The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-03-30
TowSrsviItE, Granville county, N. c.

~'"nSHtc Coubkyy ~. u,
March Is, 1859.
North Carolina sends greeting 10 the Ms.,ono,
OF her sister State and mingies rejoIcines viii h,
~ view OF the bright prospect now opened. of
airect and close alliance with her. United her,
.o'ofe hy confignity, sentiment and interest, sf
soon nopes TO 'Rrappie her 10 her soul with hoos
es STEEL and 70 return substantial tokens
gratitude aud regard for the noble efforts of n,
sons, In behalf of that work which she has ,
long and 40 ardently desired. Would that IL wer
10 10 our power, In this connexiou, to congratuls,
the other cities OF the Old Dominion, with wbic
We have long held communion. but we regre, ,
say that AFTER the Developments made TO th
meeung oil the stockholders Of the Roanoke Tal
ICY ha'ifoaa company, ON Tuesday last, We bav
neItset thanksor congratulations to offer Uep,.-
Petersburg and Norfolk, using every effort to dc
ieat our wishes; we have seen them eagerI
clutch at every legal quibble and other means
defeat laudsble enterprise, originating with u,
from desire to escape the delays of transporta
tion along dsjointed line, the grasping exaction
OF monopoly aud the greedy ayarice of railroa
directors We have seen them in defiance of th
almost unanimously declared preference of tn
Roanoke Valley Railroad company for a connectio,
with the Richmond road, aud in opposition to tn
we'll known wishes Of q large and respectable
portion OF this State, declare their intentions /,
break up the sittings efaour convention and Il
skill our undertaking by every legal, technical OF
other means in their power" Now, sir, We d.
not speak by the authority of the W hole State o
North Carolina; but we do affirm that the actor
OF the representatives of the cities of Norfolt
and Petersburg, filled the bosoms of the ma
ny sens of this State there present, with as.
tonishment and indignation. We say to the
city OF Petersburg, with whom we have long
held the most intimate and friendly relations
that we regard the action Of your delegate on
that occasion as tsntamount to declaring that yor
are not willing that Richmond should enter into
q fair and equal contest with you for the trade Of
this region, and that you are determined to use
every advantage winch wealth, position, innu.
ebce. accident, or law affords you, to obstruct and
prevent us from Carrying our produce ,uhere we
choose, and by tbc roate we choose. Now; sir, we
desire to kno'v, il that city, which, for its gallant
courage and noble bearing, heretofore, has deser
yediy entitled 1t TO the name of the "Cockode o.
tiTytnid,n endorses the action of its agents We
desire to know II the merchants of that place. the
sons of those noble sires, who went forth rolunta
riiy to meet the drilled hosts of the most warIike
foe on earth, noic shrink from honorable competi,
ton and tremb'e at the prospect of generous rival
ry. We cannot, We will not believe it! until she
herself deciaresit We cannot but think that he,
representativ who, by his prepossessing demea,
nor and honest bon ho0iie won the respect aud es.
TEEN of all present. was, in his zeal for what he
considered the interests of his people, and in the
excitement of debate, betrayed into the pre- sion
of sentiments which, on reflection, will be dis
carded by him, and which We trust will not be en-
dorsed by tbtin.
Nor has the city of Norfolk, in our opinion, apy
inst cause for complaint. 1t is true that abe pe.
nerousy subscribed the sum of seventy thousand
dollars for the construction of the present road
but did that road, in receiving that sum- give an
promise that she would never permit another road
to connect with her, or to extend itself: If II
did. it would have broken that pledge: If it had
yielded to the entresties of the talented and dis.
tipguisbed gentleman who acted as her proxy ia
connect itself with the outhside Road: and don,
bly, so, if it had thus acted in an illegally cousti.
futed meeting, as that gentleman, in her name.
declared that to be. Admitting, therefore, as she
did by this act of her delegate, that the road
had the right, legal and moral, to extend it,
self, was it not the duty of the road, q duty
which it owed to itself and to the State by whom
tb fths of It was constructed to extend itself
in that direction which would most rebound to the
interest of its stockholders, the city of Norfolk
included. But 1t has been asserted by the latter.
by so doing "you will deprive of our trade in
your region" Now, sir, the same reply may be
made to this argument, which we have made TO
But We will waive this, and ask Nor.
