Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-10-08
FOR CONGRESS,
HON JOHN r. HARRIS.

We publish portion OF very In
teres.ing article from the Lexington
"Gazet.e" in referehue to the Railroad
convention at Stanton, and the opposi-
ton of Eastern Virginia to the exten
sion Of the Valley railroad In spite OF
the combined opposition Of Richmond,
Malone and the disappointed friends of
the Shenandoah Valley railroad, this
road will be secured. The day when
this Valley is to be held subject to the
whims of Eastern Virginia only because
that section has majority in the Legis-
lature has passed; and the people of
this great Valley will demand railroad
facilities equal, at least, to those of
Eastern Virginia.
The road will be built, and the
sooner Eastern Virginia cities recognize
the fact and make the effort to secure
the Valley trade in Legitimate way the
better it will be for their own prospect
ty and for that of the entire State.
''But where does the spirit of opposl
ton and ridicule come from, other than
the cities of East dependant, to a con-
siderable extent, upon the Valley for
trade,-who are jealous Of Baltimore
coming in for any part of it; and from
the Malone press of the Southwest rep
resenting the interests of a rival line !?
That shows what it is worth In the es-
timation of all d;sinterested observers.
Richmond and Lynchburg cry out Bal
timore. Baltimore and Ohio road and
John Carrot grasping after our trade,
and, instanter, their faithful allies along
the lines of the A. NJ. & 0. r. r. re-
spond "Amen!" The Stanton conven
ton was .sfzzle." Well, when they
show their willingness and ability to aid
us to the extent of the millions of dol.
lars that Baltimore and the Baltimore &
Ohio r. r. have subscribed to our
work, then, such an outcry may come
from them with more becoming grace
Things have come to pretty pass,
indeed, in Virginia, when the men of
the Valley assemble in convention to
devise the means of lettering their con
dition- of building railroad without
the cost of cent to the State, but that
they Must forthwith be singled out for
the subject of the taunts and jeers of
the East and South west, who have al.
ready had long line of railroad built
for them at the expense of the Valley
counties and other portions of the State.
"But, go on, gentlemen. You, evil
IDENTIFY, don't desire TO coneiliate your
Valley brethren-you neither desire
their trade nor their votes-you are able
to live without them, if we are to judge
by your action in this respect They
viewed things calmly and cody in that
convention notwithstanding your pre-
yious treatment. Their business was
to get that railroad charter. They did
not make use of recrimlnations and
threats. The subject of what they
might, OF might not do, in the event Of
it's refusal was not mooted in the con-
vention or out of it. They did not cen
slider that they were there for that pur-
pose. They thought proper to treat
you as intelligent, justice.appreciating
brethren of one common State, and to
appeal to your senses Of fairness and
right. They left it for you to consider,
in your calrner moments, what had been
the long standing complaint of West
Va. in the denial to her of what she
considered fair treatment on your part,
and the consequences of that denial in
sundering the old State in twain.
''The Valley and the counties of the
Southwest, interested, want that rail
road harter.-They expect to be met
in opposing it with reason and argu'
ment, not ridicule and r1isrepresenta
ton, the weapons Of a feeble cause
They will go before the Legislature ask
ing for it in the name Of justice and
right. They will still. cling to the hope
that the people Of Virginia will meet
them in similar spirit, and it remains te
be seen whether in asking that, and
that only, they shall ask in vain.