The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-10-01
Public Meeting-The Questions Of the
Day.


the proposed consolidation of the several
roads leading from Norfolk TO the Tennes-
sec line was postponed in consequence o,
the Indictment weather. II will De he'u
this evening at half-past ! O'Clock az inc
City Hall. All business men interes'eo III
the prosperity Of this city should oe pre-
sent.
On Saturday morning General MALONE
puhlsbca in the Times Of this city cara
which develops his views on the oohga-
,;ons of railroad companies and what ne
nro,oScs to accomplish by the consolida-
t;on he advocates. In this he not only
urres the right Of all the cities of Virginia
+, entire and perfect equality in all the
uscs and benefits Of railroads, but asserts
the claim of all those cities TO "the same
facilities and pro rata rates oue each and
all (roads in Virginia) ,chether separately or
in combination, as are ertended to places and
persons beyond the limits Of this common
,rtanh.n He declares the enforcement Of
these rights to be his object in desiring the
consolidation; and he yet more definitely
presents what he calls the meaning of
consolidation in the following sentence !:
cit means that n bale of cotton may be car
ried TO Iynchburg, Richmond, Petersburg
- Alexandria, and Norfolk upon the same terms
per mile rs it may be carried to Baltimore,
Philadelphia, New York, or BOSTON ana, In
turn, II means that these Virginia cities shall
have extended 10 their merchandise the same
pro rata rates as are now extended to any and
an places ouiside of Virginia as against the
discriminating policy which has, now rs mere
.ofore, prevailed in the management OF our
public works to the prejudice, injury, ana 81
crifice of the rightful claim and interest OF
our own cities and citizens
This is indeed frank, unrescrvcd, and
lust. 1t is loyal to the State of Virginia
fair and equitable to her cities. We honor
General MALONE for being the first railroad
president, as far as We know, who has ut
tered such opinions.
Richmond could ask no more. Virginia
could demand nothing more; but she
should put mp with nothing less from the
corporations into whom she has brcathed
the breath of life.
But this justice, General MALONE con-
cedes, has nerer been meted out to Virginia
and her cities. 1t is tardy in coming, even
if il now comes. For there is no certainty
that the proposed consolidation, with &C.
neral MALONE at its head, would accom-
plSh and permanently enforce his catholic
policy rs above laid down. He may not be
able to control the three boards Of direc-
tor, of three roads under his direction, and
local interests and seliishness may, in spite
Of him, obstruct the policy he declares to
be his purpose to establish. Even if he &C
composites all he lays down to be done by
consolidation" We have 10 assurance
=, 10 the tenure of his life in maintaining his
system. So there is not even in this proper
regulation of only a part of the railroad
system of the State the security that tbs
city should haze.
WHAT SECURITY DOES RICH
MOND WANT? She wants that security
which, if II fails to effort justice from rail-
rondS haring il in their po,rer to inJ,re her,
ar;N enable her to PROTECT HERSELF
AGAINST THEIR HOSTILITY. That
is THE RICHMOND AND LYNCH
BURG RAILROAD. This, and nothing
else, will do it. Consolidation will either
defeat this improvement altogether or
postpone lit for an unlimited time. For
fifteen years VIC have urged the alb
solute necessity of this road upon the
attention of the people of Richmond. We
trust that at last they see its Importance.
II il be said that Richmond is selfish and
greedy for desiring this road, we reply that
Richmond has suffered too much from the
partially, selfishness, and greed of other
communities not to see that it is matter
OF vital importance that she shall be able
oprotect herself from their Jealousy and
unfairness. Besides, she is the largest city
in the State-she phys probably one-fourth
of the entire revenue of the State Urea
sury-shc has paid more towards internal
improvements than all the other cities of
the State-and she Is entitled to o direct
communication by the most rapid known
mode of transportation. Certainly she
should not, with all her dignity and mate
rial resources, be forced to continue to de-
pend Oh those who to this time have meted
out to her nothing but wrong ,romg sohich
threatens at this time the destruction Of her
entire commerce.
No! We have waited long and patiently.
If we trust any longer to others We are
gone. People of Richmond, defend your
selves You never asked more than JUS
tice. You never got this! Now place
yourselves in the situation that will enable
you, If not to enforce equality and fairness,
at least to defend yourselves from ,crong.
---- sgTI Up .
acl tho H0no 81 t,,f;