Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-03-21


bers does not enhance the value of that advan-
tage TO the individual II this be true, it follows,
that the farmers, miners, manufactures and
chants along and this improv ement, are Just as
much interested and benefited by il as if their mum.
Der was thousand times itself; and their wants have
Just as much claim upon the legislative discretion and
favor al if their numbers were as the sand. To re-
quire large numbers before grant to improve s made,
reyerses the order of nature and of common sense,
and applies to this rule unheard Of before in
this Commonwealth The general rule heretofore
has been to grant the right, and even help to make
improvements, in order to superinduce attract and
hold population; but as for u.s. it is required that we
shall obtain of ourselves all the benefits of i'm
Improvement, before we shall be permitted to make
it. When this road is completed, and this con-
ueoon perfected by bridge, we will be in rail road
connection. east with Pitssburg and Philadelphia,
north with Cleveland the lakes and New York, and
west with Columbus, Cincinnati and ST. Louis
Will gentlemen tell me that all this will be
of no advantage to ,Rs, while they admit that
similar advantages would bull1 up any aud every
other place or country wherever they exist
Ia not a rail road connection with Cleveland
valuable to our country Wherefore, then, did
The city Of Wheeling take fifty thousand dollars in
order to secure such connection! We can secure
it for nothing will you let us1 You undoubtedly
will, for every consideration which could induce
Wheeling to make such an investment. applies with
equal force U.s. if could not otherwise secure the
Improvement.
The uplands of both Brooke and Hancock counties
CONTAIN COHl-bO Inucn may De SdlQ 10 DO one
continuous cosl-fed. Three companies have already
been chartered in Hancock, for the purpose of mining
COAL An uneyhaustble market for this commodity
is Cleveland and the lakes generally and Yet that
market, valuable and unexhsustible it is is unat
tanable tor the want OF this rail road connecticut
Will you smother thus our development, and compel
u.s. 1t were to hide our Lords money in the ground
until be comes and demands its usury'
But we need the road, as much for its connection
East as North. Thence all our agricultural products
thnnt af thara 10 aofNr Inc
ton beyond home consumption. There is no use of
elaboration; for, in short, need the road for all the
uses and purposes for which rail roads beneficial.
Give US this road, and with it the power to develop
ourselves, and hesitate not TO express the opinion,
that within ten years Brooke county, instead Of num-
berng five thousand, will number twenty thousand;
and Wellsburg, instead of two, will number ten thou
sand But cut off from this improvement, and
We must forever abandon every idea of advance
ment-"in this we live, or else we have no life
80 much, Mr. Speaker has been said to show, that
we have clear right to this road; that we actually
need, and will be greatly advantaged byit Wherefore,
then, in the of all that is just, refuse l have
already said, that the entire scheme contemplated
the structure Of road from Newark, in Ohio,
through Virginia to Pittsburg. ] now further say,
that Virginia should not defeat this design, consider
ing that the two great States of Ohio and Pennsyya.
mia are pettioning, even if the town Of Wellsburg
was not consulted, or in any manner provided for.
hold it due to sound commercial principles tHat
should thus declare myself. The road is being made
to facilitate and improve the commerce OF these Uni.
ted States and to open up to the markets of the world
the entire scope Of country from Newark to Pitts-
| burg, which is l57 miles. l repeat that even though
Welsburg unprovided for on principle, the grant
prayed for should be made; and if made by Virginia
! to either Pennsylvania or Ohio it would be made
The State of Ohio is here in her governmental ca
pacy, asking this boon. Do you feel ct liberty 10
| deny to that great State, land concerning whose
greatness Virginia has some right to be proud, being
her mother,l that which we know she has and would
! again grant to us1
| desire the Clerk to read the application OF Chic.
It is in the shape Of joint resolution, and then de-
sire each member to consider how he would desire
similar application from Virginia to Ohio 10 be treat.
ed and desire him, then, to answer whether he is
prepared to refuse her prayer, and especially so,
SINCE in co doing, he ruins and dooms to eternal
oblivion, ID tar improvement is concerned two
| counties of bis own State.
THE Clerk here read the application OF The Stale
Of Ohio in her joint resolutions.
