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

We have looked with much interest," and no, n l,,Ia
surprise, at the singular difficulty into which the CITY of
Baltimore has been betrayed by blunder on 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 a,iles but in
this instance he to have acted without his usual
forecast
II appears that this company employed Mr. Marshall
in ls47, 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 to pay him $o0.O00 If such
law obtained at that session. A law was obtained
giving the company all the powers they needed, and was
accepted, and under its provisions the great Baltimore
connection with the Ohio has been formed Marshall
claimed his fee, which, various grounds was contest
ed. Marshall sued. and the first defence resorted to
by the company was that the contract with Marshall
not recoverable al law, because against public policy
and fraudulent in its naurein other words, that the
company had employed fraudulent procure the
charter OF their road. The court sustained the plea,
and the company choused their agent out Of his
but here is the rubthe company. by this plea, awakened
customer it dreamed of disturbing. The Vr-
ginia cities the Chesapeake, langushng under the
shadow OF Baltimore, have long deploed the grant of
ls47 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
ce. by unlawful and agency shall be revoked
and annuled 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 neighborng State and all the leading
cities, and every great Improvement projected
through Virginia has been auayed in eager hostility
against the chartered rights OF the company
How this matter will result have no sufficient data
to Judge On facts published TO the world, interesting in
their possible results the commercial relations OF New
York herself, it is right to speculate. As outside
observers struck with feature OF this strange
controversy. Baltimore city has been assaed in her
morality and honor Qrue, by individually and the at
has been echoed and endorsed by the highest and
most imposing powers known to republican instu-
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 OF that city. AS outsiders, we expected de-
fence OF their moral name, least under the broadside
Of oboquy poured upon them by their outraged agent
Are ascrlbe this systematic silence TO the paralysis
Of fear and hopeessness of moral deence We should
think an assault by Virginia, through her highest
,hories, would attract the attention Of the citizens of
Baltimore.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad is about 400 miles to
Wheeling, and about $50 in length to Parkersburg-(a
branch )-makng aggregate length OF near 600 miles.
For hree-ourths of this distance passes through VIZ
GINA territory, and claims its franchise from the Virginia
legislature. It's western termini Virginia soil.
The blindness and impocy of the company, in furnish
ing ground for assault these interests amount
incredible faulty Apart from the absolute disregard
OF moral faith to its written compact, the importance
of concliatng Virginia Of The highest moment SO
extensive line OF railroad must perpeualy need lesis
latve favors. At this moment they wish TO build
double track TO Cumberland, and they need additional
grants of power for that purpose They have but slight
hope OF favor from quarter outraged by an open an
shameless avowa that this applicant for favor claims It's
foothold in their State by unlawful agencies aud impos
lions How is Baltimore TO get the three millions requ-
site bsild this double track even il she has night OF
way for When grave questions az 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