Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-16

they voted II down; and thai IL %bRt "out '.''
House TO understand. msintan that II ID III orael
for me 10 edduce reason. 10 show this House why
the rules should be suspended, and 10 prove tnat is
ia n bill Of on extraordinary ohsrnc'er and ct great
importance and that deserves TO be taken up OUT OF
its order and considered.
fThis Subject was referred to special committee |
thirty DAYS after the Legislature met. We had
oreat deal of valuable testimony submitted to it, and
Ibs DELAY incident the taking Of this testimony ne
cessarily caused it to occupy position low down ID
the calendar | AIN opposed to taking up subjects |
ont If order but in view Of the importance of this !
bill. and the impossiby OF reaching it III the regu'
lar order of business, am IN favor OF taking 1t up
at this stage. In
rousnns for The State and finance bills have always
been in order whenever the House chooses 70 consl-
der them. We think cir, that we can sno" tnal tne
bill will raise revenue, ana very 'o' So eseuue'
and that at a very early period, II We are aiioweu 10
do go We can show If allowed 10 do il, that II is
hardly second in importance to any interest III Tue
State if not first and eventually It VIII De ins n.s,
if We only take charge of il. am satisheu tnat
large number of the members OF this House desre W
copsider this bill, and submit this motion now, be.
causs the House is not disposed to consider other
bills in the thin state Of the House. and IN the absence
of members who are. doubtless, interested IN them.
the oyster district who are DESTROYS 10 have this bill
considered; but that many persons who are actively
engaged in the oyster trade, are anxious thst action
should be had upon it, The people OF Norfolk, Whlch
ing, by a unanimous vote, pronounced In favor OF a
bill taxing oysters.
Mr.. JONES of Gloucesser.-Iu favor of that bill
Mr. PAXTON.-Gn favor Of the recommendation
of the Governor, which, sir, involves more stringen.
CIV than the bill reported say the consideration Of
this question is demanded not alone by persons out.
side of the oyster district but by avery large number
within the district.
do not desire, sir TO elaborate these arguments
| now; trust have said much as will answer my
| purpose and satisfy the House OF the necessity OF
taking up this bill 70 this extent intended TO goi
but when the bill comes TO be discussed upon ts
merits hope to be able to present such arguments
"a will satisfy the House that the results anticipated
from this BILL will be fully realized say il it is not
considered within the next five days, it will not be
considered at this sssion desire, by way of srgu-
ment, to submit, article published in the Norfolk
Argus" paper OF large circulation published in Nor.
folk, which would ask The clerk to read.
MIR. CLAYBROOK.-I rise to point of order.
SPEAKER-Will the gentleman state his point Of
Mr.. CLAYBROOK ia this, cir: hold that it
s not competent for the gent. man to submit an ar.
tcle of this character which deals with the merits of
the question.
SPEAKER.-I can form no opinion of s charse-
ter until hear il read. The Clerk will proceed with
the reading OF the document
Mr.. PAXTON.-I asserted fact within my own
knowledge that the people outside Of the oyster dis
| trict were anxious that thi- question should be con
sidered. | desire now 10 show, by the article in the
| "Arrus," that great many within the district have
| a similar desire. hold that the newspaper of the
district affords the hest test Of the public sentiment
in that region this subject, and, in this connection
deem it perfectly in order to submit this article by
way OF argument in support of that position:
The clerk here read the article, which ia rs fol-
lows:
1.-THE OYSTER TAx-Irs INFLUENCE UPON
| THE PROSPERITY OF NORFOLK AND PORTS
ave have finished pcrusal of the evidence before the
A.. - nal,
feel proud find the statements OF the Southern Argus
sufficiently corroboratcd and the positions taken by
fully sustained. We were the first TO advocate the
forcemcn of this after lis recommendation by the
Governor and have had the satisfaction OF seeing
articles copied fur and wide That they have exertrd the
dcsir.d influence VIZ have doubt How the legisln
urr can avoid passing the bill reported To them by the
Committee cannot conceive The necessity OF tax.
and the cxpedency Of the same. are clearly demon
stratcd by the report vi the Committee that nothing but
determination b. convinced by ruth prevent
our Representatives. in Richmond from passing the law
Regarding the passage OF the law imposing this tax
Oysters az fixed fact, mny well look forward to
what will be its influence upon tie prosperity OF our com.
munify. lin speaking oil our community we include
Portsmouth, for her water front oilers great facilities
10 those in the Oyster business own One OF tho
first effects OF this law will be- the transferring u the Oys
ter pnc king business from other localities Virginia.