These resolutions apply to Virginia for the right
Ohio ns granted and made 'h sa
river. Virginia cannot bridge the river without the
assent of Ohio, any than Ohio oan without the
assent Of Virginia, for each State owns exclusively
| shore Of that river. The charter OF the Wheeling
| and Belmont Bridge Company provides that it shall
| take effect and become law whenever the State
of Ohio shall give her assent thereto. Ohio did
assent at to that charter although che
did not nor was she asked to assent TO the late
amendment by which the draw originally pro-
bridge substituted in its stead 1t becomes matter
of considerable significance for Wheeling to consider
whether the lawful structure Of that bridge stand
Judicial investigation in Ohio II II cannot is it pru-
dent in to refuse the present prayer of that State
to do by authority what Virginia has done without
such authority J. therefore, again repeat that, even
if no branch to Wesburg was secured from consiGs
ration of those principles which should and do gov
trade and travel in enlightened country, the char
ter prayed for should be granted But the applica.
ton Is not based the mere right, for there is am.
pie provision made for Brooke county and especially
for Wellsburg This is secured by the concession on
the part Of the Pittsburg and steubenvle Company,
to, construct branch road eight miles in length, TO
Wellsburg, and thereafter daily work the same,
free OF charge or expense, either to the
State, county or town. BY this branch Wells;
burg, town of about 2,0OD inhabitants, will
be brought into rail road connection with all the net
work Of roads West, North and East and the eler
gy of the people Of the two counties will thereby be
unfettered the Genius Of improvement, hitherto
veed in cloudy MIST will throw of such enervating
robes, and, disclosing bright and encouraging as
pect. ameorate the condition Ct all. The compile.
licn Of the Wellsburg branch will cost about S2lOO0n,
and all this money spent among u.s. not merely Tor
the temporary benefit incident to such an expenditure,
but to create permanent source of wealth. convent
ence and comfort to the people, II this is denied us,
then are we indeed left destitute, not only Of the pro-
per care Of our government, but OF all means and
measures whereby we may better our own condition.
in any sense avail ourselves. If this General Assem-
bly, was TO throw wide open the door of plethoric
treasury, tand regret that it is not fully and author
ize to help ourselves to all needed TO construct
any rail road Improvement except this one, we would
be forced to decline the municent offer for want Of
an opportunity feasible scheme in which to invest
the money. The truth is we have none but this, nor
the remotest hope Of any other. Without this,
we are condemned to the imprisonment of the "vlew-
less Winds" where power, not right, sets its un-
halowed seal to keep us.
now proceed to consider the necessity Of a rail-
road bridge across the Ohio river Such bridge is
essential to the construction and eIstence OF the road
itself and therefore, TO deny the bridge s to deny the
road for the road cannot be constructed, even if
it was already constructed, il cannot be maintained
without connection with the railroads Of Ohio
That connection by bridge is essential portion OF
this scheme, and to defeat so important par, eec-
tuay destroys the whole; and the PROJECT in which
we thought we had so much that was for our good,
is rendered an abortion by the exercise OF power
without, or contrary to reason. What is the obJec.
ton to bridget 1t cannot be because IT wall
impede or obstruct navigation 10! tnat IS
guarded against in the substitute If it does IN
any manner otatyuot tho clear navigation Of that
river, it is declared nuisance, and condemned 10
abatement Opposition this ground ls wholly un.
tenabe and specious What then the true ground oil
opposton' The opposition s, ana Ias oe 20 .1e Gu
tire scheme and made the bridge with view 10 de-
feat that scheme, for bridge, no road IS just as
familiar to our opponents az 1t Is to US. wheeling
does not oppose the bridge merely for the purpose OF
nansas n trade and travel, Eaat and West, on this
route. route That would, indeed, be small business too
small for that oityshe cannot stoop to such !ndrec.
tion.-it ia unworthy of her. She could not reduce
herself to the attitude of saying to this House, eve
onnoss the bridge on purpoza to impede the speed
and enhance the expense Of that line Of commerce.
No, no-noue Of ths-her opposition as before said,
is to the entire scheme, road bridge and all; and 'o
intimately are they connected, dependent are they
on each ether that defeat to one is defeat to both
will now explain tho difference between the ori-
enal bill and the substitute am here as the patron
Of the original bill; but / am bound to say that it
was forced on me by the Committee on Roads, at the
instance of the gentleman from the city Of Wheeling,
Mr.. PAULL.) am opposed to that bill, because u
pects 1t denies the right to bridge the Ohio river,
aud yet requires the company TO construct ROAD