Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-01-15

4
the vote of the House of Representatives
and the Senate of the United States in { m
grcss assembled, "A majority of the gvhofe
nnni5er' of the House of Representatives,
and majority OF the members present of
the Senate concurring therein. Provided
however, that the cause or causes OF such
removal shall be stated ~ length on the
journal of each house"
And the question being put on agreeing
TO the said resolution as amended, it pas
sed in the affirmative-.Ayes I21-Noes
SIS.
The house then proceeded to consider
the second member of the resolution, and
the amendments proposed by the commit
tee; which as finally amended, is in the
following words, to wit:
"Resoi0ed, that the said Senator's be
instructed and the said Representatives re-
quested, likewise to endeavor to obtain the
following amendment to the constitution of
the United States, to wit THAT the Sena-
tors in the Congress of the Uaited States
may be removed from Office by the vote of
g majority of the whole number of the mem
bers of the respective State Legislatures
by which the said Senators have been or
may be appointed"
And the question being put on agreeing
to the said resolution as amended, it pas
sed III the affrmative-Ayes 142--Noes
l8.
IN more 5qrficular account ofthis daU's
Proceedings zoiH be given IN onr merit
FOR THE VIRGINIA ARGUS.
Mr.. PieaSants,
IT must be a source of great conso-
lation 70 every thinking mind, to behold the
Legislature of Virginia, attentive 10 the in
terest Of the people, busily engaged at this
momentous period, in devising those plans
which appear best calculated to alleviate
their sufierings, and adopting such mea-
sures as will tend in some degree, to Tighten
the pressure &c those burthens likely to fall
upon them The renewal of the old law of
replevin, and the Institution of superior
courts of law and equity, in the several
counties, are eminensly entitled TO the APP
probation Of their constituents By the first,
the honest, but unfortunate debtor, will be
greatly relieved from that shameful sacri-
fice of property, inflicted by the laws, as
they now stand. and by the last, we shall,
for a trifling addition of expense, derive
great convenience in attending to the adj
iustment of our claims. But as every good
is connected with certain portion of evil,
in selecting the one, we should be- care al
to avoid, as much as possible, the conse-
quences Of the other; and / confess myself
unable to perceive the propriety of abolish
ing the common law and chancery district
conrts-for presume that the pay of the
county court judges, will be raised by
small add. tonal tax upon law process; TOO
moderate to induce professional men TO a
bandon their practice 10, the sake of judg-
ship; the consequence of which win be,
that these judges must be selected from the
body of the nagistracy. In this case, their
intellects continuing the same, our chance
for Justice will not he enCreased, and the
principal benefits resulting from the change
will consist in the punctuality of their at
tendance, and an additional convenience to
the litigants. TO me, therefore, II would
seem better, that these courts shcu d be
continued, and tlfeir cognizance limited to
sums exceeding some fixed amount. say.
for instance, 8 500. Criminal prosecute
ons particularly, would be materially af-
fecteCl by the contemplated change For,
as our laws now stand, citizen accused
OF any crime, has three opportunities affor-
ded HIM of dsprpving the charge and max
ing his innocence Misunderstanding siBgle
justice before an examining court and
lastly, before a jury CT the vicinage imDan.
nelled before the judges of district court
/ And without entering into long train OF
argument to show the Propriety and supe-
ri0r excellence of our pTcscnt system l
VIII only say. that to the mind of humanity,
it is an ine1presSble consolation, TO reflect,
when citizen IS condemned by cur laws,
thar lac has had at least one more cnano c
Of making his innocence appear, than is al
lowed by the laws Of any other state in this
! world ; and / know Of no other cause. 10
which 10 attribute this extraordinary leni-
~, but 20 the superior liberaIlty and huma
| nifty of tie Virgiuians, TO their eternal no.
nor be it spoken, over all the other people
and nations Of the earth.
/ As the legislature is now in session and
| will be occupied for some time on the sub
! jet o revenue il may not be amiss to OBJ
| serve that the state suStains a VERY consi-
! derabe loss its revenue every year, from
! the numbcrless emiCrations which daily
tke place TO the WcSterr cou try it 4
| ell known that we are al! a year ~ arrears
! the payment Of our taxes-a DELINQUENCY
| occas'oned by tho compassion Of the Legis.
/ laturc for the sufferings of the citizens dur.
! ing the revolutionary war. Our property
is listed in the spring; he tax falls due il
/ he fall. but is not distrainable til the
/ spring following Whenever then, mar
sells his land aud moves off in the fall, he
goes away indebted 60 the state for one
( years taxes. Something, if practicable
- l.. ..fA