Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-06-12

/, great State of New York and elsewhere
have recently held meeting to devise th
ways and means necessary to accomplis
their objects. Their plan Of operations
set forth in this resolution, which will in
form the people of the mode by which
Legislation in Congress is sought TO be con
trolled.
"Resolrcd, That this company will co
operate with the committee appointed b.
the meeting of railroad companies, held il
the city Of New York, on the 25Ih day o
February. 1854, consisting Of Samuel +
Vinton, Noah S. Wilson, John Stryker
George Ashmun and Henry V. Poor, il
their efforts 60 obtain remission and re-
peal of the duty on railroad iron hereto
fore or to be imported, or suspension fol
limited time of said duty and that the
president remit said committee one hun.
dred dollars; and that, in the event o: q
repeal or suspension Of the existing duty
Or of remission Of tue duty ON IRON
heretofore imported, this company hereby
obligates itself to pay to said committee,
or its treasurer, on demand, in cash, five
per cent upon the amount of duty SO re-
mitted, and also five per cent on the
amount saved TO the company by said re-
peal or suspension OH such iron as the
company shall contract Cor prior to July
LIST, 1856, and that certified copy 0:
this resolution be forthwith forwarded to
said committee"
This committee are 70 receive from each
railroad company in the United States the
sum of one hundred dollars, for the pur-
pose Of enabling them to meet such obi
cations as they may incur. and such ex-
penditures as they may make, in getting
Congress to remit the duty on railroad
iron. Loud laughter. In entering up
OH the discharge Of their important duties
this committee have issued circular to
all the railroad companies in the United
States, informing them of their appoint
ment. and requesting immediate action.
las the session of Congress is alread. far
advanced" do not design now to read
the circular, but will embody it in my
printed speech. desire to have members
posted up, to let them know who those
gentry are, so that. when they shall come
here aud take members by the elbow they
may know that they are the disinterested
o. Azariah Body and his
railroad friends.
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia. Read the
circular. Let us hear it.
MIR. Letcher. Well, l will read it,
Here it is:
New YORK, March 21, 1854.
"Sir: In entering upon the duties, agree
ably to appointment of the meeting of
railroad companies held in this city, the
proceedings of which were duly forward
ed to your address, we find necessary, in
the outset of our proceedings. to correspond
with all the railroad companies of the
United States supposed to be interested,
for the purpose Of obtaining accurate and
reliable information, and of ascertaining
whether they cooperate with US, in order
that we may know to what extent we
may incur obligations and make expendi-
lures in furtherance Of our objects.
ITO make provisions for the expenses
unavoidably incident to the prosecution
Of the measure, il was agreed at the meet
ing that each company coming into the
arrangement should advance for this pur-
pose the sum Of one hundred dollars; and
that in case Of success. there should be
paid by each company to the committee,
Tor the further expenses that may be incur.
red, and as a compensation for their time
and services, iin addition to the above adj
vance, five per cent. Oh the amount Of
duty RENTED, or which may be saved to
such company, on railroad iron heretofore
imported BY it, or which it may import or
contract prior TO July l, 1855. BY the pas
sage of the law or laws repeating, remit
ting, or suspending for limited time, the
duty an cacc. .lcn.'
MIR. Stephens. Who signed that?
MIR. Letcher. Samuel f. Vinton, one
Of your old assoc iates here in Congress,
laughter and George Ashmun, another
of them.
Well, now, Mr.. Chairman, this COM
mittec are to get railroad companies re-
iieyed from the duty on railroad iron
upon the condition that those companies
are to pay them duty considerably less,
than they are bound to pay to the govern
ment. Ii the operation shall De success
full, the five per cent. which these indi-
viduals are to receive, will, if am correct
/, Informed, give these five gentlemen,
something betweea five hundred thousand
and million aud half of dollars, depen-
dent upon the fact. whether the duties
shall be remitted or suspended from the
LIST of July, 1852, or fro~ "a later date.
Mr.. Stephens. Who signed that be-
sides Viuton and Ashmun:
Mr.. Letcher. Here are their Names =
S E, Vinton, Noah l.. Wilson, John Stry-
ker Geo. Ashmun, and II. V. Poor.
A Member. Did Mr.. Body sign it !?
Mr.. Letcher. Azariah Body did not
sign it. He appointed these men. Thai
was his business as the chairman Of the
meeting.
Well, sir, this circular goes on:
eff sufficient number of companies
should not be found to come into the
measure to make i, expedient, i'll the opin-
ion of the committee. for them to under
take to carry it into effect, then the hun
dred dollars advanced to be returned by
them to such companies as shall have paid
the same.
ave enclose copy of the resolution
which we send all the railroad companies
in this interest, with the request that i
be offered FOR consideration to your board
or other proper authority, at your earlies
convenience, and that we be advised o
the result. and, if adopted, that we b.
furnished with certified copy OF thu