The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-03
evening State goar'1al
FRIDAY EyE'G, MARCH. 8, .ls7l.
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.

SPlftHV OH THE1 hOsNAAN
The Dispatch has at last thrown off it
guise of neutrality on the railroad ques
ton. and this morning opens its batteries
upon General Malone for attempting tt
gobble up the Richmond and Petersburg
railroad, as evinced by the proceedings il
the House yesterday. Our neighbor Il
strongly in favor of adhering to the ancient
policy of the State in reference to its in
ternal Improvements. He says:
Long ago--years before most of those who
now control the destinies of the Common
wealth had life, movement, or being-tne pro,
,ectors of the railway system OF virginia iaid
down q theory which should goverh this
branch of the State development. The idea
thew conceived has been received as orthodox,
has been accepted in theory, has been execu-
ted in practice. It has controlled the concep-
tion, the authorization, the construction, and
the operation of our railroads and other ave-
nues of trade. To its adoption we owe the
Chesapeake and Ohio road and the James
River and Kanawha canal. To its continued
preservation we are indebted for that grand
arrangement which links the Virginia coast to
the great garden of the Southwest what
was the theory of our predecessors, and what
is the system which expresses it
That the east and west, and north and south
lines of the State should be entirely indepen-
dent of each other that the former should be
built and managed for the primary object of
creating a large commercial interest on our
coast, and that the latter should be constructed
aud managed so as to secure the great through
travel between the ultimate eastern and the
great Atlantic port, and to feed our Virginia
markets with supplies from adjacent sections.
1t were the stupidest folly for the Legis-
lature of Virginia to attempt to control by
statute the direction which travel and
trade must take in passing through the
State, and we apprehend that if such was
ever the real policy of our people land
we confess our inability to discover that it
ever was) we do not think that they adj
here to any such opinion now, and it will
require stronger argument to dissuade
from their purpose those who favor the
absorption by General Malone of the road
from Richmond to Petersburg.
This move was not unlocked for by all
who have manifested any interest in the
recent war. 1t is well known that the
President of the Atlantic and Mississippi
road has lately suffered Waterloo defeat
on the very field where he achieved such a
grand victory last summer; and with that
shrewnness and sagacity which has charac-
terized him in every act of his life, save
and except in the management of railroads,
he is now endeavoriug to recover his hold
upon the legislators by the accomplish
ment of a lesser triumph.
Finding himself unable to cope with the
giant pennsylvania Central" he proceeds
to "pitch into" the STRIPPING Richmond
and Petersburg" and if he shall succeed
in capturing the little fellow, he may be
able to catch some faint applause from an
audience which is now disposed to give
him but poor encouragement. 1t is a fact
not to be denied, that the great Virginia
Railroad King has disappointed many Of
those who have heretofore deemed him pre-
eminent in his ability to carry out the
create Consolidation measure. They see
but little signs of even an attempt to Sc
cure the completion of the line by the con-
struction of the Cumberland Gap road,
and they are disposed to wait for the full
filment of pledges overdue and still un-
redeemed. before they will consent to place
other important interests in his control.
The Dispatch, 10 conclusion, propounds
the following pertinent questions to Gen.
Malone
If the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio CONS
pany is prepared to sacrifice the Southern
business of Richmond to its own obligations to
Mr.. Robinson, to its own incapacity to take
advantage of charter already granted it to
occupy ground between Richmond and Peters
burg, or to a simple desire to take from the Dam
viIe road the freight received from Burhville,
why the sooner this city understands these
facts the better.
And if neither of these suppostions are
hcca w General A.
hone accept liberal terms of transit over the
track of the present Richmond and Petersburg
company Such have been offered him, and
are still open to him.
The Dispatch contains word of advice
to Secretary Boutwell,, in reference to the
new loan. and urges upon him to ''shell'
out little of the bullion that is in the
vaults of the Treasury. Such a proceed
ing would doubtless have the effect of
"dscharging" International obligations.
The Rhig gives editorially the proceed
ings Of the House yesterday on the bill
authorizing the Orange, Alexandria and
Manassas railroad to purchase the States
interest in that road Mr.. Mahoods sub
stitute, which authorizes and directs the
Board Of Public Works to sell to each rail-
road and internal improvement company
Ine Interest Oh Tue Dl1to III tho Saiilo, III
Guiding all bonds, stocks, loans and claims,
for an equal amount of State bonds. If
the sale is not effected within six months,
then such stock and interest shall be sold
to the highest bidder at public auction
and Mr.. Woods amendment which pro-
poses to exempt the Richmond and Peters
burg railroad from the terms Of the first
section, and to direct the Board Of Public
Works TO sell the stock owned by the
State in that road to the Atlantic, Misss-
sippi and Ohio railroad company, with the
condition that the gauge shall not be
changed.
The Wing urges the adoption of the
amendment, and quotes exteusivelysfrom
the remarks of Mr.. Wood made in its sup
port
The Wing refers to the proposition to
acquire st. Domingo as ''job," and as
the apparently ruling object Of President
Grants policy. 1t repeats the vicious and
idle rumors on this topic coucocted by
General Grants enemies, and says the
Commission which has gone to the island
is regarded as little other than device for
q white washing report, and its statements
will be received with distrust.