| From the Richmond Examiner |
| |
| October 7, 1862 |
| |
| The Virginia Legislature |
| Extra Session |
| Thursday, October 2, 1862 |
| ***** |
| Railroad Communication with Northwestern
Virginia |
| The resolutions introduced at
the opening of the session, respecting the opening up of railroad
communication with Northwestern Virginia, giving the people of that
section access to the capitol of the Commonwealth and the seaboard, was
called up. |
| Mr. Ball, of Loudoun, desired
to modify the third resolution, so as to designate no particular routes
for surveys, but the best, cheapest, and shortest and most practical
route, from the Northwest to the capitol and the seaboard. |
| Mr. Whittle, of Pittsylvania,
asked that the word "shall" in the paragraph pledging the resources of
the Commonwealth to the enterprise, be substituted by the word "should,"
which evoked quite a lengthy debate. |
| Mr. Collier, of Petersburg,
thought it was immaterial whether the word "shall" or "should" should be
used; the resolutions were a sort of quasi pledge, without force
or effect. |
| Mr. Bruce, of Charlotte,
demonstrated the importance of such a bond of union as was proposed by
the railroad, and vindicate the people of that section from the
aspersions of disloyalty. |
| Mr. Nesson, of Marion, said no
portion of the Commonwealth had been more sorely pressed than Western
Virginia. As for the Pierpont government, it was the work of Lincoln's
own hands, and not the hands of the people of that section, and five
minutes' run would carry any man out of its jurisdiction. |
| Mr. Whittle, of Pittsylvania,
said that while the Assembly was voting to open a new communication with
Western Virginia, General Lee's army, he had heard, was engaged in
destroying the Baltimore & Ohio road, their only avenue of trade. |
| The vote was taken on the
proposed amendment striking out the word "shall" by the substitution of
"should," and the amendment was rejected. |
| Mr. Robertson, of Richmond,
proposed to amend by inserting, "all the available resources of the
Commonwealth," provided "that a majority of the people shall disavow
their allegiance to the usurped government." The amendment was lost, and
the resolutions were adopted -- yeas 25, nays 8. |
|