The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-07
The Argument with Some People.

The argument WHICH has W.. o,,;,,o thc
mon gentlemen who do mol oH"" - .,o
s,l;nct Of the proposed extension Oh VIC
.or,or,s,on of Richmond to the soue'Sioe Vi
Io.p ,.;,,nr e that we have within the city
,;,>,.s ~ This time much vacant land, ana IL Is
useless to extend the boundaries ui'''' ''''' .
settlcd. a
Tbare could be no more unsound anu
absurd dissection 20 the proposed eSVe'tS'o'''
The reason would only apply TO a'af'e'."9
mare roroat land; whereas It is proposed 70
add to Richmond n popnous town (oi n'e
tbonsand inhabitan,s) mith Tiner commercial
and manufacturing facilities m6n any o0'e'
form IN the State, That Is the story III i
nutshell. ,.c,,.ho-
Asa convenient and just mode OF '''iinel
nrcscp.ing the merits of tins very NN w"
.nd h.scless argument, we will suppose tha'
hIs constituents arc addressing member OF
tho Councl who voted for the extension OF
4bo crv limits northwardly, and now objects
n the extension of those limits southwardiy
70 include Manchester; for whether those
who now object to the extension because we
have vacant land OH the north side Of the city
advocated that extension or not, they are III
the category with the man who voted for the
north side extension, since they avail then-
selves Of his net to object to ono of the great
art benefits that were ever offered to Rich
nond.
The Richmond voters would say to their
Councilman Sir. you voted to extend the
Limits of Richmond northwardly over va
cant fields and over the horse and dog hes'-
"vens-oycr the deep gullics which send up
"thcir stenches Of hundred odors, and IN
"whose bottoms lie fostering bodies of ami
"maIs- and now you Object to extending
ut:e boundaries of the city to the south
. side. so as to include Il large population
napd much wealth, and 4 water frontage ana
"water power Of ineStimablc value TO klch-
"mond. How can you explain SUCH con-
"duc.. Can you have the cllrontery to say
utbat the wastes on the northern border
"nnl g,ll,ics. and their nilisanccs, are falu-
cable to Richmond, aid that Manchester WITH
dts people and its wealth is not: Can you be
"eytcnd our authority over the Old ileif;' O.
"Henrico, ana that il is not important toadG
"to the city the southern shore OF the river,
(which is 50 near the very centre OF trade
nand wealth Of Richmond: Do you not
"sce that her chief power being upon the
~ river. Richmond needs the space south
"w:rd to exert her strength to advantage:
- That she is like giant stretched on the
"sidc Of the river with his right arm tied,
"and that if her power is extended south
"warlly it would be like liberating the
"gian:'s arm and giving it full sweep OF
"power: Do you not sec that the business
"of q city should have its circumference
equi-d;,tant everywhere from the centre,
"throuril the freedom and authority
"ot the city itself, in order to ensure
"thc highest degree of accommodation,
"cnergy, aud success to the business:
"Amd yet with all these powerful and
"undeniable motives for the extension
"or the limits southwardly you make your
"act Of extending them over the wastes OF
"the north an objection to the beneticcnt
proposition to expand the city southwardly.
"Iour conduct is indeicnshle. You have
mot the judgment to discern the public iii
"tcrest, and you arc only obstructing th'
"growth and prosperity oI the city. You are
"throwing your influence in the way of the
chest interests of all classes, and especially o.
athe great laboring and producing class o.
"citizens whose freedom to so aud to CONF
"and to dwell where suits them best, unde.
"thc protection Of the most liberal ordi
"nances, should not be denied nor III any
away hindcrcd. Youarc an unfit representa-.
"tive of Richmond in this time Of expansive
"and liberal policies and general enterprise
Such should be the answer to such publ,
representative, and we are sure the public
heart of Richmond knows that it would be
if it found vent for its feelings. The vacant
land argumcnt-which is itself entirely va
cant--is here completely answered. Real.
we cannot understand how any intelligcr
and rejecting gentleman can get his OWL
consent to support an objection to annexa
ton which is so entirely absurd.