The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-17
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
FRIDAY, February Is, 1866.

FRIDAY, February l6, 1866.
SENATE.
Lieufsnant-G Governor CowPER in the chair,
Prayer by DR.. Peterkin.
SPECIAL POLICE.
Senate bill authorizing the appointment OF a
special police 10 search for stolen properly,
from the House with an amendment,
which was agreed to and the. bill passed,
ABANDONED TURNPlKEs.
Senate bill transferring abandoned turnpikes
to the counties in which they lie, returned
from the House with Oh amendment, which
was agreed to and the bill passed.
ALEXANDRIA CANAL.
Senate bill authorizing the Board of Public
Works TO sell the States interest in the Alex
audria canal, returned from the House with IN
amendment, which was agreed TO and the Dill
passed.
STAYING OF TAXEs.
House bill prohibiting the collection On taxes
due before 1865, for a limited period, came up
The bill prohibits the sherifs and other OIL.
GERS to levy for the collection OF taxes until
after the Sd of March ned.
On motion of Mr.. KEEN, the bill was
amended by striking ont the word nert ana
inserting 1867. The bill thus amended passed
unanimously.
rcHMoSp AND NEWPORT NEWS RAILROAD COM
PANY.
On motion of Mr.. LEMosEY, the bill incor-
porating the Peninsula Railroad Company
was called up 10 enable him to offer a substi-
tute under the above title. The bill ana sun
stitute were laid on the table and ordered 10
be printed.
ROCKINGHAM TURNPIKE.
House bill in relation to this road was taken
up on motion of Mr.. GRAY. The biil elnpoW-
ers the County Court OF RocKingham 70
appoint a new trustee for the road Ill neu OF
the one recently dead. 1t was passed
THE VALLEY RAILROAD.
The bill to incorporate the railroad from
Salem to H~arrisonburs came up rs unfinished
business.
Mr.. BoLIIsG entered The discussion of the
subject with an exordium fuli Oh inc mos
earnest and cordial warmth Of feeling for the
people of every part of the State. The eio-
auent tribute paid by Mr.. GRAY 10 the people
of the Valley met with his hearty approval.
He claimed those people as brothers: 1nenneh
of the Valley and of the East had stood shoul-
der to shoulder together, and they lie SIDE by
side, and the grass of spring is breaking from
their commingled dust. As they stood together
so must zoe, knowing that the interest OF no
part of the State can be permanently advanced
unless that of the whole be advanced.
1t is not as a Richmond or Petersburg ma
that he opposed the bill-but as a Nirginian.
He considered it f~atal-utterly fatal 10 her
dearest interests.
He combatted with great force the al cap
taadum saving, that "a man can 40 what ne
pleases with his money" showing mat
men are restrained by law from doing even
with their w money Whatnay hJnleoIher r.
A man cannot ride his horse as he pleases. he
cannot build a frame house on his own city
lot. He then quoted from Kent's
ries, utterly refuting the idea.
He held that TO construct new roads, whlch
must by their operation damage the old ones,
Is TO be guilty of n breach of faith 10 the latter:
He quoted the opinion of William Ballard
that the OILY hope OF greatness,
trade with foreign ports. This bill is destruc-
tive of every prospect of this. We must trade
henceforth, should this bill paw, through the
ports of neighboring States.
He read letters from prominent mercnan.s
in Liverpool to General Malone, stating that
they were starting q fine. line OF steamers 10
RIM directly to Norfolk. Here is the germ OF
q great trade which this bill will crush.
When the Baltimore and Ohio railroad was
projected, they applied 10 rehhS ;Thoi greot
State had too much sagacity TO grant doom
so hurtful TO her interests. Inc baltimore
Ohio railroad came to Virginia and onered
a dollar a head upon , every SSoI pas Ganssi' ion in her her
bride and folly, gave the right, and not only
fecIined the dollar, but helped TO build the
and wei are still In debt for IT,. There
can be no calculation of the damage tnat tnls
road has indicted on tns s.I ,oa,., Aha now which
will barter away forever all hope OF pros
perity. We are poor I'm money, put we aIe
rich In undeyeloped wealth. We are, hke
children, the heirs OF n precious inherilance,
but pressed by a present necessity. a design
ing man approaches, Offering temporary reiiei
as q means OF possessing himself OF our birth
right. Let us not part withit; let us not give
M the homestead let us preserve and trans
mlt 10 otir children the priceless wealth OF Vir-
On motion Of Mr.. LEE, the Senate then ad-
j0urned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Speaker bALnwIs In the chair. Prayer by
tho Rev. Mr.. Edwards.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
BY Mr.. Joysgs.-That all the business
before the House shall be divided into two