Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-09-17

Inc southwestern members generally,
however, claimed that while such re-
strictions as were proposed would be
well enough if applied to all the rail
roads Of the State, it was unfair and
impolitic to undertake to burden down
this charter with them, and thus practi-
cally deny to their undeveloped coun-
ties the opportunity for getting road,
as no company would undertake. Its
construction with such unequal pro
visions imposed upon it as compared
with the other roads of the State.
Mr.. w. A. Burke, ofStaunton, offered
as a compromise substitute the follow
ing:
Resoloed, That in granting said
charter the General Assembly be re-
quested so to guard and restrict the
same as to secure to all persons travel
ing over. or sending fraights by anyi
road constructed by virtue Of the same,
against excessive charges, and further,
requiring the company thereby in
corporated to connect with other roads.
and to receive from and deliver to all.
connecting roads passengers and freiehts
at pro rats zrate;of transportation.
After some. futher debate the con
vention at,74 adjourned until 9 Pm.
JUDGE, sHEFFEY ARGUMENT.
AT night the hall was crowded. the
public .evincing great interest in the
debate. Judge Shelley made an able
argument in opposition to MIR, Cochran's
resolution, which he characterized as
most remarkable in three points. 1t
prescribed distinct terms for one rail.
road which were Made for no other. It
required guaranty of the whole sub
scription. It required the surrender of
exemption from local taxation and
strange to say all these propositions
came from the section OF the Valley
through which the Valley railroad
proper does not pass 1t was a strange
spectacle, this opposition from parties
whose interest could not be effected by
the extension of the road. The people
Of Shenandoah could be only Interested
IN the matter of president by which
they might, at some. far distant future
impose terms ON the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company, when that
corporation should be seeking at the
hands of the Legislature, renewal of
the lease of the Manassas rad.
He made eloquent reference 10 the
attitude in which General Lee, when
president OF the road, stood towards
capitalists whose aid in its construction
he was seeking, and quoted the words
OF that great man, who saw in this
route future great national highway
which should bring prosperity to ali
the lands through which it passed. In
Baltimore Gen. Lee had presented the
charter of the Valley railroad with its
present terms as the basis on which he
invited their aid, and who believes that
it that great and good man were now
living he would be derelict to tho con
tract then made, and he was sure that
no gentleman in this assembly would
ask it of him. Loud applause
Tho speaker would warn this con-
ventlon that, as Mr. Cochran had pros
missed, this resolution might procure a
charter, but it could never secure a
road. Capital was timid, and while it
might coufine itself to the broad
authority Of commonwealth, would
neyer consent to place itself at the
mercy of the caprices of counties and
Irresponsible local municipalities. As
general principle applicable to all the
railroads OF the State, he would have no
objections to this feature of taxation
were it practicable measure, but it
| was not.
Judge Shefey closed with an clio
quent appeal for the preservation Of
the honor, while they stroye to pro-
mote the prosperity of Virginia.
ANOTHER SUBSTITUTE.
Mr. Riddlebarser submitted the FOL
loving as substitute for all pending
propositions:
Resoloed, That this convention is in
favor of the construction of the VALLEY
railroad, and the granting of such new
franchises as are not inconsistent with
the pablo veal; but they demand
equal and uniform rates of transpor-
tatlo9n, to be fixed by the General As.
sembly, and the taxation of property
and income for State purposes. To
this end they insist upon every oppor-
tunlty to avoid the so>oallsd constitu
tlonal obstacles which now exist, or
which may hereafter arise, to maintain
the sovereing power of the State TO
levy and collect taxes an d protect her
citizens against unjust extortion.
MIR. Rlrdlsbarger explained that this
resolution had been assented to by some
OF the friends of the original report,
and ne was willing to accept it as
compromise.
MIR. Williams, of Bland, favored the
committees report He said he was
unable to see why the whole South
west should be kept waiting for The
release of her locked up treasures until
Shenandoah and some other county had
settled their difficulties with some
existing or other railroad.
The resolution was then withdrawn
after some opposition to it by Judge
oneHey. who analysed and rldlculed it.
A. the labor Of the convnntion it would
be but the mouse brought forth by the
mountain, or if not that it was the split
load Of hay with Dad under it.
The previous question was then put
IN operation under which Mr.. Burkes
resolution was defeated almost unani
mously. Mr.. Cochran's resolution was
defeated, with only four votes in its
favor, and the committees report was
adopted. with oniy FIVE dissenting voices.
The convention adjourned sine die At
10 P. NJ.
Out OF fifty four young men appoin-