Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-01-05

prelenccS ana SAID lnat tncy couiu os
Convicted of the charge ii tried by any
i Jury OF twelve men of the country" Re
/ luctant as am TO obtrude myself on the
House. L have too much respect for II
members to permit SO grave a charge tc
pass. without some effort to Withdraw my
self and the James River and kanawhs
Company from the unjust condemnation,
if the imputation be undeserred. The
applications made to the Legislature IN
behalf of that company, have been pre-
scented by order of the Stockholders
Since my Connection with the company,
every petition presented has been prepa-
red by me. or under my supervision. and
/ hold myself responsible for the truthful
ness sincerity and candor of every state
ment contained in them and must therefore
bear my full share of any moral delin-
quency involved. Thus situated, my du-
ty to myself and to the Company, leaves
me, in my judgment no alternative but to
ask at the hands of the House of Dele
gates that proper measures be adopted by
which the affairs of the Company gene
rally may be investigated, and especially
that an opportunity may be offered of
vindication against the charge which if
not founded in error. would justly subject
those who may be implicated to the con-
defamation of all honorable men.
l have the honor to be very respectful
~ your obedient servant.
J. Y. MASON.
To the Speaker of the House of Dele
gates.
Mr.. Wallace moved that q committee
of five be appointed TO whom the commu-
nication should be referred. and with
order to make q general investigation in
to the affairs of the James River and Ka-
nawha Company.
Mr.. Lewis said he did not want the is
sues involved in this subject to be diver
ted from the channels they were now Ia
king. The Commonwealth was using
her rightful power over the James River
and Kanawha Company in every thing
that has been done in this hall relative
thereto, and he denied the right of any
one to come here and throw his individu-
al influence in the scales to aid compa-
ny, when there was nothing else to save
it from sinking. He Mr.. Lewis) had
said yesterday what he did not resist the
encroachments of meIcilcss corporation
on the Commonwealth. What he had
said and done was relative to the company,
and not to any individual officer of it,
Mr., Lewis knew perfectly well everything
he had said, and should not shrink from
it.
Mr. Wallace had offered his resolution
that an investigation might be made to
vindicate gentleman for whom he Mr..
Wallace) had very exalted opinion.
Mr.. Miller of Boletourt thought that no
honorable man could hesitate to support
the resolution, if he had heard the char
ges SO unsparingly made yesterday by
the gentleman from Harrison, Mr.. Lew
is against the James River and Kama
wha Company. Mr.. Miller took it for
granted that there was no truth in them,
and that they should be attributed to the
Imagination of the gentleman in the heat
of debate, for there was no Internal Inn
provement Company in the State carried
on more honorably than this one in his
{ Mr.. Miller's) opinion.
Mr.. Lewis did not object to the resolu
ton, or his name being associated with it,
but he did object to the officers of any in
corporated company, over which the State
had control, making themselves individu-
ally responsible. and scape- goats for the
sins of the company.
The resolution was adopted, and the
Speaker appointed committe, consisting
of Messrs. Wallace. Speed, Lewis, Miller
of Botetourt. and Jackson of Doddridge
and Tyler.
Messrs. Speed and Miller having asked
the House. were respectively excused
from serving on said committee. and the
Speaker appointed in their places Messrs.
Goode of Bedford, and Leyburn.
FRIDAY. Dec. "a.
The Senate was not in session to-day
having adjourned over till Tuesday.
HoUsE.-The Speaker Mr.. MARTYR
laid before the House communication
from the Board of Public Works, trans
hitting statement in response to the
resolution adopted by the House on the
9Th inst, relative to the stock subscribed
for, and owned by the State in the James
River and Kanawha Company. which on
motion of Mr.. Lewis was ordered to be
laid upon the table and printed.
The following petitions were presen-
ted:
By Mr.. Jackson of Wood-Of citizens
of the county of Wood for the construc-
ton of a railroad from the town of Viii.
Transport in said county, to the North
western Virginia Railroad
By Mr.. Talbott-Of citizens of the
county of Barbour. praying modifca-
lion OF the law granting licenses for the
sale of intoxicating liquors.
By Mr.. Arnett-Of citizens Of the
county of Marion. for the passage of an
act for the better protection of sheep, BY
imposing a tax on dogs
On motion of Mr. Wellman, to adopt
the following resolution, That a commit