Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-03-21

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counties of Powha,an, Amelia, Chesterfield aud the
town OF Petersburg in the Senate Of Virgins.
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
RICHMOND. March 10. 1889.
Yesterday, the Southwestern Rail Road Bill came
up for consideration. and was debated until half past
2 O'Clock, the hour Of recess. The Afternoon ses-
SION was devoted 10 the considerations bills OF minor
importance. The speakers were Mr.. Peyion. Mr..
Watkins and myself in favor, and Mt. Smith of !. Of
w. IN opposition to IL. Mr.. Peyton fortified his pc.
sitions IN favor of he grandeur, importance and u,,li.
~ OF this great scheme, in whatever aspec, II could
be viewed, by wha, seemed 10 me TO be irresistible
lacts and incontrover.ible arguments. lie was p,-
en''arly '%elieidous in his reply to some of the ante
diluyian toilons Of The very worthy member from
Isle Of Wight. Among other objections to the Road.
M. Smith raked up from the obliylous dust the OPT
mons expressed by Albert ciallatin in 1907, as 10 the
natural course which the trade Of East Tennessee,
nc. &c. must necessarily take, TO wit, down the
streams which flow into, or unite 18th the Mlssissip-
pi,-the Allegheny mountains beng Thea regarded
as an impossible barrier. which, human energy could
not %surmoun,, nor human ingenuity evade. That
was doubtless a very sound opinion in 1907, before
the inventive genius Of Fulton, improving upon the
grand conception Of Ramsey, applied steam to pur-
poses of navigation, and especially before ii was deem
ed possible, by The power Of The same mighty agent,
10 put in motion the cars which now thunder over
our roads, with a speed almost equal to the rapidiiy
Of the eagles flight. Mr.. Peyton remarked that the
gentleman might with equal reriinence cite the OPT
Mons OF Lord Bacon in relation to the science, AS it
was considered in the time Of that great man. Of Al
chymy, for the purpose of disproviDg Sir Humphrey
Days experiments in Chemistry. lie compared
Col. Smith TO one, who, standing in the broad blaze
Of meridian light, swears it is dam. and asks for a can
die to direct his footsteps! A sunbeam said Nh.
p. :" shines upon our path it is pencilled with
light. And they who would tread the onward track
of glory, honor, and renown. has ba, TO follow its lu-
minous guidance"
To day, the House re-considered the bill, chan
ging the lines Of holding elections in this State
and, by adecisive vote, fixed on the fourth Thurs
day in May for the present year, the fourth Thurs
day in April, las at presently hereafter. lprefer The
Count days in April, our old custom, but no direct
vote was reached on that proposition.
The Southwestern Rail Road Bill was again taken
up and it being understood that Gov. Tyler would
speak, there was a larger auditory than usual. Gov.
Us speech was, in my opinion, the sblest tina, he has
delivered this session, though he was indisrosed. and
quite hoarse. For force of argument, as well as
beauty of illustration, il was credltable even TO that
gentleman, whose reputation as an orator was before
co-extensiye with the linits of the Union. His clo-
sing appeal TO the patriotism and publlc spirit of the
members, and his allusion to their illusiions prcde-
cessors in that Hall, were exceedingly beautiful. But
| cannot trust TO my memory to report any portions
Of his remarks, | hope he will himself prepare them
for the press.
Gov. Tyler was followed by Mr.. Goode, Of Meek
%lenburg, in opposition to the bill, & certainly in a most
admirable speech, regarded merely as an oratorical
effort. have rarely listened to a more splendid ex-
tcmporaneous eifusion and all that | regret is that
II was employ ed in what | deem SO bad a cause.
The question, which was upon Mr.. Venable's mo
ton to strike out the second section Of the bill, pro-
vidiDc for The construction oftlat portion Of the Road
from the Tennessee line TO New River, on State ac-
count, was hen taken, and decided in the negative
ayes AZ, noes 90. This, however. is not regarded as
a test question, and therefore not decisive Of the fate OF
the bill. The hour ofrecess having arrived at this
stage of the proceedings. the Chair was vacated. In
the afternoon, the bill was postponed till Monday,
and private bills acted upon.
RICHMOND, March Is, 1889.