Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-04-02
A Csrd.
HOUSE CT DELEGATES,
RlCnNoNp. March 80, 1851.

NJ Il.
Chants and business men III our town, are
nat correctly advised of what has bern go
inc on here As the Delegate from Alexan-
dr,a county, have not, nor d l.swhlle occu-
nviug that position, intend to aid iii carry
inc out any views or purposes injurious to
Alexandria, whether of my own or OF the
rnmnany with which AIN connected. Hon
,rad a. | have been, several times, by the
,,s,r}e of the county, with their confidence,
,rnst will be permitted to close my term
',;th continuance Of tlut confidence.
..ar in the Legislature from our county is no
-;na,,rr to anv one who attends to the busl-
n..ss Of the office with proper diligence.
W'hs,her have come up 10 the just claims
3 mo constituents by attention and fidelity
:, heir Interests. cheertuliy leave 10 them
=, 3..ide. rs to the charge now brought
,,,ra;nst me, | will merely say that 1t IS I'M
trns. whether known IL DC so by those max
;n,, i is best known To themselves. Its
I.is;tv could have been easily and quickly
oscertuinad by any one more deSrous OF ar
riving at the truth than ~ venting 4 little
spte or maliynity upon me.
4, not expect 10 be always spoken we'll
# If were, should begin to suspect my
self Nor can expect my acts as Delegate
10 be Judged honestly and fairly by all.
Humble as am, an too much III the way
Of some | have the proud consciousness,
however, of having discharged my duty to
the best of my ability. and regardless Of pri-
ynte or special views or interests
As regards the Strasburg connection, |
haIieye oar people generally will remember
that the bill for the accomplishment OF that
object by an extension OF the Winchester and
Potomac road was indefinitely postponed IN
the Senate hy Il vote OF - To Is. This
ynta considered 4 final settlement OF the
nueslion. tor this session. 1t least: aud | re-
oiced in the belief: for looked upon the
connection as deeply ini uriouS to Alexandria,
and especially 80 to the Manassas Gap Road,
without being beneficial to any important i'll
terest whatever TO the people Of Alexan-
dria nothing need he said 10 convince them
of this. The injury to the Manassas Gap
Road would not he limited 10 the mere cut
ting of It's trade At StraSburg, and carrying
it to foreign State and city; but as the Com
panY have q yearly amount OF interest OF
S6U, 900 tv pay, the loss OF her business III
this way would 50 seriously Impair her reYe-
nua as probably 10 render 1t Impossible Tor
har to meet her payments on that account,
whereby much injury and distress would be
;nhicted upon innocent holders OF her mort
gage bonds.
There has never, therefore, been moment
since have been in the Legislature when |
have not been ready to use, and have not
zealously exercised my best efforts to defeat
it. This fact. ! believe, the !air-mlnded por-
ton 0: my fellowciti2ens who Know me will
not DISPUTE 1t concerns me very little TO
know that another class of them affect to dis
believe it.
it was not until the bill of which a copy
is herewith sent had been ordered to its
third reading in the Senate, that was aware
that any further effort was to be made this
session in tte matter AS soon rs heard OF
it THE Senator from Fairfax and Alexandria
being ABSENT called on Colonel Gatewood,
Senator from Shenandoah. to inquire about
it, and rold him that | thought the matter
was done with for this session. He said he
had determined to press it; and that MIR. J.
X. Marshall, for the Manassas Gap Company,
and Major Thomas, had consented TO let the
bin pass with un amendment. told him
would as soon have the original bill as this,
as there was 10 safety in il; that the object
was 10 fill up the gap; that 1t was easy Tor
the Baltimore and Ohio Company to furnish
the means to build the cOnncxlon and to buy
M the Winchester and Potomac road, as its
stock was at Il very low price: that the res
friction AZ to connexions could be easily re-
moved, even before tie work was built; aud
then by tapping the Manassas Gap Road,
they could take OF all the freight from Stlts-
burg; and that finally, the Baltimore and
Ohio Road would penetrate the heart OF the
Valley. As .oon M Major Thomas returned,
| mentioned my objections 10 him. No!with-
standing all this Col. q. in the exercise oi
his right aS !. Senator, determined 10 urge
his bill then told him that no bill ought
10 pass 10 permit an independent company
to make this conncxinn: that II ought to be
bnilt By a Virginia company IN good stand
ing. which could prevent IN injurious com
petition and that, If he cs,:Alnued 70 press his
bin, would prepare one 70 empower the
AlexandrIa, l.nudnun amd Hampshire Com
papy to make it when their road had reach
I'd Winchester, proceeding with 1t aud with
their main road West parl passu; with the
proviso that the sche:ne should be approved
bv the Stockholders Of the company at the
next annual meeting; and il they should not
approve IT, then tard not till them the cen
nexion IT, b., maize by aT independent com
pany. The passage Of my bill i! it had
hoen introduced t!rr ii has not yet been)
would have closed The question Tor several
Years, IT least until the Hampshire Road
WAS completed II WInthcster-e even If the
stockholders bad given their consent. This
deemed al important point to gain, ~ the
advocates of the couneAlun Will continue to
press it ut every session, until they get It;
and when the Hampshire Road shall BE-
made to the coal fields, the connection wll be
demanded by the whole Valley, which will
want the coal OF hampshire for forging and
manufacturing purposes.
say, with Aii sincerity, that | had no
ends Of that Company t. serve III this; but
deemed the proposed measure &he safest i'll
view of the probability that the connexlon
will ere bong be made by untriendly hands
and means allitlc t. the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company. The peopIe OF
Virginia and Of Alexandria ill particular do
not need IL tt warned against the tender
lnercles OF that concern.
Since NJ. Marshall the President Of the
Manassas Gap Railroad, came here, he
strongly intimated, while opposed To any
cynnpXipn 1T this time. in consequence Of a