New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-22

same re.1Its vii. be visible. Virsia,sns fss Ia'o
the error Of concluding that the rs;coads maze the
prosperity Of the North, while II Is tee prosperity
cf the North that makes the rsiiroad'. Thus taes
have commenced, aud in some instances completed
lOrp linss of railroads; and ore now struggling 10
cotsummate their railroad system by connections
scross the Aeehauies With tae great valley of the
Ohio. They have already penetrated the Blue
RIDGE. at the Menasses Gap, tapping the fertile
valley Of the Shenandoah, and are strsining every
rerye TO surmount the long aud difficult way taat
interyenes between that aud the Ohio. To connect
Norfolk directly With Europe is part OF the
Grand scheme-tbat city beipg the seaport to
which all the railroads OF the State converge.
We sincerely trust that t5e hopes of Mr.. Preston,
Gov. Wise and their friends may be fully oy
the early completion Of the psns they have 50 muca
at heart. They sre st least a step 10 the way oil
progre.s. If their accomplishment shai! only prove
that il needs something beside railroads and steam
ships to infuse vitality into the siuggsh caaanes
enforced labor, at least Gee step Will be gaaed.
For our part we do not msgine that Increased
facilities of transportation sre al that Is needeo l"
revive Virginia. but this opinion IS not tuuy 'na'eo
by yireinians themselves. We can only hope 70
convert them to our way Of thinking BY the slow
process of experience. They must believe what
they will. and work themselves clear OF tae'f own
errors in their ewn gay. IT is at least hopetui
sign that enterprise is not wholly stasnant IN tue
Mother of States. There is ambition and zeal aud
desire Of progress and their Manifestation IN any
way is q subject of congratulaton. Ihst desue
indicates spirit which, if foiled IN one way, WI
seek another and another. till it shall at la't ind
substantial qualification. II aisclcses the existence
of spirit that will one day free Virginia OF her
great incubus by proving that while that incubus
remains, oil efforts for the elevation and reluvena'
ton of the material interests Of the State viii be
fiuitless.
We therefore regret that the terms which slr.
Preston brings back from Nantes are such as they
are. These terms, We are sorry to say, are not
compatible with sound policy toward cur mercsa'
tile marine. The system Of gratuites TO steam
lines running from our ports to foreign countries Is
y.tem that tends only to mischief 1t hrst cor
rupts, and then eneryates If it were generaiiy
adopted. We believe it would deal fatal blow 70
maritime enterprise. The fruits OF our experience
in this line have been i'll no way favorable, and We
desire to see 4e system abrogated. We musthopo'
therefore, to see the plans of our Virginia nelshOors
carried out in some other mode. Let them receive
oil the benefit to be derived from sending European
mail from Norfolk. Give to the, line all 1t can
earn from this source, but there let the compensa'
ton cease. Psy for the service performed cheer
fully and fully; but pay nothing in the way OF git
or gratuity If the virgnaps can get on with this
we shall lejoice; and with little aid from the
State to start the enterprise, we think they may
In some mode, at least, we trust that this great
scheme Of theirs may be consummated.