Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-04-07
YALLRY RAILROAD EXTENSION,

of Virginia TO grant charter for the extern
sion of the Valley Railroad, is not the most
loving aud friendly toward the old State, and
from the signs of the times BODIES no good to
the people of tidewater Virginia. Ifthe Leg.
islafive soIons at Richmond are not careful,
they may yet rue the day when they sacrificed
the interests of the entire Valley for the ag-
erandizemeut of Eastern Virginia. The
times are uncertain, and the Valley may not
always pay tribute to the merchantmen of
Richmond, Norfolk, &c. We do not wish to
see our old Mother State in such depiorable
condition as we eau picture, but the danger
of such calamity is foreshadowed The fol-
lowing is from the Sraunton Spectator
The ''narrow gauge" policy ofthe East
er"' Virginia Legislature in refusing to grant
charter for the extension of the Valley
Railroad may be considered as a triumph for
that section OF the State by the narrow minded
representatives, " ho defeated the measure. but
the time will surely come when they will be
unsble to prevent free people from making
internal improvements for their own benefit
and the development of the country in which
they live, especially when they propose to
the State government to appropriate the pub
lie funds for their construction.
Does Richmond and the other eastern cities
propose expect to dt:ract the trade of the
Valley by such 'dog>in-the. msngcr" pol
icy? If they d., they will find themselves
very much mistaken. Trade cannot be forced
by any such means. II will seek a market
where the most liberal inducements are offered
If Richmond pays the highest prices for our
produce it will go there. But if Baltimore
should prove to be- the best marke: i! Will 20
there.
We love our old mother Virginia, and we
wish to see Ter resources, of all kinds, fully de-
veloped we love to see her cities and towns
grow and prosper but VIC do not love to see
few selfish politicians attempt to prevent the
development Of any section within her bor-
ders. simply because they think an improve
meut for that purpose will not'sedound to the
immediate and direct ad vaDt1.a of the county
or section in which they may reside. We
had hoped that the days of such narrow
minded iegislatI"n was at end, Int our
homes in that respect have been very much
shaken by the recent action of the Legislature
on the proposed Valley Railroad extension.
It's lamentabIc, too, to see how onr eastern
Virginia friends. through the medium of the
press crow and rejoice over what they term
victory. Tt is a victory, bat very small,
selfish one it is, and one which ought to
bring the blush of shame Instead CT the flush
ofj"y.
The Lexington GazeUc, on this subject,
says:
''The action of this Legislature and the
course ofthe Eastern papers has fully satisfied
us that we have nothing to expect or hope
for from majority of the Eastern people or
their representatives in the Legislature
When they will not give US a charter for n
road that will not cost the State one cent
when we ask for ''eq'EIl riyht," the same
advantages that they have in the way of inn
PrcVements, and they refused, we owe it
to ourselves and those whose interests are
bound up with ours to cast about and adopt
the policy which will secure for ms those
things that are necessary t. promote our pros
rcrty. Iu this selfish age, We must take
care of ourselves, and this we propose to do
Vie would never apply 10 the Virginia Leg
is'ature again for charter. We propose
now to InaugurHtc measures to Withdraw from
the State of Virginia and form a State to
comprise that portion OF country known as the
Valley and Southwestern Virginia, lying he.
tween the West Virginia State line and the
Blu" Ridge. We have no Doubt the vote of
the. Valley and Southwest aided by such votes
as could get from the Fast, would furnish
the requisite number TO an'horiza our with,
drawal and organization into State, and once
organized, we would have no trouble in se>
curing recognition by Congress
It seems DOW, from what has recently &C.
Cured in this discussion, that the interests
of the Valley and Southwestern Virginia arc
anta"onistic to the interests of the Eastern
part Of this State. Legislation necessary to
us. they tell ns would he ruinous 20 them
Their interests must he protected. no matte4
how we are prejudiced and injured by their
action. Ifjustice cannot he done to the ne
without the infliction Of injustice upon the
other, then the parties ought to he willing to
separate. ''Let there be no strife between
me and thee, or between my people aud thy
people"
We hope the minds of our people west of
the Blue Ridge will he directed to the con.
sidcrOtion of this question, thatlbey will give
expression to their opinions, aud that some
time NAV he named and some place designated,
when and where Convention may be held
to determine what is ne ccssary to be done
under the circumstances"
CpNFpHI COPn0M