Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-06

SiNe WIN the TERRITORIAL UNITS and lurisdict ton
! OF The commonwealth, hath teudencyto con-
t'avcne the gieat constitutional i,sDvisions and
principles laid down Lv our foreii;hefs -an,l
,i,S haih in.dverteu'sy happened Ivy an ilnnur-
aOic, though perhaps over excited zeal, is p;o-
ni"titls the internal Improvement OF our ishly
| favored aud beloved country.
There are two corporations of the character
iuSt described one styled The president and
| directors of the board of public works'-t!te
| other " The president and directors of the lite
! tary funa. by the act providing fund tor
internal Improvement, the board of public
WORKS consists of thirteen members. the COVER
] nor, treasurer, attorney general, aad ten cti-
! zehs chosen annually from different sections of
| tue stale, and 10 receive such compensation
| Tor Their services as May he allowed by law,
| "h'ch until otherwise provided, shall be the
same mileage ami the Same pay per diem dur-
| ing iheirscSsons, as is allowed TO member 0f
| me General Assembly. This board possess
1 auu exercise vast and alI-impot tant powers
| riglis- trusts and duiies--tlIev are charged
1 WIN the imp.oveucut Of our principa! rivers
| ny rendering them nTvieable uniting by ca
| mars, aud niOte intimately connecting by public
! highways The different parts OF the common
| wealth, and also with other interesting subjects
| OF public Improvement.
Inc fUnd appropriated To these pnrposes
| now amonntstO Sl,35S,iT9, 5j including pri,ci-
! pa STOCK and The productive profits thereof:
! whch WI be yearly AN ymeuted bv lucrative
p'ahch OIL revenue aud future contingent re.
| sources Of the commonwealth this fi.ndto be
hep' instinct aud apart from all other public
ana directors of the board the public failu
| heing solennly pledged Ia fulfil this apyronYi
! d'toh winch shall continue in force for the
! ,S'm OF FORTY el2ht-years to come they have
| Tue appointment aud employment Of "A priuci
pal engineer, a seci etary, and as many other
| ohcerS, assistants aud servants as they may
"eem proper, who are 10 receive such cuinncn-
sahon as the board may allow to be paid uut ii
me above fund without ANY sanction fran tho
General Assembly this body polite can hold an
a!, I meeting ~ the city of Richmond oral any
otheT place designated by law or at any other
place specially appointed bv the board ard
al their will and pleasure there MAN hc as ma.
ny extra meetings as they shall prescribe, and
each meeting CaI, be holden IS lnn,r rs the dis
cre'Qh OF tie board inay prompt they have
power 10 make such rules and laws FOR their
institution and for the conduct Of ,heirofiicers
agents and servants, as lie thc,i NAV seem cx-
pedieht; provided ihe same be not inconsis-
tent with the cOustithtinn and lass of this
commonwealth or at the United States Here
II is necessary To remark that Whenever The
constitution an laws oi the general aud state
governments are silent, this new body polite
can iegISiaie on great subjects which concern
me dearest rights and privileges OF the people,
anu which involve the future deStinics of tlte
commonwealth they also FIJI amy VACANCY
Mhich occurs IN their body IN the recess OF the
legislature: the president aud directors of this
BOARD are authorised to si,h crihe in behalf af
tHe commonwealth TO such public works as the
General Assembly may agree tOpatrouize and
me dividends on the stock sHbscrIhed by the
BOARD 10 90 exclusively 10 other subscribers
uhtii they shall have received :. nett proft of
SIX per cent per annunl and hey are also
empowered To appoint ~ behalf OF the com
lhCiWeaith a certain number of directors n, !
every pahlIc work and other powers and du- |
teS are delegated and assigned to this body |
Pohtlc, rs VIII be seen more a large by re- |
terence 20 the act of their creation
lie other corporation, existing under the |
style OF Tie president and directors of the lite
rary fund, is thSS constituted; the governor.
nentena s governor, treasurer, attorney gene
raj, ana president of the court Of appeai> for
the time being and their successors, form tins
body polite. The fund un;ler their control a.
rises from fines, amercemcuts, penalties cs-
cheatS, conhScatIoss, forietures of lands for
hoh-paXment OF taxes and other forfeitures:
also mihe nndisposed of residunm of perso-
mai estates eft decedcnt>, who diewithont leay.
me- persons entitled 10 such rcsiduum accor
"iHg 10 me law of the land from the cxclu-
Sve privilege of granting lott ries in this com.
monwealth; and lastly, from appropriation
OF certain portion OF the debt due from the
United States a. the commonwealth. The VII
lne OF this fund now amounts to upwards OF one
and an halt mlllioGs of doi!aIS, including thc
principal and productive profits thereof
ms Dody polite exercises the following pow
ers and duties, viz The appointment of
clerk, agertSin each county and such otheroC
ficers as they may deem NECESSARY: and il may
De mere remarked, that as this institution is
partly nourished by fines, penalties and for
TEXTURES, many officers and infOTmers may find
employment. As already mentioned il has The
exclusive privilege of granting lotteries for
Certain premiums throughout Tie state and
tue appointment of managers of the lotteries
ms corporate body can invest their monies
III pubic stock and other property, and channe
aud sell the same al pleasure after the funds
shall have become sufficiently productive they
can establish as many schools aS they deem ne
ceSsary M each county; they have power 10
enact laws for the regulation OF their prOrced.
ings and the government Of their institutions
provided the same be not inconsistent with the
constitution aud laws of the commonwealth.
Here II may be truly observed, that where
The constitution and general laws are silent
tins body can exercise "A legislative power
touching the education and morals of theyoutiI |
OF our country. The faith of lie state is al |
SO pledged Tor The perpctHity oithe appropria |
tons TO tic literary fund and other powers |
and duties are cOnfided to them, as will more
fully appear bya recurrence to IA multiplicity
OF acts concerning Ibis body polite.
Ana whereas also, the delegation or transfer
ence OF general legislative and executive DOW
ers tn corporations, which can oniV he punish
ed by dissolution or Acknowledgement may
lead e. consequences tie mast serious and ca
'nltous; that the executive department has
sunk INTO impotcnCy bV q course OF LEGISLATION
which divestsj abp lsi ofcvcry power and vests
III new institutions aud commissions powers
and duties properly appertainHg 10 the COVER
nOF ana council OF state that the executive
department ought TO b. and can I've so causti.
tutionaiy organized by the legislature a. 10
answer all the requisite purposes ct the go
vetnmcDt, without tie creation oil such coriio.
rations as aforesaid and TINT il it was so organ
Izcd, The confidence and IPSucct az the Icrtsia.
iUfC, as well rs the confidence and respect Of
thc people would he secured 10 tiiat depart.
ment md tjat in many cases IL could aid IN
The dinunmiicn Of the idbors, and thereby short
en- the sessions of The General Assembly, and
produce a considerable pecuniary and annual
saving 10 tie commonwealth
Therefore, Rcs,ired by tie House Of Deiegdtes,
Tia tie committee Of be in
StTuciPd to enquire,
Isl. Into fbe exnedicncv and polic, If tbe