Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-28
a Reply to Mr.. Lewis.

! To The Editor Of The Dispatch:
Does the State of Virginia owe Mr.. C. II.
| Lewis ANYTHING because OF the repeal of
| his Hog-Island grant? Is he actually out
| of pocket any when balance Is struck be-
| tween his OUTLAY upon and income from
| said grant: 1t was good rock and nature
| had already stocked 1t with oysters when
| il went into his possession. These oysters
| he drcdged up and sold III large quantities,
and II is believed that his income from this
source largely exceeds the amount he ex-
pended in planting shells and oysters there.
| il is further believed that this fact can be
fully proved before any tribunal that has
power TO compel the attendance OF VIII
nesees. Then, shall the state undertake
! to compensate HIM for losses before 1t Is
asccrtained that they are real?
But suppose the State does owe him. is
il lust and wise to undertake to pay him
bv giving him a grant of 5000 acres OF
oyster-ground in Pocomoke sound. Acco-
mac county, tor the period OF twenty
wears" for which he asks! From the rocks
of that sound contained in the area OF the
desired grant comes the support of hun
dreds of families, and there Is a large
community of thriving villages, stores,
and farms. all dependent upon the earnings
of the men who make their living upon
those rocks. If Mr.. Lewis takes possession
of these rocks he will catch the oysters
with dredges and will have use for COM
paratively but little labor, and these peO-
Die will be deprived of the only means OF
support they have ever known. Is 1t WISE
or inst for the State to bring poverty and
want upon large community of her citl-
Zens in order to make one man richer upon
the plea that large revenue Will be derived
ereby?
There is now much revenue derived from
licenses and taxes III that community
which would then cease. for with the i'm
poverishmcnt of the community would
come the closing of many stores, general
depreciation in the value of the lands and
a decrease in the amount OF other property
owned there.
But would the large amount of revenue
represented by Mr.. Lewis really ever be
paid into the Treasury II he obtain this
Grant? He could put his dredges upon
those rocks and clean up and sell nearly all
of the oysters there III short time. Then
the goose that laid the golden egg would
be dead and no more revenue would come
in from either MIR. Lewis or the tongmen
thore.
II - unfair to argue that because a small
revenue is paid by tongmen the rocks
should be taken from them and bestowed
upon rich individuals and corporations
who will paw more for them. The Consti-
tuition of Virginia, Article u, section 2,
says: ., A..
citizens of this State for the privilege of
taking or catching oysters from their natu-
raj beds with tongs IN tne waters tnereoI'
and so forth.
So is the constitutional right of these
people to take oysters from the natural
rocks with tOngs without being taxed
therefor. and this is why but small tax
is collected from them. But Dill IS now
about TO pass the Legislature which, 1t IS
thought. will bring in large revenue with
out violating this provision OF the Oonstl-
tuition.
but can this Legislature afford to give
Mr.. Lewis the grant which he desires
The platform adopted by the last Demo-
cratic State Convention says:
Fifth. The Democratic party will foster
the oyster industry of Virginia for the
benefit of her own citizens and faVors the
enforcement of the policy OF preserving 70
her citizens the free use OF all natural
oyster-rocks, beds, and shoals, as regulated
by law, and ,ciu oppose ne transfer or S,o'-
render Of uls public rights therein TO fdicddLs
or corporations"
One of the causes for putting that plank
in the platform was the Hog-island grant
10 MIR. Lewis. which had caused so much
dissatisfaction in Tdewater that 1t was
feared it would injure the party there 80
this solemn promise was made TO 'ne peo-
nile and they acted upon it by giving the
largest Democratic vote ever polled III that
section for many years past. Every. mem
ber of the General Assembly elected in
the First congressional district except one
is a Democrat and the result in the Second
district was equally as good.
Every Democrat in this Legislature is IN
honor bound to keep the promise OF that
platform upon which he was elected, ana
Governor Mckinney is also bound ny u.
viii they disregard so sacred promise in
a vain and illusory attempt to increase the
revenues OF the State? II so, future cleo
tions VIII tell the awful result IN Tide"
water. GEORGE HUsLEy.
Richmond, Va, February "a, 1890.