The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-13
Tho End of the tirst Act

The City Council again OIL -no''''"'
,.o.od tho annexation of Manchester 10 h'ch'
,nnnd "iucxpcdicnt." VIC had anticipated
'..,,n. rostnoncmcnt or defeat, aid tile
mqior;ty of the Counci, were SO thorough!
Gycd in their purpose that nothing but d.
r,., re;,rtion Of the proposition could satisfy
them.
When the Council preceding tho present
Joined Manchester and Chesterfield in build
inc a free bridge lis members expressed
desire that annexation should precedc The
free bridge but the Manchester Representa-
lives arguing that the Manchester people
| were not quite ready for annexation, ano
that the determination to build the bridge
| would decide them in favor Of annexation
The Council acquicsccd, and voted for thu
bridge.
| immediately afterwards the preparation;
for annexation Logan with the nnanmou;
consent Of Manchester. But several inJunc
lions were taken out against the bridge, and
one of tncm, based on the ground that tho
Council Of Richmond had no authority tc
vote money to the bridge. was sustained by
judge FITzHUGH. The present Council
| without division, asked the Legislature tc
!csalizc that subscription, and at the present
session a law was passed by an ovcrwhc1nl'
ing majority of the General Assembly making
it legal. This was supposed By all the friends
of annexation to indicate the unchanged pur'
pose of the Council to adopt the proposition
Of annexation. For no one could suppose
the Council ready to make 4 free bridge ioi
the citizens doing business here to go just
over the river to reside and thus escape taxa
| ton.
Yet, to the general surprise, the PROPOSE
ton of tho joint committee of tic two towns
was rejected. The citizens OF Manchester,
,uanosinr The rejection was on the score OF
one Of the conditions, took upon themselves
70 interpose, end they induced the trustees
of Manchester to make another proposition
offering their town, with all its citizens and
property, Internationally TO the city OF klct!'
mond, and on Monday night this, TOO, was re-
jcctcd summariiy.
We do not mean now further to discuss
the matter; but it is proper ii tilis particular
iunctwe that the state OF the question Should
be presented; just car enough for fair apprt.
citation.
TAat Richmond has by tie act Of the Coun-
Gil rejected one Of the most valuable lnea-
sure. that were ever proposed for It's conSi!'
e1ation we think all disinterested and un-
,,rejudiced persons will say. The question
las Nv no means been decided upon It's
merits. No solid argument vas opposed to
t. At the very last moment Of the debate 4
member contcndcd that the river prevented
sympathy between the two towns. We are
sure 40 one net looking through lis eyes can
see this. lie was reminded Of Chicago, viii
.!cr river with It's two branches within
1cr borders. "Oh, that is naVigalle," sal0
nc. "Al the worse for your argument
was the reply. And So il WAS Tor masts and
lie smoke-Stacks Of steamers render it cA-
..cmely difficult to bridge the river; but
chicago, like Il brave city is SIC is, tunnels
ne river TO get across easily without the
,o:acr Of the cirawbridSc.
TIE cases arc too numerous to mention.
There is London, the largest city i'll the
world. on both sides Of the Thames, Paris
,uldiyilcd by the Seine in its winding and
.ircuitouS course. IN cur own country there
) Al-icrs lately annexed TO New Orleans,
rom which she is separated by river more
nan nile wide, which cannot be bIi0ged,
.rhi!e James rivcr is Only one-quaitcr OF I
nile wide, and not uavigablc between Mall
ncster and Richmond; so that there is no
obstacle to bridges aud no obstruction to Tie
,uickest and easiest communication, and
therefore none to cordial and active symp@'
nv and community Of interest between the
shores.
But, we repeat, we do not mean now to
discuss the question. 1t is not dead. twill
i've until annexation is accomplished. Such
,as been tie history of all similar cases. 1t has
allen now by mistaken fears and apprehen'
lions and reciprocal relations in the Council
Time will be required, probably, to eilace
ome rooted prcjudiccs and compose resent
mcnts. Wren the young and entelprising
,nirit Of I;ichmoisd is fairly active and Tisor,
MS under the Stimulus Of the increased
communications we are to have with the
most active and teeming quarter OF tie
Union there will he great CHAM III public
sentiment, and the notions aud suggestions
| That led to the unfortunate result in the
-ouncil on Monday will never more hole,
sway in our public affairs.
With ali due respect to the Council we re-
gret that they did not couch their resolution
IN some kindlier style, showing a pepper
consideration for the people of Manchester.
| Never in our experience have we known an
| Instance in which 4 respectable town came
forward and gently offered herself to Il neigh
| Dor city to become Internationally Il part of
| its corporation. There was that in the net
| which might we'll excite the warmest sympa-
| theS. We arc sure the people Of Richmond
felt them and regret the oversight in the
| Council, which we know FAUST he equally re-
GREETED by them. The appearance of Man
chester in the Council reminds every one Of
RUTH casting. herself before BoAz. And
| what would the world have said Of BoAZ
nad he replied it is ineXpedient?" But tue
| world would have felt all the deeper sympa-
| thy for RUTH, ms we are sure is the case now
N the public feeling towards Manchester.
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