| From the Winchester (Va.) Republican |
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| March 22, 1861 |
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| Defeat of Strasburg Extension, on Tuesday,
March 12 |
| On motion of Mr. Isbell, the
bill authorizing the Winchester & Potomac Railroad Company to
extend their road from the town of Winchester, to connect with the
Manassas Gap Railroad at or near the town of Strasburg, was taken from
the table. Memorials in favor of the extension, signed by a number of
persons interested therein, were presented by Mr. Carson and read. |
| The proceedings of the Common
Council of Alexandria against the proposed extension, were presented
by Mr. H. W. Thomas and read. |
| A motion was made to
indefinitely postpone. |
| Mr. Isabell addressed the
Senate in an able argument against the postponement, and in favor of
the passage of the bill. |
| Mr. Carson spoke briefly in
support of the measure. |
| The vote was then taken on the
indefinite postponement of the bill, with the following result: |
| Yeas -- Messrs. Carter,
Coghill, Critcher, Day, J. Dickenson, Douglass, Greever, Hubbard,
Johnson, Logan, Lynch, Marshall, Massie, Nash, Neeson, Newlon, Pate,
Queensberry, Rives, Smith, Stuart, Tallaferro, H. W. Thomas, Townes,
Urquhart, and Wickham -- 26. |
| Nays -- Messrs. Brannon,
Bruce, Caldwell, Carson, Claiborne, A. D. Dickson, Early, French,
Gatewood, Isbell, Neal, Paxton, and Thompson -- 13. |
| The defeat of this bill is not
of such serious importance at this time as its friends seem to
suppose, for owing to the great stringency in the money markets now
the work on this road could not have been commenced before this spring
or, by which time a new Legislature will have assembled, the
members of which we doubt not will have views sufficiently enlarged to
see beyond the narrow limits of their own counties. The Valley of
Virginia demands a fair outlet to market. She has asked for no
money from the State to secure her this, but only that her own
people may spend their own money to build a road to enable them to
send their produce to that market where they can sell to the best
advantage. This they are fairly entitled to, and will have. The Valley
has no idea of longer being forced to pay tribute to the East.
She does not believe in sucession; but she never will consent
to coercion. Let the friends of the road be not discouraged. We
predict the easy passage of this bill through both branches of the
Legislature next winter. |
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