Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-01-30

r. tne Honorable. the legislature of Vireinia.

CO Nj MI U T. A Il U -
To the Honorable, the Legislature IF Virsinia.
The undersigned freehulders Of the County Of
Augusta would respectfully represent that in the
month of MAY last, pursuant 10 the provisions of an
Ac, passed by your Houurable body on The 3lst Of
March. lS4S, THE SENSE OF THE FREEHoLDERs
OF SAID County WAS TAKEN on The QUESTION
WHETHER The County Court should on behalf Of
the people of said County, subscribe to the stock Of
the Louisa Railroad Company the sum Of $40 600,
tina, being onethird part of The whole subscription
authorized to be subscribed for by individuals. when
i, sppeared BY The return poll book that there was
for The subscription, 900 votes and against il gag
votes They would further represent that The Coun-
~ Court subsequently Gall the Justices icing sum-
noned for the purpose) subscribed 10 the saT stock
the said sum of $40 900 by unanimous vote.
Your petitioners would further represent that the
passage Of said Railroad through their County and
its speedy COMPLETION ,rith heary raifare deem
ed matters vitality affecting the best Interests OF SAID
Cnuntv, and as The sum already subscribed is IN
sufficient for the purpose Of completing the SAID
RAILROAD ,cith heacy rail, and n" mode can be de-
vsed for raising the balance of the said stock want
ing, more equitable than by County TAXATION on
the principles Of the former bills
Your petitioner. would pray that an ACT may
pass Your Honowqbtc body AUTHORIZING THE
CouNrY COURT of Augusta (all The Justices being
first duly summoned for Thai purpose.) TO subscribe
TO The RaiIruad Company for an amount Of stock not
exceeding $40 900 in the same manner and on the
same terms and conditions us ATTENDED, THE SUB
scRIprIoN already made on the part Of the people
Of Augusta County.
And Your Petitioners, will ever pray, &C.
The above pelilion--saving the emphasis, ndIca-
ted with iallcs-we are It'd has b. in circulation
FIR several weeks, and has received many signatures
10 certain paris Of the county, while IN tile South
and Eastern portions, a; least, it is only now first
seen. For The information of the freeh"lders ofthe
entire county, IN whom It is designed 10 operate.
we take The liberty 10 request lis publication, provi-
ded we do moi thereby Violate the authors copyright
| As freehoders, we alsu request history Of the
petition, and an explanation of ts meaning. We
cDness inability to comprehend lis precise object
as intended to be expressed in the second paragraph.
Is il to effect "the passage Of said Railroad through
the county, and lis speedy completion ~ with
road with heavy raiI"2 And if the latter, is il
to be completed with heavy rail through the coun-
ty unly, Or through the whole length of "sad Rail-
road"2 When SO much Of their money is invulv-
ed, it is impor,anl-and surely easy-to state dis
tinclly to all concerned, its intended application.
Must Of US give the author due credit fur perspcu
iiy in The pr yer of the petiun-hoding IL TO pray
that the Legislature may pass an Act which VIII
Of itsrf "authorise the county court 10 subscribe"
&C., but we learn that some have signed under The
impression iha, it contains the same proposition as
the Act of l64S-which "authurized rote Of the
eeholdes 10 be taken on the question, ,rhether the
county court should subscribe" &c.-a Proposition
which, 10 our minds, seems as essentially different
frum our construction the plain words OF The pray
er. as if on The one hand we would "aulhurze"
servant to ask our ne,ghJor's eaoe to apply his pro-
perry 10 our o,cn use--or, on the other hand would
authorize "said" servant 10 appropriate The property
without asking leave or license Of the owner
If our comprehension be duller than we fear il is,
still we ,hnk the above petition must al least be adj
United ..Sad for ambiguity" lis author has no ex
cuse for not making il plain to the meanesl capacl-
~ that might be called TO sign it.
Waving now the question of The right OF the
Legislature 10 pass an act Imposing local county
tax-if question-we inquire as 10 the justice, IN
other respects, Of this petition.
Many of us when sliciied 10 vnte for the forme:
,on, sxpr"ssy assured that there would not
he another such tax mpOsed and we only CONSENT
ed 10 thai vote when we were satisfied II was not
TO be used as precedent for further similar taxa
tion The above petition is in lie very teeth Of all
this
Again, as to the manner ofgetting up This meas
ure. The former one was lr Galmed from the
house top. 1t was publicly overwhelmingly The
press, and on The acknowledgement the County.
But this one, although of Identical importance, had
silent BIRTH was living cut uf sight until. itgrew
to an alarming size before even lis existence was
suspected by many who were 10 be lis subjects
Why does this one love darkness rather than ght2
Why this seeming secrecy on such important pub
lie matters? There are no less Than three public
papers in the County yet not syllable has been
printed in its favor-save in the scupe Of the job
office. There are numbers of voluble men-young
ard old-ever ready 10 serve their country by adj
vucating public measures; yet. thus far, never
word has been uttered for this, from any rostrnm.-
II profpsses TO he "a matter vitality affecting The
best interest of the Couniy"-and yet its author
hesilales to avow its existence. We have hitherto
properly had reans Of praise for efforts which Sc
cured MS The Railway; yet this one alone-prt-
mas inter pares-goes lurking through the land
"unhonored and unsung."
Who is the author2 Let him stand forth con.
fessed-explain clearly his patriotic motives and
measures and none will be slow 10 give honor where
honor is due But IF the petition be couched in its
present ambiguity Intentional y-ifit be as some
suspect trick TO lax the Freehoders Of the Coun
ly without their full consPn-then let il be exps
ed by any honest man who knows its history, and
consigned to the execraon il merits.
SOUTHEAST
.Nsssrs Editoy:-The following is copy Der.