The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-27
From the N. X. Herald.
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad

We have looked with much interest and not a little
surprise, at the singular difficulty into which The city of
Baltimore has been betrayed by bunder the part
OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. The
president of that company has the reputation OF being
an energetic officer and OF good abilities; but in
this instance he seems to have acted without his usual
forecast
II appears that this company employed Mr. Marshall
in 1S47, to procure for them the right Of way through
Virginia TO the Ohio river which, for years. that State
has systematically refused to grant. They made writ
ten contract with this man to pay him $4,000 If such
law obtained at that session. law obtained
giving the company all the powers they needed and
accepted, and under its provisions the great Baltimore
connection with the Ohio has been formed. Marshall
claimed his fee, which, various grounds, contest
ed. Marshall sued, and the first defence resorted to
by the company was, that the contract with Marshall
not recoverable at law because against public policy
and fraudulent in its naturein other words, that the
company had employed fraudulent to procure the
charter of their road. The court sustained the plea,
and the company coused their agent out OF his $50 O0
but here is the rubhe company, by this plea, awakened
customer 1t never dreamed OF disturbing. The Viz
GINA cities the Chesapeake languishng under the
shadow OF Baltimore, have long depored the grant OF
is47 which gave Baltimore power 10 strike down their
highest commercial interests These cities have APP
preached the Virginia legislature by memorial, and de-
manded that this charter obtained by Baltimore appears
by her admissions the record OF court OF JUS
tce by unlawful and fraudulent agency shall be revoked
and annulled. The parties no longer Marshall and
the Baltimore company, but this unfortunate affair has
involved the Baltimore and Ohio Company in war of
extremity with neghboring State and all the leading
cities, and every great Improvement now projected
through Virginia has been arrayed in eager hostility
against the chartered rights OF the company
! How this matter will result we have no sufficient data
to Judge. On facts published 10 the world, interesting in
their possible results. the commercial relations OF New
York herself il is our righ, to speculate. AS outside
observers, struck with feature OF this strange
controversy Baltimore city has been assaed in her
morality and honor, (rue, by Individually and the at
has been echoed and endorsed by the highest and
most imposing powers known to republican insitu-
tons The vital interests OF the city, well its
moral integrity stand thus impugned and yet not
word of justification of defence has appeared in the
journals oil that city. AS outsiders, expected de-
fence OF their moral al least, under the broadsde
of oboquy poured upon them by their outraged agent
Are ascrbe this systematic silence TO the paralysis
OF fear and hopeessness OF moral defence We should
think an assault by Virginia. through her highest
thorlies, would attract the attention Of the citizens of
Baltimore.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad is abou, 400 miles TO
Wheeling, and about $50 in length TO PaTkersburg-ta
branch -makng aggregate length of coo miles
For threeourths of this distance it passes through Vr
GINA territory, and claims its franchise from the Virginia
legislature Its western termin are on Virginia soil
The blindness and impocy Of The company, in furnish
ing ground Tor assault on these vast interests amount to
an incredible faulty Apart from the absolute disregard
OF moral faith TO its written compact, the importance
of concating Virginia was of the highest moment. So
extensive line OF railroad must pepeualy need lesis
latve favors At this moment they wish TO build
double track TO Cumberland and they need additional
grants of power for tina, purpose They have bu, slight
hope OF favor from quarter outraged by an open an
shameless avowa that this applicant for favor claims It's
foothod in their State by unlawful agencies and IMPOSE
How Baltimore q the three millions
site 10 build this double track il she has night of
way for ii When grave questions as 10 the validity OF
her charter based upon her recorded admissions
advanced by hostile interests spread the whole State
Of Virginia. what safety will the bonds OF this company
| offer as an investment