Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-12-11


of partially and injustice on the part of
the Commissioners, appointed to snperin-
tend the taking Of the d-posIlions, IN the
contested elec,ion from Monroe county
between David Graha,n and John Wood.
ward, shewn in favor Of David Graham.
Rescued, therefore as the opinion Of
this Committee, that the depo i,ions Ia.
ken and reported by the Commissioned,
in the contested election between David
Graham and John Woodward, be set
side, and that the said dispositions be
deemed lille sal and void.
Resolved also, as the opinion Of this
committee, that the return of the sheriff
of Monroe county is correct, and that the
petition of David Graham, complaining
of the undue election Of John Woodward,
returned to serve as a delegate from the
county Of Monroe, FOR the present Gene
raj Assembly, bHrejected.
A petition Of Richard White Of Wash
ington county, was presented and read,
praying that he may be authorised by law
10 bring certain slaves of his from the
state Of Tennessee into this state;
Also petition of Joseph S. Fox, of
King and Queen county, praying The re-
mission of ine assessed on him by the
court of said county for retailing spiritu-
Gus liquors without license;
And the question being put on the re-
ference Of the said petition, lit passed in
the negative.
ResOtued, that the said petitions be re-
je6ted.
Leave was given TO bring in bill, To
amend the ACT, entitled, an act For es-
tablish'ng an Academy in the City OF
! Richmond"-And also, bill To amend
aD ACT, entitled, an act. g Providing Tor
he poor, and declaring who shall be deem
ed Migrants"
On motion,
Resolved that The Executive be request
ed TO lay The Journal of their proceedings
! b: fore The General Assembly.
! he remainder ofthe sitting was occu-
pied IN sce,ving reading and referring a
number If petitions.
Adjou ned 'Iil tomorrow 10 o'clock.
Saturday,, December 7sh, 1905.
a Letter from Hugh Holmes, Esq. was
receiged (onnounc,rg his resignation of
he speakers cbsir)--in the following
words -
Gentlemen ofthe House Of Delegates
o. VRYi'7ia.
THE exchange OF public honors
constitutionally incapable of uniting in
one person, being placed in my option
by the voice of a majority of the Lee
gislature on yesterday, by my election
40 a seat in the Judiciary, have deem-
cd it proper to notify the House of De-
legates, that / resign to them the of
flee OF Speaker, with which they were
pleased to honor me at the commence
ment OF their session, intending to ac-
cept the last appointment, and thereby
to disquaiify myself from holding a
seat in the Legislative. This deter
mination altho' the result of the best
advice, as well as my own reflections
on the propriety Of the act, is still at
hostility with the feelings of my heart !;
they dictate different course, but o.
bedience to them must always weld to
principle, and | trust be justified by
! those who are partial to my services in
the chair. The constitution holds sa-
cred the division of power, and strong
ly inculcates the principle that the Ex-
ecutive, Legislative and Judicial Au-
therity shouldbe separate and distinct;
would it then be correct in principle.
that he who had been chosen to ex-
pound laws, should also aid and assist
as a Legislator in making iaws' Time
viii not permit me to detail the many
examples of indeiicacy which might
OCCUR in the course of session, now
only atits commencement and altho'
hold the rule OF the house as a lust
deposition of the constitution, lat lie asst
| there is nothing in the latter forbidding
the same) yet consistency in the con-
tstruction OF this charter, in adhering
to its genius and spirit, is waat wish
to preserve to the House of Delegates
and myself. Great injustice will be
done to purity of motives, if on the
one hand any gentleman shall suppose
me ungratefnl by deserving from du-
| ty honourably assigned or, on the
other hand, that am tenacious of ac-
cumulated honours, and adhere with