Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-05-05
TO MI CONSTITUENTS, AND ESPECIALLY
THOSE In THE NORTHERN SECTION OF
THE COTINTY a->7Es

one Of any feasibility, to be compelled call the At
himself. But as am unwilling to rest under impu-
tatiors of want of fidelity to your interests while
acting as your representative, am forced to make
some explanation of portion Of my official sonduct
which has been misrspresented, from tho fact II
trust) that It has been misunderstood.
learned some time ago, that il was rumored in
Of bera ooa and Iron n
ming and Manufacturing Company" 90 a. to extend
Its operations to Augusta and further to empower il
to construct Railroad, had bcen in some way de-
eated, at the last session of the Legislature by my
fundamentally, or through want Of friendahip on
my part When spoke At Mt. Scion a few wsexs
VIZ to III, Of conduct
reason to believe was not satisfactory to several who
heard me, and who take large interest in the Com
pany. But as l am informed, that am elsewhere
sought to be prejudiced this account, l think
proper to make as brief statement a. possible Of
my conduct 3; for the motives of which, instead of
censure, claim some credit at your hands.
In the outset take occasion to state that it 10 not
true that voted against the bill to amend the char
ter OF the Company at any stage Of the proceedings
nor is it true that sought at any time to embarrass
real cause Of the failure of the bill to become law.
beg leave to say further, that men are ordinarily
actuated by motives, and that it would be difficult
hostility on my part towards this BILL On the con-
trary, it was obvious, that as number Of nv CON
sttuents were interested in its passage, anything
which could legitimately do to favor IT, was likely
to secure their good will. Having made the nsga
tsue statements, will now proceed to state, substsn-
:..ay. the cosrs0 which did pursue ars nv reasoss
therefor.
At very early period Of the session bill 70 amend
the Charter of ''the Coal River and Kanawhs Min
ing and Manufacturing Company" being under con-
sderation, DIR. Patrick, one Of the delegates from
kanawha, and one Of the most experienced members
OF the House, moved to amend the bill by striking out
the words ten dollars in the clause providing for
the value Of the shares and inserting the words
x dollars He assigned as his rcAsQl in substance,
that such schemes were frequentl ibarked In bv
Northern SPECTATORS, that the ttocks were hawked
about through the streets of New York and other
Northern cities, that men Of very limited meanjE rs
frequently induced, where the value Of the res
was small to take share two with the hog neld
out to them Of large profits that the schemes fire.
auently proved bubbles and burst leaving the poor
State, and doing injury to her mineral resources
That where men intended, in good faith, to invest
their capital in such enterprises it could be matter
of NO concern whether the shares were ton or mr.
dollars. He hoped therefore that the amendment
would be regarded as proper safeguard and allow
ed to prevail. 1t will DO borne in mind that this
amendment was moved to bill in which DR.. Pat
rick's constituents had alocal interest WAS i'm
pressed with his reasons and voted in favor of the
amendment.
At subsequent day, the bill to amend the Char
ter OF the Dora Company came up; and thereupon,
Dr. Patrick moved to amend this bill by striking out
ten, and inserting Jty dollars, as tho value Of the
snares. my colleague Mr. CHRISTIAN, who had been
particularly entrusted with the interests of the Com
pany, arose and said that he was informed that the
company had already proceeded to organize under
tne Cnarter which had beed granted at tho prece-
ding session, that their books had been opened and
many shares subscribed upon the basis of ten dolars
That 1t would put the Company to very considerable
inconvenience it this change were forced upon them,
and therefore hoped thatthe amendment would be 70
ted down. The question upon the amendment was ia
Ken Dy ayes and noes. When my name was called /
rese and stated in substance that at an earv dav of
the session had voted for similar amendment, be-
esing the principle one, but that the res-
sons stated BY my colleague such az 70 satisfy
ne that the case under consideration should be made
an srespt'on, and that accordingly | should vote
against the amendment. The amendment was de-
featcd, Mr. Christian, Mr. koiner and myself all vo-
ting against it, The reason why offered an exps-
nation OF my vote must be obvious, did no. wish
the House to suppose that was disposed to act in
one way with regard to kanawha, and in another
way with regard to Augusta except upon coed res-
son, which was afforded me in Mr., Christians sx-
PLANTATION, who disclosed fact Of which up 10 tha.
time, myself bad no knowledge. thought NV CON
sisency as your representative of even greater value
to you than to myself. So much for this matter in
which, think no candid mind will sec any cause for
COM plant.
