vo.
ted to remain in Vallijo the present session
and The Senate are expected TO concur.