Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-26


proposing to transfer the power oil appoin'u,,en.
from the Board of Public Works 10 me SPEAKERS
! of the Senate and Of The House Of Delegates; 70
augment The number OF citizens 10 inc cot,ilnls-
sion from two 10 nine to be selected as equans 40
! practicable from The four grand divisions oil 'he
State, and to authorize the Commissioners "
choose an engineer 10 aid them 10 lhe lnVesllSa.ion
the substitute as well as the orlsinal iesou.ion
requiring that the commissioners snourA - ,,a
! The Engineer should not have been heretofore con-
nec.ed with The Company or with The improve
ment Of James River.
Mr.. Cox offered an amendment, to the amend;
ment, which was voted down by ayes ana noes,
which amendment and The exact s'a!e ol ,ne Sote
upon il, will be seen in the report OF ule Proceea
ings. MIR. Caperton's amendment was 'lie"
changed by several minor amendments: .he PIin-
cipal of which reduced the NUMBER VI Go.h .h
sioners from nine 10 four, ana fequIteo 'nal ,:.,
should not be taken from Inc county y. u
In a discussion which took place upon Inc meri's
| of the amendment as amended, il was ad30caleo
with great zeal and force by Mr.. StanaIa, inc
chairman of the Joint committee oil nvesliSa'io,h
| which had inst made unanimous and 1aVorapie
report upon the affairs of the company. MIR. sian
| ard amono various other remarks, stated, .nat
the investigation which had just been finished by
the Joint committee ofthe TWO houses OF inc Legs
lature, was full, fair, and impar'ia5 lhat nc
would youch and hold himself responsioic 'ol 'iie
truth and accuracy Of every statement maui ~
the report; that various persons noVfious ~, uea
| emily 10 The company, had been called before
the ,oint committee and allowed the utmost lali-
tude in making objections 10 the agency and ao
ministration Of the company; that The president
OF the company was alone heard, las he haa
right in common Justice and fairness 10 be heara)
in reply to The charges and complaints MADE
against himselfas the presiding officer and against
the management of himself aud the other alree
tors of the company; that after the TWO eiapoid'e
investigations by Joint committees oil the TWO
houses which had already taken place, The one
two wears ago, and The Other during the present
session, both terminating iavoFaoly ana ~
nonorably to the company, he (Mr. Stanard) ana
the other friends OF the amendment could mol
perceive the necessity or proprety OF tnld IN
yesligation upon this subject; nevertheless, as
some gentlemen seemed 10 desire further enquiry,
himself and the other advocates OF The amend
menl would not only not oppose, but would cheer-
fully accord and support the measure lhat 'hey
sough, BY the amendment, mol TO defea uhe nam
object Of additional enquiry, hul in reality 10 al
vance and secure it BY proposing TO transfer Inc
mower Of appointing The Commissioners from
The Board of Public Works, two OF the members
of which were understood, and confidently be-
ieyed u be hostile 10 The Company, 10 the Speakers
of The Two Houses of Assembly, whose Impair
TALLY none could justly arraign.-Mr WOOL
folk among other remarks insisted that an ap-
pointmcnt of Commissioners by the Board OF
Public Works, as proposed by The original
resolution, was better calculated 10 ensure an
impartial investigation than an appointment
by the two Speakers, one of whom was
known. Che sadly TO be friendly 10 the
~ otlor bod
Der of the first Committee Of Investigation; that
commission appointed by the two Speakers, in
his Judgment would stiflc fair enquiry, and
that report from such body would not satisfy
his mind, or that OF the public; that it was fit and
proper that such an investigation should be COM
mitted TO the enemies Of The company, and, that
the President and Directors OF the company, and
their friends, instead OF opposing ought to invite
and to court an investigation by committee or
commission, consisting OF their most decided op-
ponents and inveterate foes.-Mr. Galaher re-
piled to Mr.. Voolfolk, and, among other re-
marks, stated, as his opinion, that no commission
would be satisfactory 10 the opponents of the
company, which was not constituted so as 10 en-
sure d condemnation, and that they would perse-
we're in opposition until they procured an adver-
sary report and then they would be content Mr..
Stanard also replied, and Indignantly protested
against the unfairness and injustice OF appointing
enemies to Judge The company, which he said
was like committing the lamb 10 the tender mer-
cies of the wolf.
The question was taken by ayes and noes, and
the amendment was adopted BY large majority,
as will be seen by reference 10 The record OF the
proceedings. Thereupon, Mr.. Voolfolk moved
The indefinite postponement Of the resolution and
The substitute If this motion had been supported
bv the friends of The Company, and those deem
ing no further enquiry necessary it is believed
that there would have been two TO one, if not
three 10 one for the postponement But The mo-
ton was opposed by MIR. Stanard and these VINO
acted with him. and IN consequence of their cx
eriions ii was rejected BY large majority OF the
Senate; and the amendment being adopted, was
forthwith communicated to the House Of Dele
gates. After amendments offered, and much dis
cussion upon the subject in the lower House, in
the course Of which the oenate's amendment was
sustained by the friends OF the Company and
those who acted with them upon the same grounds
which had been taken in its favor in ,ha, body.
it was Indefinitely postponed at the instance of
the original mover of the resolution. II IS re.
presented that this last and final motion was sus
tanned on The part OF The mover by the allegation
in substance that it would be needless to send the
subject back TO the Senate, as the friends of the
Company in that body would unite in crushing
an impartial and fair enquiry into The merits OF
the character and conduct of the Company.
Any such impula!ion, whether proceeding from
this or any other quarter, is proved by the pre-
ceding statement of the proceedings OF the Sc
nate, 10 have had no Just foundation whatsoever,
and TO have originated, doubtless, from gross
misconceplion of the motives and conduct of The
advocates of The Senate's amendment