Al still later day Of the session, tho Dora bill
came again before the House; and then, Dr. Patrick
moved to amend it, by adding the following proyise
provided that said Company shall not ha Ve author.
ty to construct any railroad or other road through
the lands Of others without their consent or to con-
meet with another railroad without the cousent af
SAID company or companies"
thereupon said to the House, substantially, that
thought this amendment unjust to the Dora Com
as IL construction OF their
proposed read to depend entirely upon the pleasure
OF any single proprietor along its route. That un-
DER TINS proviso anyone might. through caprice
" oosunacy, or desire to levy black mail on the
company prevent the construction of their road al
together That thought could propose an amend.
ment, in lieu of DR.. Patrck's, whchwould reconcile
.e o. the Dora Company with those of the
proprietors, through whose lands the road would
pass. thought that this might be effected BY sui-
ply providing, in addition to the payment of ali prop.
er iand damages. THAT the rates Of charge for the
fuo..
roroad shall at no time exceed the existing rates of
charge upon the Virginia Central or Manassas Gan
tsa, af ! said that believed the railroad would
DC OF advantage to the community through which ID
passed, to the Merchants and Mechanics as well "a
Farmers, and that thought that tho land owners,
whose lands the road would traverse, would be we'll
cohtehted, H. IN addtonto their land damages thew
terms" >N'""D''
My object in making this suggestion was, that the
Company might be enable to construct their road
on fair terms, which thought DR.. Patricks amond-
ment calculated to prevent, and on the other hand
desired to guard the community against the exercise
OF any oppression on the part Of the company by
assuring to them the of the road at moderate
rates Of charge. never doubted that the Comma
ny would be disposed to accommodate the trade and
nson o. shs and felt satisfied hatths
'es the road would afford 1t will thus be seen that
Is sought a to DO my duty both BY the Company and
ps e SoGmuy large felt that was the
representative OF the nhofs people, and should look
to their interests, while at the same time ID was nv
duty to promote by all proper legislation, the egiti
mate interest OF every man, or set of men. In tina
county, and BY these convictions nv conduct. a.
above detailed, was regulated. Instead Of Jiams.
ask credit at your hands, at least on the score Of
But, about the time of this last amendment NJ ~
Patrick and before the bill was pntupon its passage
one OF the members arose and said that the bill Va.
objectionable from the fact that ii embraced more
than one object, since it Incorporated not only MI
ming and Manufacturing Company, but also 4 Rail.
road Company. He reminded the House that the
Constitution provided that "no law shall embrace
more than one object" and moved that the bill bs
re-cominitted to the committee from which il eman
atsd that there might be amendment in this par
tcniar. The House agreed to this motion sepnfata
bills were afterwards reported but the bill providing
ior the railroad was not reached as be put upon
ITS PASSAGE and hence its failure to become law
LOT which, repeat, am not at all responsible The
objection made to the first BILL that it embraced two
objects, and was thus unconstitutional | confess
TOOK me by surprise. l not disposed to minute
blame to any one this account; but in as much "a
had no hand in the drafting of that bill. / am
equally unwilling to be made responsible for any con-
sequences resulting from its frame. / have tins
hastily sought to put myself right before you,
am not disposed to do, at any time, the slightest
injustice TO others, and am naturally unwilling that
yon should, through any Misrepresentation, do inius-
lice 10 me. Very respectfully yours,
JAMES II. SKINNER,