Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-03
JAMES RIVER AND KANAwHA COMPANY.

late rebellion.
DISTRIBUTION or THE CODE
The subject of the five thousand surplus copies OF
the Code of 1860 was taken up again, ana discussed
in the usual strain, and then the resolution was laid
on the table as has been done before.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The House met at II o'clock, the Speaker in the
Chair
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
Leave of absence was granted Messrs Wood
Watkins, MOsby and BOwles.
THE BILL AMENDATORY OF THE CHARTER OF THE
MANASSAS GAP AND WINCHESTER AND POTOMAC
RAILROAD COMPANIES.
l. BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That
the Manassas Gap railroad company shall have full
power and authority to construct a railroad con-
Meeting the Winchester and Potomac railroad with
their road at or near Strasburg in Shenandoah
county; and to that end, authority is hereby given
to the President and Directors OF said Manassas Gap
railroad company to exercise all the powers in the
manner prescribed in the charter of the company
and in the Code of Virginia, for cOndemning land
and material, locating, constructing and using said
extension if the same was part of their original
road and also, if deemed necessary by the com
pany to increase their capital stock to an amount
not exceeding seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars; and in of failure to raise the money
wanted to complete said extension by sale OF stock,
the said company is hereby authorized to borrow the
money wanted. TO an amount not exceeding seven
hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and to pledge
the property and income of the company for the
payment OF the prime pa and interest OF the same.
,. BE At further enacted, That no sale or levy
shall be made by the State, or by any county or
municipal authority within the State, upon any such
new stock or loan, rs provided for in the first see
ton, not held by citizens of this State provided,
however, that the construction of said extension
shall be commenced within nine months from the
passage of this act, and that in the event OF the
failure on the part OF the Manassas Gap railroad
company to complete the construction OF said eN-
tension within two years from the time of beginning,
then the powers and authority given by this act to
the Manassas Gap railroad company shall be trans
ferred to the Winchester and Potomac railroad com
pany upon payment to the Manassas Gap railroad
company for all work done on said extension, to he
determined by two commissioners one to be chosen
by each company, who shall be appointed to value
the same.
3. In case of the disagreement of said commits
sOners it shall be lawful for them to choose third
commissioner, whose decision shall be final.
L. This act shall be in force from its passage.
The consideration of the above BILL interruptcdby
the special order on Thursday, was resumed, when
Mr.. ROBERTSON, having the floor, continued his ar
gument against the bill.
He stated that his personal interests would induce
him. if considered, to go for the bill but he was
representative of Virginia, and as such considered
her interests before his own IL was by throwing
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad expected to draw
oil the very life blood of Virginia and other South
ern States that Baltimore is to be made prosperous
and her proposed steam navigation lines with Eu-
rope TO be built up. The proposition to make the
feeble Manassas road the blind for commencing tins
contemplated work is but the first coil of the ana
cOnda destined, if followed up, to crnsh the life
blood out of our good old Commonwealth. All eX-
perence of the past showed that the stronger corpo
ration would override the weaker, and hence that
Al. 4 hi fantf tho
schemes of the Baltimore and Ohio road.
He continued at length with great earneStness to
oppose the BILL when at the conclusion of his
speech
bill all of the second section after the
word that" in the fourth line, and insert
the reconstruction and equipment of the Manassas
Gap railroad shall be fully completed from Stras
burg to Manassas Junction before the said branch
road Is commenced.
Mr. WALL opposed the amendment for the reason
that it would defeat the object of the bill and called
upon its friends to vote down the amendment.
Mr.. ENGLISH said he offered it to test the question
whether it intended to complete the connection
for the purpose of dealing with Virginia cities.
Mr. WOODSON hoped that the amendment would
not prevail, and thought that from the exhibition
to-day in the opposition OF the Alexandra deeSa-
ton TO this Improvement it was sad day Tor Nr-
cinia when the little town of Alexandria retro
coded to her. They striking at the great agr-
cultural interest of the Valley. The Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company had been used in the discus
sion as a bugbear to brighten the House from It's pro-
priety You can't force wealthy country bylegiS-
iatOn to become tributary 10 any city, unless 1t Is
to its interest to do So The gentlemen are actually
afraid that this little connection of eighteen miles
will induce trade to travel thirty miles out ol It's way
to 90 to Baltimore.
