Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-04-23


citizen Of this county.
-
The MALcoNTENTs We regret that
ltichmond papers, and newspaper cor
respondents from the eastern section
should work themselves up to such a
pitch Of interested passion on the ques-
ton of the extension of the Valley
Railroad, as to make ungenerous re-
Elections upon the intelligence and 10Y.
atty of those citizens Of the Valley who
hold an honest difference of opinion in
regard to the facilities necessary for the
proper development of the resources OF
the Valley section Of the State; and we
pity, in our sorrow, the contracted
ness Of spirit exhibited in the puelile
threat to carry their rindictiveness to
the doors Of the Capitol and whine
their opportunities to the General As
sembly to withhold further appropria
tons ''from two of the public institu
tions of learning Just ouch a course
Of abuse and threatening, following the
long series of grievances and wrongs
studiously inflicted upon the Valley
section, will tend to hasten the incon.
stancy to her civic relation, and cause
her, like the terrified matron of Ismal1
to eagerly inquire
"wherefore the ravshing did not begin"
and upon their heads the crime of this
civic prostitution, from which may
spring ga second illegitimate child Of
a political rape"
We have veneration for the old
state,an undying honor for her heroes
and Statesman-a 6lial admiration for
her past history, and we would proudly
exult in hope for her future great
ness, but for the subservient relation
we are compelled to occupy. We have
always been regarded as most excellent
''hewers of wood and drawers of water
Our white element was thought as able
to pay discriminating tax in favor Of
the negro slave, in times past, as it has
been willing to rescue the east from the
domination Of Legroes free, in the pres
ent. The resources of the Valley
would have long since been in course
OF development if sectional legislation
had not prohibited, by refusing the
b. d 0. Company charter for a road,
and that, too, in the face of princely
bonus, almost, if not quite sufficient to
have paid the necessary expenditures
OF the State. Yet we are denounced
as ''disafected malcentents," when, in
our embarrassed condition, we ask for
the development OF that wealth which
false legislation has so long kept lock-
ed from us.
1t is true, that 'but few years hack
men were freely denounced as traitors
who refused to sacrifice their property
and their all, their own and their chill
dren S lives, to preserve the integrity of
the State" And why9 Because they
made that compact against discrimi
mating government, of which they once
were oppressed members. If govern
ments are instituted for the benefit Of
the people, it is clear, that if they fail
TO answer their end in securing equal
protection to the interest of the whole
people, that government is tyrany
and failure, and the remedy usually
applied in such emergencies, by VIVA,
ever opprobrious name it be called, Ii
nevertheless the most natural and mcst
effective remedy; and the avengine
Spirit of Oppression has traced ovel
the walls ofthe temple Of History the
burning charters Of warning.
But why, at this time, this determ
ined purpose to refuse the Valley, 9
through Railroad routes 1t is urged
that its southern connections NAV
divert trade from Richmond, and re-
tard the growth Of: Virginia cities
Such might be the result; but we re,
ply, that if such are the conditions
upon which Richmond and other cities
are to be benefited, we see the Vale,
deprived of the necessary improve
ments to develop its own wealth, and
denied the advanced facilities of the
age. If the argument is fair, suppose
the sister southern states adopt it as
their rule of action, would not the
Withholding of this entire trade work
a greater disadvantage than mere
diverting duct We must confess that
neither Richmond nor other Virginia
cities dissolve into the State escutcheon
with pantascopic effect to our gaze, 70,
we imagine we can still trace in, the
picture the silver crescent of the Shen.
andoab, and the blue heads Of the
Massanuttep, Big North and the Alleg
hanies.
But, the force of this argument is
that their cities, when built up will
pay n,sssh greater proportion of the
State tax u is clear proposition,
but is founded OF the fallac:oas policy
of rphbing Pad to pay Peter of sup