The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-02-16
RAILRoADs--.TIlE LEGISLATURE.

RAILROADS---TiiE LEGISLATURE.
The debate In the Senate ard House Of
Delegates On the proposition to grant char
ter for an ali-rail road from Richmond to
Washington, has developed more litt!eness Of
soul and mind than we thought could be rak-
ed upi in the entire State. The opponents Of
the bill are driven into positions, in their des-
peration, which common sense, the true il
teresss Of the State, the spirit Of tie age. and
the sentiment of the pcopie, most uahesita
ting aud Indignantly repuaiate and condenn.
They are forced to inaugurate clean, straight
cat war against the ingrcsa Of all foreign
capital and enterprise, and, as consequence,
to stand squarcly in the path of the progress
md prosperity of the State, and her material
development. The bill, Of ITSELF is Of no
great interest to the people Of the Valley, for
VIC could only in a reflective sense be ben
Gifted by the construction of the road
But it represents principle ef State policy,
enlis htened in its inception, practical in its
operation, and beneficial in its results to the
people at large. 1t is the easy policy of en-
Iiching irginia-difusing aud developing
wealth throughout the State, through the
means of other peoples money. It is merely
te say to foreign capitalists, we give you the
privilege Of building Railroads, establishing
manufactures, opening up outlets to the mar
kets of the world, constructing artificial chan
nels of speedy communication with the dis
tant sections Of the country. inviting emigra-
Ton, and throwing new life and enterprise
into every branch of trade. It is simply
laying at our doors the means by which we
may retrieve the disasters Of the past, and
grasp the fruitions of the future, to enable
>us to pay our honest debts, place the old
State in The proud position she once occupied
OF meeting promptly her obligations, and
standing before the world freed from the
faint Of Reputation and dishonor.
Yet, IN the face Of these grand prospects,
necessarily resulting from a liberal policy,
these great benefits, general in their opera
-tlon-there are men in the legislature, rcpu-
ted intelligent, who will not or canrot rise
to the importance of the emergency, break
through the meshes which interested indiyid-
uas have woven around then or extend their
vision beyond the periphery ola ten cent
piece tightly squeezed in their own pockets
We do not mean to insinuate that there is
corruption in TIE Legislature, or that honor
able members are actuated by any other than
conscientious motives. But We most unhesi-
tatingly conclude that they are Whiting in
what is equally fatal to the interests of the
State-eomprehensiyc, intelligent apprecia-
ton OF the Imperative wants Of the times
the incxorablc demands of the age.
In the discussion which took place in both
branches Of the Legislature on Friday last
it affords US pleasure to commend the en-
lighted views expressed and maintained by
Senator Roller, of Rockingham, aud Repre-
sentative McCauil, Of Roaaoke-two of the
youngest yet most intelligent members of
the body. They met successfully, in debate,
older and more experienced legislators tha1
themselves, and showed that they were fully
alive to the welfare of the people at large,
aud the true policy to be adopted to advance
the general interests OF the State
We shall look to the young men of the
Legislature to haunt the Banner of the Peo-
pie in this singular and unaccountable contest.
We are unable, at this distance from the
theatre of CONFLICT, to assign any plausible
reason why this suicidal warfare is being
waged against the Richmond and Washing
ton charter. There has been none adduced
In the arguments presented. InAammatory
appeals, designed to excite prejudice against
the representatives of. foreign capital, and
create false impressions upon the popu-
lar mind, is as near to logic as has Leen ap-
preached. When the regeneration of the
State Is placed in the balance against such
persaage, the result cannot be doubtful.