Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-10
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.


HOUSE OF DELEGATES
FkBaUARY s, 1862.
The House was called to order at IL o'clock Prayer
by Rev DR.. Burrows, Of the Baptist Church.
BILLS TAEES UP.
On motion Of Mr. COLLIER the rules were suspended
to take up House Bill compromising commissioners OF
the for Hampshire county for Official services
the legal evidence OF hch could not be certified TO by
the county clerk by OF the enemys presence In
that county. Bill read twice and ordered TO De en-
crossed.
House Bill auhorising the county court Of Powhstin
to correct the OF tract OF land 10 that
county, kuown as the Huguenot Springs, was, on mo-
ton, called up and ordered to be engrossed.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
By Mr.. RIVES. That joint committee, consisting
OF five on the part of the House and three the part
Of the Senate be appointed to visit the Eastern Lunatc
Asylum and report the condition Of the institution.
RAILROAD CONNECTION BKTwEKY srRAsBURG AND WIN
CHESTER
On motion Of Mr.. WARD, of Fredericksburg, the
rules we're suspended to take up House Bill No. II, be-
ing the substitute and amendments thereto, offered by
Mr. HUsrER TO the bill providing for the construction OF
a railroad connecting Strasburg with Winchester.
Mr.. WARD went into brief examination Of the
principal provisions OF the bill before the House.
We have had Il before u.s. remarked Mr. W., The last
eight sessions, and, every occasion, t has re-
ceived the approval of this House. Owing 20 the pow
eriu combinations which have been formed for is de-
Alexandria has hitherto stood between the people OF
the valley and the completion Of this important outlet
for their valuable products, the ground that 1t
would divert to other places the trade which abe
conceived Tightfully belonged to her, and on this
assumption the interests OF that extensive and fertile re-
eion have hitherto been sacrificed Mr. w. has hereto
fore defended this Bill on Commercial grounds and on
such grounds its policy is still as clearly demonstrated
"a at any former period; but it before
commended and pressed upon the consideration of the
I nv ita inn m necessity Had
this road been completed as il should have been, at the
commencement Of the war il would rave saved the State
from to 10000 s'and OF arms, destroyed by the ere
my at Harper Ferry-it would have enabled General
Johnstous army reached Manassas earlier on the
memorable 2lst Of Juy-to have given US the victory
hours before it was actually won and in tweny.four
hours after that victory would have occupied the
Federal Metropolis With this connection between
Srasburg and Winchester, the COME crate Govern!
ment during the past six months, would have sayeu
more money from the facilities il would have afforded,
than the whole expense of constructing the road.
Virginia said Mr. W. is border State, and after
peace shall be restored must contirre border State.
How important will this road be to- her in protecting the
interests aud property OF our citizens and IN repelng
the aWess invasion OF marauders and thievee IL u
no longer question whether this railroad or that rail-
road shall be benefited overwise whether Alexandra
shall become a great commercial Emporium mott
is longer question o! dollars and cents IL is now
question involving the protection Of our wives and
daughters from outrage-of our homes from desolaon
and our liberties from being wresed from by the n-
vaders of our soil Mr.. w. closed his remarks by max
ng strong appeal to the house to discard all former
prjudces aud up manfully in support of the bill.
Mr.. HUNTER made his closing speech in defence OF
the bill, placing il exclusively the high ground OF
military necessity There can be no opposition from
Alex inGrii said Mr. H., because the road will be- ex
cusVely 10 the hands Of the Manassas Gap Company in
consideration of the $4,000 unrepresented by stocks
which this company is to pay The Manassas Gap Raj.
road directory will do nothing TO compromise the nteress
of that town Since, then, all old rivalries ore new
buried asd out Of the way, and the military necessity Of
the road i known to every member and has been oi
cialy demonstrated by the military authorties,-why
should the passage Of the bill be delayed?
Mr.. BURKS desired TO know, il the bill is passed,
in Whit time may reasonably eIpsct il 10 be flushed
Mr.. II. will come to that presently. If
get the necessary for the work the greatest di
Guilty s removed. Had General Lee, when the Conyen
ton referred the question TO him, decided that it Was
then military necessity, there contractor OF high
character and great practical knowledge, who would
have undertaken to have it ready for the rails in sixty
days. If the bill passes now, Mr.. II. entsrtans no
doubt bu. it viii be completed caty in the summer.
Mr. H. would now say q word in reference to the
pan II "sone wall Jackson, he s called, is not
iuerfered witk-ii the little imbrOgiio between that
gallant o,er and the Government shal be- he hopes
il will be- happily adjusted shall have at least
hundred miles OF railroad iron transferred to
use This, with the appropriation provided for in the
bill will be sufficient for all purposes On consultation
with the officers Of the Manassas Gap Railroad Mr..
and the friends Of the bill deemed il best TO leave
with that company the whole sui ct of negotiation with
the Confederate authorities for such aid they may b.
vii ng TO grant.
NJ. ROBERTSON, Of Richmond. moved that the
House resolve itself into secret session the military
BILL II was very important to dispose of this bill as
the Senate waiting for the action OF the House
upon it. Mr. r however gave way to
Mr. COLLIER who desired word in eNpll.
nation OF his opposition to the bill. He had listened
with great pleasure to the remarks OF Mr. HUNTER, e..
specially his vivid description Of the hardships endured
by General Johnstons command in passing the field
of Manassas. But sir there is another field that the
citizens of this Commonwealth have to travel overtbe
field OF is before them and he will vote for
any measure that will unnecessarily enlarge the bounda
ries Of that field He cannot consent to enrich bank
ers aud spectators by Issuing Treasury notes bearing
interast when they would be As acceptable without
interest at the expense Of the payers of this Com
monwealth He cared not whether he would be alore
in his yote-whether The bill passed or rot-aD such
measure he would feel proud to be in the minority.
Me- LYNN had heretofore always opposed this bill,
but phen e has become great military necessity, be
sill give Il his most cordial support. Ia regard TO
the taxes on which the gentleman from Petersburg Is
81 sensitive he would FAY il Lincoln gets possession OF
Virginia what need take upon ourselves about
the taxes but if by the aid Of this road VIC can keep
him out he never would stop moment 10 count the
am only practical man Such, however, are my
view, OF the subj sct Of increased taxation.
Mr.. ANDERSON, of Botetourt, believed that-ouT sue
cess in the next campaign depends upon the cousuc
of this road. He hoped therefore, gentlemen would
no, weigh their dollars and cents n the same scale wtq
the liberties of the people
This brought Mr.. COLLIER again to his feet, diaa
yowing any intention TO pice bsrties in the
scale with dolars but ne will not tax the people unue
cessarily
Mr. ANDERSON. Aud yet the gentleman will vote
for sl25 600 liberties but he refuses to vote
for the interest which alone will give acceptance TO that
amount.
Mr. COLLIER Did not cay he would vote i5r the
bill be might be inclined TO do 80, if the Treasury
Notes did not bear interest
Mr.. STEGER ]. is due to the Hlu;e as well as to
himself to FAY that he had opposed this bill Nov be
IA in favor of it, and will give IL hearty support II is
not in all its details exactly he could wish TO BE-.
but we should not, such question, wraugle sboa.
details -