Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-07-10
TEE srRAraursnoor RAILROAD

HAM COURT HOUSE, July 4TH, IN BEHALF OF
TIE RICHMOND AND. LYNCHBURG RAILROAD
The 4th of July 1860 the anniversary Of our Nation
al Independence, day long 70 be remembered al
Buckingham Court House. slight rain the evening
previous laid the dust and at early hour the largest
crowd been at the court house were assem-
bled.
IL o'clock the Convention called to take into con-
sderaton scheme whose beneficial results must soon
place il as the first in point of interest in all our State
works and eventually great link in the grandest ma
tonal work. the world has ever known was assembled IN
the lower room Of the court house.
Mr. Ed s. Brown was called to the chair, who, in few
words elegantly acknowledged the honor conferred up
on him and called the meeting to order.
On motion Of Col Thos. NJ Bondurant, j. VI D. Doyu
was appointed Secretary.
The following delegates were present:
Riehmond-Messrs. r. Ridgway, Jno. +. Alvey, w.
p BurWel, Z. B. Lucke, Peter O. Warwick and 1. H.
Fariss
Po,chatan-Nessrs. Blair Burwell, W. Z. Royal w.
J. Dance Jas NJ Finch, p. D. Porter, Jno Coleman,
James H. Goodman James ID. Bagby, DR.. j. W. Bryant,
George S. Hart, John Allen, Fort AOseley and VIM.
Smith.
CIe,terfsld.-Messrs T. D. Clifford and W. B. Wool
ridge.
Lh,mberland-Messrs John p Woodson, DR.. Hender-
son, Edward s. Brown Blake b. Woodson p. b. Foster,
Dr. Thos L. Robinson Greed d. Coleman Jno. II. Brans-
ford Geo. Ii. Mathews, Jno. Foster Jno. T. Hendrck,
Harrison Jones VIM n. Jones, Richd j. Phillips Ben
Robinson and T. o. fowls.
BncEinqhaza-Nessrs. R. s. Ellis, Col t. N. Bondu-
rant Col E. w. Hubbard, Ms Jno. S. Gillian, Oh. L..
Christian, VIM. Hooker, VIM. H. Perkins, DR.. W. T..
Mosey, Rev. Jno. q. Blackwell, Col b. A. Brown, Dr.
B. NJ. Pratt, Powhatan Jones, Thos. w. Agee, Selah
HoSbrook Dr. David Patterson, Mai Jas. NJ Patterson,
Jno. c. Turner, Geo. Hooker Geo. w. Nixon, A A.
Walton, VIM. Shepherd, VIM. A Puryear, N. +. Bocock,
Thos f. Perkins, Chapman Glover, Thomas d. Perkins,
Alexander ]. Bondurant DR.. VIM. P. Hall, Dr. J. l..
Twyman, VIM b. Jones, D. W. Mosey, Jno. Morris,
~ II T. N
Forbes, Capt Ed. J. Gillian, Col Rchd H. Gillian, Ed
win Steger DR.. James Jones. DR.. d. Kyle Jas. \.
Wright, w. S. WISE r. X. Irving, w. w Forbes b. X.
Eldridge Ben. w. Mosely, Thos. W. McCraw, r. ID.
hcCraw, VIM. p. Oliver, VIM. p. Kyle, DR.. Oh. +. Da-
wilson, r. p Cobb, Jno. Eldridge JOS. B. Glover, and
Col. Jas. L. HUBBARD.
Mr.. Willis j. Dance, moved that committee Of nine
be appointed by the Chairman to prepare business for
the Convention-cGrried
The Chairman appointed Messrs Willis J. Dance, Jas.
Finch W. P. Burwel Robt. Ridgwsy, DR.. T. L. Robin
SON. DR.. Robt Henderson, Col Bondurant, w. Ii. Per-
kns and r. S. Ellis.
r. h Irving moved that a committee Of three be ap-
pointed request Mr. W. p Burwe to address the peo-
Pile beneath awning which had been prepared for that
purpose On motion Of Col Forbes, the Convention ad-
iouTned until 8 o'clock 7. NJ.
On going 70 the stand prepared for the orators OF the
day. there the largest crowd that ever had as
sembled at Buckingham Court House. For several hours
this vast multitude of between 5000 aud 1000 persons,
'the better half" las Mr. Irving sad) being composed
as il ever should be, of the fair sex listened TO the
words which fell from those who called upon to adj
dress the assemblage.
After PRAYER from Rev. John c. Blackwell addresses
were made by the following gentlemen Messrs W P. Bur
well, r. Rdgway, Chas. Irving, (of Danyle,) Col Hub
bard, r. Coghill and Ed s. Brown Not the least par
ticle of disturbance disorder except the rrepreSis
conflict of applause ia response happy effort OF
a speaker was evinced the part Of the crowd One
mind, one will, determination peryaded and ANNA
ted the whole concourse aud that was to build the Rch-
mond and Lynchburg Railroad" Dinner was soon serv-
ed on the Court House green, during which portion OF
the ceremony the Secretary no inactive member
EVENING SESSION.
