ROUSE OF COMMONS.

REMARKS OF MR.. WASHINGTON,
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| REMARKS OF MR.. WASHINGTON,
+! In the House of Commons ofthe hate Legislature,


on the Bill to re-organize the Portsmouth and


Roanoke Rail Road. >


| MR. SPEAKER: My friend from Halifax, (Mr.


Moorc) is generally right, and l always differ


from him with reluctance and with diffidrnce.
deeply regret our separation the question now


before the House, because l entirely approve the
object intended to be accomplished by this bill,
and duly appreciate the motives which prompted
its introduction. can assure that gentleman and
the House. that there is no man on this floor more
anxious for the prest rvation Of the Portsmouth
and Roanoke Rail Road than myself It is a
public work OF great convenience to the people


in my section the State and one liz which they
feel deep interest But Sir, there are objections
to this bill which to my mind are ihs1perab1e.


hold any action of this House on the subject at
this time, to be premature and therefore Improper.
Sir, who are the persons most interested in this
Road ? They are the Stockholders and creditors g,
the urgest of whom is the State Of Virginia her
self Where is the memorial or application on
the part Of those porsons or any Of them asking
our action on this subject7 There is none Sir.
The Legislature Of Virginia is now in session,
and not only has no action been taken ia relation
to this matter; but net the slightest intimatien has
been given us' that Legislation on our part is desi


red OF would be acceptable to-them. And, with
out such memorial, application Or intimation ac-
ton by us would be wholly premature and in
Itrusive. -


But, Mr.. Speaker the Legislation proposed by
this bitlr is, in nay Judgment, highly objectionable,
on other grounds. Il is known to every member
of the House, that Mr. Francis E. Riyes, citizen
of Virginia, claims title to a potion Of this Rond
that the validity of this title is now in question,
in several legal proceedings, Of which one is pend
ing in the Supreme Court OF the State and others
in the Superior Court of ofNorthampton 1t is not
my purpose to discuss the merits of the legal con-
troversy on which my friend from Halifax has
spent so much argument, or to offer vindicaton
or apology for the conduct Of MIR Rives towards
the Company; which has reused so strongly my
friends indignant eoqGence. To do either, would,
in my judgment, be irrelevatt 10 the subjuct be-
fore us. The legal question must be decided by
the judicial authority, and the motives and purpos.
es of Mr.. Rives or his conduct towards the Com
pany cannot affect the question Of right or justly
influence our decision upon this bill II enough
for me to know that his claim is now pending in
the Courts and undetermined; and to my under
standing, it seems clear, that TO sell the Road be-
fore that determination is had, must produce iniu-
yr either tothe Stockholders The creditors, OF to Mr..
Rives. To any man at all conversant with such
matters, itmust be apparent hatthe Road sold with
The incumbrance of this claim, cannot bring the
price which might be justly expected, If an undis
puted title could be offered! Now, Sir any dimnu:
tion Of the price below the fair value Of tfe Road
must work injustice to some one-if the Compa-
ny is solvent, then the Stockholders insolven
then To the creditors ass.


But my friend from Halifax, kNfr: Moore,) III
sistS that the amount Of Mr. Rves claim Is small
that he IS entitled to nothing more, certainly
than the wood aud iron down seventeen miles Of