The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-20


In live community views the railroad
struggle in our General Assembly. It's
true he anticipates the record, when he
speaks of the bill granting charter to the
Washington aud Richmond railway as
having passed; but as Il large majority in
both houses have their eyes turned from
the old order of things, with its narrow
policy and insignificant results, to the
"throbbing energy" and grand achieve
ments of the living present, which assure
the advent of commerce, with its newer
industries" If we do not refuse to extend
the "welcome, warmth and protection
which is so necessary to attract and retain
all that is worth attracting and retaining
we have no doubt as TO the ultimate result
confirming his anticipations
In Wednesdays Commercial we give re
sumo of the proceedings of the Virginia Legis-
lature over the pending bill granting to the
Pennsylvania Central charter for the con-
struction of railroad from Washington to
Richmond. Our Richmond exchanges inform
us that the charter has since been granted.
We allude to the passage of the bill, not be-
cause ii is the triumph of Pennsylvania cor
poration, (although the occasion might per-
haps excuse the indulgence of little local
pride,) but for the reason that it is another
victory of modern ideas and modern civiliza-
ton over the worlds ancient enemies of pre-
iudice and sloih. The measure was beset with
opposition on all sides. Virginia has still large
number of sons who are so conservative"
and so opposed to change, that they will not
even look at the new moon, out OF the respect
they bear to the old one. These were all
clamorous against it, and had the satisfaction
of rendering themselves hoarse in vociferous
arraignment of the "invaders of our soil and
and the traitors to our cause" Those great
monopolies, the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac railroad, the Seaboard and
Roanoke railroad, and the Old Dominion
Steamship company, were combined against
it. The most persistent and audacious lobby
ing ever known in the history ofthe State was
it is said, exerted to bring about its defeat:
but, after all, it passed by the handsome ma
jority of 60 to 53,-the good people of Rich
mond will soon have an al-rail line to Wash
ington-and Virginia shakes friendly hands
with Progress.
Incalculable as are the commercial and
material advantages which will accrue to Vir-
ginia as the result of this action, the mere fact
that she has at last evinced determination to
place herself abreast Of the modern march will
benefit her yet more. Hitherto she has seen
fit to shut herself up in the shell of her local
ism, sucking the paws of her fancied self
Importance Now she comes forth and broadens
into generous growth. This has wider sig
nificance than that of mere physical advance.
1t touches all her future. With railroads
comes commerce, and with it newer industries,
activities and outlets, schools, colleges,
churches, civilization, culture, philosophy,
science, art-whatever ennobles and beauties
life--and commerce constitutes the wings with
which they fly.
The Richmond Enquirer, which reported the
debates and the passage Of the bill, uses in the
head lines under which it announces the vic
tory, the phrase a'tVirginia and Pennsylvania
United" 1t is a significant phrase. Wha'
Virginia needs--what all the Southern people
need-is to "unite themselves to the throbbiDg
energy and splendid forecast of the North.
The old order of things is doomed, never to be
resuscitated. We do not mean slavery, butwe
mean the langour and dreaminess and proneness
to abstraction which were the Accomplishments
of slavery. The energies Of the South have
been palsied and paralysed as from drug.
Even yet she stands like one not fully recover
ed from maze. Let all her States ally them
selves with the power which the North
proffers. Among the marves Of modern
medical science is the infusion of lusty blood
into decrept veins. Young men thus save
old mems lives. This is what the South
ern States need. Had Virginia accepted the
proposition of Amos Lawrence, when, many
years ago, he stood upon the banks OF the
James river at Richmond, observing its manu-
featuring advantages, its delightful climate,
its water-power enough to turn the spindes of
the world--and offered to build mills and fac
tories if her people would permit him to do so
without hampering him with all sorts of petty
and dishonorable restrictions Richmond would
to-day have been city whose manufactures
might vie with those Of Lowell and Philadel-
phia. But they refused; and so the spindles
hum by the frozen Merrimac, while silence
settles over the flowing James.
But Virginia has learned her lesson. And
as she leads, let her sister States follow. The
great North waits to help them all. We have
capital skill, energy and the hundred hands of
Briareus. Only let the South extend to these
elements the welcome, warmth and protection
which they deserve, and she may rehabilitate
all her waste places, and make her future bios
som as a rose.
New Publication.