Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-12-09

may prompt; they have power to make
such rules and laws for their institution.
and for the conduct OF their officers, a
gents aud servants, as to them may seem
expedient; provided the same be no, in
consistent with the constitution and laws
of this commonwealth, or OF the GATED
States. Here it is necessary to remark,
that whenever the constitution and laws
OF the general and state governments a'e
silent, this new body polite. can legis'ate
on great subjects which concern the dear
est rights and privileges of the people,
and which involve the future deStinies of
the commonwealth; they also fill any
vacancy which occurs in their body In
the recess Of the Legislature; the presi-
dent and directors of this board ate an-
thorised to subscribe in behalf OF the com
monwealth to such public works as the
General Assembly NAV agree to patron
ize, and the dividends on the stock sub.
scribed by the board to 60 exclusively TO
other subscribers, until they shall have
received nett profit Of six per cent. per
annum; and they are also empowered to
appoint in behalf of the commonwealth a
certain number of directors N every pub
lie work !; and other powers and duties
are delegated and assigned to this body
polite, as will pc seen more at large by
a reference to the act OF incarceration.
The other corporation, existing under
the style Of the president and directors of
the literary fund, is thus constituted !: the
governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer,
attorney general, and president of the
court Of appeals, for the time being, and
their successors, form this body polite
The fund under their control arises from
fines, amercements, penalties, escheats,
confiscations, torfeitures of lands for non.
payment of taxes and other forfeitures !:
also from the undisposed of residuum Of
personal estates of decedents, who die
without leaving persons entitled TO such
residuum according to thelaw Of the land:
from the exclusive privilege Of granting
lotteries in this commonwealth; and last
ly, from an appropriation OF certain pOr-
ton of the debt due from the U. States to
the commonwealth. The value of this
fond now amounts to upwards Of one and
an half millions OF dollars, including the
principal and productive profits thereof.
This body polite exercises the follow
ing powers and duties, viz The APP
pointmeut Of a clerk, agents in each
county, ard such other officers as they
may deem necessary: and it may be here
remarked. that as this institution is part
ly 1Ourishcd by fines, penalties and for
textures, many officers and informers NAV
fad employment. AS already mention
ed, 1t has the exclusive privilege of grant.
ingiOtteries for certain pr emiums through.
out the state, and The appointment of
managers oithe lotteries.
This corporate body can invest their
monies in public stock and other proper
ty, and change md sell the same at
pleasure after the funds shall have be.
come sufficiently productive, they can e.
stablish as many schools as they deem ne
cessary in each county they have pow
ers TO enact laws for the. regulation Of
their proceedings and the government Of
their institution, provided the same be
not inconsistent with the constitution and
laws OF the commonwealth.
Here it may be truly observed, that
where the constitution aad general laws
are silent, this body can exercise lesis-
lative power touching the education and
morals of The youth of our country. The
faith of the state is also pledged for tie
perpetuity of the app opriations to the IL
terary fund /; and other powers and du-
ties are confded TO them, as will more
fully appear By 4 recurrence TO multiple
city OF acts concerning this body polite.
And whereas also, the delegation or
tran.ference Of general legislative and
executive powers to corporations, which
can only be punished by dissolution or
diSfranchisement, may lead TO eCuse-
quences the most serious 4 calamitous {;
that the executive department has SINK
into impotency by a course of legislation
which divests it almost Of every power,
and vests in new Institutions and COM
missions, powers and duties properly aP-
pertaining to the governor and council of
state; that the executive department
ought to be and can be so constitutional
ly organized by the legislature, as TO an
swer all the requisite purposes of the 60
vcrnment, without the creation of such
corporations as aforesaid and that If il
was so organized, the confidence and re-
spect of the Legislature, as well as the
confidence & respect of the people would
be secured to that department; and that