Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-11-08
MR.. HUNTERS REMARKS.

r. W. Hunter. Esq, of Winchester was in
troduced to Mr.. Hopkins, and said !: Sir, at a
large convention of citizens from the counties
composing the Valley of Virginia, which met
at Harrisonburg, Va, on the 18th of the pres
ent month, on motion of Colonel M. G. Har-
man of Augusta, the following resolution was
unanimously adopted 4o9#
Resolved, That the President of the Conven-
ton appoint a committee of - citizens of
the Valley to request the Board of Directors
of the Valley Railroad Company to elect Johns
Hopkins, Esq, of Baltimore city, to the Pres
idency of the Company, made vacant by the
death of Virginia's most distinguished son,
General Robert E Lee, and that the said COM
mittee proceed to Baltimore at as early day
as practicable and ascertain whether Mr. Hop
kins will accept the position. - an $685. asa
Under the above resolution the following
named gentlemen were appointed
Botetourt-Colonel John T. Anderson, Col
onel Edward Pendleton and Judge Thomas
Houston. ia oL'>f 9.d y
Rock acknowledgements John Letcher, Jo-
seph NJ Leech and j. E. A. Gibbs.
100 Augusta Colonel M. G. Harman, S. Tray
ers Phillips, J. d. Hotchkiss and W. A.
Burke lJ-ai L9a G544lia9 sa g e5t.1 --'i
Rockingham-Hon John 7. Harris and W.
H. Emnger. 4oa 9Al 49, e1o1 ~
Shenandoah ah-Dr j. B. Grazer. alo1 q 179.-
Frederick Il. N. Huck,7 Holmes Conrad, N.
NJ Cartme and r. w. Hunter 95 aaID..a2 81
Clarke-U.L L Boyce aiaGz7 rs pas t'.-A t
Page-Joseph E. Stewart * A9iA" 7-
. Warren-Judge R.. N. Turner. ala5A9 S.41
.Alleghany-H. H. Robertson. A majority
of whom are here at present.
In discharging the duty thus imposed, the
committee are of opinion that little need be ad
ed to the language of the resolution by way of
IL IoEr IL.
" enforcing its appeal. 1t tells its own sad
story of the death of Virginia's greatest and
best beloved son, to whom our people looked
as their leader in the great enterprises and tri-
umph of peace, as they had formerly done in
the struggles of war. aA-'-
We had cherished the hope that his valua-
BILE life would be spared to complete the grand
scheme of connecting by rail the North and
South through our rich and beautiful Valley,
to which the energies of his mind and the feel
ings of his heart were especially devoted-a
public improvement which commended itself
to his superior Judgment as most important not
only to the Valley, but to your enterprising city
of Baltimore and the country at large, that
could possibly be realized.
But our hopes have been blasted by his un-
timely death and in our extremity, we appeal
to you, sir, as representative of the CONNER
cial enterprise of your city-as one thoroughly
acquainted with the immense resources Of the
region through which the road is to pass, and
the rich results to the property of your city
which will follow from Its constructlon-an as
one amply commanding the influence and fnan-
cial ability requisite to ensure success to lend
your powerful aid to the enterprise and carry
it forward to speedy completion.
In conclusion, permit US to say, if it should
be your pleasure to yield to our request and ac-
cept the position, we feel assured that you
could not crown your long and useful life by
any achievement that would rebound in greater
good to the people among whom that life has
been spent, or to your own fame, if such an
object be worthy Of your consideration.
MIR. HOPKINS REMARKS.
Gentlemen-I desire to make my hearty ac-
acknowledgements for your kindness. have felt
always the deepest interest in the inhabitants
of tie Valley of Virginia. In earlier life,
when was actively engaged in commerce, the
people whom you represent were well known to
me- [ was united to many Of them by ties of
close relationship (my mother having been a
native Of the Valley of Virginia), and to more
by the active and varied associations of a long
business life feel that [ owe great deal to
the State of Virginia for much of my business
success, and what fortune may have achieved
is due largely to your State, because trans
acted business almost exclusively with Vir-
ginia, and particularly in the Valley of Virgin
la which the proposed road is to traverse
When | say thus much you will, am sure,
understand that it would be most agreeable to
me to accept the Office OF President OF the al
ley Railroad Company if were a younger man.
| regret sincerely that it is not in my power to
give my services to so valuable an object. l ap-
preciate all you have said, and should feel
proud to make the construction of this great
work the closing labor of my life. The pros
perity of your road is already assured. 1t will
open rich and fertile country, and place your
people in close connection with the largest COM