Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-05-02
TO THE PREEHOLDERS OF AUGUSTA.

u Oh D6Udlt VI OOuu-
y, to extend the Railroad from its Western termi.
nus at OF near Waynesboro' to Stanton. Our aim
will DO IN the simplest style to lay before you
acts which will enable you to form your opinions
Without prejudice, and to give such a vote as your
'wn interest well as the character and honor of
he County demand.
On the 9Th day of March lS49, the General As
'embly passed the Act entitled can Act to incor-
porate the Blue Ridge Railroad Company, and for
other purposes" a copy Of which will be found APP
pended to this address, marked (A.) This act au-
horizes and requires the Board of Public Works,
under the name of the Blue Ridge Railroad Com
pany, to construct railroad with heavy rail- from
some point at near Blair Parke, in Albemarle, TO
some point at or near Waynesborough, in Augusta,
including the necessary tunnel for railroad thro'
tho Blue Ridge. The sum of 100000 is appro-
priated each year until the work is completed. In
case the Louisa Railroad Company accepts the pro-
visions OF the act within one year, that Company
is to have the use of the mountain section and tun-
mel, and to keep the same in good repair and is to
pay into the Treasury so cents on each passenger,
ten cents on each barrel of flour and ten per cont
on the Company's charge for transportation of all
merchandise and produce carried through the tun-
mel. When the State shall have received, in tolls
or otherwise, payment Of the cost OF the work, the
title to the tunnel is to be vested in the Louisa
Company. The act further provides that the Louisa
Company, or the Blue Ridge Company, should the
Louisa Company refuse to accept the act, may ex
tend the railroad from the Western base-sf the
Mountain TO S,aunton--the State agreeing to take
100000 of the stock, if others than the State will
take 100000. On the 23d ut. the Lousia Com
pay, with great unanimty. accepted the provisions
Of this act. From. Blair Parke to the Western ter
minus of the road at or near Waynesboro', it is a
bout l2 miles. The mountain section and tunnel
will cost from 100000 to 100000. The State.
with unparalleled muniicence, does the uh0le tcork
to the ncighJorhood Of Waynesboro'- the
barrier between Augusta and the markets of the
East and asks no contribution at her hands. To O.
Their portions of the Commonwealth the General
Assembly have said, subscribe two or three -fifths
and we will subscribe the residue but to us, the
most magnificent boon ever conferred on any COM
munity, is given, without conditions to be perform
ed or money to be advanced by us. Yet more: not
content with opening channel through the solid
mountain to give vent TO produce, the State,
in addition, offers 100000 to aid in conveying the
road to the centre oil tho county, provided Augusta
will give $4,000 for the same purpose.
Freeholders of Augusta! how highly favored
have we been How serious the responsibilities of
our position We all feel that it is no trivial mat
ter to the interest well to the pride, the honor
and the fair fame of the County, that right an
swer should be given TO the question, 'Shall zoe do
our part in carrying into effect this noble plan for
our O,cn improvement ?" We are proud to say,
there are not many amongst US who will for such
an object refuse 10 give, when so much has been
given to them. Almost all agree tina. the work
should be done--the question is, how shall it be
done? The sum of 100000 is to be raised, or
made available for the construction of the road to
Stanton. 1t is proposed that the County of Au-
gusta, by vote OF three ifths Of the freeholders,
shall subscribe S20,000-that $50 900 shall be rails
ed by private subscription, and that the remaining
S2O,OOO shall be subscribed by the contractors who
undertake the work. In this way the means to CON-
pete the road be raised without any serious bur
den to either class of contributors.
On the 3lst of March, lS4S, a general act was
passed by the Legislature, copy of which will be
found appended to this address, marked (B.) BY
reference TO this act it will be seen that the ques
tlon may submitted by anorder of the county court
ofany county, 10 the eeholders thereof whether they
will authorize subscription on behalf OF their coun-
ty to work OF internal improvement. The ques-
ton is to be decided by three ihs of those voting
and the amount of the subscription is not to exceed
onethIrd Of the to be subscribed by others than
the State If the people order the subscription, the
County Court is appointed as the agent to carry in
to effect their order. The Court is to make the
subscription in the name of the County and to raise
the means Of paying it by collecting of each free
holder his rateabe share of the subscription. This
IS TO be done by an annual assessment on the lands
Of all, in the towns as well as in the country-the
assessment not to exceed in any year, one fifth
Of the whole amount subscribed. The dividends on
the stock thus taken are to be applied to the dmi
mutton of the land tax of the county, that is to the
use and benefit of the freeholders alone
An act was passed during the recent session of
the General Assembly authorizing the Court to ap-
point some other day than that of the General Elec
ton, TO take the of the voters on the subject
Of subscription. This too is general law, apply
ing to all counties.
BY virtue Of these laws you will be called upon
on Saturday the Goth day of May, to decide the
question-''Shall the county of Augusta, as coun-
ty, subscribe S2O,OOO to aid in constructing the
railroad from some point at or near Waynesboro'
to Staunton ?"
We will first consider some Of the objections urg-
ed against the county subscription.
First-Tbat the powers Of the County Court are
to be increased A very casual glance at the law
wM disclose the fallacy of this objection. The
County Court, matter of convenience is mere
ly made by the Legislature ministerial agent to
carry into effect the will of the people, and lay
claim 70 greater increase of power than the clerk
who enters the order the sheriff who collects the
subscription. The people decide the matter for
themselves-the County Court, Clerk and Sheriff
are mere convenient agents to give effect to their
will.
Second-The principle is objected to. II is said
TO be unconstitutional and unjust. Certainly there
is nothing in the Constitution which expressly pro-
hbits what is proposed to be done-neither is there
any thing in it which by implication can be tortur-
cd into denial Of the power in the General Assem-
bly, to pass act like that we are discussing. Who
questions the constutonality of the law aut'ioriz-
ing the County Court, ,otI,o,d vote of the people,
TO assess tax the people to make common roads
There is no limit to this power now, except the
discretion of the County Court. Who doubts the
consti;utiOnality of the law authorizing the over
of the poor to the poor rates of the
laws authorizing the school commissioners of Fred
erck, Jefferson Norfolk and other counties, to as
eess levies on ttheables and taxes on property TO
aupport The district free schools I'm none oP these