The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-17
~. ,ranohna+a, People.

We give our neighooTs vi Al1~, 80
credit for some degree of wisdoi1 a"u ~ ~
,,as. and we cannot suppose that any ~,
snao,oh,e number of them cal, ~be opposeo
~ p, ,.sa communication with Richmond any
49,, than we should suspect them OF 'ne
madness of cutting their own .niV"'s' ~
when we saw it announced III we ioe"i ue-
nartment of this paper "Wednesday morning
,sat charge and enthusiastic meeting" In
Manchester had adopted resolutions against
,hn free intercourse between Manchester
and Richmond, we felt satisfied that the re-
norter had employed the stereotyped re-
portorial phrases without feeling that they
were especially appropriate TO the occa-
sion. We respected the people Of Manches-
ter too much to think otherwise.
We are satisfied, upon undoubted au-
thority, that the meeting consisted OF
about eighty persons, but will allow the
number to be hundred for good measure.
The cut-and-dried resolutions proclaimed
to be enthusiastically adopted were, proba-
Div, not adopted at all. A division was de-
manded upon them, but there was no
count and Notwithstanding count was
demanded, none was had, and the resolu-
tions were pronounced to be carried by
sound of voices in responding aye and no.
There are about 800 voters in Manches-
| ter, and, supposing the resolutions SUD-
mitted to the meeting were carried by
bare majority (if they were carried at ally,
| it would appear that only about fifty voted
| for them.
! Citizens who knew all the persons who
were present declare that only five prop
erty.holders were present and it Is FUR
thermore stated that leading men present
at this meeting were among the early advo-
Gates of the free bridge, andin public meet
ling cotperated with the friends OF that en-
terprise.
The resolutions adopted do not declare
against free bridge, but only against the
site at the foot of 9th street. This is covert
mode of opposition to the bridge itself, and
was no doubt suggested by artful opponents
of the measure to secure the cooperation OF
persons who, upon the simple question OF
Free Bridge or no Free Bridge" would
be on the side of the free bridge.
With regard to the site selected by the
bridge commissioners, it is proper TO say
that they had no recourse but the location
at 9th street. They made an effort to Sc
cure q part of the depot grounds oil the
Danyille railroad, with the view OF erect
ling the bridge between the bridge OF the
Dunville road and MAYo's bridge, just at
the point designated by the resolutions OF
the meeting, but the company not having
ground sufficient for their own operations,
refused to sell ground for the abutment to
a free bridge and for way to it. The COM
imiSsoners had not the means to build
bridge at a lower point, where the cost
Nould he very heavy. The location at 9th
street was unavoidabIy selected. We think
| it the very best, as the people OF Manches'
ter will find out.
| So the meeting, adroitly engineered as
one against the 9th street location, but
whose action is in fact against free brldse,
had really no ground to 60 upon.
An attempt is made in the report OF the
proceedings to make it "worklngman
movement. This is a libel upon working
men, who are always advocates for improve
ment and enterprise. They cannot be Sc
duced into such an impracticable position
as that of opposing the only effectual means
of bringing Manchester into line as Hour
ishng population, with flourishinS manu-
featuring interest. giving employment 10
workingmen and opening the way Tor
workingmen to rise by becoming them
selves the proprietors of manufactures and
swelling the general wealth by their skill,
enterprise, and sagacity.
We are assured that neither cow nor
mule countenanced the meeting by their
presence, although some We're present VINO
were as obstinate and hayward as mules
are said to be. But these dumb creatures
were sensible enough to see that If the place
grew rich they would have some better
food than the stunted grass OF the COM
mons, besides good stalls to rest in, and SO
they were not participants in the folly OF
The little meeting of impracticable blpeds.