The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-09-17
Valley Railroad Convention.


Valley Railroad Convention.
The result OF the deliberations OF the dele
gates from the Valley and Southwest counties,
interested in the procurement OF charter for
the extension OF the Valley Railroad from some
point on the mainline in Rockbridge or1Bote-
Bland, &C., to the Tennessee line, held in. this
city on the. It'll inst was what we expected
They almost unanimously adopted a preamble
and resolution setting forth the advantages to
the State at large, and the counties through
which the proposed road will pass, particularly,
and demanding of the Legislature the granting
OF charter forthat purpose. The Convention
was composed of representatives from almost
every county-men Of high character; intelli-
gence and influence, They were deeply i'm
pressed with the great Importance Of the enter
prise, and spoke feelingly Of the isolation OF
the Southwest from the markets OF the coun-
try, calling attention to the inexhaustible min
eral resources of that section-itsI agricultural
and pastoral capacities, and the immense
wealth that would be developed by the agency
of the railroad. We do not think we have ever
seen a body of men more earnest in the ex-
preston OF their.desire, or who gave more CO.
gent reasons in support of the proposition they
advanced.
When it is remembered that they represent
ed a tier of counties where nature has lavished
riches in lands, minerals, timber and water,
which are nowslying idle and dead because OF
the absence OF capital to utilize them, and
public conveyances to make them known, it is
not surprising that they manifesteda fervid in
terest in the deliberations of the Convention
Their request was modest, too, in the extreme.
While other portions Of the State are enjoying
the benefits of railroad facilities, paid for by
the common Treasury OF the commonwealth.
to which they contributed and are contributing
their proportion, they simply ask the privilege
of charter to construct a railroad without one
cents cost to the State. All they petition for
is the privilege of a charter under the general
law of the commonwealth. They have conf
dence in the feasibility and practicabilty OF the
enterprise, and feel confidant if the charter:is
granted that the means will be found to exc
cute the work, How is it possible for reasona-
BILE men from any section to refuse ths.request,
especially when it will create new wealth, new
sources of revenue, and contribute to the gen.
eral prosperity of all sections.
| We cannot bring our mind to any other con-
clusion than that so reasonable a request will
| be cheerfully and almost. unanimously agreed
to at the next session Of the Legislature.
Mr. Frank Moulton has given the public an
other state ment in connection with the Beech
er-rilton SANDER. We have read it carefully,
and can come to no other conclusion than that
the facts as stated, sustained and corroborated
| by the circumstances growing out of them,
| fully establish Beecher's guilt. We do not be-
| lieve that Moulton is the bad man some of the
papers would have us believe. We can con-
ceive of no object he had to gain personal to
himself in m.king false statement at this
stage Of the game. 1t is against reason and
the instincts Of nature, that he should have
sought the destruction OF Beecher, unless there
was an end personal to himselsf-selfish in its
characterize instigate him. Nothing of the
kind has been shown throughout the whole tri-
al. TO conclude that he has been controlled
and Influenced by an unprovoked deviltry-a
pure, original depravity, that grovels in base
ness for the love OF it's to make him out
moral monster, such as the history of the
world, both civilized and savage. furnishes no
parallel