MIR. ROBERTSON Gnemupting)-I argued the
question for the benefit of the Commonwealth, and
not for Alexandria.
Mr. WooDsON-Perhaps the gentlemen thinks
Alexandria is the Commonwealth.
Mr. ENGLISn-Such is not the case: aud the gen
tleman does myself and colleague injustice IN say
ing
Nh. WOODSON-I have, perhaps, gone too far in
the expression used.
Mr.. 'WooDsON-This bill has been presented to
this House because the Manassas Gap road Is largely
in debt and, but for the connection, will hc sold ut
public auction. and be bought out by the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. The gentlemen are, therefore,
lighting against the interest of their city, The road
is intended to develop Virginia, and bring Tie val
ley counties in connection with the capitol "i Their
State naked charter is only asked for, and not n
dollar Of subscription,
The result of the argument of Mr.. Robertson will
make friends to Virginia in the Valley aliens to the
Commonwealth. He hoped if the East had not the
means to aid the Valley in building Improvements
that would at least have the justice 10 grant charters
when no appropriations OF money were asked
Mr.. SCOTT but expressed the feeling OF his con
stituents when he advocated every Improvement cal
culateu to develop tue resources Ol NHSiuii' ne
would also favor the proposition To build the rail-
road from Danve to Lynchburg The want OF a
liberal aud general system OF internal improvements
has retarded the progress OF Virginia for years back
Mr. STRAYER said his people were vitality inter
estal i'm the bill and he thought the amendment
would entirely defeat its object. He thought II very
illibera in gentlemen to oppose naked charter Tor
a Virginia Improvement. He thanked th. Senate OF
Virginia for unanimously passing the bill.
Mr.. DICKERsON favored "A liberal policy IN Grant
4
Gated the bill.
Mr.. TURNER thought the amendment too strin.
gent as il required the reconstruction ahdcqnlhsht
of the road from Stasburg to Manassas Junction be.
fore commencing the work on the branch l" VIM
chester.
Mr.. ENGLISH By the unanimous consent o. the
House, further advocated his amendment ana said
that he did not regard Alexandria rs tile Common
wealth, nor did he look upon the Valley as sn'h.
where it was already mOoted whether, IN the event
Of the defeat OF the bill the Valley would no. to
West Virginia. He is u NrgnBn, rs was h.. Father
before him, and he loved the old Commonwealth.
This one.h horse little town of Alexandra, said hy
the gentleman from Rockingham to he all eNEIus!er
of your Treasury, has given tve hundred thousand
dollars for your roads, and her citizens have con.
tributed, by subscriptions, nearly as much more.
The hour of one o'clock, fixed for the cUl-Gera-
ton of the special order, the stay law, having ar
rived, the Speaker announced the TACT When on
motion Of Mr.. Wall, il postponed, wheI Mr.,
English resumed, and had read from the '.rfhs
desk defence of Alexandria from Richmond paper,
which he said was better expressed than lie could
hope to do Alexandria, if the bill were passed,
would not 90 to West Virginia. as 1t was Threatened
by Rockingham, in the event of ITS defeat but -Le
would continue with her loving mother, Virginia
He only asked justice, and nothing more Tor the
CITY which he had the honor to represent lie could
see no use in the completion OF the lOad asked ior
without the completion of the portion specified IN MS
amendment.
Mr. BAYLOR occupied the position OF the gentle
man from Charlotte TO wit: that il was policy to
vote for any charter asked for that did not involve olive
an appropriation. II was therefoe enough lof MN
to know that the President of the Manassas ROAD
who was presumed to know the wishes OF the stock
holders, desired the passage Of the bill as fepoeJ
hence he would vote against any and every amend
ment.
Mr.. CLARK of Campbell moved the pending
question which being agreed to, the amendment OIL
Mr. English voted down. "
Mr.. BROWNING called the main question, which
was sustained-ayes 56, noes II.
The bill was then read third time, when
Mr. GRATTAN said that the policy Of making Viz.
ginia great commercial well an agriC ultural
State has involved her in debt Of $40 go 600 On