The convention re assembled in the Court House, and
was called to order by the chairman at o'clock p NJ.
Mr.. Willis j. Dance, from the committee to prepare
business, laid before the convention the following
REPORT
The subject Of 4 convention by Railroad between the
city of Lynchburg and the great metropolis Of the State
of Virginia is no new idea originating in the brain OF
some idle theorst; it is almost old the history OF
Railroads in our State Years ago its manifest advanta
ges we're so prominent that survey Of the route
actually commenced Nor has the lapse of time robbed
the scheme of any OF its merits afforded any good
son for opposition On the contrary each year the in
creasing wealth and the expanding capital OF those two
cities call loudly for its construction Ii has been
heretofore defeated by unwise legislation ustgated by
the superior enterprise and activity Of the friends of 9th
er routes but the the time ia when the Of
wise legislators TO be corrected by the light of expo
perience The city of Richmond is beginning to awake
10 its true interests We two railroads in ope-
ration built too in great part State expense the prac
teal workings OF which completely cut of the city OF
i Richmond from the line of Southern trade and travel
and Tend directly make the city OF Baltimore the
ket for the immense agricultural and mineral products
the yaeyIof Southwestern Virginia. Cness direct road
| can be established between Lynchburg and Richmond
the great probability is that the whole trade and trave
coming along the Virginia aud Tennessee Road reaching
hack to the great valley Of the Mississippi will pass along
the Lyuchburg and Charlottesville aud Orange and Alex
audria Road to Baltimore and TO the Morrill, and thus be
K lost 10 the city Of Richmond Aud great as thi:
trade and travel are they Insignificant compir
ed with what they will be- when the great valley of the
Mississippi shall be connected as it will inevitably be- by
direct line OF Railroad with the golden regions Of Cal
orn;a and with the shores Of the mighty Pacific whose
rushing waves dOS richly freghled with the costly
products of India China aud Japan. The trade of the
East Indies has for centuries been the great object
ACQUISITION aud millions have been spent in the effort tC
| acquire it. Shall now by supneness and neglect
let it pass by u.s. when il almost within grasp
Nor is this the idle dream of enthusiast; single
glance at the map will show that we lie almost in the di
rect line Of the shortest route from San Francisco The
great Pacific port to the Atlantic; and when you couple
With this the fact that the Pacific Railroad must in order
TO be practically useful be built far enough south tC
avoid the SHOWS of the Rocky mountains, you will
that Providence has marked out route through the
| State of Virginia. The gap between Lynchburg ant
Richmond is the only link wanting TO complete
drec; route to the Mississippi, and called upon
at an expense OF few thousand dollars TO fill up tina
gap Most railroads least when first constructed have
10 rely upon the trade and travel between their termn
| for support; and with these meagre advantages
they have been built and prospecting The Danvt
| Road, which stops in Danville, and has no drec
connection with any road beyond, has hourisheC
| aud prospered beyond the most sanguine expecta
tions Of its founders, and is actually able, az
| ter appropriatiug eleven per cent. to the payment
Of its debt to declare dividend Of four per cent
| Our Road will have the indeed much greater
nra terminal advantages that the DAnville Road has
Il will pass through fertile country rich IN every
production Of agriculture suited to our clmate-a coun
try as yet great extent undeveloped because Of TIC
difficulty Of reaching market, but which will yet in the
great staples Of Wheat and Tobacco compare favoraby
with any portion Of the State. But it is when look
beyond its terminus to the great valley of the Misss
sippi with its exhaustess fertility of soil to the COLDER
regions of California aud the almost fabulous wealth
and myriad population Of the East Indies, that
how inmeasuraby superior the advantages it pre-
| sents Deeply impressed with these views, your com
mittee cannot but believe that the city of Richmond
when once aroused will not fail TO the vital mpor
lance 70 her of the scheme which propose not only
a. means Of regainng what has been already lost, bu
Of securing the still greater benefits which likely t
accrue from its success-and that the people Of the
country whose energy and enterprise have long lain dor
mant, and much of whose land is still covered with it
primeval forest will find themselves amply Reimbursed
for any expenditure Of theirs the Road, by the en-
HANGED value their lands and the increased facilities
getting to market.
Ia view of the foregoing facts and arguments It be
to take prompt decisive and enegetc action
secure our object Therefore,
Rssotyed, LIST. That the commissioners pointed BY
the Of Assembly to open the Books for ne Stock
the Richmond and Lynchburg Railroad be requested tC
proceed after giving the notice required by Law to opl