Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-10-20
RAILROAD CONVENTION.
To the Editors Of The Enquirer.


Gentlemen: A communication protesting 10
give sketch oil The Railroad Convention which
assembled a, Weston, in Lewis county, on the
25th ul was published in The "Western Virsi-
mia Standard" Of the Sd October, and in other
kindred prints about the same time. The same
communication, with slight variations, appeared
also in The "Richmond Weekly Wing" of the same
date, introduced by the Editors OF that paper with
considerable flourish OF lrumpeis, and with evil
dent satisfaction al The account given OF the in.
harmonious action oil that body, and with a pre-
dclion of inevitable defeat Of The renewed appl-
cation intended to be made for The right OF way
in consequence of that want oil harmony Why
II is that the Wing entertains feeling Of HOSTILE
~ 10 This scheme OF improvement, believed 10 be
of vital interest TO large portion OF Northwest
ern Virginia, and Of indirect importance 10 the
whole Stale, is hard 10 conceive, unless il be lbe
effects oil delusive hope, that by The failure oil
this scheme, Wheeling, that stronghold OF Wing
gerry is To BE- benefited and built up. Be this as
ii may, il is hoped The prediction Of defeat may
prove to be as false as is the representation 81
facts upon which il is founded. For this spy
from Wheeling, (no one can mistake his identi
W. aclualed by the most selfish and unworthy
motives, (Which The article i'sel be:iays,) blind
ed by prejudice, and wishing 10 councract the
influence which he feared The Convention might
have on the next Legislature has given, in hot
haste, not only an uncandd and false coloring 10
its proceedings, but has descended sill lower, and
has distorted and msrepTesenled facts in the most
slaring and unblushing manner.
And, first, as to The number Of delegates pre-
sent. The committee reported TIA in attend
ance, and gave isl Of the counties represented
with The number vi delegates from each This
CANDID reporter also gives list, and adds: 81
have 10 motive in deceiving when | declare the
estimate which they (hc commtlee) made as
rade for effect. No, halt The persons they claim
ed were there though, by m,ans Of The list OF
delegates originally Apo nted, bur mol in attend
ance, they will swell The number 10 a magnificent
quantity" How he obtained his Information, or
arrived al his conclusions, we are lel TO conjec.
lure He limits the number from Lewis al 500,
Harrison 10 IS; Gilmer 10 3; Braxton 10 4, &c
Now, fecollrcl and can name 81 delegates from
Braxton, and so from Gilmer, who were in at
tendance. The committee reported IS from The
lormer aud SO from the ateI and were really
under, insead Of over, the true number. Lei this
suffice as specimen OF the whole estimate given
in the Wing with such loud professions OF guoc
intention. Ii is understood thai the commit.
lee has already given, or will shortly give The
names OF The delegates from most oil The coun-
lies represented. A report OF the proceedings
oil the Convention has been given 10 The public by
the proper coInmillee, and need mol be repeated
here.
The third resolution adopted is in these words i:
"hcsolred, That we feel satisfied that The Legis.
lature OF 30 1ise and patriotic Stale as Virginia
will mol, when the subject is properly understood,
persist In refusing our reasonable request. Un
der such conviction, We will renew our applca.
ton TO The next Legislature 10 pass an acl 10
charter company 10 construct a railroad from
some point on Ihe Potomac river, above The
mouth Of The South branch thereof, to point on
The Ohio river, not farther Scn,h than the Lille
Kanawha river"
TO this resolution, Judge Duncan of Harrison
observed, that he wished 10 offer an amendment,
which would remove all restrictions as TO the
Western terminus OF The road and throw open 10
the choice OF The company the whole Western bor-
der of the State. He gave hi. reasons for The
amendment and then with great ability proceed
ed to discuss, al length, the general subject of the
right OF way in most luminous, sound and ar.
gumentalive speech; al the conclusion OF which
the Convention adjourned ill 7 oclock-al which
time the Convention again mel, and proceeded
TO vote upon the resolutions. When the third
resolution was read by the Secretary, Judge Dun.
can rose and stated that be wished II 10 he -dopl.
ed in the very terms in which II was read; that he
wished 10 offer what be had intended as an amend.
men, 10 it, as disliuc, and independent resou.
ton.
The third resolution was then unanimously
adopted-and then Judge Duncan presented his
resolution, in terms or in substance as stated hy
the correspondent Of The Wing, and supported il
in short speech. In the course OF his remarks,
he expressed his fears that, unless his resolution
should be adopted, we would be placed in The
same category with Wheeling as 10 seli.hne.,.
He wished The Convention TO show disin,ere..
edness on The subject; and if we could no, have
The benefit of the road, some other portion OF The
State might.