Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-10-29
FROM RICHMOND REPUBLICAN,.
TAUN TON COW r. n ION
PUBLIC MEETING Ar THE EXCHANGE.


In pursuance of publ police, meeting OF the
citizens of RichmondA bed for the purpose OF an
pointing delegates to the Convention to be held at
Staunton, and to propose such other measures as
might be deemed proper-took place in the Hall of
the Exchange, ON Saturday evening, the 18th inst.
On motion, Gen. Lambert, the Mayor of the city
was called to the Chair, and Capt Thomas II
Ellis appointed Secretary
hairman stated that as the objects of the
meeting had been mentioned i'm the public papers.
he presumed they We're fully known and therefore
would not repeat them. 1t had been previously un
derstood that A. Mcfarland, ESQ.,, had PREPARED
and was to have presented to tho meeting appropri
ate remarks and resolutions, but that from indispo
siton he was prevented from attending
Joseph Mayo, Esq, rose, and expressed his deep
regret at the absence of Mr. Mcfarland who had
hitherto always been present on such occasions
While regretting his non attendance so much. he
<Mr. M } should make no apology for occupyjnp a
small portion of the time OF the meeting. II Was
the first time he had ever attended such a meeting
and Inc had expected to see it more crowded it
was to be hoped that this meeting would express
the feelings OF the citizens upon the important point
which was exciting such interest in the State The
people OF the West are moving to a man. access
70 the seaooard they will have, and unless there
be energy OF action part, that access will be
attained through the State OF MARYLAND 1t is our
duty to draw here the resources OF the S:ate-to
make this capital the place of trade If we are
ready TO act, the people of the West are with us
but at the time that people tell u.s. if YOU will
not aid us, we will aid ourselves-we will no, be
taxed one penny To benefit the East while advanta-
ges which might be extended us are thus withheld
1t becomes the citizens of Richmond (said Mr. NJ }
to DC acting-to be doing; talking will not answer
Iney must look TO their own interest in this matter
The property hoders-they who are most interest
ed IN this undertaking-seem to be the least for
ward TO urge 1t on they content TO leave it
WIN the merchants, who are in reality not to such
degree interested. What do you want with
houses and property, when you lose trade2 Mr.
M seriously urged action upon the object for which
the meeting assembled he was not prepared to
open his mind fully this OCCASION but would
merely otter the proposition motion which he first
intended 10 suggest, viz that a committee OF five
be appointed to prepare resolutions expressive of
the sense Of the meeting.
The motion being adopted, the following gentle
men We're appointed said committee: Messrs. Jos.
Mayo, Edwin Robinson Fleming james, Bernard
Peyton, and David Anderson SEN
The committee, having retired for n short time,
returned and reported the following:
ReSotred, That the city of Richmond heartily
antics In the proposition TO hold Il Convention AT
otaunton on the 3Oth inst, for the objects proposed
by the citizens of Bath, in late meeting to wit
the consideration of the proprieiy of extending the
Louisa rail- road to the eastern base Of the Blue
nidge' and the extension of the James River and
kanawha canal to Buchanan or Covinpton
ReSolced, That the Chair appoint twenty four
delegates to represent the city in the proposed Con
yention.
After the adoption of the above resolutions. the
Chair announced the following gentlemen as dele
gates: James Lyons, Fleming James, Thos. III.
Eihs, David Anderson, Jr., Edwin Robinson, b. b.
MINOR, f. Is. Bentley, Joseph Mayo, William C..
Darlington, Richard b. Gooch, VIM F. Richie.
Richard Ii. Ioler, o. p. Baldwin, j. r. Anderson.
II. l.. Kent, j. j. Fry, John NJ Bolts. VIM. S.
lnplett, w. III. Mcfarland, n. Mills, r. b. Som
eTville, VIM. Ii. HaXall, Bernard Peyton, Conway
Robinson.
Mr. Fleming James then rose, and EXPRESSED his
regret at the GOODNESS which he feared he saw man
lfested towards the objects of this meeting 1t
seemed to him that the citizens of Richmond were
pretty nearly dead there was universal apathy
prevailing upon question Of the most vital impor-
lance. We have only to contrast the energy of
baltimore with our own, to clearly our cond-
ton. We have but to look at the report of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company to see al
ready the amount of transportation upon their road
1t is now paying dividend of six per cent. on all
It's capital 1t will probably pay next year ten and
purhaps in year or two fifteen per ct. Mr. J. re-
marked that he had not risen to occupy the floor for
any length OF time, but merely to request T.. Fon-
tame, Esq, the President of the Louisa Railroad
Company-who he understood was present. and
who could no doubt present the meeting with many
interesting re1ectlons-to favor the meeting with
his views.
speaker; he had not the talent TO entertain or in
struct; ne was wholly unused 10 public speaking.
Dut as richmond was supposed to be dcdd, he was
Wiling to do all IN his power to re- animate the
corpse But ne thought this opinion was mistaken ;
no hoped that this not the condition of Rich
mond. Mr.. f. knew not what he could say on the
occasion; whatever was to be done, he thought the
merchants-who seemed to manifest much interest
could do it most effectually. He would allude to
one fact which he had no doubt would take many
by surprise. He would ask, had the expenditure
OF capital by the citizens of Richmond added one
cent OF value to the commercial interests of the
cityi Would one pound Of tobacco less have been
bought or sold, if such capital had not been invest
ed Indeed, so far capital has been concerned
all has been unavailiDg. Ii is not because invest
ments have been injudicous that they have not at
talned any thing but it was the want Of this i'm
ProVement and until this improvement were effect
eG' nothing better might be expected Look (said
Mr. L J. at the charter Of the Louisa road-oranted
ten years ago 1t was not the mere cheapeDinr of
Few miles OF transportation that was then aimed
at II did not propose TO accomplish this alone but
the object YVES TO reach the fertile valley of the
Shenandoah. To accomplish that object required
but small effort In regard to Il want of energy
ne was certain there was some misapprehension ::
there was no question about il. 1t was one of the
greatest plans OF public improvement that had ever
been presented. The great obstacle was sectional
Jeaiousy-there was jcalousy-but it should be A.
voided. There is no affinity, as is surpassed bv
some, between this proposition and the scheme aoi
ated last summer to make communication with
the OhIo.-Ihis is entirely different; it is merely
TO carry out the original design when this road was
projected, OF making communication with the Val
ley. This design cornmends itself to the inteli
gent commercial inhabitants of the city but there
IS one other consideration disconnected from the