The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-16
State AaRsCULTURAL SOCIETY.
Meeting OF Iafe-sIembers Last Night
MEeSHHk Oh = - $500
THE AMENDED CHARTER or THE SOCIETY
EXPLAINED By COLONEL KNIGHT AND
DISCUSSED By THE MEETING AND Ac-
cEPTEl,-pRIcEo OF FLIFE-NEAIBERsIllP, &c

THE AMENDED CHARTER OF THE SOCIETY
EXPLAINED By COLONEL KNIGHT AND
DISCUSSED BY THE MEETING AND Ac-
CEPTEu-PRIcEoF OF FLIFE-NEMDERsMP.&c &c
Pursuant to adjournment the life-mem-
bers Of the Virginia State Agricultural So
ciety met at 8 O'Clock last night at the Bal
lard House to consider the reception Or re-
lection OF the amended or new charter re-
Gently passed by the General Assembly.
Colonel a. II. Drewry, president OF the
Society, was called on to preside, and Mr.
z. G. Leigh acted as secretary. a.aa Il,
During the dny the Executive Committee
had a prolonged session in the same build
ing, Its attention being occupied with q re-
vision and an addition TO the premium list,
which being satisfactorily accomplished the
committee adjourned sine die.
OF life-members, there appeared to be
present at the meeting last night, either by
person or proxy, three hundred and seven
ty.four, including Colonel s. McRae, W. A.
Burke, A. NJ. Bowman, DIR. R. F. Taylor,
DR.. w. T. Walker, Colonel w. G. Knight,
Thomas Watkins, James Newman, r. B.
Haxai, Alexander Cameron, George D.
Fisher, Colonel John F. Lewis, Peyton
Johnston, Isaac Davenport, S. w. Ficklin,
Joseph L. Darlington, w. II. +. Lee, ana
others.
President Drewry announced that quo
rum was present and the meeting open for
business. - tts +
Colonel Knight explained the bill just
passed by the Legislature amending the
charter OF the Society. 1t was similar to the
old bill with the exception that the property
Of the Society was exempted from the pay
ment Of State taxes; that the officials OF the
Society were given the right to execute
bonds for any at present existing or future
Indebtedness; that the names of the corpo-
rators (Ssciety otficials) were placed in the
new bill; and that the Legislature reserves
the right to repeal hereafter, should it see
fit, the provision eXempting the property Of
the Society from taxation by the State.
B. Johnson Barbour, Esq, Of Orange,
moved that the amended charter be ac-
cepted by the Society. ..-
Colonel Sherwin McRae, OF Henrico, op-
posed the acceptation Of the charter on the
ground that the present bill gave such
power that in these perilous times the pro-
perty Of the Society might be alenated
without sufficient cause. He gave sue
clnet history OF the Society that preceded
the present one, as well as that now exist
ing. -.......
General Lee asked If the gentleman knew
that the amended bill was simply the legally
embodied wishes Of a former meeting.
Colonel McRae said that he did not. He
did not understand that that meeting con-
templated lien on the property.
Colonel knight said the $4,000 Of float
ing debt due by the Society was incurred
in the erection of the buildings now on the
ground, and that the property of the So
ciety was worth many thousands more than
was due on it.
Colonel Drewry said, in his opinion, the
affairs of the Society had hitherto been
managed with singular, ability, and there
seemed to be no present reason to doubt
that whatever was done in the future would
be for the best interests OF the Society and
the farmers whose interests it was intended
to subserve. .....--
On the call OF the question, the vote was
unanimous for the acceptance OF the new
or amended charter. : 80 @>,
MIR. B. j. Barbour submitted motion
that the price of llie-membership. as
suggested in the Executive Committee, be
reduced from 1920 to $40, or $l5 in three
annual payments" h'vi: E@H. 80 .......
The suggestion was debated as. to its
bearings on the welfare of the Society,
present or future; no one violently cham
pioning the proposition, or, uice Uersa, op-
posing the same. F..
Mr.. Isaac Davenport said that the rcduc-
ton in the price Of life-membership would
| benefit the Society very much at first. 1t
remained to be seen how it would operate
after time. -..r..
DR.. Walker of W estmoreland, ex-senator
John +. Lewis, and others, spoke in favor
of reduction OF the price as a measure
calculated to advance the interests Of the
Society. They held that the great number
Of local societies throughout the State had
in some measure distracted the attention of
many of the former friends Of the State So
cietv scattered in different parts Of the
Commonwealth, and some measure was
necessary to revive waning interest.
General Lee suggested that the matter be
postponed till the annual meeting in conse-
quence OF the smalIness Of the number
present.
MIR. Chambliss, OF Brunswick, proceeded
the State Society.
General Lees motion being put, was de-
cided in the negative.
Mr.. Davenport having alluded to the fact
that majority Of the receipts Of the Fair
were derived from the city Of Richmond,
DR.. Walker said that was pregnant rea.
son why the Fair should be restored to its
former place in the affections of the farm
ing community by some concessions to the
rural denizen. He wanted the interest re-
stored which had been lost.
Mr.. John r. Chambliss, Of Mecklenburg,
speaking, he said, as the organ of the farm.
eIs of the Southslde, entertained the meet
ing with an interesting flow of rhetoric in
which the pleasant aroma Of the clover
bloom and the actual presence OF the tYpi.
cal hay-seed was nearly discerned. He
mixed in the problem OF free labor and free
ballot, also. and then gently succumbed.
! DIR. Walker moved an amendment to Mr
Barbour's resolution that the payment OF
$40 constitute person life-member.
Mr.. Ficklin renewed General Lees mo.
ton that the whole subject OF the price OF
life-membership be laid over till the next
annual meeting.
/. 1t was carried in the affirmative, and the
meeting adjourned sine die.
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALs.-The follow
ing business was transacted yesterday:
Millner, assignee, Us. Connolly, &c. From
the Corporation Court OF Danville. Affirm
ed, Judge Moncure delivering the opinion
Of the court. mfr
! i Reynolds, &C., Us. Hatcher, &c. From
the Circuit Court of Patrick. Amended
and affirmed, Judge Christian delivering
the opinion Of the court.
i Walden and ais Us. Stubblefield's execu-
tor. From the Circuit Court Of Charles
City county. Reversed, Judge Staples de
liyering the opinion Of the court. ts.laSe
Blair q Hoge for, &C., us. Wilson. From
she Circuit Court Of the city Of Richmond.