folk by what means che has arrived at the knows
ledge that this result will ensue Does she design
to say that she desires to buy our produce at less
price, and to sell our supplies alta higher profit
than Richmond. III so, then instead of being her
back country" as her proxy expressed
in another conneXion,) we shall not
choose Norfolk our Legitimate front City" II
she is willing to offer equal advantages why
should Richmond take her trade. But Norfolk has
cannot therefore, take away that which she does
not possess If she wishes to know why she does
not it can be satisfactorily answered and in that
answer it be proven that 1t has not been owing
to any violation of faith on the part Of the people
of this country or the stockholders of the Roanoke
Valley Railroad. Norfolk, has therefore no just
cause for complaint, unless the action of this road
in connecting itself with the Richmond road, shall
injure her interest as stockbolder. Will it do
soi No, sir! On the contrary, she we'll knows
hat plaaa aY hat
its stock must decline and that far from its be-
ing deprecned, that the rery effort to ertend it, oc
cortltng 10 the admission Of her o,gn delegate has
raised the price of its shares and that they will
continue to advance until and after the extension
is contaminated Therefore, instead of opposing,
abe ought to favor the extension. 1t 10 only as a
stockholder that she is known to the II. V. Comfy.
But, sir, to judge from the Efforts of Peter sburg
and Norfolk to defeat this connection with Rich.
mond, one would suppose that We were tearing up
the rails aud burning the bridges which unite us
to those cities. when, in fact all that can be said
of the result of the action Of the 22d is this that
it tends to place Richmond on equal footing with
Norfolk and Petersburg, aud to give to the people
of this region, and that vast portion Of this State
already connected by railway with us, an oppor-
tunity to select their own market. Men OF Peters
burg and Norfolk DO you fear this? If you do,
then say that you do not deserve the confidence
aud support of us, or any honorable, high minded
people. You cannot defeat US, and if you attempt
il, we WILL in the language of your great apostle
of "free and equal rights" "hold"syou as We do
"the rest of mankind enemies in war; as we have
'.in peace, deemed you to be "friepds Persistence
10 such efforts can only terminate in your own de-
feat, and infict "a wound that will never be heal.
cd"
But, citizens of Richmond, the end is not yet
1t is true that owing to the arduous labors of q
few of your number, united to those of its friends
along the projected line. we have been enabled to
FIX the terminus and secure the charter. BIT the
road is not get baaH. Shoulder to shoulder, you
must move on with us, until the battle is won, or
yield all which has been gained. Is not the soil.
tary fact that Petersburg, although now having
a road to our midst, has yet offered 100000 to
build another and parallel road to that now IN
operation, enough to convince you OF the value
of cur trade. Remember. also, that Norfolk has
already subscribed $4,000 TO reach as, and that
both cities have been using their combined efforts
to defeat our connection with you. In word,
will you place US in the attitude of suppIants for
that which others beg rs to Yecere The issue s in
your hands.-Choose ye. NJ.
p s.-Although we have trespassed already too
much on your columns, we feel that we should be
unjust were we not to make some allusion to the
efforts of our friends on the I'D. TO Mr. Harvie,
the worthy and astute President Of the Danvilie
too much credit cannot be awarded. The
subtle sophistries of our opponents we're soon ut
terly demolished in his hands. With facts and ar.
guments plain, practical and to the point, he par.
ried every attack, and always gave home-thrust
In return. 1t Is hardly necessary to say that
Richmond did herself honor on that occasion, when
il 10 remembered that she was represented by such
men as Joseph r. Anderson, H. IL. c. Baskerville
and VIM. w. Gwathiney. To Mr.. Anderson especial
praise is due, as he occupied the floor on your ben
half on the occasion. Courteous, but firm, iDgen-
lous, yet candid, the suavity OF his manner and
The eloquence of bis defamation, united to pre-.
exterior, made him "the observed of all
observers" Nor must we forget the friends they
eft at home
four intelligent corresponaent here refers to
everal gentlemen Of this city, who exerted them =
elves In behalf of the road, and to the DISPATCH.
What he says of those who gave SO much time and
abor to the cause, is but we'll deserved compli-
,ut; yet at their request we omit 1t. weheartily
h hsnk our friend for his kind and too hattering
lotice of the DisPArcH. He shall have the hearty
cooperation of that enterprising yet modest u
beet, in the good cause. until We are able to
xchange visits by unbrokeu railway froua those
aIs of James river, dear to his recollection, to