Virginia Argus — Richmond, Va., 1810-12-21 00:00:00, page 2

dcr and Asa Vamum, praying to be
permitted to bring slaves into this
state—From J. Gayle and others,
praying that certain real estate of M.
Gayle, dec’ll, may be sold—From J.
Dihvorth, stating that he holds an un
divided share in several tracts of land,
wishes to pay his proportion of the
taxes, and praying such explanation of
former acts as will enable persons in
his situation to redeem their proporti
on of lands, without the whole taxes
bting paid—From certain inhabitants
of Hardy, praying that a small part of
said county may be annexed so Shena
doah—From the Female Humane
Association of Richmond, praying for
an act of incorporation—From Win
chester and its vicinity, praying for the
establishment of a Bank in said town
From Alhemarle, Sic. praying for a
law to incorporate a company for im
proving the navigation of Rivanna ri
ver from the Point of Fork to Milton
—From the Society of Friends [Qua
kers] praying that the laws imposing
military requisitions and penalties for
non-compliance, may be considered as
they respect their Society, and such
relief afforded as shall seem just and
neccisary-—Frofn Berkeley, praying a
repeal or modification of the law pro
hibiting the introduction of slaves into
the state—From Hampden Sidney
College, praying that lands hereafter
escheated in P. Edward may be given
to said College, and that the trustees
may be empowered, if they see cause,
to sell the land at present belonging to
the College.
Also petitions from T. G. Watson.
praying indulgence for the payment of
the amount of part of a judgment ob
tained against him by the state—From
the adm’rs. of G. Boush, prayihgcom
pensation for certain property destroy
ed by the burning of Norfolk in the
beginning of the revolutionary war_
From N. Johnson, praying to be per
mitted «o emancipate certain children
of the petitioner, by one of his female
slaves—
Anri the question being put on tho
reference of the said petitions, it pas
sed in the nagative.
Resolved, That the said petitions
be rejected.
On motion, Resolved, That so much
of the letter from Wiliiam Nelson,
Esq. to Governor Tyler, which accom
panied the Governor’s communication
to this Houce, as respects the penal
laws of t is commonwealth, be refer
red to the committee appointed to a
mend the said penal laws, and that
they take the same under their consi
deration, and make c«port to this
Houue by bill or otherwise.—Resol
ved also, That the residue of the said
letter be referred to the committee ap- i
pointed to amend the law establishing
a superior court of law in each coun
ty of tr.is •emmonwraith.
Otdered, That leave be given to
bring in a bill “ Providing for the
reception of flour in the public ware
house at Petersburg, and for other pur
poses,” and that Messrs. Johnston [of
Prince Edward] Otey,Watkins, Nicho
las, Gt'*, Temple and Mason do pre
pare and bring in the same.
FnIDAY, Dec.' 14.
The following bills were read the
third time and passed, viz.
“ Concerning James Butler, a slave
belonging to John Osborne.”
u Authorising William Duval, trus
tee of Samuel Duval and his children,
to sell t errain lauds, and vest the pro„
ceeds of the 6ale in other lands for
their benefit.”
Mr. Madison, from the Committee
of Propositions and Grievances, made
the following report:
The Committee of Propositions and
Grievances have, according to order,
had ur der their consideration sun
dry petitions to them referred, and
have come to the following resoluti
ons thereupon ;
1. Resolved, as the opinion of thi3
committee, That the petition of John
Lynch, senior, of the county of Camp
bell, prayirig that an net may pass au„
thorising him to • erect a toll bridge
• across James river, opposite the town
of Lynchburg, at a place called iics
well’s landing or at the place where
the said Lynch’s ferry is kept, is rea
sonable,
2. Resolved, as the opinion trf thi3
committee, That the petition of sun
dry inhabitants of the county of Am
herst, praying that an act may pass in
corporating a company to erect a toll
t>r tlge across James river, from the
bank ditectly opposite the lower bridge
•over liLck Water and terminating on
the Amherst shore, on the land of
John Lyrich, be rejected.
-3. JKesolv>d, as the opinion of this
co.rrrmt'-o, That the petition of sun
dry inhabitants of the parish of Saint
Mary, i:i the county ol Caroline, pray
trg that an act may pass establishing i
no academy at the church o( the said
pa.ish, qotnmonly called the Mount
%-hwich, is tcasor.uble, |i
4. Resolved, as the opinion of this
committee, That the petition of sun
dry inhabitants of the counties of
Princo William and Fairfax, praying
that an act may pass incorporating a
company to establish a turnpike road,
to commence at the termination of the
Hunting creek turnpike, at Doge run,
in Fairfax county, and upon the main
stage road from Alexandria southward
ly, from thence to continue the present
route to the town of Occoquan, is-rea
sonable.
