The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-26

we have to-day an OnDrOken Hue anO uu'
broken gauge with all the States south OF us.
But for the millions expended by Colonel
Scott and his friends In the South our Dam
vile road, really the only truly Richmond
road we have, would perhaps be In the
bankrupt condition OF some OF our other
iines-in arrears to everybody, and at the
mercy Of foreign creditors. Have we, the
people of Virginia, quarrel with Colonel
Scott for what he has done with the Dan
willie road? If so, on what ground? lie
has controlling interest from here 10 the
Mississippi. at New Orleans and Vicksburg,
by way of this Dauville line. he and his
friends have millions Of money at stake on
the prosperity OF this immense southern rail.
way system. Its prosperity depends on the
construction Of a southern line TO the Pa-
ciGc that Will connect with it at New Or
leans and Vicksburg. Is this fact no guar
autee, based on interest, that the Texas and
Pacific road will give Us fair share In its
bfsiuessS Is our chance for this business
not better here in Virginia, with at least
cornity Of ownership. and central between
the Texas and Pacific and the "Scott roads !"
of the South, than if we were TO adopt the idea
Of Southern Pacific road Of the Mississippi
terminus at Memphis 10 be run, or tempted
to be run, as southern monopoly in man.
aeemens, and New York steamship monop'
oily in terminal advantages at Norfolk! AT
yicksburg and New Orleans we would have
little to fear from northern competition; !;
from Memphis q great deal, IS that city Das
direct porthward rail connections under
northern management even more dangerous
than the supposed rival northern routes
from St. Louis we bear so much about.
But Tom Scott is not our choice for pre-
- tlor
iss Come, gentlemen, bring out your man.
and let us canvass him on the score of quail
fjcation to command universal confidence.
Show US your man Of financial skill that has
met and successfully resisted the shock Of
the last three years Of panic and revulsion.
Present us with the executive ability not
merely to run road when built, bpt to raise
the means and build hundreds and thou.
sands of miles of new road, and you may
convince Congress that Colonel Scott is not
Z" the right man in the right place" and they
NAV agree to pass for you bill to build
road exclusively sectional, after you have
defeated one they tender you, because IL is
| general in its benefits but 1t ls hardly likely
| they will do so.
As northern men have already put about
Sl1 900, 900 in the four hundred and forty.
three miles of Texas and Pacific road already
built or building, they may consent to let
you dictate a management; but we think
hardly so, unless the financial talents OF
southern railroad.men baye been hid all this
time from the public gaze. Tell the south.
ern majority in Congress that you refuse to
unite with them to build another road to the
Pacific unless the North is excluded from its
benefits by discriminating provisions in favor
of the South and legislative exclusion of
northern men from its management, or par.
tcipation in its management, and do you
think it ever will be built at
all in our day? By manifesting this sec.
| tional hostility againsta confessedly national
| measure, in whose benefits We will fully
participate If we have the vim and business
capacity to do So do you think we are bet.
tering our chances to get the Government to
build our great canal here in Virginia. We
Of the South are great people, but some
| times we are not as wise as it would seem
| the lessons of the past should have taught US
| TO be. And there is one fact that we should
| bear in mind-tbat just now material bene.
| fits concern US more than abstract political
theories, and that to secure these we are not
strong enough in Congress to "stand our
hand and 60 it alone" If we ever get any
help from the Government it will be by the
aid OF northern votes. 1t may be wise and
patriotic and preeminently Virginian to
refuse assistance from that quarter, but we
can't all see it. RICHMOND MAN.