The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-18
to seventeen feet of water, but must be forced

to make transit Of nearly seventy miles, at
great cost, to get to like depth Of water on
York river, or 60 where an ocean ship can.
uot come to-the port Of Rockets. Cotton
brought here cannot be shipped to Liver
pool. No cotton-ship comes here, even if
cotton could be brought here, while Peters
burg has port within ninc miles which Is
equal 10 any in the State. There is no prac-
tical sense In the charge preferred that the
"R0binson dynasty" has in Richmond OH
structed an outlet to the Petersburg road.
Fh" gentleman undertook TO awaken pre-
Judice against the Richmond, Fredericks-
| burg and Potomac road in Richmond. We
don't thank HIM for his aid in any contro-
Gersy we may have with it. "Non tall
dMrado." We have no,o railroad running
from Richmond to Baltimore at rates
LESS THAN HALF AS HIGH AS THOSE OF THE
ROAD lie REPRESENTS; ID.
and God forbid that his client should get
| possession Of that road and charge us as
they charge the people Of Petersburg.
/ 90 not mean to detain the committee ex-
cept to refer TO those incidental charges which
have been made against tho Robinsons," !"
acting for the Seaboard road, of purchasing
stock in the Raleigh and CASTOR road. sup
pose the counsel is willing to recall bis criti-
| cism upon that proceeding. 1t has not been
mentioned in his opening argument, nor do
| presume that the Scaboard road will be
| held accountable when the Legislature au-
| thorized the purchase for the purpose Of pro-
| tecting the Seahoard road from the insidous
efforts Of the Southern Security Company 20
| destroy it. When it was ascertained that the
SOUTHERN SECURITY coMPANY HAD MADE THE
| OFFER TO DcY THE STOCK OF THE RALEIGH
MT
I THE STOCK IN THE WILMINGTON AND WELDON
| ROAD
thus absolutely about to control ALL connec-
| tionS At Weldon--thc State recognized the
peril OF the Seahoard road and authorized it
| to purchase the stock Of the Raleigh and Gas
| ton road in sclf.defcnce! 1t was authorized
aad sanctioned by the Legislature, under the
| Influence of a fixed policy not 10 permit these
! great lines, stretching north and south,
| TO ABSORB THE ROADS OF THIS STATE
and to treat our cities and towns rs mere
way stations. Our true policy is in
opening communications from west to
east to the great seaports lying on
our bays and rivers, and not in be-
ing tributary 10 Baltimore, Philadelphia,
and NeW York by raii,coys running in the
interest Of those cities from south TO north.
In nay own judgment it would be TREASON
TO the State TO divert trado from her sea-
ports ~ points beyond Der borders by the
arbitrary and unnatural peryersion Of inte-
rior lines. The trade thus diverted she
would receive no benefit from, and would
not participate in. | shall say no more, there
fore. upon tlie subject OF The purchase of
the Raleigh and Glstun railroad, nor shall
SAY anyihiE. in viudicaliou of the Frcdc-
\ y tn.l in, IpnIip., oiI n l,n nop-
strUctiuu Of line from point near Quar-
tico by another corporation in order TO pre-
vent the eXactions that would have been
practiced upon the people of this State
by thosc who are here, and now,
is it is charged, secretly promoting this bill.
If not directly askiDgit, they will procure it
after il is passed. Suppose this charter is
granted, That guarantee can you put III it or
o1tain from amy quarter that when freight
has reached The city Of Washington you can
gct transportation as cbcapy lis you can over
tie Virginia roads: You there meet this
great Pennsylvania company, owning the
road between Baltimore and Washington
and whatever may be your charges upon
freight through Virginia, and howsoeyer reg
ulatcd by law here, what assurance have you
that they viii respect your laws or rates.
Already, rs you bHyc learned from Mr. Robin
sun ana Dir. Daniel, in tho pro rating which
exists from Ricilmundto Baltimore the Penn.
SyNania road claims the liens share. Instead
Of securing by this bill & perfect conlnuni-
cation with Baltimore, when you get TO
Washington you are i'll tile hands of Il great
aud powerful monopoly, chartered in Penn
syivanil. where every species Of fchartcr comes
IyUm-good, bad, and indilercnt-ironl
the CrG,tti-Mooiler Il WAS gong to say G0un)
but up. That road which, i'll the last few
| days, by Il unanimous vote Of the Legislature
of Pennsylvania, WIS freed from all restraint
upon It's capital stock; and there is 10 liIliI-
talion TO its power To increase its stock.
Aud it G,n thus take in every enterprise in
The CGiscd States under the charter which it
now enjoys. Therefore, repeat it, when
you l:ive got this communication to Wash.
| mgton there yoar power stops, aud you are
in the kanuS OF that monopoly, which even
now can Hx lis own roads ut Weldon and at
i Alexandria. What is your condition when
it owns the intermediate lines? Are yoi!
masters of through ircight5 now, or will YOU
bc tbeu? Can you determine what the
through rates will IcI Not Between the
upper and the neither mlistone-thc Penn
sylvlnia road in Washington, and the South
crn Security Company at eldon-your roads
will be crushed and your people plundercd
and you will be powerless to aid them. Your
State Will be run over as fit wcTean old field
aud you will be tied hand and foot, helpless,
and Ill the hands OF II ruthless aud lawlrSs
monopoly. Therefore, these SayaricS that
float III the brain Of The counsel who address.
cd you us to putting down tolls TO Baltimore
and nufth OF it should make no lougment
III your minds.
! / Pass away from this topic and leave these
crude suggestions 10 the reflection Of YOU
gentlemen, who represent the Virginia
/ Senate. | come now to another subject
4 thrown out as bait to the committee by tho
counsel, whose elocutiou and ingenuity it is
impossible not to udmire--Who understands
the rhetorical art OF 'how not to do il" arc
how to avoid with the skill of Paluuru. tho
shoals and qucksaGds that beset his course
vino can walk the slender thread OF "a spe
cioUs argument with the skill Of au acrobat
call your attention for moment TO 4 mos
ingenious suggestion, which, in the presen
condition of Virginia, appeared upon Il:
face to promise marvellous results: ol
were asked to arrange in this bill that lh'
entire property Of the enlarged corporation
should lie taxed. Why, that looked to be {
most gracious concession; but does not thl
committee know that
THE PROPERTY or THIS CORPORATION (THl
PETERSBURG ROAD IS ALREADY TAXED b
i LAW p
that it has paid Its taxes until recently, whcr
1t was discovered by the counsel that it i
not liable 10 taxation? He has proteStct
that his road is not liable to taxation, tbougl
taxes have been paid ny it since 1SjS-in th
face OF an admission that it was liab
to taxation made by Judge Joyncs,--wh
presided over this road for six or egh