Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-26
FROM the Southern Argue.
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THE OYSTER FUNDGM md THE OYSTER I


The bill now pending before the Legislature Of VIZ
giuia entitled net to r-guint, the taking al OPP
tiers 10 the waters OF ths CnunoDwe &c, &c''
to which have several times alluded, il deserving
of more earnest and careful consideration ri the
hands of tdewaie Virginia. than IL hAs received or
is likely to receive, from present appearances. We
desire this morning briefly 10 present some ci 'hd
salient arguments in lis favor, aud 10 show the hla
cous character OF the objections which are 50 p.
PANTY urged in opposition by ihos, PROCESSING 10 re-.
prest mt the vi-w- and the interests ~ tie people
dwelling il the region peculiarly aected by It's prov
siono.
That sor7e Legislation is required ior ine protection
OF this great interest hitherto regarded the peculiar
inter.st OF the people dwelling the -slt war
stresms and esuares of Virgins, is leo obvious 20
NEED a word of comment. Our statute books sre Gil
ed with laws passed at the instance OF these very peO
pie, session after session, and which have becomes
jest and byword, monuments of inefficient legi.
laion. In The mean time our furdhm ha5 oeoom,
the neutral ground Vt the United States, where v ii
dredGc, ana drag, and toHgs, fleets OF vcs-els I'll
armies OF men from other States rushing TO part
cpats III the sPOll so long the harvest ma!
last; well knowing N they do, that in \ few -h"!
years This submerged mine of wealth will he exhau"
cd, and the Virginia oys'rrInen, the subject oi
much sympaihy, be !eit with hi. old canoe, h sh a.
cry upan tbs beach, vita hi. "occopston," lis
OIhello's GONE"
bow let Il be noted that IN making this p ,.aeu,
10 the inevitable destruction OF The oys'e ,ocEs
eono epefuy dHu eiilCV s'HhruTfI
OF preservation, dealing neither ia rpecun joe
or poetry. It's truth has been demoUs rated in H.
experience OF our sister Stats "t Maryland, ia TIE
cehseess pei 'l0no lar protection from tide wntrr w
glnla, and more recently in The extraordinary CT:
conclusive t-atnony taken before the commtr.e, Ut
der the management of that mO9t .iiic:ent and RI
lghtsned representative IRON the county of Rock
bridge, }. q. Paxton E-q., whose energy and sbi,!
displayed in the examination Of thi. interesting .ut
ect, entities hrl TO las be will hereafter receiv-j iL
cordlslthabks Of de.water Virginia.
IL this object then THE protection of the Virgins
rocks Il DESIRABLE the first enquiry that suggest.
sell is. why has Il not bsen 0irPady arc0mpist,.
by Prec'd'"g and cristing isgj,latiori We ar Wei
Because II IL aud has been i0cG' in itJ chsr.c'5 b.
small portion OF lac COMMUNITY are directly u,.
esed in ia enforcement, and i lot unfr. Ia.
pens that as many Numbers OF the community
immediately Interested i'll the violation, as rh~rt 81
others in thu enforcement of tbs laws becsuss R'a
IS epeTy man. cuisines, - mans JUsinesS b.. |
cause, riparian owners will rather submit 10 tie IL |
frlngement OF general law than leopard her pr
pfrty and personal comforts by active partici2s
ton IN bringing the offender t. justice.
Because Of the very intrinsic DIFFICULTIES n eG
forcing tho lawa thorough the ordinary channel. 9.
justice, with local sheriljs coustabes and JUSTICES
peace, when the offender 10 migratory AID like Ii.
eagle on the wing, lenvel no rnce beiud him, prs
ing at will from urisdi.iOn 10 jursdcton and less
ing pursuit, aud oiimes, detection Tar in hi. sar
Ilhdi then rs The rtmsdy2 We answer by geare
HutCD Tue UHWe otOtS DSCOIDpf lH'eteE
ed, by combining the protection Of he rocks w.ih N
pruuc'p0i of reDeRue, by establishing cls-s Of o.
hceTs charged with the special duty NJ euurcIrs ~
provslons OF law, aflaed with the .4eals AL spy
ances for the detection and punishment Of offender
By relieving the farmer and riparian owner from ID,
odium Of becoming informer and prosecutor, sni
creating police force on the water; willing and atl
TO perform tue ssryice with which they are chargs1
DO this-and it can be done without cost 10 ID
State or burden to the community-snd your .sI
will be enforced, the dignity OF the CommonSes',
maintained, your property preserved FROM Jlnge ass
ultimate destruction, and mine, richer than the so.
bearing soil OF Califo,nia, preserved through 81. p
for the labor Of the poor longer.
Yes. an exhaustless mine for the gJ.r t0Hg,', ~
instead OF ekeln2 out miserable livelihood a. e. PIE
cent, by hls hielOng and never ending toll lO' us
rapacous Yankee, at the very minimum rate OF con-
pensntion for the product OF hi. tongs, with the hel
OF hs labor constantly diminishing under the df's'
and credges OF his northern friends, would IN 8 .b~
time pDd his harvest field repeu shed, the fuit W
daily tot! trsbled-aye, qusdrupled in Gusniy, W.
advancing price. aud win the certain prospect os'"
%, by the exercise OF industry aud prud nee !.
raising the condition Of himself and family, and t'h'
the pIacs OF his rspacious task master. who sp
accuhulaing his THOUSANDS upon the labor O. ~
Virginia oysterman.
All this may be accomplished through the M dE.
OF ajudicioua law, based upon the princpl. so., y,
referred to. and compressed in the blll nov brofr -
virginia Legislature, modified in soms pare'Ss
AZ we believe should and VIZ Think will be msaei r,
lot 1t be remembered that the suhj-ct IS new. ~
Trainer OF the h is pioueer in scene o. w
lation, beset with difficulties and shroudsd 10 oosca
ty on every hand; aud no reasonable man hAs s.a'
to expect that a. law on this untried Tues ion ".,"
forth perfect and complete, Gpd armed at 81! ? "'
like Minerva IRON the brain Of Jupiter.
The people may we'll ask the question OF ne w.
lenting opponents of the bill: would ii MI O,"
comport with your legislative du;ies ani tie de,
OF your position to leud your lsbor snd s1p.,ni...
in perfecttng the 6a, rather than attempt 10 smGus
in sneers and crush great State inter.s: By silly
aud boysh criticlms -.
The tonger's ao,s may sid you now HhI ..
subject Is wrapped in mist and uncertainty. on.
be comes TO understand his true interes; iu'oNs
this question, its bearing upon the future ~ VIZ s,s
the present, bis blessings may be turned 10 49,