Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-11-26
For The EnQhlTeT
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF The
OIIISa RAILROAD COMPANY.

In
Having seen il announced that The Board o.
Public Works have refused 10 subscribe to Inc
stock OF The Company, you have right, a;
doubtless you feel great solciude, 10 kho"
something more about This unprecedented deci
sion OF that body
The Act OF Assembly is in the following
words-viZ:
AN Act providing for the extension OF Inc Lou
isa Railroad to the Eastern base OF The Blue
Ridse-Passed March 9Th. lS47. -,
/. Be il enacted by the General Assembly
Tha, The capital stock OF the Louisa Railroad
Company be, and The same is hereby, aulnor
lied 10 be increased the sum OF two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars for the purpose o
extending their road TO The Eastern base oil !h'
Blue Ridge, including the purchase oil the ne
cessary machinery therefor, al such point as !
suitable for accommodating the trade cl The val
lev of Virginia. having regard not only TO I'M
facility and economy OF approaching the noun
tain. but also OF crossing il and 10 lis ultimate
extension Westward.
2. Be ID further enacted, That when twenty
thousand dollars shall have been subscribed BY
others than the Commonwealth, and pam or Sc
cured 10 he paid, the Board OF Putac WORKS
shall subscribe The sum OF thirty thousand dol
lars. and shall continue 10 subscribe in he same
proportion whenever any subscriptions by OH
ers Than The Commonwealth are paid or secured
TO be paid, until the whole sum authorized oy
this ac is subscribed.
3. Be il further enacted, That The subscription
hereby authorized 10 be made By the Board Of
Public Works shall be paid as provided for IN
the second section of the act, entitled IAN Act to
authorize subscription on behalf OF The Stale IL
the stock OF The Louisa Railroad Company
passed February twenty-filh, eighteen hundred
and thirty seven.
a BE IL further euQctsd That not more thar
half The sum authorized by Ibis act 10 be sub
scribcd BY The Board of Public Works shall %
called for during the first year.
5. This Act shall be in force from lis passage
The Board OF Public Works declared, as you
have seen from resolution published in The
public papers, that they entertained doubts whe
lher they could subscribe except to one particular
route, and The opinion Of The Attorney Genera
was called Tor. In obedience 10 The call, that oil
fcer gave an opinion, after laborious Inpesilga
ton OF the question, sustaining and confirming
The right, which The company think is SO mani
lesliy conferred BY The Act, Of selecting the route
having regard to the several considerations ex'
pressed.
was apprized that The Board would require
bond and security 10 secure the payment OF the
private subscription. made application Tor The
States subscription, presenting an amount OF
bonds exceeding lhiry thousand dollars, The ex,
cution Of which was attes'cd by a sworn witness
in every case; and The security also swearing y :
fore Justice OF The Peace 10 his ability 10 pay
the amount for which he was bound, alter The
payment OF his debts. To this application &c
ceived written answer that Tie subscription
would not be made. addressed letter 10 The
Board informing them that il The subscription
was declined because the security fol- The payment
Of the private stock was deemed insufficient,
such detect would be corrected; and received an
answer, ha. they declined solely in consequence
u the proceedings al The meeting oil the StocRhod-
ers, al which they adopted The route TO kockilsh
Gap; and that the mater would be referred 10 ,he
Legislature Ii il shall be gratifying 10 the LIE.
gislative body just about TO assemble, 10 be called
on 10 revise the acts OF their predecessors, OF which
think there is very great doubl,) il seems 10 me
moi very respectful 10 The body which enacted the
law 10 refuse to execute il, especially il IT re-
CURES a stretch of power 10 do So
| NAV not understand the full extent OF the
constitutional powers oil The Board: have not,
however, supposed that they were coordinate
WITH or rather superior 10, those OF The Legs
laIure. II they can require ons revision OF 4
law they can a second, third, and so on-thus
efTec,ualIy preventing The will Of the Legislature
being carried into effect. do not charge these
gentlemen with such a desien;-but if they can
righifuly exercise such power, that would BE-
The natural result.
In conclusion, will remark 10 the Stockhold-
ers the Board feels perfect confidence, that
though We labor under The disadvantage OF hav,
ing Richmond arrayed against Us, The laws Will
afford the same protection 10 their rights which
they do 10 any other citizens; and that The Board
OF Directors, 10 whom they have entrusted the
guardianship of their interests, will no, surren'
der them. L. FONTAlNE, President.
November Goth, lS47.