| From the Richmond Dispatch |
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| June 19, 1861 |
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| Virginia State Convention, Fifth day --
Second session |
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| Richmond, June 18, 1861 |
| The regular business of the
day was the ordinance authorizing the Convention to advance a subsidy
of $125,000 in aid of a railroad between
Strasburg and Winchester. This gave rise to the principal discussion of the day. It was
participated in by Messrs. Conrad, Jas. Barsour, Scott of Fauquier,
Harvey, Fisher, Morton, (who desired a secret session — but the
intimation was generally scouted throughout the hall,) Borst, Goggin,
Slaughter, and others. A motion to lay upon the table was lost —
yeas 34, nays 56. Strasburg was now evidently triumphant, and the
discomfited forces were driven to a rally for the decisive fight.
Amendments and substitutes were offered — affecting speeches were
made. Conrad, of Frederick. held his ground manfully, and finally the ordinance was passed in
the following form, as submitted by Mr. Slaughter. |
| Be it ordained, That the
Manassas Gap Railroad Company be and are
hereby authorized to extend their road from some point at or near
Strasburg to connect with the railroad
at or near Winchester. If the Major General in command of the Confederate forces in this
Commonwealth regards the construction of this road at this time
necessary for the military defence of the State, the Governor of the
Commonwealth is hereby authorized to loan said company, out of the
funds appropriated for the defence of the State, a sum not exceeding
the sum of $125,000, including the sum already advanced by the State,
to pay the duties on the iron purchased by said road, taking a
mortgage on said road for the repayment of the sum so loaned. |
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