Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-13
she EsdVsseaaassssS w kaS%.
GEiNE1gslAg. AsSu3as HsLY.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
TUuWSpAY, MARCH, Glh.


Of the United States passed February 18th, 1893
DISMAL SWAMP COMPANY.
On motion of Mr.. Fauikncr, the bill TO increase
the capital stock OF the Dismal Swamp Canal Com.
puny, and an amendment of the Senate, were Ia
ken up.
Tins bill authoriscs the Dismal Swamp Canal
Company to open subscriptions for as many shares
Will increase their capital stock to the amount
of 100000 dollars; and tho Board of Public Works
arc required to subscribe to two.ihs of the stock
and the shares thus subscribed for shall he paid
for out ofthc debt and United States Bank stock,
ut the market value due by the company to the
State.
The amendment of the Senate is to insert, as
follows, the words i'll Italics "and upon the receipt
ot the certificates of stock by the said Board Of
Public Works, for the amount of said subscription,
'and the payment IF the interest and proportion Of
dtrtdends ,ch'oh shall hare acc,ueon the debt, and
United Stdfes bank stuck dforcSoid up To the time
OF said Subscription, together mih tie balance Of
prtnciPdt Uhfch may then remain due from tho said
company TO tie State, after pairing out of the said
Debt and United Suites bank stock, the amount of
the subscription hereby authori=cd the debt of said
company to the Commonwealth aforesaid shall
be- and the Same is hereby declared to be thereby
dischargcd"l
MIR. Broodus moved the indefinite postponement
OF the bill and amendments, observing that ho
wished to examine more thoroughly the provisions
of the bill.
MIR. Hing stated that tho company only desired
that the State should subscribe to an amount equal
TO two-hfths of the sum advanced by the individu.
III stoch-hoiders. AT the request of MIR. X. scvc.
raj documents relative to the subject were read
MIR. Chandler staincd the bill and declared
that 1T had merits of peculiar kind, which he dc.
monstratcd by details and statistics giving a de.
tailed history OF the Dismal Swamp Improvements
lilo stated that SCOT, O00 had been received from
the tolls, every cent of which had been expended
IN widening and improving the canal, not one cent
ot profit having been received by the stock.ho
ers, every one of whom were willing to forcgo
present returns for the ultimate perfection of the
work. HE whole which had kec dod,
the canal was S1SS, 000-and tho company now
offered two-fifths of the stock to the State for
S2OOOOO- the loan of the State of Ga, 900 dollars
to be included, making 1876, 600 now asked for IL
was great object of policy to unite the two
states OF Virginia and North Carolina, and no
more was asked than every company was entitled
TO- under the law oflSl7. lie noticed tho amend.
mont of the Senate, and approved of il;
anticipating many objections which might he
made TO this object, the ground that
the General Government had made an appro.
pria'ion in its behalf ho defended that appropria
lion, as not coming in collision with State RIGHTS
lie dc clarcd that he anticipated opposition from
the gentleman from Dmwiddic: and concluded hy
statement of the advantages of the Improvement
and its claim on the State.
MIR. BrodRdr observed that he would not disap.
point the prophecy OF the gentleman from Norfolk
that he MIR. b. should attack the bill. He contro.
verified the ideas advanced by Mr.. Chandler, and
maze statistical statements conflicting with those
OF Mr. &. lie expressed surprise that bill of this
description should have passed so smoothly through
the House, and should, when returned from the
senate with an amendment, be pounced upon with
such avIdlty lie had to plead for his own part
mat 1T had escaped him, and he might feel some
embarrassment at this confession; were il not that
Inc found himself in such humorous and cxcollont
company. lie observed that the bill passed on tho
morning OF the first day on which the House met
at lO O'Clock, and according to Cookers aribme
tic, there were exactly tioenfy-cipht members pro
sent Mr.. b. then examined critically the proyisi.
ohs OF the Dill, which he characterized as one of
the most extraordinary that was ever written
Among other strctHres on the BILL Mr.. Bro9nor
observed that the number of shares which the stock
was TO be increased was not stated-that no proyi
sion was made by which the Board of Public
W orks were obligated to ascertain whether the
threc-hths had been subscribed by individuals he
fore the two-iitths advanced on behalf of tho
otate-and that the phrascology was objectionable !
as the Board required TO make the snbscrIption
instead OF being, as usual authorized to do So AZ
Ter examining tho condition of the Company he |
came to the conclusion that the subscriber te tho |
thrcetitths the U. States; and commended that
1t was never contemplated by the trainers of the
law of 1917, that the United States should come
into the State of Virginia and advance its three
h.ths for the construction of an improvement 40
handing OF this Government the other two-iifths
lie read the law and illustrated the fact that il
mad aliuson to ind vduas alone, observing that it
would be announcement and absurd to endeavor In
make Uncle Sam give bOnd and security, or cite
him to appear before County or CORPORATION
Court, as provided for by that law. He alluded to
the progress of the improvement, which was very
much boosted of by it's fricnds-but this Companv
he said, was the first chartered in this State the
iirst that had sucked from the fund for internal i'm
provcmcnt, and it had been the last to paw any
thing back. lie thought if the prosperity Of Nor
folk was great as had been stated its citizens
could not need tho aid Of the State. Other sec
tons could with more reason ask aid from thom
As to the argument of the gentleman from Nor |
folk, that the subscription of the General Govern
ment to the work. did not conflict with the princi |
at an rain &c a.,
tors of Virginia, from the genteman's own district
Mr.. Iazcwcll,l thought differently, and voted
against the appropriation.
Mr. Boiling rose to state the facts Of the case
winch had been almost forgotten in tho multitude
oil words. The facts were, that the United States
had subscribed S200000; individuals 500, OOO and
Virginia S64, O00 and it was now sought to induce
TINS Legislature to acknowledge the United States
as an individual subscriber. The bill has passed
without his being aware of its character: but since
IT had returned from the Senate the gentleman |
from Norfolk had shed such halo of light around |
1t, that its naked dcIOrmties were perfectly appa.
rent, TT
Mr. Williams said lie had voted for this bill on |
IT'S passage; but since the explanation which had
been given By tho gentleman from Norfolk, he had |
been troubled with some compunctous visilings-
IL was at best diSmdl subject md he should vote
Tor the indefinite postpOncmcnt, tho easiest !
means Of getting rid of il.
Mr. CamPbcNo of Brooke, supported the bill
When the Petersburg Rail Road bill was before
~" 't'uNc, hihought contained The principle OF a
loan, 1t had been met with little opposition. But in
.ni' instance, much sopiIistry had been advanced.
ny me very suPPosiiIOn of the gentleman from
binwidiic, that SIC United States could not be
subscriber, there was objection TO the bill-as
u That principle was sustained, the sum advanced
~ The United states, would not be considered az
part Of the troc-Gith3. lie thought the bill pro-
''Sad merely reasonable mcasurc-it was to
ransicr dcbt 10 stock and was far preferable TO a
Dan. @ir. &. bad no sectional feelings. He was
or the Improvement Of tho whole States and this
vas more decidedly Siotc work than any other