Norfolk Inducements aud convcnenccs which will
here; and ODehnll tho capital estimated
to be employed in this particular business be IN.
vested here 81 900 900 will BIZ added to the wealth of
community. The transfer Of this business will bring
population with it, and although perhaps not the most de-
n we can Judge the effect of this business upon Fair
haven and other Northern localities evidence OF
what it will do for Norfolk and Portsmouth, we could
safely say that in Two years would aid hvc thousand 10
our present population =,
''lf this wealth and population follow the passage Of
this law and we why they should not, OF
what vast importance its passage becomes people
Positively its Immediate re-nlts promise more than any oi
the great enterprises which ar. hgating our community
We shall expect then the Representatives OF Nor
folk and Portsmouth giving their zeal and ability to the
passage of the bill presented by the Committee for ihcir
consideration We have yet the bill but judge
OF from the Report which speaks OF Its designs and
their enforcement. The bill however, may need some
amendments of nm mmaterai nnturc, but law not alto
gether perfect is lar preferable to nons.
! Mr. TATEM addressed the House briefly in oppo
siton to the motion to eupend the rules. lie regard
ed the article in question criterion of the public
sentiment of THAI district in reference TO this suyect
and, by way of proving the utter want OF reliability
attaching the statements of tina: paper referred TO
MISREPRESENTATION which il made regarding the cir
cumssnces which transpired in the House on the
night of the adjournment OF the last session. IL
etsted that the House was in et8te of utter confu
sion and that the Governor had to inerpose bis au
| thority to restore order The House would sustain
him in the denial that such scenes az those de-
scribed in the "Argus" had TRANSFERRED; but that on
the contrary perfect order prevailed. He deemed II
due 10 the House and TO the Governor TO contradict
this statement and he would cay that rs an indica.
lion of the sentiments of that district the oyster
question, the statements Of that paper were no less
| unreliable.
Mr.. YERBY addressed the House in opposition to
the motion.
Mr.. CARTER of Richmond county, also spoke in
opposition to it, and referred to presidents in France
and England IA we'll ancient Rome to show that all
property OF this eass WAS held ~ be common and liz
| enjoyment unrestricted.
| Mr.. PAXTON.-I think the House will fully
derstand my position with regard to this bill. am
| not its particular patron. My course with reference
to it is dictated altogether by motives Of interest for
the State at large Az TO the inufndos of my friend
from Richmond county that have been afraid to meet
the issues involved in this question, will only say to
him, and the gentleman from Norfolk county, that II
they will give me chance will meet these issues.
That is all ask, sir and they are determined, un-
dersanding they do, parliamentary tactics, and The
application of the gag law, that shall not have the
privilege of paying my respects to them desire 10
| have full opportunity of doing 80, not sir, that
hatter mysef that Am able TO cope with the gentle
men on this foor who represent that District do
not expect to be able to do itbut upon This ques.
ion l challenge them to discussion. deplre the
House to hear what they have TO sny againat the
bill. For the past two years they have failed to
present their objections in any manner III which The
people OF the State could hear, or consider them-
They have rather resorted to sneers and rdloue az
| the only species Of argument by which they have
sought defeat this bill before the representatives
on this floor but not before the people of the State Of
Virginia And whilst know that am wholly un.
equal to contend in debate with any one OF the half
dozen representatives who represent that District yet
] challenge them TO discussion upon this question,
when the whole force OF the representation from that
district shall be present can appeal TO gentlemen
on this floor who know me- to say. that nave no
especial fnndn-ss for public speaking never made
a speech in my life with view of having it publish
ed, or for liza effect upon myself, and never expect
to do it, But. sir, have taken charge OF this subecf,
failing to induce others far competent than am
to take charge of it, and having done 80, feel that it
is my duty do what can to ensure the suoces' OF
measure 90 warmly recommended by the Governor
|, for one, was not disposed to take charge OF the
dissgreeabe task of investigating this question: and
arguing before this House bill novel in its charac
ter, and likely to meet with vigorous opposition. In
taking this position feel that | may loose my in
fuence to soma extent upon this floor; and did de-
sire to promote my mere local interests and secure
the passage OF my local bile. would have keptsi-
| lent upon this question, as many other gentlemen