Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-09-27
From the UytLeriNe Republican
II VIRGINIA y TENNESSEE RAILROAD CON,
tENTIDE

vENTIoN.
The Convention met in the Methodist l.. Church at II A..
VI. on the llth. For official proceedings, See another por-
,iun oil THIS paper. 4 duty. however, 10 enter upon paihcC.
lars, drvolves on US. We must speak Of the speakeIs-te tell
Of lie hearers, and their polite, and waiting ana anxious
att"ntiun-we must speak OF what was 1'io' ho" !. WIS
told-.and we must tell Of what was learned.
Mr.. Garnett, the principal Engineer OF Tins great improve,
ment-the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad INST addressed
The convention. He CAV a statement OF the present condI-
ton Of the work, OF the rapid progress mat haa oeen mace
upon the first sixty miles west oil Lynchburg, reaching 70
Salem, in Roanoke. More than half finished. WIN be iIly
graded, except The tunnel at the Town OF L%ynchbnrg, by the
25th OF December next. He stated that the company desir-
ed to put eighty miles more under contract this iaii' that me
road might progress steadily and rapidly to completion. But
10 do this, additional individual subscriptions were indlspen-
sable and must be had. He asked Tor sZUU ,UUu on Inc part
of individuals; this he said would bring the work 10 the
heart OF Wythe indeed ensure us triumphant compile
ton 10 the Tennessee line. He gave IN q PLAIN, modest,
yet strong common sense way, many facts and examples ol
the profits of railway investments 10 stockholders; aud us 10
The immense effect OF such roads upon the worth and value
o. lands and products along and adjacent 10 the line VI way
of such Improvement. He demonstrated as q problem IN
Euclid, the value 10 our farmers and lanoiiolders ana 10 IL VI
us. of every pursuit, calling and occupation in Southwes-
tern Virginia; and he proved beyond controversy mat ms
line of road in all time 10 come, from us direclness, must
command the lions share of travel and freight from the Mis-
sisslppi 10 Boston. But we don't care about going TO Bos-
ton-we should say The port OF Norfolk Tor these-lhere Is
the laTbor and there Is the point, where the VAST commerce
Of The North American continent must come and settle.
The next speaker that came before the Convention, was
Mr.. Flournoy OF Farmyille, Prince Edward. He pictured
in glowing culors the future wealth and prospects OF virgil
mia under the benign influence OF this greatest OF all her pro-
jcctcd improvements. He dwelt, too, upon It's uniting US
Of the mountains with them Of the %south-slde OF the James;
the country vi the race horse, and Of men oil eloquence.-
He promised that they would be with US, and would cheer
us-ihat they would take up our road at Lynchburg, ana
bear il EDWARDS in the direction of the ocean. 9lr. Flouinoy $
effort was instructive and eloquent.
Mr.. T.. b. Deane, Jr, Of LynchbuEg, foilc wed Mr.. Flour
nov. Mr.. Deane is u man of facts and figures; a man that
can show TO the capitalist where he can gather 10 himself o
rich, i real teat, from which he can draw, with nnerrlng GER
tainty, his per cent; that, too, without risk or loss. And he
proved that here was the stock, and this the investment, for
all time TO coine-'hat here was real es.a.s-esate ina,
could neither be burnt, nor die, nor be stolen, and from
which might be stored in the form Of interest, not mliS, good
milk, bi cream, cream almost butter.
Mr.. Deane's speech closed the days discussion. But be-
fore the convention adjourned the enterprising, energetic
and patriotic gentleman, who presided: Mr.. John NJ. Preston,
of Abingdon, offered for the consideration OF members and
hearers, a plan for increasing subscriptions. lie proposed
that il be tried how many present will be one OF Ten or fve
10 take fifty shares each. How many forty, and so on, down
to one share. He appealed earnestly TO al. TO consult within
themselves, and to consider of this enterprise ana us results;
10 look over the whole subjec, of taking stock, rel and
calnly-for, said he, Il consider such investment the best
estate | can leave my children" Such an opinion. coming
from such a inancier az Nj. Preston is known 10 be, should
demand the especial attention ind deep thought OF all our
money men. But this was not mere say 50 OF Mr.. Preston;
for. the next day, he proved his words by his acts. Al
though he had heretofore taken Ten thousand dollars of stock,
he on the 18th, added TO his subscription ) thousand more.
On the 18th, the convention met at 10 o'clock, A, NJ and
in fine spirits. The frs; person who demanded the ear Of
the people, was Mr.. Brooke, OF Richmond. He however
did not rise TO make a general speech-his object was an
explanation; he wished 10 place the citizens OF Richmond
riaht as to their failure hitherto 10 take part IN the ourthen
OF the construction of this road. He wished 10 announce
her sentiments and wishes as 10 the success Of this improve
ment-and 10 assure the people OF the Southwest, that she
although much involved for other improvements, would
take stock in this Improvement. Mr.. b. stated that although
neither he nor his colleagues were authorized officially 10
pledge Richmond for any sum, yet that after consultation
with the gentlemen from Richmond, now here with him a.
delegates from that city, they ventured to say that for every
dollar. that they Of The Southwest would put down, Rich.
mond would match it. During the evening session of THU
day, Mr.. Crump, of Richmond, addressed the Convention ir
a beautiful and chaste speech. In its progress he renewed
the promise of his colleague, Mr.. Brooke. He pointed &c
the Cspes Of Virginia, and invited US there. He declared