Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-01-22
The Republican complains lhst we ohleet

or its great Western railroad, through Virgin
IA. TO the mouth of the Big Sandy. for the pur
pose OF in,ercepting aud diycrting the trad'
and travel for which two or three of our lead
ing lines are con,ending; while We offer no OPP
position 10 the extension of the Alexandria ano
Gordonsvie road to Lyncbburg. This lsltet
scheme.ihe Republican thinks, would be as in
furious 10 the STATE, and more injurious tc
Lynchburg, than tho former. The effect of il
will be, that journal says, ITO give to Alex
andria and eventually to Baltimore, the great
commercial rival of Virginia. the benefit of the
trade which the James River Canal, the South
side and Danville roads are each striving 10
open way for, 10 the Cities and ports Of Viz
einis," end it directly interfercs with our city
by tapping Us before our road Is half com
pleted."
Our views in favor Of making The Virginia
and Tennessee railroad link in the shortest,
cheapest and most attractive line of travel be-
tween the great cities Of the South and South
west and those Of the North and North east
have been heretofore given in full, md as We
have seon no occasion for changing them. mel.
Their DO sc now think il necessary to repeat
them. As the friend OF thai work, ms the well
wisher Of the State, as identified in interest
with Lynchburg, we adhere To those opinions,
changed only in being strengthened by The
strenuous and alarming efforts which Balli
more ard the cities Of the North are making
toopen up communication with the South west,
by other routes in the success OF Which Yir-
einia is only To be interested by Der losscs.---
We We're content, SO long as our rivals were
silent that no immediate action should be taken
to slraighten and shorten the transit through
this State, So as TO make great thoroughfare
for national, aye, even, international travel;
but since they are moving, with so determined
purpose, too, aul such ample means, it be
hooyes us to be moving, also, lcst the goal be
reached 10y Others first, and the golden prize
lorne off
Let US make the most direct connection be.
tween Washington city and Knoxville, and
there is no reason why the immense tide of
travel that ebbs md flows, ike the waves OF
the seq, between the North and South should
not pass over the Virginia and Tennessee
road-and through the streets of I.ynchburg.
We cannot compel it, against its interest," to
make the circuit by Richmond and Norfolk
Expedition and economy are the great planets
that govern ii, the moon governs the tides
to which we have likened ii. Richmond and
Petersburg and Norfolk would get all Of it that
they are leeitimatey entitled TO. No lcgisla-
ton could give them more. The currents OF
travel, still less than the currents of trade can
be driven through enlightened and tortuous
channels, when shorter and straghter are pro
yided. These it is the policy of our rivals 10
provide.
AS to the tonnage which may come down the
Virginia and Tennessee line being borne off 10
Baltimore, the Republican need not distress
itself about that, When II arrives here, the
distance to Richmond, land that by a0ater, the
cheapest possible mode of transportation will
be about half what it is to Baltimore by the ox-
pensive conveyance ola railroad. Richmond
with this advantage, will get all that she has
use for and capital to command; so will Pc
tersburg, and so will Norfolk. What these
cities do not want and cannot pay for; what
hcan seems to forget is Virginia city, can.
not arrest in its transit, for want of means or
use-we have no objection that it shall go to
Baltimore. We are for free trade in the in.
te,nal commerce of country. We are for
giving the producer the choice Of as many mar
kets as possible. 1t is a mistaken notion that
trade can, or ought TO be, blocked up by any
such embargo as the Republican proposes
1t will force its way like a mountain stream.
We do not very clearly comprehend wha,
the Republican means by tapping US before
our road is half completed" 1t seems to i'm.
agine that if the Legislature should grant a
charter-the work would grow, like Jonah's
gourd. in night. Alas ! that has not been
the history Of railroads in Virginia. If the
Virginia and Tennessee road is now hall
DONE 1t viii be in different state by the time
the Alexandria and Gordonsville taps" it.