Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-02-11

HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
THURSDAY, Feb. 7, 1851
TAX ON RAILROAD IRON.

TAX ON RAILROAD IRON.
Mr. Lee, of Orange, offered the following reso-
luton:
BE it Resolved by the General Assembly of Nir
gina. That our Senators be instructed, and our
Representatives, in Congress be requested, to vote
for the repeal of all duties railroad iron.
The following statement accompanied the
oluton;
1t requires one hundred tons of iron, weighing
sixty pounds to the yard. to lay one mile of rail-
way. The duty. at present foreign cost is 81,
300 per mile, upon every mile of road hereafter
to be made in Virginia. At present, we have in
the progress of construction 500 miles and
about $50 miles nearly ready for the rails. Up
this $50 miles, which will in all probability, be
completed within the next few years. Virgini a
will pay S665, 200 into the Treasury of'thc Uni
ted States if the duty remains as at present: in
deed ii may be more; because by the provision
OF the present tariff laws the greater as the price
OF iron advances.
This resolution briefly sustained by Mes
srs. Burwell, Deane and Lee Mr.. Newton re.
marked that it involved serious questions relative
to the tariff, and as he apprehended, conhctedt to
some degree with the opinions entertained by a
majority of the House, therefore he did not sup
pose members were ready to vote upon it without
further consideration, and he moved that it be
laid on the table.
Mr.. Burwei, though acquiescing in the motion,
| desired to modify the resolution SO as TO instruct
our senators and request our representatives, in
Congress to vote for such change in the tariff
railroad iron they might deem expedient and
constitutional; but Mr.. Newton declining to with
draw his motion to make the modification, the
resolution was laid on the table.
Mr.. Burwells remarks upon the resolution
were very sensible, He alluded to the sacrifices
Virginia had made for the Union-her gift of the
Northwestern Territory, out of which SO many
tai had g.,
IN return, he argued that it nothing more
than reasonable, now that she was struggling to
make her railroads. that she should be benefited TO
the extent OF releasing the duties railroad iron.
especially as there was plethora in the rreasu.
ry and It became necessary to reduce the reye-
nue.. The Federal Government had donated out
OF the very territory given away by V,re mia
enough land not only to make the Illinois Central
Railroad, but TO make every stakeholder in that
road independent. 1t did seem that the con-
cesson of taking off the duty on railroad iron
might be granted to Virginia. He argued that
the Improvement system involved the question of
the power and the liberty of the Southern States.
that upon H. and it alone, we could rely for the
increase OF our population and our power in the
National representation. The question of the
maintenance OF the system was one of a yitsI
character and every means in our reach should
be employed with this view. The abolition Of the
onty on railroad iron would be material aid in
the prosecution of this vital policy; and he con.
tended that there would NJ NJ sacrifice of princi
pie or independence in endeavoring to procure
its abolition by Congress
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolutions were offered, adopted and appro.
priately referred.
by Mr.. Dickinson, Of Rcbmond: Of amending
the !9ih and SSH section of chapter 81
OF the Code of Virginia, concerning inspec-
tors OF Tobacco. BY Mr.. Mays: OF amending
,he act Incorporating the town of Fincaste. in
the county Of Botetourt- BY Mr.. Bondurant: or
amending the 9th section of the act to incorpor.
ate the Slate River Company, in the count; of
Buckingham. By Mr.. Christian: OF providing