The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-22
phy the Rncktaii Bsli should be
l G d
AN ELOQUENT EFFORT.

The House Of Delegates adjourned Mt so
late IN hour on Monday evening that We
were unable To give full report of the able
aud eloquent speech OF Col. JOHN H. GUY,
oi Richmond. in our ISSUE Of Yesterday.
This morning we present pretty full a5-
stract, which will he found well worth
pcruSing.
Col. Guy commenced his remarks by q
spirited and indignant protest against the
attempt which had been made to
ErLLY THE MINORITY
IN the consideration OF this bill, and the
breach Of faith on the part Of the minority
in cultir 6 off debate when the opponents of
the blk had allowed it to be taken from the
tahl'., although they might have kept it
~ ere indefinitely. Under these circum-
ttances, ne had determined to give to some
extent at least his reasons for opposing the
Pennsylvania Central railroad. Animadyer-
sion had been made upon his course, and
he had been taunted with being
IRE MEMBER WHOSE MIND HAD NOT BEEN
MADE Up.
His experience had been that careful in
yc>tigation before arriving ut Il conclusion
asncvcr unrcwardcd, but al vays resulted,
in hi> own case, in clcalcr views Of truth.
lie had rather arrive nj his conclusions
by a crawling process. however inglorious,
than not arrive at the truth at all. He had
had reasons to be undecided. but now his
views upon the subject uuier consideration
were
CLEAR, DISTINCT, AND wELL-pEFINED.
1t has been said tnat Richmond is in IA
Yer of this bill, and that he Mr.. Guy stood
alone in opposition. He had no means of
knowing what was the real sentiment of
the people Of Richmond. and he believed
that he had been sent here not TO 20 down
on street corners to feel the public pulse
and act accordingly, bat 10 acl in accord.
nncc with his own best views, after care
lul consideration. and with sincere desire
10 do what will most promote the interests
Of his constituents. II he voted wrong. it
would De no excuse Tor him hereafter to say
that hc thus voted because he believed he
reflected the sentiments of a majority OF his
people. lie would be asked and fairly
asked, "Why did YOU not inform your
srlf: You had opportunjtic, that we had
no' and should have guarded our interests I:
Why did YOU not :"
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTS OF THE BILL:
He then gave an outline OF the argument
which he had intended to present. If the
real question is that The Pennsylvania Cen
tnl railway means TO burst through Nir-
cinia to gain right Of way III order to con.
meet a certain northern with certain south
crn system Of RAILROADS for the benefit OF
Philadelphia-ift this is the question then we
have precious little interest in it except the
little prosperity that may result TO the DAN
vile railroad IA one Of the connecting links.
TBB LIBELs UPON TIE RICHMOND, FEEDERlCKS.
BURG AND POTOMAC RAILROAD.
He referred 10 the frequent denunCiation
OF the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac railroad for violation of its duties to
the public, for mal;easance in its trust. and
for long catalogue OF offences, which this
bill is expected TO remedy. l. the question,
then, whether the people of Virginia shall
be freed from this alleged oppression. He
denied that there had been the oppression
and disregard OF the public interests of
which SO many complaints were made. 1t
was asked why the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac Company had not before
built the missing link Of railroad, between
Washington and Richmond. lie contended
that they had done just what any other
company would have done under the cir
cunstances.
THE PENNSYLVANIA CENTRAL TO BLAME.
The truth is that the ground upon which
the connecting link must be built has really
been for some time in the possession of
the company asking this charter, and they
tave neglected TO build ii. At their door
lies the blame.
SoN-TAX PAYING ROADS.
Ii was claimed also that the Fredericks-
burg Company is particularly culpablc be-
cause it pays no taxes to the State and pays
no dividend to its stockholders. The state
mcnt has gone forth to the world that the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad Company is q great northern nom
tax-payin9 corporation, and those who have
made these charges have not had the fair
A''~"' w accompany u ~ 'iiN SS1ttilSbt tltal
most Of the other railroads Of the State are
in exactly the same fix.
ARE THE DANYiLLE ROADS SKIRTS CLEAR
The friends of the Danyille railroad have
been particularly clamorous against this
road, and | would ask whether that road
pays any taXes, and what dividends it has
paid TO its stockholders since the war. The
same question may be asked Of the Chesa-
peakc and Ohio and other railroads. /
WHOSE STOCK Is MOST VALUABLE IN TIE |
MARKET To-Day
is It not That Of the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac railroad? And if Sc
ana II Is so-how does the fact tally with |
the assertions made on this floor and else
where that the Richmond, Fredellcksb rug
and Potomac railroad has been more mis-
managed than the other railroads in Yir-
GINA! v.r
He objected TO the Danville Railrod Com
pany'S cXcusng its own want Of prosperity
by The plea that the Richmond. Fredericks-
burg and Potomac Company has refused to
connect with it. Even If she had had the
desired connection She could not have
fp&nncd the gap from Greensboro to Char