Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-03-19

T q
any just responsibility that might devolve
upon her.
SERVICES APPRECIATED.
| We append communication from citizens
of kanawha County recognizing eminent SER
vice rendered by E. Willis Wilson, ESQ, Sem
ator from this district:
CHARLESTON, March l. 1872.
q. Wills Rilson, Esq, Of the Senate OF Vest
Va.
DEAR SIR The undersigned citizens of
the county of Kanawha, beg leave to tender
| you our cordial thanks for your able and sue
cessful effort to defeat House Bill No. 253,
entitled, "a Bill in relation to the completion
of the Water Line from Richmond to the
| Ohio River"
The remarkable structure of the bill, with
its singular and ambiguous provisions, aroused
the fears Of many of our citizens who, on ex-
animation OF the same, became satisfied that
more was intended than appeared upon its
face. All are aware that the James river and
kanawha Company is poweress to effect
through communication with the West, and
equally so to improve the navigation of the
Great kanawha. While the people Of the en-.
tire State areindirectly interested in this work,
those of the Great Kanawha valley are so in
timately concerned in it that they watch with
we'll founded jealousy any legislation that
seeks to re,invest an irresponsible corporation
with the valuable franchises of the Kanawha
| Board.
We regard this Through Water Line"
work of such national importance as to war;
rant the belief that the general Government
cannot much longer disregarded the growing
wants of the North Western States. but that
Iata at 1v
! fcient to construct line commensurate with
| the immense traffic which is certain to flow
| upon it.
In giving expression of our appreciation of
| the zeal and ability displayed by you in urging
| these views before the Senate, we are not UNI
mindful OF the valuable services rendered with
| equal zeal in the same direction by Messrs.
Scott, of Richie, Morrison, of Braxton, Gun
bingham. of Hancock. and other distinguished
| Senators who co-operated with YOU
| In conclusion, We do not hesitate to say that
your action and that of the other Senators
who arrayed themselves against the bill in
than four-f fths of the people of the Great
Kanawha valley.
We are, very respectfully,
Your friends, &C.,
j. P. Hale, j. NJ. Laidley John W. Sentz,
2. Doddridee, John Slack, ST., W F. Goshorn.
II. G. McWhorter, A. f. Gibbons, A. T.
Laidley, j. w. Gentry, Fl. W Reynolds,
VIM. Dickinson, r. b. Swami, L. j. Wood.
yard, Jacob Goshorn, John Dryden, J. Fl.
Rogers, A. f. Donnally j. e. Middleton. T.
M. Hughes, j. d. Thayer, John Claypool.
Since the above was in type, we have re-
ceived the following reply Of Mr.. Wilson to
the above named gentlemen -
HAapER's FERRY, w. Va,
March 18th, 1872
John p Hu1e, IT. H. Laia1ey, r. 3. Scam.
John Slack, Sr., ". f. Goshorn. Wm.
Dickinson and others, Charleston. ~. Va.
GENTLEMEN Your letter of the 1st inst.
endorsing my opposition, and that of Senators
Scott, of Richie, Morrison, Cunnin CHAM and
others, to "House Bill No. 253," presented
to the Legislature Of West Virginia, at its last
session, entitled, "a Bill in relation to the
completion of the Water Line from Richmond
to the Ohio River" was duly received and
heartily appreciated.
are deeply interested in, because, directly af>
tected by any act of the Legislature of our
State, concerning the "Water Line" men>
toned in the bill, to which you have referred.
or the navigation of the Great Kanawha. es-
pecia!ly, are their opinions of value l be-
lieve that the passage of that bill would not
only have proven great misfortune, but, not
less than State calamity. And instead of
accomplishing the opening of navigation from
Richmond to the Ohio River, Can object so
much desired.) i. would have created an i'm
pedlment, perhaps, beyond the power of the
Legislature to remove. And that we would
have repeuted. at leisure. the baneful results
OF hasty legislation. Without discussing the
merits, or dement's of the bill, I will refer to
some of its features which, to me, are ohiec.
tIonable 10 principle, contrary to public policy.
antagonistic to the development of tho re-
sources of the State, and detrimental TO the
most important interests of the Great Ka-
nawha Valley.
LIST. 1t would have revived the old "James
River and kanawha Company" that had,
because OF its inability to complete the work
OF the James River and Kanawha Canal,
forfeited to the States of Virginia and West
Virginia, Its charter, property, rights. fran>
ch'ses, orprivileges, and reinvested that CONS
pany with the same. BY such revival. the
stock OF the company. held by private parties.
(almost two hundred millions of dollars. \
would have formed an insurmountable obiec>
ton to investments, by enterprisng capitalists.
I'd. 1t created and empowered commits
s'oners, by contract, to "dispose of all interest,"
or claim whatsoever" of this State, sin or to
said company" such contract to become bind
ing when approved by the Board of Public
Works" The Interest, or claim" of West
Virginia, sin, or to said company" would be
an equitable proportion of the common and
preferred stock, amounting to ten and half
millions of dollars in the original investment