The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-09
Aitl,ntoltd 1ispatth. ]
THURSDAY. 8. 81. MARCH i:A1'llH o. 1871

THURSDAY. -. 80. MARCH MARCH o. iost'
The Battle Change in the Order
Yesterday. in the House, sudden cnange
,va. hrought about in tho array of the ngnt
an tho attempt to place forcibly the prop
ort, or rho Richmond and Petersburg kali
road COMPANY under the control OF dene-
r.I M.uoSE. by the introduction OF prop
osition of very prominent and wealthy men
in Richmond and Petersburg to pay in state
stock, at par, $50 per share for the stock
Of the Richmond, and Petersburg Railroad
Company. The reader will find the propo-
sition fully stated in the report of the
proceedings of the House. 1t was intro
duced by Col. GUY, of this city, and sus-
tanned In very able speech. After reply
from Mr.. WooD, of Halifax, the bill was
recommitted TO the Committee on ROADS,
on motion of Col. Guy.
This proposition was so frank and I'M.
qualified, and, besides the responsibility OF
the names signed to 1t, the actual deposit
of Sl00, 900 of State stock with the Treasurer
Of the State, was such an earnest OF the
sincerity of the offer, that it commanded
the attention of the House, and led to the
recommitment of the bill by large vote.
The difference between the price at which
the bill fixed the State stock to be pur-
chased by General MALONE and the price
proposed to be paid for it by the gentle
men named is about 5000, 000-certainly a
sum of very great respectability in this day
of general poverty-one that would give
valuable relief to m overburthened people.
TO save them so fair a sum in the matter OF
! the sale of the State stock in the little Klch-
mond and Petersburg road, was sugges-
ton that demanded consideration, and the
complaints paused in the tight for the pur-
pose of reflection before proceeding fur
Their with the scheme to place the Rich
| mond and Petersburg Company under the
control of corporation with which they
have nothing to do, against their "lshes
and their interest.
The first manifestation of opinion from
the friends of the bill transferring the
| Richmond and Petersburg road to General
| MALONE was an inquiry propounded,
strangely enough, by Mr.. VIM, OF Han
over-yiz: Whether the gentlemen who
proposed to purchase the stock in the Rich
mond and Petersburg road would give 3
guarantee that they would not sell the stock
| to a foreign company. Such question from
such quarter was strange enough. 1t was
bit of strategy in the line of very small
skirmishing which, like bit OF SHINING
bait. called around the small fry, who nib
bled at it eagerly.
Mr.. GrY responded very concluslvely,
expressing his establishment that those who
were willing to sell the stock to Gen. MA
HONE without any guarantee whatever
were demanding that the well-known, IN
| improbable, and wealthy gentlemen,
whose fortunes were linked with Richmond
and Petersburg, should give guarantee
that they would not dispose Of the stock to
persons living out of the State. He never
dreamed that such an inquiry would be
made, and was amazed that any man will
ing to trust Gen. MALONE, the president OF
another railroad line, who might use his
power both to the damage Of Richmond
and the Richmond and Petersburg road
itself, should think of asking security
from the gentlemen who signed the propo-
sal he had introduced. 1t was Incredible
that they could be led to do an injury to
the cities where their fortunes were cast,
and with which they must thrive or sink
into ruin.
1t was an inquiry inconsistent and unsus-
tainable upon any reasonable grounds.
After Mr.. GUYS clear and frank speech,
Mr.. WooD, of Halifax, foundered through
Il speech more remarkable for its energy
of gesticulation and utterance than for
strength of argument or soundness of logic.
A proposition greatly emphasized by the
speaker was an inference he drew from the
proposal of Messrs. ELLYsoN, ANDERSON,
and others-viz: that it was complete vim
dication Of the policy Of selling the stock
of the State to our own citizens, since
these gentlemen were citizens of Rich
mond and Petersburg. The inference
is forced. The offer Of these gentle
men is, on the contrary, a strong illus
tration of the wrong that is contemplated
by the bill. which proposes to force upon the
Richmond and Petersburg company all off,
Ger they do not want to control their az
fairs, and these citizens Of Richmond and
Petersburg appealto the Legislature not to
| intlict so great a wrong upon them. This
| is the real view of the case. Gentlemen,
they say, save us from this injustice-let
this coup pass" 1t is bitter one. We
| fear its perils. Spare us.
We cannot see how the Legislature can
proceed in the measure in the face Of this
appeal. The thing contemplated was wrong.
The measure of selling the State stock in
the Richmond and Petersburg road without
giving the road itself an opportunity to buy
! it would be an act of great injustice to the
company, and the offer made by Messrs.
ELLYsoN, ANDERSON 6 Co. is the best proof
of this. The Legislature by entertaining
the scheme SO fills the community with ap-
!prehension that it is driven to attempts to
Isave itself from impending danger, and
test of the extent of its fears is extorted
from it.
| What commentary upon legislation this
lis! No regular, sensible, and fair scheme
could bring about any such offer of mo.
| ney price to evade the calamity of a legisla-
tive act. 1t may lead to system of bidding
in the hall which would only sink the de-
alterations of the body into further ridicule,
and add proof of the impelicy of the pro-
posal to take away the property of road
j and nut Il under the authority Of another