The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-03
to turn it over to the Southside Consoli-
dated Line" al
THIS WAS THE CAT,

THIS WAS THE CATs ~
Remarks began to travel around the
House, intersperscd with. winks and sig
niticant finger-snappings. Very few men,
bers showed any disposition to pet or play
with this domestic gtIyamscutas," while
many displayed an evident desire to tackle
him with murderous intent. While this
state Of precaution and indecision pre-
vailed, Mr.. WooD, holding the floor, pro-
ceeded to advocate his amendment.
THE ESHlBIToR's ACCOUNT OF THE CAT.
Mr.. WooD made feeling allusion to the
relation, caused by identity of residence,
between the cat and the sheep. He paint
ed the cat as determined home ally Of
Virginia lambs against foreign invaders.
he drew moving pictures of the distress to
visit Petersburg and Richmond if their
own and kindred interests were allowed to
remain in control of their intermediate
and continuous channels Of trade and he
portrayed in colors peacockian in their
hrliliancy, the benefits to flow to those cities
from the legaliZation Of an alliance between
their worst enemy, and a company which
has no earthly interest in their northern
and southern communications. He alluded
patriotically and Old Dominically to the
| ownership of some stock in the Richmond
and Petersburg road by gentlemen whom
| it. is suspected, or inferred, or charged, are
! interested in the Wilmington and Weldon
company; but he said less than nothing
about Mr.. MoNcURE RoR1NsoN's influence
in the Petersburg line (which is one.thirdj,
nor did he explain how the Atlantic, Mis-
| sissippi and Ohio company is to control the
disputed link except by collision soith the
poaoer ,chich is the deadly antagonist of
Richmond and Petersburg-the seaboard
and Roanoke road. '-s' ..''s ..-...&@"- Il
SOMETHING OF, TEE CATS TAIL. ,., ..
| Mr.. WooD was also effective in allusion
to the caudal appendage Of his manumitted
puss. Like faithful Snowman, he neg
lected no part Of its fair proportions. The
tail was constituted thus: r.: ..... .,.s... .. I'D.
| "Prouided, That nothing herein con-
tained shall be 30 construed as authorizing
the said Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio
Railroad Company to change the gauge of
the said Richmond and Petersburg rail-
road" ~ t-= - @a. ...-@
But Mr.. WooD forgot to mention to the
House, that if nothing in the present law
forbade the wagsing of his cats extremity
from knocking one rail two inches out of
place, nothing in the formation of the tail
prohibited. Very naturally, we think, Mr..
WcoD brought prominently forward all the
good qualities of his pet, and forebore to call
public attention to its foibles. he evidently
|regarded "Tabby" as the poet did his
errlng brother:
BE to his virtues uery kind,
| be to his faults a little blind" .... h
But, nevertheless, we imagine that ma
ljority of the House still entertains wise
suspicion Of this unreliable animal, and
realizes, that in embracing it the unwary
member might find he had "tackled the
wrong tom-cat." ....s..o ..-
Il CONCLUSION.
After Mr.. WooD finished his lecture on
natural history, the bill was passed by, and
the House, after the transaction of some
unimportant business, adiourned. ,,rsy7s.
Mr.. MAHooD's substitute is the special
order for to-day at l o'clock, and more de.
velopments may be confidently expected.