The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-14

TUESDAY EVENING, FEB. IA, 1871.
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS

railway contest, now before the Gener
Assembly, when VIC analyze the elemen
composing the opposition !" and it the
proceeds to that work, and gives us eac
separate influence, from Peter V. Daniel
John W. Garrett. In speaking of Ii
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potoma
company, the Enquirer says:
This unselfsh paragon of railways, who's
patriotism suddenly wells up, when DANCE
threatens its special prerogatives, and which
when the danger is passed, "returns to ii
mire.;" which would stand now as the espe
cial defender of the State, and "the bulwarl
of railway liberties in virginia." whose man
agement, uninfluenced by sordid pe!f, is claim
ed to be controlled by she loftier and nobel
desire to save Virginia harmless--oh, tell it mo-
in Gath--publish it not in Askelon-was will
ling to sell out its control to monster, whose
capacious nav would swallow up all virginia,
for consideration, in which the State was not
to be participant, the conspirators claiming a
bonus by reason of the special immunities grant
ed by her.
Two hundred and sixty-fve dollars share
for stock, reported, by the management to the
Public Works, to be worth only fifty-four dol
lars.
Seven per annum on the capital stock, in
which the State could share, was refused for
lease for a term of years but $265 per share,
in which the State did not share, would be ac-
ceptable to those who held control of the road.
We think the proper question for the
General Assembly to decide Isl Were we
elected to take care of the interests of the
people or to merely act as the agents of
these monopolsts in robbing the State ?
Are these men working for the interests of
Virginia that they are SO anxious to secure,
for all time, the exclusive control of her
trade and travel-carrying both by ways
that are roundabout, if not dark, out of the
State or are they principally concerned
in putting money in their pockets and is
it one of the duties of our Representatives
to help them to wealth at the expense of |
the tax-payers--to watch at the door while |
they rob the safe
Then the Enquirer pays its respects to
Commodore McCready, as follows
Another ally to forge yet stronger the chains
with which this "Bulwark" has bound round
so large portion of our community is to be |
found in the Old Dominion Steamship compa-
ny, whose corporators have no part or lot in
Virginia cities or Virginia roads beyond what
they can reach by the highest rates they can
exact. We will do Commodore McCready the
justice to say, that he has announced no other
reason for his appearance here in opposition
to the extension than that he is looking after
the interest of his corporators, of their pockets,
and of no one else is he the guardian. He tells
the reason of his participation in the conflict,
while the others cover up the real causes of
their opposition, under the himsy veil of de-
sire to protect Virginia rights and interests.
Of course, so long as the Commodore
can control all the freight that reaches
Norfolk by the Seaboard and Roanoke,
and the Southside consolidated line, in the
interest of New York, he will do it; and
if he can get the Legislature to confirm !
him in this extraordinary privilege, we
say ne is right. He would be fool not
10 take advantage of cur folly, weakness,
u rottenness. Then our contemporary
.efers to the deep interest Norfolk
;akes in the matter. We do not believe
he all-rail line to Washington from
and that is all we want, will
njure Norfolk one dollar. On the con- |
rary, by reducing freight charges from !.
North Carolina to that city, and TO and '
rom New York, it will increase her trade
Ind even her travel tenfold. Like the !
enquirer, we want TO see Norfolk prosper, I
md are quite sure that the prosperity of .
will not be the ruin of that city.
We were just to her in the matter of con-
olidation even against the seeming in
erests of Richmond land now may we 1;
lot ask for justice in return?
The Dispatch has an article on the pres /
mt railroad war, which it deprecates, but .
which it declares is but as an outpost Skin il
nlsh to general engagement, compared =
o the battle that will be waged when the
dill involving the extension asked by the
Chesapeake and Ohio company comes up. ]
t tells us that it is girding on its armor
or that fight, and will contend to the b
leath for its darling hobby. The devotion
If the Dispatch to this single road is heroic, =
md worthy of the highest admiration. In ,
is editorial columns it takes broad grounds q
n favor Of all public improvements Of this d
lind, however much matter it may admit
nto its general columns for or against GER :
ain projects. In closing an able article I
his morning, it thus wisely counsels:
A rather inexplicable feature of these days h
J this railroad belligerency. Why is it? Are /
here not certain general principles upon which
rivileges should be granted by the State CT
which would put an end to these horrible, ex. b
rayagant and exhausting wars? Greed and 4
mbition have much to do with them. Rail q
Dad tyranny is monstrous thing, but it never !,
olds its ground for many years. 1t is always
nally beaten. Commerce is like water, it will
nd its level, and the heartless systems which :
warf the public interests and public comfort to
to mere personal gain and ambi- !
ion will all perish and pass away in time. The Il
ailroads are, after all, but the public high
rays, and must ultimately become the convey
RS of the people and their property in what j
yer route they prefer. Those who oppose the O.
eneral principles which must ultimately pre- X
all, are but pigmies opposing with whisps of v
traw the great forces of nature, the irresisti
lie laws of trade and commerce, which will
nnihilate every obstruction. You mustn't
o here, and you must stop there; and shan't
AIRY this, and you shan't carry that. Oh, ,
tuffl Oh, nonsense! Oh, folly Oh, knavery /
.et these ideas be put TO death in Virginia
That's it, We wise legislators, in a nut ?
hell Refuse to charter any road, because l
will be detrimental to the interests Of il
ertain other roads, and you betray the b
interests of the public, and fetter and re- +
trict commerce. You might as well grant I
N exclusive charter to the Dispatch to do 2,
II the printing and publishing in the n
State
The Whig is full of short articles in OPP
position to the all-rail line to Washington,
written in the style Of those paragraphs
published by political organs on the morn
ng of election, which are merely appeals .
0 the prejudices of the mob. Its cry is, Il