Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-25
THE OYSTERMEN.
Apscpep SENSATION ON THE EAST
ERIN SHORE.
TIE Fight on the Biii Now Before the L.
gisiaturc-A Mass-sIeeting-
Resolutions.
Correspondence of the Richmond DIsps'ca.l

OSaxcocK. Va, February %, 1889.
Tho bill reported fayorabiy oy inc
Finance Committee of the Virginia House
of Delegates 10 lease for term OF years 70
Charles X. Lewis thirty-two thousand acres
IN Pocomoke sound for planting oysters
has created big sensation smong up, rhe
oystermen OF the Eastern Shore; Inc
nroposition meets with the fiercest
Opposition among those engsgen
en- the oyster business and finds
no supporters or defenders among
the people of this section. The sentiment
OF the oystcimen was very. forclby ex-
pressed here TO-DAY by Lit Ayres, the pa
friarch Of the Chesconnessex region WHO,
hearing Of the bill while he was out In the
sound dredging, hoisted sail and came TO
Onancock 10 and out the facts in the case
After hearing the hill read the old man
shook his head and sworo by all the gods
M once IL that bill became law he would
never vote for another legisiatermun.
II il probable that meetings VIII he
held and petitions circulated ior
signatures against the passage OF the
hill. which II enacted into a law would
work. il is said, great injury and injustice
10 the tongmen on the Eastern Shore
of Virginia. A the big Democratic ma
ioritv in Accomac comes largely from the
havside region, where the tOngmen reside,
II Is presumed the Eastern Shore members
Of the General Assembly will fight the bill
20 the last ditch. Many judicious persons;
here express the belief that II the ON
should pass the Democrats would nave
hard work to carry the county IN the fu-
ture.
FORMAL ACTION.
Especial telegram 20 the Dispa;chl
AccoMAC COURTHOUSE. VA, Uld IAsLKY.
Va. February 24-As stated in my CORE
epondence the proposition pending before
the Virginia Legislature 90 grant 20 Charles
Il. Lewis more than 5000 acres in POGO
moke sound for planting oysters has Gre
ated the greatest excitement among the
oystermen on the Eastern shore. To-day
being Accomac County Court large mass
meeting was held in the courthouse TO
protest against the passage OF the bill.
The meeting was composed OF representa-
tive men from all parts OF the county.
There was a very general exchange OF
opinions, and the sentiment OF the meet
ing was expressed by the unanimous
adoption Of the following:
Whereas n bill has been reported by the
Finance Committee Of the Virginia House
of DELEGATES appropriatlng TO private IN
dividual more than 5000 acres of the most
valuable natural oystcr-grounds In the
waters of the POcomOke sound, thereby
doing gTievOus injury 10 large number OF
Fastern-Shore oystermen by depriving
them of the means of subsistence hereto
fore granted to them by the laws OF the
State. we. the people of Accomac county,
irrespective Of political differences. IN mass
meeting assembled. do protest II the mos,
emphatic terms against the enactment OF
such an unjust and iniquitOus measure.
The oyster-grounds from time immemo-
nal have been held as the property OF the
State for the benefit of the people. Fully
nine tenths of the people living IN the mp
per bayside region of Accomac make their
living by taking oysters from PocomOke
sound. The prosperity OF this county de-
ponds in large measure on the preservation
OF these oyster-beds for the use OF the peo-
ole. Should this bill become a law many per-
sons who have been engaged all Their lives
in the oyster business and have invested
all their savings in boats and oyster imple-
ments would have their property rendered
almost valueless and be deprived OF
the only means of making q living
now open 10 them. 1t would be an
unjust discrimination in favor of capi-
tai against honest labor and rum many
thriving communities whose sole subslst-
ence comes from these oyster-beds. In the
name of Justice, humanity, and fair deal
ing we protest against the passage OF such
law, and We appeal TO the members of
the General Assembly to defeat this mea-
sure: and We urge our own senator and
delegates 10 exhaust all honorable means
20 prevent the cOuSummatiOn Of such an
outrage on the rights of the people.
A committee consisting of seven repre-
sentative men was appointed to visit Rich
mond and lay these resolutions before the
General Assembly.
The feeling against the proposition Is
intense in all parts OF the Eastern Shore.