Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-03-01


We referred few days since 10 the project that
had been kicked out Of The three last Legislatures
for baking Railroad 10 tap the Virgisia and
Tennessee Rad u Salem; TO connect thence with
the Manassas Gap Road at Staunton, its western
terminus. or at Harissonbarg. Its present term''
nus; then 70 6ll up the gap Of nineteen miles be-
tween Winchester and Strasbure. the present point
of divergence Of the Manassas Gap Road to Alex
andria. Those two links, to-wit: from Salem to
Harrisonburg. and from Strasburg to winche'-
ter, will. when made, give an unbrokcn connec-
ton by rail to Baltimore. and make the rich Roa-
noke and Shenandoah Valleys tributary to tint
city. II requires no great sagacity in tho people
Of this section to perceive that such an improve
msnt would be ruinous to their interests, and give
Baltimore direct access to the trade OF our whole
Southwestern country. as she now has OF the
Northwest II would injure the cities Of Lynch
burg Alexandria, Richmond Norfolk; the Virgin
Ia and Tennessee Railroad. the Southside Railroad
and the Orange and Alexandria Railroad the
Manassas Gap Railroad, the Central Railroad. the
Richmond aud Dsnville Railroad, and the James
River Canal The Virginia and Tennessee Road,
and this city, however, would be the chief suffer
ers, as the former would be deprived Of large
portion of the tonnage which is now brought over
it, and the city would lose much Of the trade it
now enjoys We remember well when this pro-
iect was conceived, and was first announced in
the Legislature. We wcro an humble member
from Valley county. that is almost wholly trib-
utary to Baltimore and whose people arc decidedly
favorable to the opening Of the Valley route;
whose whole trade would dcbouch Mt llarpcrs
Ferry, the eastern terminus of the Valley. after
travcrsing the entire length of the cou nty of JEFF
ferson. Though resident Of the town here named,
and representing in part, the county OF Jefferson.
we were 80 impressed with conviction OF the
injury that would result to our Virginia cities by
the construction of tho Valley Railroad, to say
nothing of the damage that would be done to vest
ed rights in other corporations. that wo separated
from our colleague and voted against the grant of
a naked charter Under similar circumstances
we should do the ammo thing.
And now. although the Republican, Affects to
make light Of this matter, we ask our friends IN
thi. region, and in the whole Piedmont country,
if ,hcre is not something in it' Doubtless, Mr..
Lc,chsr will get votes in tho Valley because of
whether the rule should not work both ways?-
We have a candidate who is every way the peer
of Mr.. Letcher--a man who is with us on these
questions; and would it not be tho part of wisdom
in us u take care of our own interests? If we
do not, who will, Selfmtrrcst is the lever TINT
moves the world. aud we attribute no motive to
Mr.. Letchcr, that is not common to all men, when
we say, that if elected Governor of Virgin no
would doubtless use the influence of his Office to
promote the interests OF the section in which no
WAS born, and for which he hns shown himself
willing to dir'de Virginia, We have the very best
reasons for declaring that John Lstchcr has not
the kindest feelings for the East, which in the
very teeth of it's representatives. he tainted with
''negroology" and negro ocracy;" and we do not
bciove that he would hesitate to do all no could,
at any cost, to advance the interests of his own
section. Let Eastern men beware how they
eonilc in man who has proven himself to be
precmincntlv II sectional man.