The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-10-23
The Committee on Transportation.

Our readers know that quorum OF thc
Tinted States Senate Committee on Trans
nor,ation from the West to the seaboard ar
rived here on Tuesday last. They came tor
the purpose Of inquiring into the advantages
or the virginia or central water-tine, rom
the Chesapeake hay to the Ohio river. nc
gentlemen who thus came to the CIT! "eie
senator's W1Npoa, of Minnesota, Chairman };
SHERMAN. of Ohio; CoSKLlSa. OF New iofh,
DAVIS OF West Virginia; and NORWOOD, OF
Georgia. They were received rs stated oy
the report Of their arrival IN the local depart.
nnent of the Dispatch. Such courtesies anu
hosn;,slIties as were allowable within the
limits they themselves had prescribed were
cordislly extended to them. Ihey dee''l'e
all public entertainments, and devote them
selves earnestly to the business Of their Jour-
ney through the country. This is very pro-
per. and shows that they justly appreciate
tho importance of the investigation entrust-
ed TO them, and will not allow themselves to
forge, public duty in the seductive pleasures
OF social enjoyment.
The committee yesterday made an eHcur-
sion 10 the first locks on the canal. and alter
wards visited the dock and the shlp'lock'
taking hurried glance at the river ana the
shining. They also called at PAGES TO-
baeco tuctory to see the process OF manu-
featuring chewing tobacco, i'll when the!
appeared to be much interested. Operatives
in one branch Of the business were eXpertiy
emplo, ed in stamping the boxes that were
ready for market, and some of those VINO
escorted the senators did not fail to make an
estimate Of the Federal tax upon single
box for the edfcation of the senators.
Returning to the Exchange Hotel, the
committee went into session, and opened
their proceedings with an address from the
Hon. THOMAS S. BococK, who was chairman
of the delegation from Lynchburg deputed
TO invite the committee TO that city, ana 10
lay before it the subject of the national I'M
portance of the central water-line. Mr. 80
COCK DISCHARGED lis Office very faithfully, ANA
with rs much detail as the brief time OF the
committee would permit. He was followed
nv other gentlemen who had been snmmoucd
before the committee 10 give Information on
the subject of the improvement. We refer
the reader to our local department for fur
thcr particulars. .....s
Mr.. BococK rapidly presented the claims
OF the water.line to national consideration.
Judge CoSKLlSG inquired if Mr.. Bocock
thought Congress had the constitutional
power to appropriate the money of the Gov
eminent to that object In reply, Mr.. BococK
said he thought it bad, and explained the
difference between merely local works and
those whose magnitude was such AS to make
them national-t. e., to make them import
ant as arteries of trade and outlets to market
to SO many States and so large portion OF
the people as TO make them of national i'm
portance. Such works were, he thought,
clearly within the power Of Congress TO con-
struct under the constitutional authority TO
" regulate commerce." The merely local
works, he thought, under the restrictions of
the Constitution, should be left TO the
States.
Judge CoSkLlNG inquired whether there
had not been more restricted view of the
powers of Congress in this part of the
Union. Mr.. BococK frankly and somewhat
playfully confessed that there had been. Re
rent events, however, hud produced some
change in public opinion, and we were not
so ready to draw the resolutions of $3.50
as we were at one time. 1t used TO be said
that State-rights man would draw those
resolutions as promptly as duellist would
pistol. But there was no promptness in
their production now. This little episode
exhibited little good humor, to the salts
faction of all present.
Mr.. Bocock might have brought forward
Mr.. CALHOUN as making the distinction
which he himself made between local and
national works. Mr.. CALHOUN contcnded
that where 4 stream watered three States it
was OF such national dignity as to author
lie its improvement by the Federal
Government. Mr.. BococK did quote south
ern statesmen, including Mr.. HUNTER, Of
Virginia, as confessing that 4 railroad to the
Pacific was work of national Importance,
entitled to Government aid. 1t was such Il
work for many reasons, especially for its en-
ployment in transporting troops, munitions,
and supplies for public defence and the pre-
Seryaton of order.
Mr.. BococK incidentally stated the good
effects the central water-ine would have in
harmonizing the sections and fostering ma
iional goodwill and fraternity. Every pa
iriot North and South should rejoice at such
benefits; and speaking for the South, he de-
cared his clear conviction that every south
ern man ardently desired peace and harmony
throughout the land. They desired it all
the more, he believed, from their sad expe-
rience of fraternal strife.
These sentiments interested the commit
tee, and evidently were warmly reciprocated
by them.
The DISTINGUISHED gentlemen leave this
city this morning by way of the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad to examine the line of the
Greenbrier, New, and kanawha rivers to the
Ohio, and down that river to Cincinnati and
Louisville. We trust and believe they will
give this great central linc--so important
for its middle position, for its being below
the frost.line for its great capacity to relieve
the immense demand OF the West for trans
portation, for its clearly promised influence
in harmoniZing the interests and increasing
the fraternal attachments of the people
their close and impartial observation. They
can render no better service to the country.