Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-10-03
Right of Nyay Convention.

Tor the following spirited sketch OF the proceedings Of the
Convention recently held at Weston. ia Lewis eonoy, in
reference to which the notes Of preparation have been go
long and 80 loudly sounding. IL seems to have been much
less NUMERICALLY attended from tho adjacent counties than
had been anticipated: while is proceedings evinee a wan,
Of harmony, resulting from the performance OF local
over general interests. which. were public opinion elsewhere
favorable to the object contemplated, wosld neverthe-
less inevitably defeat the application for the right OF way"
to the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company. which. II
seems. they are determined to renew at the next session Of
the Legislature Of Virginia.
One OF the " Lions" advertised TO be exhibited on the
occasion. for the purpose Of :" drawing a house" was no,
present. We refer to Col. Richard NJ. Johnson. Another,
however. whom VIC were surprised TO hear OF, in an later.
nal Improvement Convention at all, seeing that he halls
from a section OF this State almost uniformly hostile TO
work. Of that ehsractsr.-we mean the Hon. George c.
DromgoOle.-was present. and addressed the Convention
stRreat length. Whether his appearance there was acct
dental. or on business, or whether he was induced TO cult
vate tho acquaintance OF the people OF that region by the
approaching election Of L. 5. Senator. to wnich high sta
ton be is understood to aspire, and to which his fine taieats
arc 80 eminentiy adapted, will Of course be a theme OF
speculation to the curious in such matters
FukxoSr, Marion County, Va, Sept. %, lsl6.
To the E6iiOrs Of tkc Wkx:
Gendemen-The Railroad Convention. which Assem-.
hed az Weston, in Lewis county, on lsst Friday, the 25th
endcaVcS 70 give you some conception Of its labors. The
numSet Of Persons IN actual attendance, 80 far as could be
aseertAined. was as follows: 500 from Lewis. IS from
HARRISON, 50 from Wood. > tron Barbour, ! from Gilmor,
l iron Pocahoutas. l from DOSdridge, : from Taylor. l
from hanawhA, I from BrsIton, ? from Randolph, Q rom
Ritehie, l irom Fsye;ie, and , IRON Nicholas Two gen.
uemen, one from Marion, Mr.. BoggessO aud one from
Preston, MIR. RieeJ who merely attended the Convention
from motives OF curiosity. were invited 10 seats in the
Convention, and appointed Vice Prestenss, but deehaet
TO act
The Convention was temporarily organized BY the sP-
pointment OF Col. McNhorter Of Lewis, a. President pro
tenn. and Col. Kemp OF the same county, IS Seeretsry.-
a. -. -,Fs. 81 a.Wo, NJ Renweff e eUf
eha.rman) YVES appointed to report permanent officers icr
the Convention. The Committee reported Col. Joseph
Johnson OF Harrison, President; one Vice President irom
each county represented IN the Convenient ana MesSrs-
jackson. McCreary Of Wood. Owen OF Lewis, and SOM
crvile of Harrison. Secretaries -,
his thanks, for the honor conferred on him, in very hand
some style.
ON motion OF Mr.. Lee Of Harrison, all persons friendly
to the objects OF the Convention were invited TO partei-
pate; and, by u separate motion from the same gentleman,
the rules OF the House OF Delegates, az far as applicable,
On motion Of Mr.. Williams Of Lewis, a committee or
five was appointed TO report the number OF delegates from
each county.
ON motion Of Mr.. Lee Of Harrison, n committee OF
thirteen was appointed to report a preamble and resolutions.
Mr.. MeWhorter OF Lewis moved to amend, so Is TO sP-
point one from each county; aud the amendment was car
RED. But, after some conversation between MIR. Lee aud
MIR. McWhorter, the latter moved a reconsideration OF the
vote. Carried.
The original resolution then passed. and the Committee
Of thirteen, without reference 10 locality, were appointed.
4 he reason oil lm- FNCOuslutIaAoA VIII DC lNAIu III inc
fact that the counties iniere sted IN the Great hGnstrha
route would not have given their vote for one Of the reSc-
luuons proposed by the Committee, that conhring the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 10 the mouth OF the Little
Kanawha river. They went with Judge Duncan. for an
unrestricted night Of way, along the whole border OF the
State, upon the Ohio nver, and entered the Convention
under the impression that stand would be taken. This
we shall see in good time. After the appointment of the
Committee above referred TO, the Convention took a recess
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Committee appointed TO ascertain and report the
number of delegates in attendance, reported. ! have no
motive IN deeeiyIng, when declare the estimate which they
made, as made for effect. Not half the persons they claim.
ed were there; though, by means Of the lists OF the dele
gates originally appointed, but not in attendance, they will
swell the number 10 a magnificent quantity. The Con
vention was respectable IN numbers, and that y all. The
estimate, herein given YOU approaches very nearly the
fact.
