The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-04
Greniisg State 5o''r''tl'
SATURDAY EvE'G, MARCH. A, 1871.
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.

SPIRIT OF THE MURNkNG FhEss
The Wing continues to devote its edi
toral space to the discussion of railroad
matters, and continues to express thu
opinion that Virginia will be utterly ruined
if the foreigners" don't keep their hands
off Virginia's improvements. 1t is very
weak in its arguments, however, and it is
quite evident that it has but little hope oil
securing its patron in the possession OF the
Petersburg road.
The Enquirer discusses Mr.. Woods
amendment still further, and says:
Without entering at present into any discus
sion of the question whether one party or an
other should control the Richmond and Peters,
burg railroad, we may safely affirm that every
consideration of justice should impel the Legis-
lature to have weighty reasons as justification
for discrimination against this particular cor
poraton. 1t is hardly competent for the
Assembly to 60 behind the apparent facts of
the situation, and enquire as to the ownership
of either of the roads interested. The private
stockholders, whoever they may be, have
sacred vested rights which should not be light
Iy disregarded. And surely there can be no
just reason for assuming the propriety of sacri-
ficing one set of individual stockholders, while
extending every privilege and accommodation
asked for to every other.
In this view of the question it IS immaterial
where the stockholders in any particular COM
pany may reside or who they may be. 1t it is
polite to dispose of the States interest, and
right that the companies interested should
have the first chance to purchase that interest,
there can be no candid doubt that policy and
rightfulness both dictate the same treatment to
all. In the other aspect of the subject, it would
be fair to inquire how the Richmond and
Petersburg company is more amenable to ex-
ception than several others which are included
in the privilege proposed to be extended.
considerable number of its private stockholders
reside, it is said, beyond the limits of the States
Is not the same statement true of the Orange
and Alexandria road, the application of which
is the basis of this bill2 Is it not true of the
Danville road, and of the Fredericksburg, and
of the Chesapeake and Ohio? And yet we
hear no pretence that the latter companies
should therefore be turned over to the mercies
of outside spectators, nor that the interests
which they respectively contribute to and
maintain should be, there fore, deliberately g
nored. On the other hand, some of those who
most vehemently urge the remanding of the
Richmond and Petersburg company to the
guardianship of another corporation, are most
loud and persistent in advocacy of the claims
of some of the corporations named above.
The Dispatch has fairly opened its
mouth at last, and it speaks SO many words
of wisdom that we are disposed to give
copious extracts from its columns. Speak
Ing of the hue and cry attempted to be
raised against foreigners, it says:
The adroit tacticians are raising hullaba-
loo about foreign capital They pour out
their dolorous warnings in imitation of enthu- |
eiasts who really halinvn w hat thew saw
Now, it is said that some gentlemen in North |
Carolina have bought 100000 worth of the |
stock of the Richmond and Petersburg railroad. |
Isn't that terrible? And for that the road must |
be handed over to General Malone! Goblet, |
hearing that man had committed great |
crime, cried out, "Bleed him, RashP Yes,
General, "bleed'' the Richmond and Peters
burg road. That'll fix it for this great crime |
of the North Carolinians
These poor fellows, seeing that the little J
Richmond and Petersburg was at last about to
be of some service, thought it good "spec"
to invest, and so they invested !. aud may they |
not enjoy this poor privilege ofinvesting their |
money in Virginia? Has the King uttered a |
decree against outside barbarians investing
money in Virginia Indeed, has the King
himself ceased to borrow money from the out
siders
Alas and that we should now fall upon the
North Carolinians The Northern men have |
been terribly cat-hauled for having money, |
and presuming to offer to invest it amongst us. |
We had supposed that when it came to our |
Southern brethren-our own friends of the |
dear old North State--that there would be no
complaint. But we are mistaken, Wise Vir- |
ginia Legislators dread money from all quarters.
Solomons rise upon the floor, and gravely ask
how much money has been invested by outsid-
ers, and sit down wonderfully self-complacent
when they get the answer!
What folly! We are ashamed of Virginia
when We see so much hypocrisy on one hand
and so much simplicity on the other. In the
name of all that is sensible and practical, may
not a man from the North or the South invest
his money in Virginia without exciting sus-
picion and jealousy2 Is not capital and popu-
lation what we need? What sense is there in
this opposition to the Introduction of capital?
If 100000 have been invested in the Rich
mond and Petersburg railroad, just that much
money belonging to our own citizens has been
set free to be invested in business or real estate.
Is not that great blessing for us
For Gods sake let this illiberal and unwise
talk be ended. 1t is not consistent with good
sense or wise policy. Come on, dear friends of
North Carolna--bring in your money and
your trade. Let us swear enduring comfy,
and if Virginia does net secure you free inter-
course and unrestricted trade, we shall be
wofully disappointed.
And again it says:
What does General Malone want with the
Petersburg and Richmond railroad ? 1t con-
Germs him legitimatey in no way that we can
/. possibly imagine. 1t belongs to the line of
transportation parallel with the Atlantic coast,
and can have no proper connection with his
line, save in the intercourse between Richmond
and Norfolk, for which the Petersburg and
Richmond road is ready to afford every facili-
ty to pro-rate with him, and give all speed
and accommodation.
What more can he ask? What more should
hn want2