Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-02-06
LETTER FROM RIGHGOND.
Correspondence of the Alexandria GAZETTE. |
~. 1000

RICHMOND, Va, February 5, 1856.
Speaker Stuart, Of Alexandria, made u
mastery speech on the floor Of the House
to-day, in advocating the substitute which
| he offered to the Munford railroad bill. He
was listened to with profound attention, and
when he concluded there WAS spontaneous
outhurst of applause in the galleries and on
The floor of the House. He began by saying
that on yesterday he had the honor to sub-
NIT for the consideration of the House, q
substitute fer the 18Th section of the bill as
proposed by Mr.. Muaford, of Pittsylyania.
"Boforc address myself to it," he contin-
ued, at Is due to myself, as it is due to my
constituents, that l should explain why
introduced this amendment, why l shall adj
vocatc il, and why shall be forced to vote
against il. My position is somewhat anon
aieus. and if il were not for my conscience
| would not for one moment take the stand
&c; and if the time were allowed me to
nave another election in my city, would
unquestionah!y go back to my people and
see if they wished me- TO vote as they did ri
The meeting held there some time ago.
shall allow them to control my vote, but not
10 control my judgment, or my reason for
advocating this measure. II is a very re-
cent conversion III my town. for q few years
ago there came up from all that section a
clamor to lhe General Assembly Of Virginia
IN behalf Of restrictive railroad legislation.
II is change-a change within short time
past. Now they are opposed to this
section. l believe that time will vim
dictate the truth l shall endeavor TO
lay before this body, and before few
years more are rolled by those who met to
request me not to vote for this section will
realize that this section ought to be in this
bill" He then proceeded to address him
self to his own substitute, calling the at
tenton Of the House 10 the only change
made and comparing it 10 the Muuiord bill.
In doing this he took occasion to answer
certain questions asked on yesterday by one
Of the Richmond delegates. He answered
most emphatically that he was in favor,
wherever there is o competing poiut, to
allow railroads to fix such rates as they
may please, because, he commended, that
wherever there was competition, railroad
transportation will regulate itself He was
willing that the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road should carry to Newport News cheaper
than they bring here if they built up and
develop the mines of Virginia, whereas they
could not otherwise build up and develop.
He next alluded to the difficulty of under
standing tariff rates, and then forcibly ar
gued upon the point as to whether it was in
the power of the Legislature TO make such
an enactment as that he contended for.
This was the most interesting part of his
speech and he handled the question in such
g clear and able manner as to evoke sup
pressed applause, not alone from those who
believed as he did, but from those who had
expressed antagonistic views. 1t was un-
questionably the best speech that has been
delivered in the Legislature this season on
any subject, and l would have secured
stenosraphic report of it had I not been
suddenly called to tie Senate chamber,
where Senator Wingfeld was making
things warm for Judge Latham, OF Lynch.
burg.
There is movement on foot to impeach
Judge Latham, and as soon as Senator Rhea
returns to the city the resolution introduced
by him in relation to the matter will he
called up aad finally disposed of.
There is desire on the part of q number
Of legislators to investigate certain Judges,
and if the session is extended thirty days,
as some hope it will be, these investigations
will take place. 3. P. o.