Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1889-08-10
To tho Public.

TO make to the public the folowingceX-
planation of my connection with what
| is known, as the Hog Island Bill,passed
by the last legislature. On the 18th
day of January, 1883, l came out OF the
courts committee room into the SEN
ate chamber about i o'clock, a. M,
and SAW Mr.. Mcdonald, the senator
from Northumberland, in conversation
with gentleman whose face appeared
familiar 10 me, but whom at the time L
did not know. In a few minutes they
separated, and | asked Mr.. Mcdonald
the gentleman name. He replied that
his name was Lewis. that he was orig.
inally from my county, hut was then
living IN his; and asked il wanted to
be introduced, I.replied did. and was
taken over To Inn and introduced by
Mr.. McDonall. After Il few moments
of general conversation, i'll which no
reference was made to any bill that
would come before the legislature, we
separated, the Senate WAS called to Or
der and went TO my seat. While Ill
my seat during the session of the SEN
ate. Mr.. Mcdonald came to me with u
bill and stated that lie wanted me to
offer it, stating further that it was a
local bill of interest TO Ills county. and
That lie being Republican, and in the
minority lie feared he could not lave it.
passed but that if would off, it hatl
influence enough to insure its passage.
1 asked to look at tile bill, which lie
handed me, and which WAS the exact
blllpassed, tnever having beenamend-
ed or changed in any form. The billy
as the Acts show, describes the land
which is made oyster planting ground
rs lying in and adjacent to Northum-
berland county. Itauthorizes the taking
up of.tlis ground by any person upon.
application TO az inspector, provides
what shall be done in case any of it WAS
then occupied by oyster planters, and
describes the land embraced by land.
maps AID buoys. 'rhe explanation lie.
gave was to tlis effect. that this land
WIS il tended for oyster planting pur.
poses, and 10 intimatlou WAS made TO
me nor did / suspect that il natural oys-
ter grew in lis limits. Tile boundaries
conveyed to me no information as to
the size Of the land embraced in the
limits set forth. L knew MIR. Lewis
proposed TO take up part or all or it for.
Mr.. Mcdonald told ire so in This con-
vplsation. He SAID his people wished
it and that it WAS local; The Potomac
river was not mentioned in the hill and
did not know the land lay in that river:
for surely knew it required the con-
current legislation of both the States of
Maryland and Virginia 10 make laws to
govern The waters of the Potomac.-
Thinking I was ae accommodating asen-
ator and at the same time an old Acco
mack citizen, in Il matter in which the
people of this Shore had no interest,
offered the hill. Tie bill was not hur-
RED through the legislature. bnt was
regularly referred 10 tlir Committee on
Fish and Game. On the 18th of Ianu-
airy, 1855, Senator Stubs. chairman of
that committee reported it favorably to
the Senate. On the Goth of January. 1883,
the bill was taken np,reada second time
and ordered to its engrossment,w without
division, no one opposing it. On the
2Srcl or January it was called up, and
passed by OIL motion of Senator Loven-
stein. On January 30tl, 1t was taken.
up, read a third time and passed with
out division. there being no opposition.
These facts the journal of the Senate
will show. The bill then went to the
House. 1t was communicated there on
The Slst of January, and on the same
! day was regularly referred tc the Com
mittee on the Chesapeake and its Tlib
utaripe. On the 18th OF February it was
reported favorably from that commit
tee. On the Sth of February it passed
the House without opposition, 10 one
opposing it. On the 9th of February,
it was communicated TO Tile Senate and
then went to the Governor for his sig
nature, which it received. While it was
in the House Committee. Mr.. Lewis
came to Richmond and asked me to see
the chairman OF tile committee and
get him to have snme action taken upon
the bill. This did. On the 9Th of March,
the last day Of the session of the legisla.
ture, Mr.. Mcdonald came to me stating
there would be trouble over this bill he
| feared. asked how-he sail Lewis had
gone before the inspector and taken up
all the land, artl that other oystermen
were MAD because they got none of it.
He said lie thought it might go into the
courts. and that Lewis had written him
to see me and employ me as attorney in
the cases If they did go to court, wri-
ting that had represented his father
in the courts OF this county. replied
[ would not lie retained rs attorney III
the case, as it might look like taking
fees for matters which it was my duty
as Senator TO attend to, but if the only
objection to his holding the land was he
got to the inspector first. l thought he
would have no trouble. He replied that
Lewis only wanted me If he Ilad to go to
law about the matter, lut l refused to
he employed under any circumstances.
Up to this tine l had never heard a
word of objection to the bill from tlliS
county, or pIeeWhpre-;l SDace. of time