Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1856-04-22

cions were aroused at once. We felt cer-
tain some mischief was brooding. Upon
inquiry, we ascertained that, at the instance
Of Mr.. W, a bill had been introduced in
the Senate to prevent the construction OF any
new railroad through any county having
stock in any other railroad, without the
consent Of majority of the voters of the
county. The object of the author was ap-
parent at once. At glance, we perceived
that it was Intended for no other purpose in
the world than to prevent the construction
Of the Columbus and Hooking Valley road.
although this was carefully concealed, the
avowed object being to protect county sub
scriptions in railroad companies. By exam
ining any county map of Ohio, it will be
perceived that Washington county owns a
little strip or fraction Of land, about two
miles wide, and five miles long, situated in
bend of the Ohio river above Hooking
port. No one can look at it without won
derng why it happens to be attached to
Washington instead of Athens, and we pre-
sumo nobody can tell why yit is About the
centre of this strip is the celebrated Wal
ker's crossing, where il is proposed to build
arailroad bridge which is to connect the Ohio
and Virginia railroads. 1t was first pro-
posed for the Hillsborough road, and more
recently for the Hooking Valley. Should
the river be bridged at that point, the rail
road must necessarily cross tLat narrow
strip of land lying in Washington county.
After running two miles it would enter
Athens county and need not again touch
Washington. Now the citizens living along
the line Of the proposed road, in Washing
ton, as we'll as Athens county, are extreme
ly anxious that it shall be built; the compa-
ny has been organized and is ready to COM
mence the construction Of the road. But
the President Of another railrohd company
imagines that the construction Of this road
would injure the prospects Of his favorite
line, and he determines to stopit, at all haz-
ards. Washington county owns stock in
his line, that stock might be deprecated if
this new railroad is built, this new line has
two miles of its entire length located in
Washington county. Now. it would be a
very easy matter to obtain the votes o. a
ma iority of the people Of the county against
the construction of the new road, by repre-
senting that their stock in the other would
be Deprecated; because SO very few in that
county would be benefited by the new road.
The propriety or justice of the act is quite
another matter For these reasons, and to
defeat this road the law was framed.
Well, it passed the Senate, with but one
dissenting voice-John T. Brazee alone vo-
: ting in the negative. What the Senators
were thinking about is more than we can
say. When it came to the House, and was
read the first time, an effort was made to
suspend the Constitutional rule, for the pur-
pose of cyowding it through Immediately,
: without allowing time for discussion or even
for investigation. AS the bill was drawn,
very few understood its real object. We
rose and explained the nature of the bill,
and the object sought TO be accomplished,
and moved its postponementuntil next win
J ter, for the following reasons /. 1t had
t been suddenly sprung upon the House, with
out single petition from any quarter, eth
:, er for or against the law. 2. 1t was a vile
plot Of one railroad company, to destroy
n another railroad company. 8. The plot
e ters were in the lobby, and had been labor.
!, ing with members to accomplish their object
for several days, while the victims, or those
interested in opposing the bill were totally
ignorant Of the entire scheme, consequent
= ", it was impossible to obtain the facts or
n both sides. s. That if time was given fol
n investigation, members would see the ini
= qulty Of the bill in so strong light tha
they could not support it.
; The House refused to postpone, and they
r also refused to suspend the Constitutions
n rule. Telegraphc dispatches were sent t'
those interested in opposing the bill, and
polemic fight was prepared for. The friends
Il Of the bill became satisfied that it could nev
c err pass the House in the shape it came from
/, the Senate, as it might effect other railroad
o enterprises. 1t became matter of grea
!. doubt whether it could pass in any shape
Then were enacted scenes which, to no
{ vice like ourselfappeared disgraceful. Viii
n son, and his co.workers were admitted in
Il side the bar, and from morning till nigh
were seen lobbying with members. Tn,
e bill was referred to a select committee, ant
changed from a general to local law-it
T. provisions being made applicable only t.
+. Washington and Athens counties Sill it
W fate was doubtful Another bill, as odou
II as this, had just been defeated for want O
=, Constitutional majority. The friends of tn
IL two measures, therefore, must combin
to their strength on each. A motion to re
ID consider the vote by which the first wa
at lost, was made, and that motion laid on tn
,r table until the arrangement could be per
:. fected. Atleast, so it seemed to us. Th
IN sequel showed that both were passed b
gs nearly the same vote But this was not all
I'd Mr. Wilson, with tears in his eyes, spok
m privately to members of his Herculean la
a bors in cndeavoring to build up the Mariett
~ 4 + Al. al. l., I 1