Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-19
ICoMyUNICATED.
virginia Trade TO Baltimore.

virginia Trade TO Baltimore.
You will oblige me, by publishing the fol
lowing extract from an article in the Rich
mond South, concerning the policy of Virgil
MIA, in the matter of internal improvements,
and the impoicy f diverting the trade Of the
state to the commercial capital of Maryland
AN ALEXANDRIA,.
"If Virginia will make proper use of the
means which God aud nature have so boun
tifully bestowed upou her, she can furnish to
her people a market at home, not merely
equal, but superior, to any that Maryland
has or can have. As We said before the al
vantages which Baltimore now possesses over
any of our own cities have been Obtained In
no small degree from mistakes IN our iegis-
laton already committed, and some OF Wn'cn
MT least il is now too late TO correct. Ii we
not ONLY persist in these mistakes Out com
NIT others of q similar character, we snail
then not only perpetuate, bot increase Those
advantages. until, by the force which they
will exert, Baltimore will absorb the whole
trade Of our State. We have already per
mi,ted lines of Railroad. from Baltimore to
nanetra.e the State in different directions,
the trade of the districts Of country 30 pene-
tra,ed at the market of Baltimore. II We
hermit these lines and others to be extended,
by the shortest and most direct routes IN I'LL
ferent directions, West OF our shipping ports,
throu,h the whole extent Of the State lmere-
" because some one line or another happens
10 pass though some one OF our INLAND or
border towns, and to converge to and COZ
centrate at Baltimore, it requires no spirit oil
n,onhecy to foretell that the result will be
70 attract the trade Of our State to that COM
mon centre, with force as certain and as
irresistible as that of graytatlon. We shall
thus, by failing 10 provide our own people
with a good market at home, force them In
affect to seek distant market at greater cost
10 the injury of themselves and the empower
i.bment Of the Commonwealth. On the
other hand, BY wise legislation, excited by
nrudent forethought dictated by patriotic
regard for the interests of the whole State,
--iisreparding local considerations and futile
schemes for petty advantages, and guided en-
larged views and enlightened experience
We can, even now, inaugurate and perfect a
system of internal improvements, out OF Inc
fragments already made, which will render
one of our shipping ports more than a rival
for Baltimore and equal to any IN the Union
if our trade should be relieved--as IN time
it must be relieved--irOm the restriction:
and exactions imposedby the Genral Govern
ment. We can thus furnish to oar people
within our own borders, the best market snC
the nearest market. 1t is because we be
ieve this can be done, and that it is our du
ty to do this and nothing but this. that we arr
not vet ready to surrender our trade to Ma
ryland, and cannot at present concur with I'M
Virgiuian 10 saying that 1t Is either lmprope
or impolitic to refuse to construct Railroad
to Baltimore. ~.
But, to build up such market IN Virg
nina, we must cease to permit our trade U
be taken off to Maryland especially must W
refuse even to permit the lines OF Railroad
which we have before referred to and dt
scribed to be completed and extended. SUP
nose that Maryland had permitted. or shout
now permit, three or four lines OF Railroad
TO be constructed, crossing Der territory u
different directions, West Of her iavorlte CIT
and oonvergng to and concentrating at Pm
adelphis. Does any one doubt what the Ell
fect would have been, or would now be, on To
trade and prosperity of Baltimore! Mary
land has been, and we doubt not WILL con
tinue to be, too sagsciOus and too wise Z
permit this to be done Let US proht D
her example and her experience and we vii
accomplish results far greater than she ma
achieved, as the means at our muand ar
more abundant and more fruitful than hers.