The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-02-28
= SPEECH OF MR., WATSON.

| q. SPEEEH 0FS ahs1 HAt0oS.
Mr.. WATSON said: DIR. Speaker,-1 d.
not propose to enter into a discussion Of tn
4 merits OF the proposition now before as
believing that the arguments pro and CON
4 have been exhausted. i simply rise TO en-
courage harmony and concert OF action. !
have been much gratifedJ recently to SCI
manifested so strong 4 disposition to cease
-FOUR chickering's and come up. shoulder t
shoulder in defence OF the principles o!
lpatriotism and just appreciation OF thu
importance OF settling our financial! trou
bles. .a-.a, IT,. - -t.-
! The ordeal through which we have hac
10 pass for the last eighteen years has beer
/ such as few States Or nations have ever eX'
1 perienced; but. notwithstanding the op
4 preSsiops to which we have been subjected
we still maintain our ancient prestige for
honor and patriotism, and in no inconsid,
cradle degree the elements OF political and
Irccuperatlve vitality. The results OF the
/ late terrible warleft us comparatively poor,
with a heavy Indebtedness banging over
us with which we felt unable to 2rapple,
and when the time came that we were called
to act upon the final adjustment OF that in
debtedness, lis not at all strange that there
should have been honest differences OF opn-
ions as to such settlement.
| Under our system OF republican govern
ment, where the humblest citizen can par
lticipate, either. directly OF Indirectly, in
shaping legislation, there is sure to I've. 4 dl-
versity OF opinion when subjects OF such
magnitude as this is introduced. But now,
after free and full interchange Of opinion
has taken place, and the question having
been maturely considered, it seems that it
would bethe part OF wisdom for us, who
are the representatives OF the people, to be
willing to sacrifice upon the altar OF our
State some OF the opinions entertained by
! us, and now, when there are indications OF
the dispersion OF the dark clouds oVerhang-
ing our future prosperity, lend our aid in
reaching an amcabie adjustment, when the
rainbow OF peace with Its radiant beams
will ilumine our politica, horizon, and one
universal response will 90 up throughout
the State, .'Well done, thou good and faith
| full servants" ~ ,.-rt.... .....l. -.. e.. .s..,
THE, AOFFETT, AMENDMENT DEFEATED.
The vote OH the MoFFETr amendment
was '....' .' .' -'' '5.i "
AYEs.-Messr5. Akcrs. Attkisson. Barbour, john
erson, Dickinson. Dyer, Evans, Farr, Faun! leroy,
Goode. .G:issby, hamilton, il: Il. Harrison. Eeuben
Nelly, Lacy: Lady, Lee. McCaul!. Mcdonnell, Nc
Daniel Moffcit, Norton oglcSby. Powell. Robinson,
Sykes, Andrew. j. Taylor, William Taylor, Van
| Lear, Joseph Walker: Walsh Smith j: +. White
W%s Tnsed Wtsn and Es6s BERNARD
Bland: Bocock, Bohanan; Burger, Peter J. Carter,
C9ghll, Coy Crn'chleid, Dance, Davis Eehos,
Hanger, Hardesty. Healy, Hcnhel Henry, Timer.
Hunter. Il. d. James, Johnson. Jordan. keyser,
NORMAN, MusI6ach, MYERS, NcIson, pitts. Pop
ham, PuIliam, Ragand. Reese, Slndidgc. shannon,
sheIbuEnc, shr!yeg: F. Smith William 8;Iaiia-
William NJ. Walker, Wallace, Waring. Watson.
Whitacre, 7. NJ. White, Wilkinson, and Mr. Speak.
cr-63. 49, r -. ....;..........~. &:
Mr.. HARRISON Of Sussex proposed 10 offer
substitute for the bill, and asked that it be
printed. , :..... .... b.. ...,...y -...,
The. SPEAKER said that that would be
done il there was no objection.
| Subsequently Mr. HANGER objected. He
had not heard the remark Of the SPEAKER
asking il there was objection.
The SPEAKER now said that Mr.. HANGER
was too late. r...r,
| Mr.. HENRY moved to reconsider the vote
| last taken to clinch the matter.
Mr.. M0FFETT spoke in favor OF the mo-
| ton.
Mr.. HARvIE spoke against the bill.
The motion 10 reconsider wars lo,t-ayes,
so; noes, &C. s.. ....... -.
AS TO SUBMISSION TO THE PEOPLE.
Dir. FOWLER offered an amendment pro-
posing to submit the bill to the people, at
the election in November. IL was pending
at q O'Clock, when the chair was vacated.
Night Session.
Slr. MCMILLAN in the chair.
| Messrs. FOWLER and FAUNTLEROY spoke
| at length on the amendment submitted by
the former; in effect that the bin should not
be operative until after the people have
voted upon it in November.
| Mr.. FAUNTLEROY's desire was, instead OF
Mr.. FowLER's amendment, to amend the
bill by The insertion Of the following words
on page ( OF the bill: Provided, neverthe-
less, that the said contract and this whole
act, may be revoked By the General Assem-
| bly, after six mouths notice to the said cor
porations by the Governors proclamation
subsequent to January, $780,
-. SPEAKER ALLEN ON THE FLOOR.
Speaker ALLEN followed Mr.. FAUNTLE-
ROY, and argued that last session, when the
! BARBOUR bill was up--a measure which pro
posed to appropriate $500, 200 more per an
mum than this-it was not suggested by
any gentlemen that it should be submitted
to the people. When the BoCoCK-FowLED
bill came up nobody said that that ought to
be submitted to the people. 1t is an TN.
heard-o1 proposition in Virginia legislation
from the Revolution to this time. Nor die
I he believe that it had precedent In any
State. He thought ii utterly absurd ard
tpreposterons. He held that the Legislative
tpowers were vested in the General Assem-
| bly,; to be exercised by the General Assem-
'Ibly, and the General Assembly alone, aIit
they could not shirk' the responsibility ant
] throw 1t upon some other agency. For hi!
part, lie was ready to shoulder his part 0
it. Then his people elected hin they gave
him plenary power as 4 legislator, end tod
him to exercise II, and he would scoru him
self ifihe were to- <siiirk tl responsibility
The SPEAKER read from Cooley tina
where the Constitution mas located the lie
! gislatire powerJithere it must remain; il
cannot choose other agencies. Examining
4 and Analysing the amendment or Mr.. Few
Ter, Mr.. .ALLEN showed that it submitte,
Il nothing. 1t only sought, as matter OF Gu
4 riosity. an expression from the people.
4 MFR. FOWLER explained tina. the object 0
4 submitting the question TO the people wa
ltoaliow the next General Assembly to know
7 the popular will. ~ ~
Z Mr.lALI.EN said that made no difference
1.-The gentleman. wanted TO- ascertain ius
1 for run; y the law would go into effect, b
I aFr. F0wLER's amen dneat, on the Ist {
]. January, 1880, anyhew. Fhe; object ~;
Il simply to fiRd out IL the people approved
II MIR. ALLEN said that II he desired TO test 81
| sense OF the people he would take the bill
81 bis hands and so forth and sexplatn IL TO b
u eoRstituents., He thought that a better pls
A. n. -sGat .