The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-04
Congress ON Railroads-State Rights.

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Congress on Railroads-State Rights.
Tho present Congress, in pursuance of
its plan to reduce the States into noncnti-
ties, has been passinga number Of laws
,upsetting State authority over railroads.
One Of these acts authorizes railroad COM
panies to form combinations for through
transit of passengers and produce without
respect to legislation Of the States. The
ALLEGED motive for this law is to break up
monopolics such as the Camden and Am
boy railroad. We suppose it is considered
a small matter to walk over the States to
get at that concern. II may be, after all,
only the better to make the Government
as strong as possible, since Estate Rights
have succumbed ON the battlefield. Upon
one condition we have no objection, and
that is provided the power be administered
impartially over all the United States.
How this is To be done, unless il be en-
trusted 10 one man, We do not pretend to
see.
The general principle asserted by Con-
gress, above alluded to, is especially applied
10 a proposed airline railroad to be con
structed from Washington to New York
|, is to be made by what is called the "a'I
line :" but We cannot see how it can hc
made more direct than the present route
1t is understood that it will take an lntc'
rior routc-west of the present. The cor
porators Of this great road consist OF the
milhonaircs Of the great cities.
This improvement is put upon the foot
ing of military necessity" as CONDUIT
for transportation in case OF hostilitles
that is Of vital Importance. Upon the
same plea Congress may do almost any
thing. 1t is little remarkable that
although the general principle as laid
down applies TO all the States, yet its spe-
c;lic and practical application is first made
20 States in the north. New Jersey had
r;yen 70 the Camden and Amboy Company
cxclusivc railroad privileges, and in return
received a tax of half dollar per head on
all persons passing over the two roads OF
,bo+ company. This income left very
limited taxes upon the citizens to meet the
expenses of their government. But no
other company could cross the State.
Congress determined that some other
should--and passed the bill. AS Congress
was determined TO set aside the authority
of the States, we know no case III which II
could with more propriety do so.
Rut Congress looks to the northwest as
well as New York, and has chartered a
COMPANY to build Il road from Washington
CITY, through Maryland, to the Point OF
Rocks. on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
From this point it is designed to use the
Baltimore and Ohio road to Cumberland {;
and from that town charter authorizes
a road to traverse the short distance to
Connellsvillc, Pennsylvania, where the
Conncllsville and Pittsburg road makes
complete connection by a tolerably straight
line between Washington and all the north
western States. In the charter of the road
from Cumberland to Conncllsvillc, Congress
strikes Pennsylvania as heavily as it does
New jersey in chartering road across her
territory in contempt of the exclusive priv-
less she had granted to the Camden and
Amboy road. Pennsylvania had frequently
refused to give the right of way to this
road from Cumb erland to ComellSvilc.
The routes in this way to be formed are
to be considered national highways and
post roads, and placed above interference
of State law or usage. Lateral lines built,
or to be built, are to he authorised to con-
meet with them, and to form through tick
cts with them, and to take through baggage
from them without discrimination or pre-
iudice to any one or more of said connect
ing lines. ...
These lines, under the control of the
Federal Government, will very much aid
in strengthening its power; and they will
increase the commerce and population OF
Washington; and, after all, possibly make
it a sort of Paris to the American HavrcS
of the coast.
Our friends in Congrcss-cXcept so far
as we come under the general principles as
to the power of the Government laid down
in these railroad lawS-have not given
their attention to the southern States on
this subject. We suppose, however, that
we are not to be altogether forgotten.
Such compacting of lines to strengthen the
nervous system of the national body poll
tic will no doubt be deemed necessary for
the south also. We are certainly to be
taxed and governed, and the Government
will deem it all the better to do everything
that may give promptness and efficacy to
its edicts.
The West Virginia Elec ton.
~ryu IL M 4 -. n.