The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-09-02
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
TO THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA

In the year 1875, the legislature adopted an atf
for collecting and publiihinr all laws relative
TO land, which had been pafied from the firt
fett'e,nent of the COLONY to the year 1893 |;
and MelIrs. G. Wythe. J Brown, ]. Marfhall,
b. Warrington, and ]. Wickham wcfe APP
pointed committee for the execution of this
obie2.
Upon applying to Mr.. Jefferfon &c for his copies
of the acts, more compleat than could be
ef.where procured" he returned the fol-
lowing anfwer, in which he recommended
the publication of all the laws which had
been enacted in virginia.-The committee,
immediately " declined entering upon" the
Objects of their commifIion, until the fenti-
ments of the legillature upon this more en-
larged proportion could be known.
In 1877, the legislature repealed their frf law
ofl795.
In the fefiion Of soo-l, Gov. Monroe fnbmitted
the following letter to their confederation.
The .fubject was taken uo in courfe of their
fiction, and bill pafied the houfe of Dele
g,tes, for pnblifhng certain number of CO.
pies of this incfinable work. Upon coming
before the fcnate, they introduced fome
amendments, the principal of which, it is be-
leved, tended to reduce the number of
copies. The bill was returned with its a.
mendments into the lower houfe, where it
was conhgned to that legislative +" tomb
of all the Capn'ets" the ominous 4th
"Wednesday in Apri! next."-They however
adopted rcfousion, which was agreed to
by the f,nate, that "the executive be requef-
ed to Law before the next General AfTembly
an Ultimate of the probable expenfes which
will attend che collecting and pubiifhing the
acts. hoth private and public, paf1ed by the
]eslature of Virginia prior to- the year 1882"
Herr, It is believed, this important fubjett
M, O,.sF,c ,le $
FELTON, fthe Legislature are not before us /;
but i is anof reduced to Il certainty, that
they never revived it.
But will the time of ITS refurrecton never ar
rive ! Will the legil ture forever difregard the
advantages of collecting and perpetuatng our
Legislative records
Much of the property Of individuals refs up-
on what are called bri4ate ais of agsmbl,.
IF thefe he LOFT, innumerabie controversies
may occur. Not to fpeak of the variety of
other fubieas, embraced by thefe private acts,
which poferity may thank us for prcrerving.
The hiffnrv of everv conntrvie nhEcn-e nrlefs
the laws of pablit nature that are in farce
at different times, and even many of the pri-
vate ads, are within the reach of the learned
hiitorian. But ranfack all our codes, and
there will be found but few of the general
laws, that were in force one hundred years a.
. go.
AioW 'hdiy initIuCtYG ana anuung matters
NAV then be irretrievably lon to us, if MIR.
Jeferfon's collection be fuffered to moulder
into duff But few years more, and mott
of thefe valuable monuments may be i!lesi.
bic.
Let then the legi1'ture take fome feps to car
ry into effect, this mott ufefu propoition pro-
duced by the experience of MIR. jeferfon and
adopted by all the zeal of MIR. Wythe.
There can he little doubt. that fiibfcripti.
on a'nott equato the expence, might be COL
lected, or 70 nearly 70, as to render the re-
iidue of the coa TO be paid by the ftate, of
fmall amount. Meantime it may be expect
ed, that other individuals who have the
means of extending this collection, will fail
IN no effort TO f,Vell the code of their country.
Their papers might be preferved by tranfmit.
ting them to fone fecnre place of depolit,
inch as the library of MIR. Jeferfon or the
Council chamber.