5. Resolved, as the opinion of this
committee, That the petition of Willi
am Harrison, of the town of Peters
j burg, praying that an act may pass
confirming an order of the hustings
court of the said town, iu relation to a
street opened in the said town, close
to the west end of his house, is reasona
ble.
f». Resolved, a3 the opinion of this
committee, That the petition of sun
dry inhabitants of the county of Staf
ford,4 praying that en act may pass ap
pointing commissioners to collect cer
tain mouies arising from the sale of the
Glebe lands of Over Wharton Parish,
and part of the Glebe lands of liruns
wick parish, to which the said county,
is entitled, and to authorise' the said
commissioners to apply the same to
wards the support of a tree school, in
such a manner as to them may seem
most convenient and proper, is rea
sonable.
The first nnd second resolutions
being read a second time were, on
motion, ordered to be laid upon the
table.
The 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th resolutions
being read a second time, were agreed
to by the House.
Ordered, 1 hat bills be brought in
pursuant to the said resolutions, and
that the Committee of Proposi-icns and
Grievances do prepare and bring in
the same.
Mr. Johnston [of Prince Edward]
from the Committee for Courts of
Jusiice, made the following report :
1 he Committee for Courts of Jus
tice have, according to order, had un
der their consideration several petiti
ons to them referred, and have come
to the following resolutions thereupon ;
• 1. Resolved, as the opinion of this
committee, That the petition of Jingo
[a free black man] setting forth that
he has lately received a deed of eman
cipaticn under a promise thereof made
him previous to the year 1805, and
praying that he may enjoy his freedom
in this state, is reasonable.
2. Resolved, as the opinion of this
committee, That the petition of James
Lett, setting forth that although he was
emancipated previous to the year 1805,
by the last will & testament of the per
son to whom he then belonged, he was
afterwards sold to satisfy the debts of
hu deceased master, that from the in.
dulgence of the purchaser, the petiti-.
oner has been enabled to pay, and has
actually paid the amount of the pur
chase money, and obtained a deed of
emancipation, and pray ing that he may
remain as a free man in this state, is
reasonable.
3. Resolved, as the opinion of this
committee, That the petition of Mary
Ann Margaret East, praying that aq
act may pass releasing to her the right
pf the commonwealth to a sr.all tract
of land in Harrison county, whereof
her late husband Robert East died
seized ar.d intestate, is reasonable.
The said resolutions being read a
second time, were agreed to by the
House.
f U« h- •
---J - ' ll... •/» 111
pursuant to the said resolutions, and
that the Committee for Courts of
Justice do prepare and bring in the
same.
A memorial was presented and read
from sundry proprietors of tobacco
warehouses in Richmond, Manchester,
Petersburg and Lynchburg, praying
the passage of a law directing that the
3um of 12 1*2 cents per hogshead on
tobacco lodged in wooden warehouses,
now directed by Jaw to he paid into
the public treasury, may be paid to the
proprietors of such warehouses ;
Also a petition of Samuel H. Saun
ders, of Powhatan county, praying the
remission of a fine indicted on him in
the court oi said county ;
A so a petioh of William Kernev, of
Berk-lev county, praying the remissi
on ol a fine assess d upon him in the
court of sa*d county :
And the question being put on the
referrence of the «aM petitions, it pas
ied in the negative.
Resolved, inatthc said petiti ons be
rejected.
The remainder of the sitting was or.
’ti’piei! exclusively in the reading of
[M inions, which were referred to com
mittees.
Saturday, December is.
following bills were read the
hird time and passed, viz.
“ L*oif©f*ting Jacob Peck from the i
ayment o. the judgment therein men- i
toned. ’4|
I
u Concerning the town of Romany,
in the county of Hampshire.”
44 Authorising John Bryson to open
a road through the Blue Ridge, in the |
county of Grayson.”
41 Concerning William Tingle and
others.”
44 To incorporate a company in the
borough of Norfolk, for marine insur
ances, and for other purposes.”
Ordered, that the Clerk carry the
said bills to the Senate and desire their
concurrence.
