Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-04-23
Pittsburgh and steubeenvilile Railroad

mlS'E cpreSentauon, or perhaps mlSconceptlon, has
seldom found its parallel, even among the many
- statements for which the advocates of the
Rightof Way have rendered themselves so distin-
gushed during the late struggle to obtain it. 1t is
really difficult to say whether the Journals ari-
Giles are intended to iniure Pittsburgh or Wheel
ing though that their result will be to darken the
hopes OF Pittsburgh, no one can setio usly doubt.
In the first place, the Journal says "drectly the
Virginia Legislature never acted upon the bill gran
ting the right of way othe Pittsburgh and Steu-
benvllle road. Well! if, on motion to indef-
nitely postpone bill, after full and prolonged
discussion upon the merits, vote be taken on
that motion and bill is indefinitely post poned by
:. a vote OF more than two to one, then we would
e like to know what is t.drect action" upon such a
bill. TheJournal well knows that such a motion
is atestquestion, and so understood to be by ALL
The Journal very properly says ''this ended all
action upon the bill during that session." 1t
doubtless did, and why? Because the friends of
that bill well knew that it was test pote /, that
the question was directly decided, and hence no
. effort even ito reconsider was attempted. Why
was 1t else that the Secretary (and putative Pres
denO of that road took haSy leave of the sun
ny cline, which had proved so favorable to his
feeble nerves during the season. He at least knew
that the vote was final and declsipe. Indeed it
was more than decisipe, it was repulsive. 1t was,
s'ying in the language of delegate who voted for
the bill, "your proposition has no merit, go hence
and trouble us no longer" and hence they went,
horse. foot, and dragons so fast that not one of
them was put in guard house. The Journal
next states that penal bill, &C., was +unani-
mously negatived within ten days from the COM
mencement OF the session by committee. Now
This statement is simply false, and we would ad-
wise the Journal either 10 examine the proceed
ings of our Legislature HIMSELF or to get;his infor-
nation from reliable Sources for these things
are on the record. The simple facts as to this
biilar these:
The Senate committee reported bill (not neg
atiyed) declaring it misdemeanor for any person
IN Virginia to construct railroad for public use,
&C., .withpu: authority of law This bill was
ordered to its engrossment by the Senate without
opposition. 1t came up in order for passage while
our Senator was absent, aud was laid on the ia
BILE at the instance of friend to await his return
Upon his return our Senator concluded to let the
bill remain in statu quo until the House acted on
the Pittsburgh bill. After that decided vote OF
the House the bill was called up, and motion
made to strike out part of it. Our Senator be-
lieying and having the concurrent opinion, of the
bestlawyers in the Senate, that this bill only en-
acted what was law without il, asSented to the
amendment added thereto. Wishing to pass bill
for road this side of the liver to connect with
the Cleveland Road, and it being late to intro
duce and pass in order an original, and being fully
satisfied TO the force of the law without enact
ment he substituted the proposed billto the one
then on its third reading and had it passed So that
the whole statement nFt he
10 this bill is without truth, and fabrication for
Pittsburgh purposes.
Asto the statement of The opinion of the Attor-
ney General of Va, We know nothing; but finding
It IN company with 80 many other statement S
which we know to be untrue, we may safely Judge
of it by its company. and do not think it entitled
to the least credit So far from the statement that
not one singleyote having been obtained by Wheel
ingin favor of this bill being true, we are inform
edAby.thoSe whose facilities for knowing entitle
them TO full confidence, that this bill could have
been passed, had we pressed it, and that it was
not pressed because the legal opinions of the most
eminent Lawyers, in both Houses; wereth the
statute was unnecessary, as the law was clear
'withoutit Now whiethe Journal speaks SO pos.
iyely about the right of the people of Brooke and
Hancock to make their road we would like to
know how many ofthe citizens of B. and II. have
anything whatever to do with this road? Let him
speak by the record and tell us what will be the
cost Of this Dad t.bridge and alp and say hoto many
shares This road o.cned by citizens of Brooke
and Hancock, and whether this road if built will
mot be constructed with the means for the use Of
1.-The Pittsburgh Road, and for no other puIpose7-
Let him also say whether court Of Equity would
l:look atthe technical phase presented by appear
apces and bubbles, or whether it would look at
The real object, and dedication of the work. and
then we shall be ready to meet his law as to the
rights of citizens to make roads, lf
How the Journal could make the barefaced as
serton that the Legislature of Virginia, &C., have
unanimously refused TO restrict the right of thei
citizens thus freely to build roads, in the face oil
the record, we are at loss to imagine. That pa
per has often made mis-Statements as to these
matters heretofore, but we had supposed that when
1t came to speak of facts in the record, proper
self-respect, in the absence of more commenda-
bic motive, would have prompted it 10 be more
cautious, if not more truthful.
Asto the opinions of the ablest lawyers of Viz,
ginia who have decided for Pittsburgh, we do not
purpose now to speak, though we should like tc
know who are these able lawyers, and whethe,
%A-SS "SAS AAo1 GACAuStfGIy W 1oD-
by members, kept and fed at Richmond by the
Pittsbufghers, and not by the citizens of Brooke
and Hancock. Its quite amusing TO see the Pitts
burgh press lighting their own battles under sup.
posed nights and supposed wrongs done to Brooke
and Hancock. Pittsburgh is the applicant for thi.
road and the Journal cannot get that point out oi
sthes issue. The road, if constructed, would be
eanstructed with Pittsburgh money for the benefi,
Of Pittsburgh. and the efforts of Pittsburgh Il
bhndfold and and hoodwink Virginia, but putin.
Brooke and Hancock in the.van, into granting hei
2 charter to iniure u.s. are about as honorable "a.
sthey have heretofore been saeetsstul. III,
Z The journal may. advise the making of thai