Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-23
oYsTeRMENs PROTECTIVE UNION.
Heated Discussion--A Lively right 60 BE
Made for the oyster Interest.

Made for the oyster Interest.
correspondence Of the Richmond Dispa,chi
MAriEws CouRrnoUsE, Va, June q. The
soNeTeigns again assembled ia mass-rneet-
ing az the courthouse SATURDAY. evening
70 receive reports Of committees appointed
at previous meeting TO INVESTIGATES as.
Arguments of public bottoms. CAPTAIN i.
uurston presided over the meeting.
WITH A. y, Miller secretary.
The following chAirmen presenfad Tho
reports OF their respective committees'
which, after some little discussion. were
adopted; j. z. Jarvis, New Point: c. III
lewis, Planketank; William Miller North
RIVER; A. y. Williams. Milford Haven.
m a minority report presented by Julian
4. Christian, John Foster. and w. 3 Davis
IA reference to disputed bottoms in the ri.
hnatank was the occasion Of hot dis
pute between Julian Christian and Walter
Foster, which eliminated in the latter adj,
dressing q id lie to the former who
quickly rushed towards his antaponist
Ieacning Tor his pocket, and but for the
timely interference on the part of bv-
ISLANDERS would have resulted in general
row; Order was finally restored mutual
apologies made and accented, and the
meetlng progressed as usual under the
tense strain that has pervaded the meeting
from the beginning.
SPIRIT OF AgTAGoNIsM.
CAPTAIN J. Il. Thurston addressed the
meeting at this iuncture as follows: ] am
deeply panied TO witness the spirit of an
tagonism which has been manifested here
to-day between the tonger and planter.
Your best interest lies in harmonious ac-
ton: The great and paramount object we
all have in view-the protection of the
rights OF our people from the greed of
cormorants and monopolists-can only be
secured by standing shoulder to shoulder
throughout Tidewater and demanding
from the courts and the Legislature the
strict and faithful enforcement of the laws.
Contemplate. If you will, the sad fate of
the American Indian to-day. Step by step
he has been forced towards the setting
sun. These magnificent water-eourses,
these sunny lands andsmiling fields, where
IN the freedom and abandon Of Natures
wards he once enjoyed her spontaneous
gifts, are now held ny the stranger, and
| such, my countrymen, will be your sad fate
unless we unite as one man TO fight the
| daily encroachments of the heartless capt.
talist and monopolist who will pour money
into the next Legislature to sell you out.
THE GAUNTLET THROWN DOWN.
The State has already proclaimed its
| policy through it's Chief Executive, and
! that policy is Revenue! ReveDuel The
gauntlet has been thrown down. The
lines are strictly drawn. Ii ia a fight OF
| the West against the East. Your Western
representatives have disregarded their OBJ
| legation 10 give you that protection which
| they freely give to the industries Of the
| favored Southwest. Their foundrles,
| their coke-ovens, and their blast and
| smelting-furnaces are protected from the
raids of Hungarian and Italian miners at
! the expense of the State by the military
from Tidewater and other parts of the
% Ir.N ne nm,
they say, in the language of the
Chief Executive: IF you want
protection you must pay for it."
| To this / reply we know our rights and
| dare maintain them. Our interests are
| blended with our lives and are paramount
TO all other considerations and if the West
| shall deal with US as aliens then self-pre-
| seryation would dictate that we break
asunder the letters of party and take new
departure more promising in results.
OFFENDERS TO BE PROSECUTED.
Onmotion of Leonard Smither commit
| tee was appointed 10 bring TO the atteL-
ton of the Commonwealth Attorney all
violations of the law in regard to the
| stalking up of natural rock with view to
prosecuting the offenders.
7 A resolution by Leonard Smither pro-
yiding for the appointment of standing
| Yigilant committee, composed of eight men
from each OF the three maglSterlal QlS-
tricts OF the county. was adopted. The
duties of this committee as defined in the
| resolution are to inquire into all violations
of the oyster law and bring the same TO the
| attention of the grand jury. The follow
ing gentlemen were appointed on the COM
mittee with authority to complete the COM
plement: Piankitank, Charles II. Lewis,
Leonard Smither, and Lewis Powell; West
vile district, Captain j. B. Thurston,
chairman, A. Fl. Williams, Robert Bailey,
and Joseph Foster Chesapeake, John Bur-
roughs, Captain Alexander James, and
Charles r. Hudgins.
An Oystermen's Protective Union, of Ma
thews county, No. ---, was organized with
the following officers: Master Workman,
Captain j. b. Thurston Assistant Master
Workman, A. II. Williams; Recording Sec
rotary, A. ]. Miller; Assistant Recording Be-
cretary, Captain Alexander james; Irea-
surer, Captain w. b. Green; Sergeant-at-
Arms, Charles L. Lewis; Spiritual Adviser,
c.. II. Treacle.
The following gentlemen were appointed
as canvassers to organize lodges in differ
ent localities: A. II. Williams, Alexander
James, A. j. Miller. Captain J. b. Thur
ston, j. w. Dixon, and Ii. X. Billups.
Adjourned TO next Saturday at Z. Nj.