Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-02-19

better? 1t did not propose to give away the
interest of the State in her railroads, but to sell
it and invest the proceeds in better and more
productive shape.
The South had received hardly any dividends
on all her railroad interests. Ofall means Of
connecting railroad dividends none was so sure,
so simple as tax on tonnage and travel We
were relieved of all the cumbersome machinery
of proxies and meetings. and the wire workings
OF the various companies in which we were now
inextricably involved. The proposal to exchange
State stock for railroad stock was plan to sell
deprecated paper for other deprecated paper.
He believed the president of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company would gladly buy with
State bonds the entire State interest in the Or
ange and Alexandria Railroad He had once
favored the scheme, but had abandoned it when
he found that the effect would be to give the
control of Virginia roads to Baltimore. He be-
lieved the same Baltimore and Ohio road would
also gladly buy up the Virginia Central road.
We might as we'll build chinese wall around
Richmond and blockade Norfolk as to carry out
such scheme. These stocks would be bought
abroad, for our own people could not purchase
them The present bill averted these evils and
kept the control of our roads in the hands of
our own people.
The report of the Committee for Courts of
Justice upon the unconstitutionality Of the sale
of the States interest in the Loudoun and
Hampshire road until we had failed in obtaining
settlement with West Virginia, effectualy
killed, however, the scheme of selling the State S
interest in her railroads
The fund raised by tax On tonnage and
travel over the great road which we were en-
deavoring to build, would amount to hundreds
of thousands of dollars yearly, in the future,
perhaps to millions, which would not be fritter-
ed away in the expenses Of supporting rail
road, but would be appropriated to the pay
ment Of the State debt.
He did not concur in the report of the Com
mittee for Courts of Justice He was opposed
to waiting on West Virginia, and hoped Vir-
ginia would assume the whole debt, and let
West Virginia pay her just proportion if she
ever saw fit so to do. Virginia had stood front
and foremost among those who dared to do in
defence Of their rights, and he hoped she would
ever preserve her escutcheon unstained and her
honor untarnished.
Mr. Garnett thought the interests ofthe State
lay between hawk and buzzard in the two schemes
proposed.
NJ Crump thought the main difficulty of the
scheme was yet unsolved. 1t the scheme failed
what guarantee would the State receive for the
sacrifice she was asked to make? We had no
security for the 81 900, 900 which we were asked
to surrender in addition to the $4,000, 900 which
we had already given the road, and he was now
endeavoring to devise some means Of providing
for this difficulty. The Chesapeake and Ohio
Road to which it was proposed to transfer such
unlimited power, was not a Virginia institu-
ton, not an officer was compelled to reside in
the State, and its Office might be located in
Baltimore or Chicago and all its influence di-
rected against the interests of Virginia roads.
There was nothing to prevent that gorgon the
President ofthe Baltimore and Ohio Road, from
,hcorI To
the required two per cent. and exercising con-
trolling influence over the road His objections
to the bill were unchanged and he could not
support it, unless substantially modified.
On motion, the House adjourned.
SENATE, Thursday, Feb. 14th.-House bill
No. 81, to amend chapter II Of the Code, in
relation to church property, with the amend
ment of the House of Delegates to the first
amendment of the Senate was taken up; and
referred to the Committee for Courts of Justice
by vote of IA to 8.
The bill to provide for the payment Of the
State debt was discussed by Oud, Lee and
Mitchell
Mr.. Lee offered substitute for the bill
reported from the Committee on Finance.
The Governor sent in a communication in
regard to the railroads, which was ordered to
be printed, and referred to the Committee on
Roads. This Committee will give the subject
Of complaint o thorough investigation
A substitute for the House tax bill was re-
ported from the Committee on Finance.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
In the House, several important matters were
up for consideration. A message from the
Governor was received, complaining of the want
Of facilities on the Southside and Virginia and
Tennessee railroads to ship a large quantity Of
cotton that had accumulated at Bristol. The
bill authorizing the transfer of the property &c,
Of the Manassas Gap railroad to the Orange
and Alexandria company was passed-ayes 81,
noes 81. Senate bill authorizing the James
River and Kanawha Canal Company to borrow
money was taken up, and the amendment pro-
posed by the Committee ON Roads agreed to.
The bill was opposed by Mr. Crump, and was
then postponed to take up the bill to provide
for line or lines of railway to the Ohio, which
was debated at length until adjournment A
number of resolutions and bills were offered and
referred. Reports from the standing commit
tees were presented and appropriately acted
on.
| SENATE, Friday, Feb. 15th.--The Senate
| Committee on Roads and Internal Navigation
reported several bills of importance to the rail
road companies, and of interest to the public,
which have for their object the increased con
venience and effectiveness of transporta ton
facilities The House bill for the relief of the
late sheriffs of the Commonwealth, with the
amendments proposed by the Committee on
Finance, was passed The bill permits sheriffs
of 1859 and 90 to collect taxes due by citizens
Of their counties during the respective terms of
office served by such sherifs The amendment
provides that the sheriffs shall have first paid
the revenue into the treasury.
The greater part of the session was devoted
to debate on the bill to provide for the pay
ment of the interest on the public debt, but no
vote on it was taken before adjournment.
A number of private bills were passed.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
A bill making an appropriation to primary
| schools was, on motion Of Mr.. u. Turner, made
the order Of the day for Monday. On motion
of Mr. Crump, the bill allowing the James River
and Kanawha Company to borrow money, was
passed by Senate bill for the relief of James
| w. Ryan, late sheriff of Clarke county. was re-
.jected 4 bill to amend the act incorporating
the Richmond and Lynchburg RailroadE Com
| pany, was passed. House bill to provide for
| the completion of line OF lines of railway to
the Ohio was taken up, discussed, and postpon-
ed until tomorrow at | O. clock. House bill to
consolidate the debt of the State, and to provide
for the gradual payment Of the same, was made
the order of the day to- morrow at IL o'clock
House bill to provide for the completion Of a
| line Of railway from the Virginia seaboard to
the Mississippi and Ohio rivers (by facilitating
the construction Of the Cumberland Gap Rail-
| road, came up on its second reading The bill
was amended, discussed, and its further con-
| sideration postponed until tomorrow.