The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-30

not pass laws in conflict with the laws of
the United States and the State of Vir-
ginia. Do you mean because the United
States requires parties to take the test oath
that the directors of this company shall
take it too
5 Colonel Cabell said he would assure the
gentleman that the term 'sin conflict with
the laws of the United States, State of Vir-
ginia, and West Virginia. meant nothing
treasonable, and if he thought that it did,
he would be heart and hands against it.
He hoped the meeting would adopt the re-
solutions. ......
The vote was then taken on the resolu-
tions, and they were adopted.
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.
Mr.. Cabell moved that the meeting now
90 into an election of president and direct
ors for the ensuing year. Agreed to.
!. MIR. Magruder, in very effective speech,
nominated Colonel Fontaine for reelection
to the presidency. He said that Colonel
Fontaine was the choice of nine-tenths of
the people. 1t was duty the stockholders
owed to him. When he first took hold Of
this road it was known as the little Lou
isa." Soon after he took charge Of it he
extended the road to Gordonsville, and it is
now stepping onward, and will soon reach
the Ohio river. He thought it due to Colo
mel Fontaine's untiring and indomitable en-
ergy for the last twenty years. During all
this time, at every meeting, the stockhold-
ers, in view Of Colonel Fontaine's admins
tration, had said " Well done good and faith
ful servant" and he had remained at the
head Of the company. Will we, in viola
ton of his great service, throw him over
board He has been our pilot in many
storm. | ask again, shall we throw him
overheard, and put in his place one mex
perienced and untried We must judge of
the future by the past. Colonel Fontaine
has certainly done a great and good work for
this company and that only shows what
he will do if continued in Office. He i'm
plored the meeting to weigh and ponder
well before change Of president was
made. He trusted to heaven that after
this election, whichever way it might go,
all the angry discussions which have
been heard at this meeting may be forgot
ten, and that all would join hands and
hearts and work for the benefit of the road.
Mr.. Cabell sympathized with his friend
who had just spoken, but rose to put in
nomination another gentleman-one who
has done his duty by the road under all
circumstances, and one who no doubt had
greater ability to carry on the great work
one, too, who certainly had the benefit of
the city of Richmond particularly at heart.
The gentleman to whom he referred was
General Williams C.. Wickham.
Mr.. Skeen seconded the nomination of
Colonel Fortaine. For what were we called
upon to turn this old and useful man out of
office? Only because, when the war came on,
he proved true to his mother State. APP
plause.] This is the only charge that
could be brought against him. If it were
charged against him that he did not have
the benefit of the road at heart, the speaker
would Join hands with them and turn him
out of his office. But this they cannot do.
When Colonel F. took hold of the road he
found it lost in the "sage and broom corn
of Louisa" He has brought it out of that,
and it is now fast vending its way to the
bed Of the Ohio. He would say to the Vir-
ginians here that he was grieved to see the
course that some were taking, but he would
tell them that right and justice would pre-
vail, and twelve months hence this vener-
able servant of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad Company would be rclnstated. 1t
might be theirs to-day, but it will be ours
tomorrow.
Mr.. Newlin, of Pocahontas, said he had
hoped that after the sun went down
on the 81 of November politics would
not be thrown into every debate. He
would dismiss that portion Of his remarks.
Is Colonel Fontaiue, who is an old man,
tottering on the verge Of the grave, I'll
man to act in such stupendous work He
did not think he was, but lie thought Gen
cral W. G. Wickham was the right man for
the place, and he would submit the Iomi-
nation to their good judgment without fur
ther debate.
Mr.. Aylett, of Richmond, had hoped
that the execution OF this venerable rail-
road official would have been brief, regard
ing the result as having been determined
when the truly loyal proxies of the State
and city of Richmond were appointed. But
even at this late hour there might still be
presented to the consideration Of all present
thoughts which might be of service. He
deprecated changing the man at the wheel
when the ship was breasting the breakers.
He proposed the continuance of Colonel
Fontaine in office because he had already
built two hundred miles Of track, tunnelling
mountains and crossing rivers in the face
of difficulties and opposition unsurpassed.
True, he was not young man, but evenln his
old age he had eyinced on energy which
would do credit to any railroad president.
Ten miles of railroad had been laid during
the last year, and since the war nearly the
whole railroad which had been torn up by
Federal raiders had been relaid, bridges
burned had been replaced, and dep0ts de-
stroyed had been rebuilt. Fifteen years
ago Colonel Fontaine said that he was on
the highway to the Ohio, and the Ohio he
had kept steadily in view, until now, when
his declaration seemed about to DE verified,
and his every scheme had triumphed, his
friends only asked that he be allowed the
consummation of his Work-the privilege
of completing the great work which he had
commenced under such disastrous circum-
stances. The gentlemen on the other side
had deprecated the introduction Of politics,
but they themselves had been the first to
introduce politics on the floor by the pro-
scription of Colonel Fontaine.
AS soon as Mr.. Aylett concluded,
Mr.. Chahoon, of Richmond, moved the
pending question, and Mr.. Bond seconded
the call.
Mr.. Guy, of Goochland What! Are
YOU afraid to have your record ventilated
Can't we tell you what We think Of yout
General Wickham hope my friend will
withdraw the call for the pending question.
We are not afraid TO have our record ven
tilated.
Mr.. Chahoon [ can't withdraw the call.
Don't think any more speeches necessary
on the question.
The Chairman then put to vote the ques-