Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-20
Debate ON the Oyster Frndum Bill.

House Of Delegates, Thurselov. Mr.. II.
Mr.. PAXTON, of Rockbridge, moved to
suspend the rules, with the view to take M
'.bill to regulate the taking Of oysters il
the waters of this Commensurate, SO Is To
raise revenue therefrom, and to prevent
the destruction Of oysters" and make it the
order Of the day for Friday.
Mr.. P. said-Mr. SPEAKER: [ do not
think that there is any evidence Of a dis
position on the part Of gentlemen who have
important bills here, to have them consid-
cred, in the present condition Of the House.
So far as am concerned, as to this bill, I
desire that it shall be eons;desed. aaa asn
anxious to discharge my duty in reference
to it; and if there is not quorum here, it
is not my fault.
! desire, Mr.. SPEAKER, to statc briefly
why the rules should be suspended for the
purpose of taking up this bill 1t is my
opinion that there is not more important
measure before this House than tie bib in
question. am aware that this oyster fun
dun has been speered at and ridicnled for
t!le last tyo years; but these sneegs have
grown small by degrees and beautifully less,
until now the gentlemen who were disposed
to sneer two years ago, are prepared to shed
tears at the prospect of it's consideration -
Yes, sir. there are different ways to kill a
proposition; one is by fair aad Legitimate,
argument the other is TO sncer and ridicule
it to death. I desire to say, that SO far as
| am concerned, if this bill had been exam
incd by the members of this House; if the
evidence which tie committee have had
Submitted hefeYe them was duly weighed and
considered, aid the character Of the gentle
sncn who testified upon the subject had been
known to the House | say. SO far as I am
concerned, would not desire to submit one
word of argument upon the bill These
would be found strong enough and conclu-
siye enough as to the practicability of this
scheme, without the aid Of any appeal fre.n
me or any other mem el .lteressed in it, |
know that mag gentlemen have been in the
G ,aa;;tioa in which have been, as regards
the bestowal Of proper attention upon this
subject We have had more documents
furnished us than We could possibly read !;
and have, therefore, been preclad..d from
giving to this subject the attention which it
deserves. It came in late, and at period
when any other questions of importance
we're pressing upon ouis attention.
Isay Mr.. SPEAKER, that there is ne pasre
important bill before the House than this
oyster fundum bill. 1t May not accomplish
all that it proposes it may fail to raise
revenue for the State, if SO let gentlemen
show it, | contend that it viii raise very
large revenue to the State: and | desire 10
say that the people Of tie State, from tie
information which has reached them upon
the subject, are satisfied it viii tend some
what to I'll up our exhausted treasury
| have seen no argument against this bill
i'll the newspapers. The arguments in favor
of it taye, to some extent, been presented,
and the people of the State are satisfied that
there is something IN it. We think it will
protect very valuable property and ! Will
say thai the friends of this bill are rot to be
found along opt Of the oyster district, for a
proposition of a someyhat similar character
has come from WARM friends Of the oyster
Interests.