Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-31
THE VIRGINIA CENTRAL, AND THE RICHMOND

IBE FlWiiNlA tEN RAIL- AMI iHr' hIAHhpNI',
FREDERIC CKsBURG AND POTOMAC RAIL ROADS.
70 he Ed,io.s oG rte Enquirer:
Gsutlsnen: Il have read with much aurpris- the
letter Of Mr.. Robert Tyler Of PhiIGdelpha, TO yon,
,ouc' ing the Virginia C~nir,! AMI Richmond.
Fredericksburg aud Potomac Raj! Ruads.
Ny surprse H. '!i4' layer Of Mr.. Tyier'- in-
mind shuuld permi, :iuseli tu bo drlulrd by hi-
pbi.ud.lDb;s friend ini1 the belief that d judicial
controversy between the iao rail road companies,
mad affected the price Of Virginia Stn:e socks. and
that he should have Thought II proper 10 CONE int"
tha pewspapers To h-cu-s the proprr:y OF The judi
cisl decison5 Of Virginia. and, yet, more, that lie
should, upon The grounds stated, hive entertained Tor
moment, the idea or doubt, or iea' OF doubt. Tint
the Virginia L.gi-latur- conin "repudiar. or Nir
pnia Judge could br found. who would, by his uds
lneut uphold ln. repuIi.tion. Th. thing s iInpo.-I
BILE When the s,s,s a!l, Virginia may repudiaie,
but uev-r befure
Mr.. Tyler 10 yielding 10 the impulse, honorable
though i, Wa, which his friend excited has dose IN
Justice, uniDtentona an sure, not only to Virginia
and her Pledge, but 10 the Judges Ot the Supreme
Court OF The United States; for not only hive The
Virginia Chancellor. decided that the extension of the
Central Rail Road 10 Richmond Was constitutional,
and violaet no compaci with the Richmond, Freder
lcksourg .nd Potomsc Rail Road Company, but our
Supreme Court, affirmed their decisions, and The
Supreme Court ot tho Uulted States affirmed lis d.
cislon.
If Mr. Tyler had known these facs, he would not
have written his letter am eure for bs knows that
there be such theory al legal aud con'litution
a. repuda;iou Ut legal conraEt and We derive our
knowledge OF what is legal ani constitutional from
the decisions OF the Supreme Cours-State ana Feh-
eral
This statement Is vindics;ion enough OF Virginia
a. indeed yours war; but think II due to her II state
a fact which ahnws hnt while exercising her und"ubt
ID right: m. deslt with ihs utmost tendern"ss WIN
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and P"i"msc Com
pany. The present Csnral Rail Road wsa originally
the Louisa Rail Road endng from ihe Junction
with the Richmond. Fred-rickshurg and Potomac
Rail Road, in Hanover, We-'~ardly. The Louisa
Kali Road WAS not prepared 10 do it, own car
rying, and il contracted with the Richmond.
fredericksburg and Potomac Rail Road TO do 1t.
Ths contract continued Tor several years oar "hcn
il expired the Louisa Rail Road company complained
that was 100 Oppressive and sought reduction OF the
charges That was refused by the Richmond Frede
ricksbury aud Potomac Company, ana then ths LOU
al company prepared 10 do lie own transportation
But il wns compelled 10 deliver is freight. and pas
| seng-r- 90 the Richmond, fredericksburg and Poto
mac road the charges upon which were so high, that
| they could not be borne. aud lhen and not until
then did the Louisa company spply TO the Legislature
to -xtend lis road to Richmond, 80 that il might do lie
own iransparth alton. Tho Richmond, Fr-i-rlckeborR
AMI Potomac company oppossd the application ana
was ,uily heard tho Legislature granted tbu oiend-r
il OF the ini-r1.tr not the rights for had 0ontl
oi the Richmond, Fredericksburg ard Potomac Com
pany hat thu law provided, that IL should nor taE1
elect Until II had hrst Deen suotteu I'D n' oohpauy'
aud 4 IL would conrpn Ia carry the freight aud ph--
s-ugprs which the Louiss company brough! 10 II,
from thu Junction 20 Richmond, AZ the same rate per
ton, and passengers per mile, which was charged
byjhe Louisa company, then the Central Road should
no, be extended 10 Richmond. The Richmond, Fred
erick burg and Potomac company would not enter
The proposition and tho road was extended after
every -ffort to prevent il had been exhausted
The grounds upon which the Central company re-
lies and has be.n hitherto austsin.d, will bs beat MI.
der.,ood by perussI of its answer 10 the ast bill Of
the chm1nd, fredericksburg and Potomac Rail Road
Company, which think ought TO b- pho 'ished IA An
act OF iustice TO it, And as lis counsel and one Of IL
stockholders, in the absence OF my friend MIR.
Fontaine, the president of the road, send you
Il copy of it, which beg you TO PubIi-h.
In doing so it may be proper 10 say that | have ne
desire TO inure the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac Rail Road Company. On this contrary |
esteem its ofiicers aud directors highly and should
be glad to see il making ~ per cent. dividends
Very respectfully yours
JAMES LYoSs.