Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-11-05
For nc enquirer
LOUISA RAILROAD.

LOUISA RAILROAD.
The Address Of Messrs. Ch7isman, Deneats and
Others
II is painful TO me 10 appear so often before the
public on any occasion-but SO long as | main
tain my present relation 10 the company, | shall
endeavor 10 discharge The duties oil the slalion.-
Without further preface or apology, shall pro-
coed 10 notice the wholesale charge oil 'sFRAUD'
against the stockholders contained in this address,
and the further charge that the pur pose Of carry
ing the road ON any other route than that 10 Pow
ellis Gap was an "afterthongM of recent origin "
founded on vague expression in the law and up
on The bids which were made for the road by The
friends OF The Southern route, and that their town
declared opinions in June, lS47, proved they had
no faith in the construction OF The acl by which
they claimed The right 10 adopt the route recently
selected"
shall indulge in no recriminalion, avoiding
even that asperity Of reply which the most tempe
rate might justify, relying upon most triumph
an, vndcalion of the company by simple ex-
hibilion Of facls-lrustng that an intelligent and
just community will not be induced, by an appeal
10 prejudices against corporations, TO believe the
sweeping charge of "fra I'D without proper proof,
and that they will be able to see that gross injus-
tice may be done sometimes even 10 corporation.
The charge OF fraud az ainst the stockholders
should not have considered necessary 10 be no.
| ticed except for its connection with the attempt
10 deny 10 the company rights secured by law
This attack on the moral character OF this compa-
NY will fall harmless at their feet, and will mere
ly add, that they are not the men to attempt to
screen themselves from the o6ium OF an immoral
act under The pretence that they acted as corpo.
ration.
But The charge that The company did not be-
lieve il had the right Of adopting any other
route but the Northern, and The reference 10 The
Report of The Board OF Directors in June, IS47,
deserves 10 be noticed more fully.
Before notice that charge, | will state that
there is no disposition 10 conceal The fact, that
The company has at former dates proposed spe-
officially TO go 10 Harrsonburg. twas the expe-
rience derived from those unsuccessful efforts
that suggested The necessity OF framing this bill
on different basis from previous ones, and ex-
plains that what these gentlemen call raguc CT
pressions in The bill, was The result Gas is known
10 many members OF The last Legislalure) OF a
labored effort 10 compromise the objections urged
10 particular phraseology. AT The session Of
l81l-2 bill for McAdamized road from Cor.
louisville TO Harrisonburg received only twelve
voIes-(See journal OF that session page, 1876. J
A, The session Of 1856, bill for rail-
road to Powcll's Gap received only thirty-one
votes; and | am firmly persuaded that no bill
coulc have been passed al the last session which
uiu uoh give luc utlUOst ldthuuc IOt ScltClIQn oil
route, and that, too, with reference to The ex.
tension OF the road West of the mountains.
Now, rs TO The charge that the company did no,
believe The bill was intended 10 give choice Of
routes, and that their declared opinions in June
1917, prove il.
lcontess am amazed al this, as these declared
opinions in June 1847, contain repealed dcciarQ.
tions, The re7u yercrse of .ciat these gentlemen infer
Il is true that in lS45, resolutions in favor of go
ing 10 Harrisonburg had been adopted by the com.
pany, and il is ue that in The report OF 1917, hi.
language is found, viz: "At the annual meeting
OF The Stockholders in June, lS45 resolutions were
passed in favor Of extending our road, and in.
slruc,ions given by an unanimous vote TO The Pre-.
sident and Directors TO apply to the General AS
scmbly tor the passage OF law 10 aid in the &C,
complishmento flhe object; and, farther, Law wal
passed in conformity with the resolutions abuv.
referred to-" This language in conformity, &c.
was used without any expectation offs being cfil
cised, hut in all candor and fairness, what did il
mean? Evidently, as The context shows, il meant
| that the law which The Board now presented, wa,
obtained in conformity with instructions "siuer
| IN faror of extending our road" not meaning a
specific extension 10 Harrisonbure, but extension
| on such route as might be selected under the &C
| alluded to Immediately following this refeIenc,
to The act passed "in conformity" and The n por
proceeds, Measures have been taken 10 gel lht
private subscription, and the Board regarding
The pros pect of success very falteriug, have en-
] ployea Engineers to make the surveys neeeyay,