Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-03-20
Remark. Of sIr. wiekham. Of Hanover.

The following is an abstract Of the remarks
nf Mr. WIcKuAM, of Hanover, in the Senate,
on the 10Th Of March, 1850, on the bill proyi-
ding that Railroad companies in which the
Common is stockholdc-, shall Use, in
tn. construction. equipment, repair and opera.
ton Of their roads, materials, supplies, MA.
ciinvry and other fabrics produced and manu-.
tactured in this State -
Mr.. PRESIDENT When this bill! was upon lis
second reading, moved to strike out the Sc.
cord section which authorizes railroad c0mpa.
neS to ".id. with their corporate funds, in the
erection and establishment of works for the
construction and repair Of machinery and the
manufacture q! materials required in the ope-
ration of their roads. then stated that
cordially approred ul 80 much oi the bill Is re.
.qnired these companies to use machinery, iAa-
tcrialS, &c. manufactured in this State, and
that tic bill woald have my most earnest sup.
port II the mo,ioa made should prevail The
Senate refused 10 strike Out, and now | cannot
allow il 10 pass without expressing my otjcc.
tlons to the provision thsn opposed
No member Of this BODY, Alr. President, is
more DESTROYS han lEySc! to see ou" manuac.
turing interests IL Virginia built up ard ioS.
tered. | have ever advocated the principle that
4 people should, rs "a: is practicable, produce
all articles they required for consumption il
IS the doctrine OF the school in which have
been reared. md desire 10 sc: it adopted and
applied to virginia. But, sir, want it done
in legitimate manner, and the means provided
by this clause are not, in my Judgment, legiti'
mate. will mention but Il few Of the objcc
liolS that occur To HE.
There is no Senator on this floor vino would
vote S50,Du0 out Of the State treasury, 10 he
put into = joint stock company for rnanutactu'
ring purposes; and yet, sir, that is the effect Ui
this feature o! the bill for the money w!cii
the State has three. itlhs interest IN, IS 10 be
taken By these companies, To be put into the
hands OF individuals TO set factories into opc
ration Iu all works Of this kind il is far bet.
L.: 10 leave it 10 individual enterprise, than IC
snake t!!c Sia:e 10 any way partner. lndi
viGual enterprise sill be attended by far greater
skill, care, cncrgy and economy, ii made f.
operate with its own Eeaiis, thaa II supplied
with means by the State Foster this indl'
vi,lual enterprise 10y causing your railroad COM
panies to have al! the work done in the State
tina, can be done here, and you will very soon
find that the faclorcs will Lc established with.
OUT ItCuhlII an lIpIi otIIpai'icS III " ' '''
State is so largely interested, and which would
haze to borrow the money ut discount, should
they put il into these works.
The principal object that the friends OF this
bill seem to have in view, is the establishment
Of rolling mill to rc-rol the iron now i'll USE
on the road, when it wears out. Now, taking
the figures Of the gentlemen themselves as my
data make the Sum Of the iron rails no" on
our 300 miles of railroad about $50, 900 tons
which, at their own estimate for cost Of re-
rolling (viz: $50 per tom. will produce the
sum OF 81, 900, ,O00-an amount (taken in con.
ncclion with the fact that this wear Of iron
will go Oh for all time and that the amount Of
miles of railroad will continue TO increase in
Yirgiaaj amply sufficient to induce individuals
TO establish these mills in different parts Of
the State
Again, Mr. President, whilst am on terms
Of the most kindly relations with many Of our
railroad officers. and have the very highest ap-
probation Of their upriyhtness, fidelity and
ability; yet sir, am unwilling to put i'll their
hands, even with the controlling check Of their
stockholders, power like this, by which the
means cta company may be diverted irom their
legitimate objects and may be employed al the
CO.., Of the !mtcrrSts Of the company 10 advance
the interests Of some favuritc. Utterly opposed
20 .ha G,.,-'. ...L-.L;-e Int nr- -r.-Hi"'ivi''
of this kind and believing the principle
precisely the Sane as il there should be direct
APPROPRIATION, ..mll vote against the bill.