Mr. Lee, Of Harrison, read the preamble and resolu-
uons reported by the Committee. The preamble is long,
and, as It will soon be printed, | will not attempt an alb
suact of il. The vote was aiken upon IL, and earned
The first resolution declares, that the refusal Of the las,
Legislature 10 grant the privilege 10 the Northwest, u
transporting her products TO market, an act OF injustice
unparalleled in the history Of legislation. The second
resolution expresses 4 hope thai such 4 course will
not be continued, and 4 determination to persevere
uIl success Is obtained. The third resolution agrees 10 pc.
uuOn the Legislature again for the unrestricted right Of
way through Virginia Tor the B. 81 O. X. X. Company from
some point on The Potomac, not lowerd down than the South
Branch, 10 some point on the Ohio, not lower down than
the mouth OF the Ltle hanawha nver. The fourth, ap-
points committees TO draft memorials, obtain signatures to
them, aud to correspond with the friends Of the general night
Of way. The fifth, authorizes the officers 10 transmit the
proceedings TO the Governor, and request them TO be pre-
scented to the Legislature. All the resolutions were pass
ed without opposition except the third. To that the Hon.Ed.
win ). Duncan, Judge OF the Clarksburg Distnct,) stated
he held in he hand an amendment, which, instead OF Civ
ing the B. & O. X. r. Company the night Of way, merely
to the mouth Of the Little Kanawha, would throw open the
whole western border Of The State, and permit them To ter
inmate the road any where within the limits OF the State
on the Ohio river. He stated, moreover, that be would at
the proper time offer tina, amendment The Hon. Geo. c.
DIomgooe, who WIS present, then addressed the Conven-
ton. He went for Legislation which would bene6, the
whole State, and opposed oil enaciments for the benefit OF
| particular localities any where. He spoke Tor an hour and
a half. He was followed by Robert A. Thompson OF IA
nawha, candidate for Congress. After him came Judge
Duncan, in a speech Of great power and ability. He pro
posed his amendment to the third resolution, and supported
It with all tina, talent and ingenuity combined could furnish.
He said every thing that could be said on the subject
After the conclusion Of bis remarks, the further cOnsidera-
ton Of the amendment was postponed until the night ses-
sion. On motion, the Convention adjourned al : o'clock.
NIGHT SESSION.
From every movement which had been made after the
recess Of the Convention, 1t was evident that Judge Dun.
cans amendment would be opposed with the utmost vru.
ience by the Wood and Richie delegations. They were
collected together in crowds, whispering, threatening, and
denounclng IN the most approved style. Immediately after
the Convention met, the amendment 20 the thlrd resolution,
| proposed b. Judge D. was iskCn Up. But before any de.
bate took place, Judge Duncan asked, and obtained leave,
10 withdraw ms amendment, and the resolution passed as
originally reported. Judge Duncan then introduced n Sc
paraie resolution, OF which the following ~ the substance.
Resolved, That this Convention, IN the efforts which they
are making % obtain an extension OF the Baltimore K Ohio
Rail Road through the North Western portion Of toe State,
are otinduenccd BY mere local or selfish cOuHderauons-
that they desire 20 dsyelope the natural resources Of their
cOuntry-tO increase H. trade, end With It % increase IT.
population aud wealth; and although they might prefer 20
prescribe the line Of the route, and he terminus on the Ohio
nyor, they are ready t0forego heir individual preferences
when ~bf0ughtin conflict with other portions OF The West,
and they are therefore willing that The Improvement should
be conducted along any rollo, and terminate at any point
upon the Ohio river, which shall be deemed most adysn-
IagoOus TO The western portion Of the State"
LII. a. ..-.L~u.I ~. Lao -. a-..L -. --.
ingenuity.
Ho was followed by Mf. Stephenson, of Wood, who oppo.
sed it most bitterly. A. the close of he remarks, be noticed
the fact that Mr. Clemens Of Wheeling was present, and
-calicd him her delegate. Mr. Clemens gave 10 reply a
bret expedition Of tho reasons which induced bin, Oh hs
own responsibility, % attend the Convention 90 a pasayc
spectator. Mr. Stephenson responded, expressed himself
satisfied with tho explanation that had been made, with.
drew the imputauou upon Mr. Clemens, and there 10,