Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-09-26


are now speaking. But the person Of whom we
do speak, is our juvenile and worthy editors-and
although, we cannot praise his free-will offerings
(editoriaS on railroad matters, as being ofsauy
importance TO this community, I'VE would new
sstheiesss, feel every way disposed to commend
an act of true and honorable friendship, let It be
performed by, OK fot whomsoeyer it might. And
did it notappeaT to us, that his friendship wasot
awrong character. and calculated to give to
foreign trespassing corporation, in the person OF
Squire Graffand few Others, an undue inhn-
ence over our county press, he would be entitled
to our highest admiration.
But we must now, teIlow-citizsns, return to the
subject of railroads. In our former address you
have read, what we supposed would tend for the
general benefit of the county, and as being in our
opinion under all the circumstances of the case,
the most polite course of procedure that could be
adopted. You have also seen, since that address
was delivered, that a very respectable railroad
meeting has been held at Bethany, seconding and
entreingIby its voice, the anang sment proposed.
Our Editor however, in his paper of the 9Th
inst, objects 10 the arrangement which was
that ofthe "pan-handle'' line of road, instead
of crossing at Steubenville, being made to pass
down through the counties of Brooke and Ohio
as low as the city of Wheeling before passing over
into the State of Ohio. His objection, is found
ed upon the consideration, that the Hempteld and
Charters Valley route, between Wheeling and
Pittsburgh,-on account of its being about six
miles the shortest-to use his own words 'would
have every advantage over it, and would do all
the business, ifmade!
Such reasoning we pronounce to be fallaciousi
-inasmuch as the proposed arrangement be-
comes necessary to meet existing contingencies
in the defence of our patrimonial rights. among
which is that of putting lasting UetO, against
the erection of bridge at Steubenyile, for, I'M
less that be done, we must, and shall consider
the affair, as being likely 10 effect in very ma
terial manner, the commercial and manufacturing
interests, both of the counties of Brooke aud
Ohio:-thereby lea: ing US, compare lively speak
ing, in a situation both barren and desolate.
Neither can we suppose fellow-citizens, that
our Legislature will remain an idle spectator Of
the affair. Being as it is, the lawful guardian OF
our rights in matter of the kind-it will not we
trust, act part so lnfeeting, as that of parent
who refuses to protect the rights of his children
when duty requires, that he should fly to their re-
lief in order TO rescue item out of the bands OF
their oppressors.
Let it be remembered, that the lines of road
now under onsideration-regarding their extreme
points, may be almost considered as one. They
both unite at Pittsburgh running east, and OF New
ark, Ohio, running west-the distance ofsepara-
ton, being of no greater length, than about one
hundred and forty miles-a small matter Aindeed,
when we consider the vast extent of line upon
which business will be Understanding itself,
from our Atlantic seaboard in the east, to the far
thest verge of the s'far-far-West." So then
unless editor Jacobcan make it appear, that the
disconnection of one hundred and forty miles,
between the functions, in the great extent of line
before us, be actually necessary to the existence
of both railroad companies, he must consider his
alleged objection, as being without any reasona-
BILE ground whatever TO sustain it; and that mat
tiers would work equally az well, were both lines
to pass through the city of Wheeling, when trav-
cling in direction either towards the east, OIL
| west.
But, fellow citizens, we cannot bring our re
marks to close, before answering a question
which we know your curiosity will ask. 1t is this:
why did not this address appsarin the Wellsburl
Herald, the paper of our county, as did the fOrme
one-or whypresent it before us in the paper of {
different county?
Hear us patiently if you please, and we will tell
you. The "right of free discussion" especially
in matters of public utility, we view as being ar
elementary principle in the American Constitu-
ton. We, ourselves had said but little, in rela-
ton to the question of railroad matters until ael
Editor Jacob and others, had said much-aftel
which, however, feeling an interest in this mat
ter, we stepped into the arena. What little we
have said heretofore has partly, been through the
columns of the Herald. But now, we are stopped
from speaking any farther in it-upon this, and
other subjects, in our style. We must nc
longer, fellow citizens, speak against Squire Graf
& Co.,-as violently wrestling from us our ''pan
handle''-our patrimonial inheritance, il we would
desire to be heard through the columns of the Her
aid. Who knows indeed, or who can tell, but
that our youthful editor may be charmed with
some gltteriug prospect, dancing before him in the
distant future, and which can only be reached by
courageous effort on his part, in fighting the bat
ties of the corporation-witllh his own musket-the
Wellsburg Herald!
Webster, our great statesman, says:-that "free
discussion is home bred right but our editor,
Oelng tue more luLelLSSHL anu paLLlouC gentleman
of the two, says tits not. The former further calls
tia FIRE side. privilege-the latter, of course
denies it. The former again says-'1t hath ever
been enjoyed in every house, cottage and cabin In
the nation" The latter, however, p=remptorily
declares, that it shall not be enjoyedin his office.
And thus, are we left to wonder at seeing two
such great men differ SO widely. as to the true
intent and meaning of CONSTITUTIONAL
PRINCIPLE.
We have now, fellow citizens, we think, am
swered the question, why we did not address you
through our own f we dare call it our OWN county
paper. The deficiency however, has been very
kindly made up by the Editors of the .'Wheeling
Intelligencer'-in opening their columns in our
behalf. We have but few words more to say,
fellow citizens, and we shall bring our remarks to
close. And what we would say, is:-that as YOU