Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-01-17

.ubectpg Il to northern vassalagc would be very like
the Russian invasion Of the Pncpaties, andhe
patton of tho len bank Of the Dahube and would provo
quite fatal TO tho integrity and wcllbeing Of Virginia.
the Russian aggression will to tho Ottoman Empire
The Ccntral road has always had prodgous proclvty
immense dip towards the north. To give south.
detection as FAR possible we, the other day.
recommended that should have the construction Of the
direct road from this city Charlottesville. IL that road
given to Independent company the Central road
| would become little better than a feeder to Baltimore
throughout its length.
The gauge has been called the northern gauge,
and the wide gauge The southern and they not
~ SO in name, but in reality. The one will give trade
aud travel southern, and the other northern direc
ton By making the Covington road the noriher,
gauge, not merely aid extend the dominion Of the
north into the interior Of Virginia. but spread that
dominion beyond limits, and aid to subject Ken.
lucky to the yoke. As already stated the main aud
direct road from the mouth Of Big Sandy TO Lexington
has no gauge yot fixed. II viii no doubt be made to
correspond with that Of the Coyington road, and the
same gauge will be continued to Memphis. Tennessee
has not yet admitted foot Of railroad within her lin
its OF the northern, Free Soil underground gusgs
BY surrenderng the Covngton road to the north then
we surrender the commerce Of Kentucky, and throw
away all the advantages Of connection that would defy
all "eo"Petfors north SOUTH" with all Kentucky and
northern Tennessee. We do more. Peoples politica
feelings strongly and inscnsby affected by their COM
mercial relations BY egslang and voting millions to
induce them to trade to the north the risk of yam
keezing the whole region permeated by this Free Soil
gauge This would be political aud social disaster which
| could never be repaired.
Mr.. Ellet, in his report to the Central road tells that
company the, no does think its will be affected
by the feet guage the Covington road for that In
short time, public convenience and necessity will compel
return to the gauge Of the Central road We thank the
gentleman for the suggestion brings mind the i'm
porince and the facility of converting the whole Central
road into genuine Southern one, by changing its gauge
throughout Make it feet all the way-or six if YOU
pease-though according 10 Commission of Parliament
that is too wde aud 5S is the best gauge all things consid
ered that has been tried Tomake gauge will not re-
quire much outlay Only % miles beyond Charlottes
vile have yet been laid. Pull them up--make the short
road iron here TO Charlottesville feet and that beyond the
Ridge to CoVington feet aud the work is done The
Central becomes thoroughly souihenzej and in cordial
harmony AMI sympathy with all the railroads of the
southern States IL can no longer be tapped by Balti
more aud Philadelphia, or any underground railroad
AMI instead OF being a source Of weakness, and all
instrument of danger to southern interests it will prove
buwark to hem and mpegnahle barrier to northern
aggression.
The narrow gauge advocates are very fearful Of the
effects OF break of bulk by having two different gauges
on the road to the Ohio This result be prevented
by this saving expedent the Central road the
As IL gauge aud adopting that of feet throu and
thereby obtain advantages ooer all competitors north
or SOUTH" But We should greatly prefer break of bulk
to the adoption OF gauge which would contribute TO
empty the commerce of half the State into ground
railroads and northern cities especially that importan,
work. :he James River Clna-in which the State has so
much interest, and which tue city of Richmond must
mainly rely for its future greatnesswi reap the benefit
OF the break Of bulk. We hope this consideration will
not be disregarded by those who have in charge the inter
ests of this cy-athough some of them seem to have
much more regard for the welfare of other regions than
Tor that OF the people whom they represent
We have not time space go into a consideration Of
all the interests which the State has stake this ques
ton 1t would be thousand times better for her to
abandon the Covingon road altogether than to build
at an expense of IL millions for the benefit of Baltimore
to The detriment of the large capital she has invested
IN the James River and Kanawha company and to the
serious and permanent injury Of all her Eastern ces
In CONCLUSION We may say, that whenever this ques-
ion has been discussed the wide gauge has always
eu Tie day Two years ago. the friends of the Central
road gave up the point and entered into a written
agreement not TO comics; it farther II was substantially
triumphant at the Union Convention in Monroe in '52-
pubhc meeting IN Cabeii county unanimously recon-
mcnded it-and Oh Saturday, Mr.. Skinner Of Augusta in
his reply TO Mr. Deanr in effect admitted its 'inrins
superiority, 10y abandoning Argument aud att amptin to
excite prejudice against the city OF yncburg on the aeg
ed score oil lis Graspng and monopaling spirit, We d.
not intend to express any opinion which city, Lynch
burg or Saunon is remarkable for
iorbeaIance and moderation in demands upon the public
treasury Eut an mPutaon OF that kind cast by Staun-
ton man, upon other locality in the State provoked
general ttter throughout the Hail. This reminded us of an
aecd0e We heard during the late Agricultural Fair in this
CITY, The day after the Society had subscribed 10 OO1
Augusta man observed that "Albemarle would manare
to get all that money" "NOt much danger Of it, was te
reply while Augusta j. so close by watch herr Thee
two great counties have been snguIry fortunate in the
amounts nj public monies layisbei upon them but fat
be II from vs. TO say, that they do deserve all the,
| have received.
The question in hand, too grave however to b,
decided by its bearing upon either both the owng
Lynchburg aud Stanton It affects the whole 9tate,r
present and its future prosperity its social Commercial
| and political freedom.
,rhe Augusta mans provisions appears By the ws
nan nght Alternate did get 1880 the inrOrne