Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-15
RICHMOND WING.
...-. - ..onNrI,rn IppII TX iakA
i.. se To CORRESPONDENTS.
altar. nm bu,lnes, must addressed 70 the "Edtcrs
Tho Board Of Public Work. tho Co,ington and Ohio
Railroad.

We were prevented by circum stances which
we had control, from noticing yesterday, the
remarks in the Wing Of the day BEFORE with regard
to this subject.
"The whig calls the interpretation which We put upon
the law auhosng the Board to borrow money an ouira
geous proposition Now, made proposition at all
70 the best Of recollection. We merely stated what
conceived be the effect Of the law and we presume
the Wing itself agrees with thus far tor 1t does not
deny that construction right IL says that such was
not the intention Of the Legislature We have no means OF
asccrtainng what the Legislature meant; but We must
say that III anything else than what We nave con
strued il o mean il took unusual and We shouu
think unnecessary pains to disguise is meaning 80,
we cannot that additional canse for abolish
ING the board arisen out OF this law We do not know
s. construct on members OF that body put upon IT,
Because the Legislature chooses to express itself IN such
language III enacs the reverse of what intended
cnac very hard that the board should be made
suffer for s stupidity Incidence The board has not
the power which, our construction be right this
coners upon them Indeed feel pretty sure that
It will attempt to do it. for the very reason given by
the whg that il would be unpopular step They are
worthy gentlemen, far as know; but We do not
suspect them If the heron which would lead to the sac
rce Of their popularity for the tardy gratitude which
the reward Of martyrdom in great cause-en"y POSI-
We are pleased to find that the Post does not en-
dorse the exercise Of the enormous power by the |
Board Of Public Works which its construction of the
Covington aud Ohio Railroad act assigns them viz: to
borrow, on the credit Of the Commonwealth, the
money necessary to construct and equip the road,
without regard to the action Of the Legislature in re.
fusng to grant appropriations to that purpose. The
proposition it seems, is too Outrageous" for our
neghbor to advocate with all his desire for the requi
site amount Of moley from the State Treasury to
complete this work. The Post says ave merely sta.
ted what conceived be the effect Of the law and
presume the Wing itself agrees with thus far,
for it does not deny that construction is right Ii
says that such not the intention Of the Legisla
ture." We do deny though that its construction is
right 1t is both contrary to the intention Of the Le
gislature and to the spirit of the act.
But that is guarantee that the provisions Of the
act will not be transcribed by the Board Of Public
Works, while is contended that they have the pow
er to go and borrow any amount Of money "on the
credit Of the Commonwealth appropriation no
appropriation by the Legislature. Ii is to any such
construction of the act that object. We want to
such idea promu gated in this State that three
men constituting Board of Public Works are to be
endowed with authority to build stupendcus Railroads
''on the credit of the Commonwealth" without the
least limitation to their expenditures. The existence
OF this body is dangerous enough to the credit Of the
IcslIcLiuIs tue LeglSla-
lure can throw around it. But when you beg to
talk about comforting upon this monied monster power
the authority to expend the funds of the State any
line Improvement at its pleasure, without limi
taton and restriction, and in defiance of the
will OF the Legislature it is high time to look the
alarming consequen ces to which it may lead.
1t may do with some to fatter themselves that the
Board Of Public Works with fountain of pair image,
and power will not abuse the trust bestowed upon it,
We promise ourselves no such lattering hopes from
any set of men thus constituted The people of the
State cannot lay any such tiatterng JUNCTION to them
stlves. We have enough in the brief history oi
this organization Of the Board of Public WORKS tn
satisfy us of that. The very first meeting of this
Board we believe, signazed its action by converting
itself into "a political machine" in the distribution OF
the appointments it had to make. We have little
hope that it will refrain from exercising every
sci of power which any ACT may possibly be con-
strued to confer upon when it has already gone
far as to assume and exercise power without any
thority Whatever for doing 1t act uay commenced
creating ne" offices on its own responsibility among
the very first acts Of its Look the creation
Of the Office of Superintendent vf the Covington and
Ohio Railroad and the appointment of man to that
office, on fat salary, before the work vas even &C m
menced.
II it can thus create offices, besides the many it al
ready has the exclusive power of filling, Just when
and where it chooses it may tax the state wit thou
sands of treasury fed favores. If it can claim the
right OF borrowing money "on the credit of the com
monwealth under charter THAT extent it plea
SEES it may undertake to coerce the Legislature into
obedience to its will in other instances 1t is becom-
ing a power greater than the Legislature, and wi
soon make that body subserveat u its overpowerng
influences. THERE'S no telling where its dangerous
yet trust @ is N sst3R and the people of the State
necessityof demanding at the hands Of thor o,,,.
n
ship"
The War In Europe.
All eyes are now turned tho conflict IN E,ro,o and