The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-15
The Centennial.

The Centennial.
We deriore very heartily the rejection By
the House of Delegates of Virginia of the
bin making an appropriation to the Centen-
nai celebration for the purpose Of securing
a presentation for the Stale in the exhibi.
ton at Philadetphis. ~----~~-
We regret It for many reasons, bat mainly
because 1t is likely TO chill the kindly rcla.
tons between Virginia and the North; but
more particularly between Virginia and Con-
yress. This ancient Commonwealth is 10
cited upon that central line Of latitude which
is 10 the route of the most active, vigorous,
aad genial physical forces Of the nation. In
this line 1t is vital that there shall be MANI
tanned Split OF enterprise and improve
n,cnt that shall steadily develop us aHGah"
t@ges and benefcent influences as common
t,rsi,ory for ccutraizing the commerce OF the
\ y and the South. Nature indicates its hap
i alaptabili.y as the ground Of harmony
a;.o! ratlonal union for the good Of the Union
i, Il, aud for the promotion o. national com.
To-. AID thrift as we'll as political brother
hos and concord.
row, then, it should be considered alike
or duty and our interest TO do What We
may ourselves, and 10 urge the nation 10 90
W 40. it can, TO facilitate the ways OF com.
MERGE and intercourse along this eligible
this magic-latitude. Virginia has no right
to suspend her appeals TO the Federal
Government to do what IL is due TO the
nation Shalt be done, more than she
has any right to relax her own ener-
gics in improving the communication by
WAY of this middle line. Her lot has been
fortunately cast upon 1t, AID that good tor'
tune brings along with it the high obl'ga'
tion-which no intelligent people can deny
OF contributing every effort and iDflnence IN
her power towards giving the nation ana
society every facility and advantage that can
promote intercourse alopg the line upon
" hich her boundaries rest.
Let US ak our brethren whether, after the
exhibition OF feeling Of aversion TO concill-
alton aud harmony in meeting our brethren
OF other States at Philadcl2hia, they eX-
pee. to see a very kindly reception OF our
petitions Tor aid in the Improvement OF James
river by the Federal Congress? Is it for
II oment expected by anybody that our Pc
t;ions will gain respect and win favor by re-
jcc.ing the small proposed appropriation to
tEa Centennial!
This is one very strong reason why We
sH"uId deeply regret the vote OF the House
c. Delegates. We cannot imagine any re1-
3. why those who killed the appropriation
{. I'D iclci,atc themselves upon their act. AS
NJ I'LL said, " We are here" in our fathers
L.a.r. ard with our brethren. We cannot
s;.4Ig!hen our position nor increase our
ca,c at home, nor the sympsthies with US, 10y
u.Hiiesting at aversion TO good fellowship.
That BLAlNE's revival of war-rapcors
aroused resentment in million breasts we
are sure; but BLAINE is only one man, and
We cannot hold nation responsible for his
ac.s. Our duty was, as our policy is, to act
"a dough BLAINE were but the one man en-
treIy incapable Of disturbing the relations of
the people and entirely unable, thank God,
to impair our position or diminish our
riga,s.
!, may be depended ON that the people Of
' .-,inia can gain nothing by getting in
/. ion with Mr.. BLAINE, while they will
lor"stioraby lose immensely by being un-
l.; e: uted ut Philadelphia. Have we not
/! 4, Tor sale ,-mineral lands for salc-mill-
ard all the ways and natural means to
:. ,. and improvement 10 bring TO the
!ir..nu Of the world! Whose loss will it be
i. ..ry arc not brought to public observa-
Il n-Il admiration where they would stand
anoGgst the most attractive specimens Of
NJ iial wealth: Whose but ours!
.nis is but slight glance at the many
reA,cus for which we should lament deeply
the waywsrdness of the House OF Delegates
il forgetting alike the dictates Of policy and
o. feeling IN rejecting the Centennial appro-
priaiion. This is not the wise conduct that
ore would expect from people dwelling
l3ou the line or the true location OF the
national heart, toward; which the faces Of
North and South are turned; where neither
Obstructive !rcsts nor cXhausting heats atilict
m,n nor Illustrate their pursuits; where
genial suns ard revivifying showers crown
and tless the people and their labors. From
such people and such latitude We should
naturally look for Cancellation and good fcl.
luHsbip.
Virginia will have to deplore this event.
4 generous public cannot regard it in any
light but that Of misfortune, while it will
be poor consolation to the economists that
they have avoided an exceedingly small ap.
preparation, In opposing which they have
s:sjected the State to an expense more than
CO .al TO the amount Of the appropriation it.
self.
The Union Pacific.