The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-23
, Mine" Triumphant

Nm ordering the stock OF the State IN
u. and Petersburg road to be
l D,s 70 Messrs. ELLrsoN and others yeste'-
s SOW nsssed the Senate by Is to IL, after the
roiectiou of the amendment urged upon inc
,odv bv the Committee Of Roads rro'io'
inc for the sale Of this stock to the feters'
burg gentlemen-in reality to General MA
HONE. So the bill only awaits the Govern
or's signature to become law.
This is one Of the happiest OF all the
events which have occurred in our domes-
tic legislation since the war. 1t sets Tree
o,,r connections with the Atlantic COAST
line. relieves our commerce and the enter
prise Of our people from the vast aeao
,rn;cbt If restrictions imposed for the graf
;fcation of the avarice of corporations anu
from that worst Of discouragements, the
onnrchension and distrust OF the 1nten"
,i,,s of those controlling the arteries OF
.on,nerce. The Atlantic coast line south
wardly Is free in its intercourse WITH
Richmond and Petersburg, and we
shall be able to derive the advantages OF
distance so greatly in our favor in particl'
patinc in the valuable commerce OF the
Carolinas and Georgia. The current OF
trade win have fairly and steadily set IN
here before the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road is completed. and that great line will
Immediately become the channel through
which the trade Of the Northwest with the
Southern Seaboard will be carried on. The
macnitude of this commerce will be very
great. 49,.
Another grand advantage from the pas.
SAGE of this benefcent bill is the indication
of the disposition of the people OF Virginia
towards foreign capital and capitalists. we
yircinians are not narrow-minded and pre-
judiced towards them. We will welcome
them always, and will ensure them pro-
lection of law and protection against the
jealousy and distrust-such as that enlisted
in the fight on this bill, and which I'M
Justly essayed to deprive Messrs. WALTERS,
BRIpGERs. and NEWCOMER OF the power 10
participate in the control Of their large IN
yestments in our railroads. They are honor
able gentlemen, and apart from their proper
rights acquired by their investments, are
entirely trustw orthy and reliable. 80 thas
q blow has been struck, and we trust
fatal one. to narrow-minded preJudlces ana
old foeyism. 1t is the more gratifying De-
cause that in the struggle these passions
were played upon by those who knew their
folly and their injustice.
No harm is done to anybody. General
MALONE, if he wants to come to Richmond
from Petersburg, can do so. lie can buiid
his road alongside Of the Richmond end
Petersburg road, to be operated just
to suit himself. This is u privilege ac-
corded with an une&led lberallty.
We know of no similar act. General
MALONE may build his road for S3oo,OoV,
and save his three-fourths OF million IN
State stock which he offered for the inter-
est of the State in the Richmond and re-
tcrsburg road.
So no inconvenience will he visited upon
any one. and the interests Of Virginia will
be immensely promoted.
We cannot avoid remark rs pertinent to
the SUBJECT and vitally important to Rich
mond, suggested by General MAHoNE's ar
gllment that he needed the Richmond and
Petersburg road for the accommodation OF
his Southwestern trade with Richmond In
ease the Danville railroad changed its gauge
to 4.SH. Have our citizens reflected upon
the proposition to take the freights TO and
from this city for or from the Southwest
via Petersburg? Have they criticised it!
DO they like the idea of losing the advant-
age they have in distance between their
CITY and the rich fields of Southwestern
production? Would they fold their arms
TO rest with knowledge that in going
southwest they must first travel t'renty-tro
miles at right angles to the road leading to
that section! Is there city Of GO, 900 lnhab-
itunts in the Union that would dream OF SUBJ
hitting to route so preposterous? Could
it be possible that the largest city in Viz
ginia could be compelled to carry on its
commerce by so indirect route? 1t isab-
surd to think so. At a time when the
whole nation is alive to the necessity OF
straight lines AMI rapid communication,
that any one should think of putting the
lightweight of such a route upon the COM
merce of Richmond, is hardly credible. 1t
would not be believed north of Mason and
Dixon. This route could not command a
passenger; and since we cannot have trade
without travel, such line would be wholly
futile for the purpose of increasing the
commerce and growth Of this city.
1t isno wonder that the people of Rich
mond felt entirely Indifferent to the argu-
ment that such connection with the
A., NJ. & 0. was a matter Of Importance.
Before the gauge of'Fthe Danville road is
changed-the prophecies about which were
employed to brighten us alive shall have
some tolerabe recourse for safety. There
are expedients in plenty, and one for line
that will bring Us the trade of the south
west direct, and also bring as the passen-
gers. Then we can feel and know that we
have a commerce. tlourishing and steadi-
Embarrassing trade with the great South
west-and not before.
Happy is the event which is good for
everybody, and fraught with evil for none.
The passage of this bill is such an event.
-----------------
And now the trouDle Is, "Who is WASH
INaToN?" Has he any existence at all s.? or
was be merely mischieyous wag, poster
ing General MALONE with interrogatories?
Is he related to the Mount Vernon family
Is his name WASHINGTON, or is it not
sW AsuISc.TIrpp Tn this vein the friends