The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-03-08
COLUMBIA. e SC.
Wednesday Morning, March 8. 1871.

w 6uA0oudy NsUA AAAEs &AuACA 4CSAs
The bill to promote the consolidation
of,the Greenville aud Blue Ridge Roads
becaine a law yesterday, by the approval
of the Governor. If any misapprehen-
sion continues TO exist as to the charac-
ter,o this bill, we think it must be dis.
sipated by the clear and foroible message
which accompanied the approval From
what We Nlearn,l this Act hes been most
favorably received throughout that Sec
tion Of the, State most deeply interested
in its provisions. But We notice that
our Charleston contemporaries, the Re,os
and the Republican, are still violent in
their hostile criticisms. They must
surely be misinformed as to its history.
It ID; possible that they do not under
stand that this ACT does not consolidate.
but only enables the two companies to
consolidate. If they see that such a con-
solidation will be for the joint advan-
tage of both. Wenthink it very clear
that it will be. but that matter we are
content to leave 70 those who are in
charge of these interests One thing is
very certain. that this Act has followed
the utter defeat Of the two bills which
proposed to repeal the endorsement of
the Blue Ridge bonds and to guarantee
new issue Of bonds by the Greenville
Road. We ore willing to trust the
sagaoity and energy which defeated this
hook;1a Whotauar poox- 10
thought at distance, the administration
of the Blue Ridge Road has won the
confidence and admiration Of every
honest-minded Citizen here. by the skill
and success with which they have fought
hard fight. To us there does not seem
the slightest likelihood that they will
throw away the advantages they have
gained. Whatever may have been the
persistence with which the Greenville
Road manifested its desire to take
selfish care of itself, and however
popular rumor may have magnified
the unsorupulousness of their conduct
in endeavoring to effect their new loan,
every practical man must see that once
this consolidation is effected, the interest
of what has been called the Greenyille
Ring becomes at once identified with
the Blue Ridge Road. They become de-
pendent upon the consolidation for the
means to make their road q first-class
one. and every mile completed of the
Blue Ridge adds to their income and
consequence, while the whole section of
country through which they both pass is
benefited by the perfection and compile
ton of both. -.
The new consolidated Board will, we
understand, give ample security to the
State Of an honest and efficient admins
tration, and we can freely congratulate
the State upon. the achievement of q
great enterprise, We venture to think
that it will not be long before our friends
of the Republican and the News will find
ont that with the best motives they have
been fighting against as true ani as
honest q measure as has been passed by
our Legislature for many years. "A
---e>
The Forty-First Congress, which
covers the first two years of President
Grants administration, ended on Satur-
day, and the Forty Second Congress
began its session at noon on that day.
There are not many tears over the grave
of its predecessor. It's sins of omission
and commission have been many. Mea-
sures of pra a,tical value to tho public
were largely thrust aside. or very crudely
dealt with; but when it came to usurp-
ing and partial legislation, for partisan
or special interests, or bills of pains and
penalties upon the Southern people, or
bayonet election Acts, the late Congress
was wide awake and progressive. Its
yiciousness of intention was quite equal
to that of action, as exemplifed by the
Ku Klux bill, the compulsory education
bill, and other political monstrosities
which did not reach incubation. Such
evil progeny, however, as had strength