The Speaker laid before the House
a letter from the Lieutenant Governor,
acting in the absence of the Governor,
covering a letter from the superinteu
dant of the Manufactory of Arms,
which letters were read, and, on moti
on, ordered to be referred to the Ar
mory Committee.
Mr. Monroe, from the Committee
of Privileges and Elections, made the
following report:
The Committee of Privileges and
Elections have, according to order, had
under their consideration the resolution
ol the House of Delegates, instructing
them to enquire into the conduct of
John MdKeon, one of the delegates in
the present general assembly, from the
county of Lee, who is represented to
them to have been guilty of the crime
of bigamy, agreed upon a report, and
come to the following resolution there
upon :
It appears to your committee, from
the certiScate of John D. Blair, minis
ter of the Presbyterian Church, in
Richmond, that he married John Mc
Keon to his present wife, on the 2d day
of June, 1810.
It fret l/ruit* rnm rv> An
from the testimony of Francis Smith,
that John McKeon did introduce in the
town of Abingdon, and pass for his
wife, a woman wrhom afterwards he de
nied to be so* that on his first arrival
there, he was patronised by a gentle
man in that county, to whom, as the
said McKeon informed him, he did
not then mention his marriage; that
some time afterwards, as the witness
was told by the said McKeon, he ack
nowledged he was married, and that
his wife had arrived in this country
from Ireland, ot which he was appris
ed by letter from her, that he was then
advised by his patron to go and receive
her, that he met her in Richmond, and
carried her to Abingdon, where he in.
troduced her to the wife of that gentle
man, and other ladies of the first res
pectability of that place as his wife ;
that from Abingdon- he went to the
county of Lee, where he lived with her,
and passed her as his wife for six pr
nine years; that after the last spring
election he met with McKeon, as he
understood on his way to Richmond,
when a conversation ensued between
them, that McKeon then told him, that
he had suspected his wife of adultery
with his clerk, 8c had carried a scheme
into execution, by which he had detect
ed her and his clerk in bed "together;
that there was a man with him at the
time at his detecting her, who witness
ed the fact * that the said McKeon fur
ther told the witness he had a whip or
stick in his hand, but did not strike ci
ther his wife or clerk ; that the witness
was surprised at that, and asked Mc
Keon why he did not kill his clerk 5
McKeon observed he was prevented
from striking him by the man who was
with him ; the witness then observed
that McKeon’s bodily strength was
such as to enable him, with the stick
or whip which he had in his hand to
kill both the man and the clerk, and
ouspccicu it was a concerted scheme
between McKeon and his clerk to get
rid of his wife, $jut McKeon denied
that to be the fact.
It appears also from the testimony
of Andrew Johnson, that he recollects
something of a conversation between
himself and McKeon concerning the
woman who was said to be his wife, on
their way last winter from Richmond,
that McKeon then spoke of his wife
and child in Lee, and conveyed to the
witness an impression that he was mar
ried, but did not positively say he was ;
that McKeon spoke of the woman,
whom as the witness understands, he
has since married, and stated to the
witness he had a wife, and had had a
child which was dead, that he after
wards met with McKeon in Bedford
:>n hi* way to Richmond, h came down
with him, that on their journey Mc
Iveon told the witness he had no wife ; !
that the witness was astonished.’at such
* declaration, and asked McKeon if he
had not said last winter that he had a I,
wife and child, McKeon replied he had i
i woman who lived with him, but de i
dared he was not married, that it had !|
>een his intention to marry her, but he
hod declined doing so, that he had en- |
?aged to marry her in Ireland, that he i
came from that country, not having !
lulfilled his engagement; that she fob '
owed him to this country, that he had
aken her to Lee or Abingdon, and had [
nnce discarded her ; that on his way i
iown, at the time the witness met with ■ t
nim, a Mrs. King he said had upbraid
ed him tor introducing this woman to
her as his wife.
