Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-03-27
ERoNI RICHMOND.
Rsrplar oerrsspoaasnee Of he IntellIgeneer.l

pridfi0RS made FOR theH1-Ihe true Policy OF /
the State considered The CociagtoH d Ohio
Road-B0th Houses U'orkiHg IadustriO1sly. I
RICHMOND, March 2sd, 1855.
Certainly Legislative body can exhibit
fairer and more creditable record of one day
work than can the House of Delegates of Vir-
ginia for Saturday last
You have doubtless learned and published
ere this the passage of the following aPproprla-
ton bill by that body, viz: to the Coyington
Ohio road, $500, 600; Orange and Alexandra,
500, 600; Alexandria, Loudon and Hampshire,
$SOO,OOO; Manassas Gap, $3.50 900; Norfolk and
Petersburg, $500, 1000. The Covington Il Ohio
vas Senate bill and is now of course law.
The bills for appropriations to the other roads
above named have yet to be acted upon by the
Senate.
The York river railroad BILL apprOprating
$500, eco, passed the House yesterday.
All oftheSe bills, except the Covington & Ohio,
will come up in the Senate to-day and to-mOr-
row, and there is little doubt of the easy pass
age of most of them, though some opposition
to the Orange 4 Alexandra, and, Urk river roads
is anticipated The aggregate sum thus aPpro-
priated, amounts to $2,20O,OOO, which may
seem to some, a very eNtTavaSant disposition OF
the finances of the State, In view OF the great
depletion of the Treasury, and it must be ad
United that under ordinary circumstances, such
appropriations would be justly termed an ex-
travagant expenditure; but ut this time our most
important works of improvement are IN a Ian
gushing condition from lack OF means with
their projectors to carry them and if, in such
a crisis in their progress, the Legislature had
refused to assist them, the inevitable result
would have been poStponement of their COM
pletiOn, most injurious to some, and check
upon their present progress fatal TO others. An
other fact to be considered Is that these hppro-
priations for assistance from the Legislature,
nt MI I'D fO
in other words, giftS, to private individuals, but
the applicants guarantee to return these appro-
priatiOnS by handsome revenues, to accrue to
the Treasury i'll the future, from the enormous
incomes expected to arise from the trade and
travel going over these routes. The pnltry sum
Of 100000, appropriated to the COvington "
Ohio bill, is regarded by its friends a perfect
burlesque. So extremely tarcical was it consid-
cred that Gen. Chapman, one of the leading
friends of the bill, intimatcd very significantly
the other day, that the passage of the original
bill, Invested of the amendments providing adj
-ditional sums, was matter of very little i'm
portance. The sum of $500, 900 is hardly more
than sufficient to prevent the ruin of the work
already accomplished, and if this rate OF appro
priation continues, the present generation will
possibly not witness the completion OF an en-
terprisc which, if seasonably and properly at
tended to, will perhaps contribute more TO the
enrichment Of the Commonwealth tian any
other in which she is interested. Virginia has
long enjoyed more moral power than any OF her
sister States, but this she has undoubtedly lost
by the lethargy which seems to have held bound
her Legislatures, who have acted under the de-
fusion that she was by nature destined for power
and that no effort being wanted, it was only ne
cessary to await her destiny. And now, when
by the enterprise and industry of many of her
citizens, she seems almost prepared to enter the
field aud cope with the most potent Of her add
vcrsaries for commercial, social and political
empire.
That any should oppose the extention of a
generous support TO those who untirngly, and
INCREASINGLY labored for her improvement, is to
me inexplcabe. If, on account of an eXagger
ated financial embarrassment, Virginia, through
her Legislature, is to become so terrified as TO
abandon those works, which, although in en-
hryO have greatly strengthened her influence
and position, she will render herself the object
of the SCOTS and ridicule of the civilized world
If, on the other hand, for some reason, she eX-
tends restrained and reluctant assistance, in
sufficient for the accomplishment of its object,
other competitors already ahead of her, will OBJ
tain and enjoy the rich goal for which poor old
Virginia. it will be snid, notwithstanding her
superior natural facilities and advantages, was
too timld to contend. "
Sjtsscly no Virgininn would be willing to see
his old mother plunged in such an abyss of
shame and humiliation, with which such line
OF policy would oyerwhelm her, but will rather
JUSTIFY anu applaud All efforts 10 eAulCdte ulc
State from her present stagnation of interests
and non-progress, by active and liberal aid from
the Golfers of the State, and if necessary, by
contributions 0axes,) from his own pockets.
The bill converting SG,000,000 debt due the
State from the James River and Kanawha Com
pany, into stock, was passed, or rather n sgbsti
tute for it, offered by Mr.. Rives, which provided
that ST 100000 should be privately subscribed
and paid, before the State was required To con-
vert the Sc, 00O,O 900 into stock in the Company.
After its passage by the Senate, the bill went to
the House. where it was defeated, wanting sew
votes of a constitutional majority; the vote by
which it was defeated was reconsidered, and the
bill laid on the tables it will he taken up in few
days and passed. The bill providing that in
case the funds applicable to the discharge of the
instaImentS of subscriptions are insufficient for
the whole they shall be applied to the discharge
Of those coming first in the order that they were
made by the Board except in cases where pur-
chaserS of the State bonds may designate such
companies as the payment shall be made to; and
that when the officers of the State, or Board Of
Public Works. shall fail TO provide funds for any
claim due by the State, the claimant shall have
the right of purchasing the six per cent. or 9TH
equivalent bonds of the State, at the rate fixed
bV law and aunlvin0 Such purchase of Such i'm.