The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-22
cult to assert, but certainly it might be said
that they were not few.

IN his frequent visits to his constituents to
ascertain their views, and agreed with the
City Sergeant of Petersburg, who, being in
daily intercourse with the people, had de-
clared to him that he believed that if 1t was
put to a vote to-day three-fourths of the
people would declare in favor of the Ely
son proposition. He then showed why the
people of Petersburg were opposed to
Gen. Mahone's getting control of the road,
and appealed to gentlemen from other Sec
tons of the State not to slight the interests
of Richmond and Petersburg In matter
to those cities so important.
Remarks Of Mr.. Roller.
MIR. ROLLER said that as one Of the three
who signed the minority report, he felt it
his duty to touch upon at least one con-
sideration, which he thought the main one,
and which had not been noticed by the
gentlemen who had spoken. He took for
granted all the claims that the Petersburg
ers put forth-that they were honest, and
intended to carry out what they said.
In the very contract of the Petersburgers
he read that the voting power of the State
in the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad
Company if purchased by the Petersburgers
was not to be transferred to the Atlantic,
Mississippi and Ohio Company, but to Gen.
Malone and the directors of the company.
The same thing, he was sorry to say, had
been perpetrated in the bill chartering the
Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Company.
There was another fraud which would be
perpetrated. Where was the money to
come from? Why, if it came from any
where, it must come out of the S15, 100000
first mortgage, and if this is done, the
repairs Of the road, the construction
Of the Virginia and Kentucky road,
or some other object contemplated in
the first mortgage, and in the end the
whole thing is just taking money out
of one pocket of the State and putting it in
another-the State really getting not dol
lar more than she has now. If the prop
osition had been separated from the Allan
tic, Mississippi and Ohio road, he should
have felt in duty bound to accept the 5000
offer, but as in its connection, with the
Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio road, the
offer was no offer at all, and he should take
the $3.50, which was a real offer, and not
shadow. .,.ea..fs.g
Messrs. TAYLOR Of Norfolk and FITzPAT-
RICK favored the majority report. IL
MIR. CAMPBELL. called the previous ques-
ton. Call not sustained-yeas, IA nays, 81.
Mr.. FRENCH explained why he favored
the Malone proposition.
Rejoinder Of Col. PeEdIeton.
Col. PENDLEToN then took the floor. He
knew that there had been apprehen>ions on
this floor for the effect Of outside influ-
ences, and he feared that before those intlu-
ences some had trembled and hcsitated in
casting their votes. He reviewed at some
length the various positions taken by
speakers upon the other side. He urged
that the Senator. from Nelson (Mr. Fitz-
patrick) had misstated . the law in
stating that contract, sealed or
not, was binding upon one party, o.
though not signed by the other. Either of
the propositions before the Legislature
could be withdrawn legally before it has
been ratified by that body. But there had
been some disposition to dodge the real
question at issue, or, at all events, Senators
had not discussed the points really in
volved. The Senator from Accomac (Mr.
Johnson) had labored for fifteen minutes to
show that 200 is more than 15O-a PROPOSE
ton which nobody seemed disposed to
deny. Other Senators had made equally
unnecessary arguments.
He now proposed to show that, in addi-
ton to the arguments adduced by him IN
the morning against the majority report,
there was another insuperable in his mind.
If the bill reported by the committee pass
ed, it could not become law, for it is I'M
constitutional. 1t embraces more than one
object, for it not only provides for the sale
Of the States interest in certain roads, but
| it actually changes the charter Of the Rich.
mond and Petersburg'railroad. d:a
Colonel PEsDLEToN then noticed the de.
NAL by Mr.. Taylor and Mr.. French of the
statements MADE by him Colonel Pendle'
tony in regard to the unfair rates of trans
| portation over the consolidated line to Nor
folk and northern cities. Against the state
ment of Mr.. Taylor be would place that O.
the Norfolk gentlemen whom he had quoted
| in the morning, and against that OF MIR
French (who lived out in Bland, and ought
to know he would place q letter from
| well-known gentleman of Petersburg. The
letter was read as follows:
RICHMOND, VA, March 81, 1871.
Hon. Ed. Pendleton, Senate of Va:
Dear Sir,-I am informed by David Col
lender, agent of the Matoaca Cotton Fac
tory, of Petersburg, Va, that he had bought
cotton in Selma, Ala, and that his agent
there informed him that he could ship cot
ton to New York via Petersburg at Coo. pei
100 lbs, but that the rate to Petersburg on
the same line was 75c. per 100 lbs. went
to see R. D. McIlwaine, who is a director
in the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio
railroad, and informed him of it, and he
told me he was aware of it, and hoped tx
have it corrected; but have been informed
that it has not been and cannot be correct
ed. Very respectfully,
FRED. r. scoTr,"
| He also read the following telegram from
the same gentleman, received since the
| letter:
" Collender confirms the statement made
| in my letter to-day, and will furnish the
evidence if called on. FRED. 3. SCOTT"
This letter and this telegram constitute
Il