The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-02-13

contracting. Was Il right, was IL just, was
n IeralY All admitted that individuals had
lights: and 80, on the same principle, had
communities, and the principle applied
with rs much force TO communities az to
individuals.
He appealed to the intelligence and JUS
tice Of the House, and adjured the men,
bers not to yield to the numbers and elo-
quence Of his sdversaries. His people had
followed the fortunes of the Confederate
flag, gloried in its triumphs, mourned its
fall, and as Virginians, bound together by
ties Of blood and association and interests,
they appealed to Virginians everywhere to
be allowed voice upon SO important
subject.
Mr.. LEE thought the city was comforting
. bonus upon the people of the county BY
exempting them from taxation on the city
debt for five years. The debt Of the city
was only s2,074, 900, and its real estate was
valued at 81, 250,000.
The city fire engines extinguish the fires
Of Henrico county. What brought these
people together on the suburbs and made
their lands so valuable? Richmond and
its people, who paid the taxes and kept up
a municipal government. For sixty-two
years these people had hung upon the out
skirts Of the city and enjoyed all its bene-
fits. Were we to be appropriated forever
and forever to these people-as we had
been for sixty-two years-to be hewers Of
wood aud drawers Of water for them?
Mr.. HANsBBRoUGH thought it would be
unjust forthe people Of Henric0 to receive
- Ar Il 10 No To-
Mr.. WHITE did not oppose taxation, but
taxation for debts which his people had no
hand in contracting. Ear. LEE said the
people Of Henrico enjoyed the benefits OF
the city without bearing its burdens.
Why not extend the bill furtherf He
knew OF men who had accumulated for
tunes in Richmond and invested them in
all parts of the State. pause for re-
ply, The reply does not come. The ar
qnment is falacious. Does Richmond need
more territory? Goto her port. For the
mile and half between the centre of the
CITY and her port there were sheds and
sbanties instead of fine warehouses. Why
not improve this? Why not make the most
ofthe territory she now held! Why give up,
as she had done in this bill, portions OF
her area to grasp at other territory! An,
Il was the dowry that was wanted. 1t was
not territory that Richmond wanted, but
trade and commerce. She might grasp
the property of her neighbors, but 1t would
not bring her prosperity unless her re-
sources were developed. bis people,
ruined by the war, could hardly pay their
State taxes and the county levy; but they
were now called on to bear their proper
ton of debt of nearly 100000, which
they had no part in contracting. lie was
aware of the odds against him-of the
three fold delegation with which he was
contending-of the superior legal lore and
general knowledge of his opponents; but
truth was mighty, and he defed them all.
Mr.. STRAuGHAN could not silently see
such injustice and oppression perpetrated.
The question with Richmond was purely
one of interest, and her people wanted
Henrico only for her dowry. The propo-
sal was simply to annex one-half the PEG.
pie of county without their consent, and
so entirely to disregard their wishes and
their rights as not even to allow them
a voice in the matter. Even Rich
mond had no, expressed the Wish
for the annexation, but he supposed
as the enormous proposition came
from her delegates, the people OF h,chin1nu
approved the scheme. Mr.. LEE mad spokeh
Of the benefits conferred upon the county;
Had the people of the county been alioWed
the use of city gas or water! was Klch-
rnond at any expense for Henrico? Were
not the benefits reciprocal? Did not the
noonie of Henrico supply the city markets,
p and If some labored in the city did they
not spend their money there also! what
would be the effect of bill which proposed
to deprive the county of $4,000 people out
of population of little more than 10000 =!
It would deprive her of one of her two
delegates, and what right had this Assem-
bly to deprive the people of their repre-
sentation without their consent! The As
sembly at the last session appropriated
$40 900 to prosecute the right of the State
to the counties Of Berkeley and Jefferson
without their consent, an act which crea-
ted an universal outcry throughout Vir-
ginia, and yet the principle involved in
this bill was the same, and we proposed to
treat Henrico as West Virginia treated
those counties.
He thought Mr.. LEES argument entirely
fallacious. The people OF Henrico were
to be forced to pay large portion of
debt of over $2,00O,00O, which they had no
share in creating and the proposed grace
of five years was an empty sound-a mere
stay law. On this principle, man who
accumulated fer his own benefit debt of
100000 might compel his neighbor, who
had no part in the transaction, to enter
into partnership with him, and to pay
share of the debt. The principle was one
which every man on the floor had been
fighting for years, and was universally con-
demned.
Mr.. CRUMP was aware how ungracious
was the task of wooing an unwilling bride,
and felt an apology was due to the House
but he considered the proposed alliance
essential to the peace, prosperity and
health of Richmond, and would benefit
the State. The city, as Incorporated in
l742, ran from the Old. Market on Main
street to Rockets, Seventeenth street
being the western boundary. The present
shape was that Of frying-pan-the handle
ending in Rockets, the pan sweeping west
and north, and line running east from the