It appears further to your commit*
tee, from the testimony of Charles
Noc, that it has been about 7 or 8 years
since McKeon first came to Lee court
house with a woman who has lived
with him during that time j that after
they had been there some time, it was
discovered they differed very much,
! and frequently quarrelled in conse
quence of her drunkenness, that the
witness became intimate in McKeon’s
family, and would endeavour to pacify
her, addressing her by the name of
Mrs. McKeon, she requested the wit
ness not to call her out of her name,
and said her name was not McKeon,
but Fanny Iialey, that she came over
from Ireland about three years after
McKeon, but was never married to
him, that she was intoxicated when she
said so, and indeed was in a continual
state of intoxication * that McKeon
said in presence of the witness, “ Fan
ny I ntver will marry you, unless you
abandon your evil habits, and if you
will swear to do so, I will marry you,”
she said she never would be married
by any one in that county, intimating
she was a Roman Catholic, that the
witness has heard her say twenty times
or more, she was never married * that
he heard threats thrown out against
McKeon, that he would be presented
for living in a state of fornication ; that
it was generally believed by the most
respectable people there, they never
Wfr(> nuirri»*H
It appears also to your committee,
from the testimony of Alexander Black
wood, that the first night McKeon
came to Richmond, about six or seven
years ago. he got acquainted with him,
that he introduced himself to the wit
ness as a single man, and he believed
him to be, as being told positively by
McKeon, that he had never been mar
ried ; McKeon mentioned that there
was a woman in New York that had
followed him from Ireland, who was
not his wife, m\ hough he should have
to pass her probably as such.
Resolved therefore, as the opinion
of this committee, That the foregoing
evidence adduced in the enquiry direct
ed by the House of Delegates into the
conduct of John McKeon, one of the
delegates in this present general assem
bly, from the county of JL.ee, who is re
presented to have been guilty of the
crime of bigamy, is not sufficient, al
though entitled to the highest credit, to
establish the charge of bigamy against
the said John McKeon.
The said resolution being read a se
cond time was, on motion, ordered,
with the said report, to be laid upon
the table.
Congregg.
IN SENATE.
Tuesday, December 11.
Mr Brent attended. ,
On motion of Mr Leib_
Resolved, That so much of the Message
of the President of the U. S. as relates to
the organization and discipline of the mili
tia, be referred to a committee, with leave
to report thereon by bill or otherwise.
Messrs. Lcib, Heed, Smith, of Md. An
derson and Gilman, were appointed a com
mittee accordingly.
Mr Smith, of Md. reported the bill to
suspend the second section of the act regu
lating foreign coins, without amendment ;
and it was ordered to be engrossed for a
vimu sea.
December 12.
The Vice-President took the chair this
day.
Mr Pranklin attended.
DISTRESSED SEAMEN.
The following message, addressed to both
houst 8, were received from the President
r.f the United States, by Mr Edward Coles,
his Secretary ;
Tn the Senate and
House of Representatives
of the United States,
I lay before Congress, and recommend to
their tarly attention, a report of the Se- 1
cretary oi State, from which it wt 1 be seen, I
that a very considerable demand, beyond '
the legal appropriation, h»s been incurred
for the support of seamen dis re sed by sei
*nre», in different ports of Europe, of the
vessels to which they belonged.
JAMES MADISON.
December 12, 1810.
REPORT.
Department of State,
December 11, 1810.
MR,
The funds which had hern provided by
aw for the relief and protection of deni
:ute American teamen in foreign countries,
lave been this year rendered in idequato to
heir contemplated object by the extenbive
icizure of our vessels in Europe, and the
fleet thereof on the situation of the crews,
rhe advances, which have been nccestari
y made by our ministers and consuls a
iroad, to supply the warns of those seamen,
md to procure them passages to the United
ita e», have greatly exceeded the amount
if these appropriate funds. Of those
Kivam.es, accounts requiring immsdiste
eimbursemust, li.ive mreaoy been render
id to the amount of 75,500 dollars, and it
s apprehenacd that others may yet be re.
;eifcd.
As these accounts cannot be paid under A
any existing law, it is respectfully proposed ^
to submit to the consideration of Congress J
the propriety of passing a law, which will
appropriate a sum of money for the repay
ment of the advances of which accounts
have already been exhibited, and which at
the same time will provide for any similar
expenses that may have occurred or m..v
occur during the present or the en.mug
yea* With this view I have the honor of
laying before you the encli sed estimate.
With sentiments of great respect and con.
sideration,
_ R. SMITH.
The President of the U. States.
ESTIMATE.
For reimbursing advances made by the
bankers under the direction c/ aoy of the
ministers of tne U. States and by consuls
tor the relief of destitute American sea.,
men, and for discharging engagements en-'
tered into by the consuls for their passages
home, during the present year, end for de.
fraying moreover tuch expenses of a like 1
nature as may be necessarily incurred dur
ing the year 1811, lOo.OQQ dollars.
I have the honor to be, See.
