Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-04-15
n0Nnnr TT0NHDTnQ

State, you will find in the acts for their in
corporation a forecast that does credit tC
the patriotism and to the wisdom of the
hour in which they were conceived; you
viii find that the gauge is required to be
Uniform, that intercommunication as be-
tween the several parts of this system was
to be unrestricted and untrammeled to the
end, that the great producing regions OF the
West-those fields from which the cities on
the Atlantic have gathered their great
neSs-shOuld find through Virginia and
unon her coast an outlet to the ocean.
And even more: such are the specifications
of those charters. that'tO all our Virginia
cities has been secured uninterrupted com
munication over this line to the West. 1t
is true that it may be said, that so far we
have realized bur a small share Of that fruit
which it was anticipated this policy would
bear; but when we remember that in the
very onward stride in that pursuit Virginia
and the South were Overtaken by the con-
WILSON'S Of civil war and the destruction
of our means and the consequent depres-
sion Of every interest which followed the
loss Of our great cause, the failure to attain
larger results cannot be justly ascribed to
anv defect in the system, whose prosecu-
it}l1 III ilt--ltj ttlNC lilAt SiiDtt Ssilll SiS
where, as in the cases to which l have ad-
veTted, have procured such Increasing
benefits as should enlarge our faith, in and
determine cur adhesion the more earnestly
and rigidly, to its pursuit.
The one policy builds up our own cities
the other destroys them.
IN The application Of this policy there is
just reason to anticipate the growth ana
prosperity Of large cities and commercial
llarts in or own State. The examples
afforded by other States in this regard de-
iu9sstrate tie incllculable benefits which
sach cities confer. Their expansion, in
crease Of population and Of values will re-
hect and react upon the entire State; the
introduction Of capital and the aggregation
81 wealth Will enable them not only to bear
d larger share in the burden Of taxation but
afford to every interest and every class m
urged facilities III the pursuit Of every
dyJcatiOn. Through them alone can we
hope to secure direct trade, the iGest.Hablg
boon for which Virginia has been longing
i3r many years. and III which IS to be found
The only means of commercial inieDcn-
Gence and freedom from the vlssl-
LACE to which the South has been sub
iectcd from the beginning almost OF the
present century.
SuCn was the policy which marked the
legislation Of that day-a policy c3utr,-.lsS-
Iinct from that Of North ana South iiuee,
Ihis latter-day the0ry-the conception of q
reasonable conspiracy against tie fortunes.
the dignity ald the Independence o. the
Commonwealth, born OF our enemies and
nur;urad in her very bosom bF unworthy
SONS Of a noble $Ette--sor Gepriviug South
~. fi1t- "a.
may be drawn 50 and swallowed ~ il lh-
commercial mei-trOm Uf Ph,Il !ri,, ha,
Through lines originating an termlualiu@:lt
points yOnl the limits Of the State are bui
bridges. mere c0nigits for travel aud traffic,
and are 20 be considered rs cOnDri-.i.stlucj
and at variance with such througi: lines H.
come from beyond the STATE and dehJHeha
uDOn our own cities. 10 whose material en-
largement these latter Of consequence con-
tribute.
IN the charters Of lines running North AMI
SoEtn you WA! and an Inhibition A. t. 9auEe-
Virginia in this restriction asserting her y yiI
to direct the commerce winch hay - h2Tcom-
mand. The elom"Ijion Of North AMI south
lines, by consolidation OF otherwise, WAS nO;
the policy of Virginia in tie oideu times. in
In. day in which her system OF public works
was projected, because it was then wisely
conceived that SIcIl a policy Vas nos cJna,>-
tent with her interests not in keeping With
the example Of other states, where the re
suits to which she a-Dired hal 04cn attained
in the pursuit OF the opposite policy.
would respectfully ask where will you .in3
in those States, lyiI@ north of ia. IN exam
Die Of North and South consolidating Do
Won find Il consolidated line of railway from
Baltimore u New York? Is It nos TN, that
you find separate and distinct corporations,