T- re *• SMITH. |
Department of State,
December 11, 1810..
The message and report were referred
to Messrs. Franklin, Crawford and Gocd^
rich- u”*
Mr Brent presented the petition of the
Pres.dent and D-rectors of the Bank of
Washington, praying for an act of mcorno
-ration*, which was referred to the commit
Ieterred^c Petition of
the Bank of Potomac.
\ -The Sp»»*e proceed to ballot for a chap
lain. Mr Addison was elected. *
The bill to suspend the Sd section of tho
act for regulating foreign coins, was read *
third tune and passed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Tuesday, December 11,
Tfce following committees w re severaNr
appointed in pursuance of the resolution*
yesterday adopted on the subject of tbe Pre
sident’s message. ' *
On Foreign Relations.
Messrs. Bppes Taylor, Fisk, Montgo
mery, Seaver, Chittenden and Desha.
On IFr$t Florida affairs.
Messrs. Wnght, Sage, Gardner, Craw.*
ford, Lewis, McBride and Rhea, (Ten.)
On a National University
lp^re“r* Bur well, Macon. J. Por.
ter, Pitkin, Wheaton and Ringgold.
On the Army and Fortifications.
r;a.W8on* Heims, Cobb, Rea, Pee.
Champion, Livingston and Hubbard.
On the Militia.
Messrs. Root, Cobb, J. Smith, Scudder
Btaladell’ M’Kee, Turner, Holland, WeakI
y, W. U. Moore, Huntington, Porter, But
and Jennmgs! ^ W* Chamb-la,n
I On the Military Academy &c.
a P<,rur’ ^Ljf“' p'ar*
On the Navy.
Messrs. Bassett, Mum ford, Quincey, Ke
nan, Mdnor, Taylor and Jackson
Messrs. Ringgold, Gray, Swoopt, Knick
erbacker and Winn took their scats to
day.
Mr Van Rensalaer presented the petition
of sundry persons claiming land for services
performed in the provincial army, then in
the service of Great Britain between the
, that they have been informed that a grant
was made by ihe King of Great Britain
for the benefit of said officers and soldiers!
of lands bordering on the Mississippi, nea;
the junction of the Ohio with the same !I
Referred to the committee of Public land*.
A report was received from the Comp,
trol er of the 1 reasury on the subject of un
settled balances ; which wa.% referred to
the committee of Ways and Means
Mr Gardner, presented a petition from
sundry inhabitants of the state of Massa
chuseits, praying for the erection of several
buoys in the mouths of certain rivers—Rea
ierred.
Several other petitions, of a private na
ture, were presenied and referred.
Ihe bill authorising the transportation
of certain documents free of postairs was
read the third time and passed.
According to order, the House proceeded
o ballot for a chaplain. On counting out
the VOtPfi it Pnhrar/»/l ih..» r.
Lee was duly elected.. ~ JC*8C
On motion of Mr Rhea (T.) snodrv oeti.
lions from the inhabitants of the Louisiana
1 t-rritory, praying for the second grade of
territorial government, presented at the
last session, but not acted on, were releired
to a select committeeWThis coHuUtee
MauMwI. Mt“r“' Rhl:a’ (1,) R°a"c “na
December 12,
Messrs. Anderson and Garland were ap
pointed on the joint committee of enrolled
bills.
A communication was received from the
Secretary of the T reasury, transmitting nis
annual financial report, with a number of
appendant documents; read, and 10C0 co
pies ordered to be primed.
On motion of Mr W. Alston,
Resolved, That so much of the said rea
port as remits 10 the revenue of the IT. S.
be referred to the committee of ways and
means. 7
On motion of Mr Montgomery, the re*
malting part of the report, which relates
to the defects of the Ihw concern.yi^ com*
mercinl intercourse between the U.’States
nod G. Britain and France, wu» referred
to ihs committee on foreign r latim.i*.
A mes3e.ge was received from the presi*
drnt of the U. S by Mr Coles, hift ffereta
ry, transmitting a report Irom the secretary
of state, contanmg a recommendation to
congress to mike an early additional pro*
vision for the relief of derjlute Amen*
can marines, >n Purope^ and an estimate
of 8 lOO.OuO for this object, inferred to
the committee of ways asd means, [The
deficiency in former provisions are stated,
to have arisen ftnm the accumulation of
» iznrcs of American vessels in the ports o/
Europe ]
Mr Gold presented a petition from sun
d:j officers ol the British array* who serl