Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-12-09
Virginia Legislature.
RIcHMoNp, pEcEMBER 4.

Richard &. Parker was elected, Oy
joint ballot, without opposition, judge of
the second Circuit, to supply the vacan-
cy occasioned by the death Of Griffin stith.
Thomas Richie was reelected public
printer without opposition.
In the course of the session Mr..
Thweatt submitted the following Pream-
bic and resolutions, which were referred
to a select committee. On motion OF Mr..
Davis, 500 copies were ordered to be
printed,
Whereas, il is declared BY the bill OF
rights and constitution OF this common
wealth, that no free government can be
preserved to any people but ny flrm ad-
herence to justice. moderation, temper
ance, fruediity and virlue-the people
have right to RnJorm goVernment-all
legislative power Shall be vested in the
General Assembly, whose members are
elected by the people---the legislative,
executive aod Judiciary powers shall be
separate and distinct-the governor, with
the advice Of couacil of state, shall erer-
else ths e,rscutire poicers Of TIE gOrern.
snent, according TO the tars of the COM
monwealth, aud that he shall, with the
advice of the council, have the power OF
granting repgieves sud pardOns, except
in certain specified cases the council
shall consist of eight members, TO be cho-
sen BY the General Assembly /; and that
the advice and proceedings ct the COVER
nor and council shall be entered OF re-
cord and laid before the Assembly-and
the constitution also provides one COM
mon treasury, with one treasurer, who,
with the attorney general and auditor,
are officers properly apperH~ining to the
executive department OF the govern
ment-aud no appropriation Of public
money can be made except by laws PAS
sed by the Assembly, who meet annually,
and who appropriate annually-thc House
of Delegates, the most numerous branch
Of the legislature, being annually elect
ed--and the responsibility OF the COVER
nor and council is well secured by the
constitu6on-hey and the other officers
are also dependent on the legislature for
their appointment and compensation.-
Hence, it follows, that the creation, by
acts of The Assembly, Of subordinate cor
poratisns, with grant of legislative and
executive powers co'extens,ve with the
territorial limits and jurisdiction OF the
commonwealth, hath tendency to con-
travene the great constitutional provi-
sions and principles laid down by our
forefsthers--and this hath inadvertently
happened by an honorable, though per-
haps over excited zeal, in promoting the
Internal improvement of our highly favor
ed and beloved country.
There are two corporations OF the cha
racter just described; one styled =" The
president and directors of the board OF
public works"-the other The presi,
dent and directors of the literary fund"
BY tina act providing fund for internal
Improvement, the board Of public works
consists of thirteen memoers-the COVER
nor, treasurer, attorney general, and ten
citizens chosen annually from different
sections of the state, and to receive such
compensation for their services as may
be allowed by law, which, until otherwise
provided, shall be the same mileage and
the same pay per diem during their ses-
sions as is allowed to a member of the
General Assembly. This board possess
and exercise vast and all important pow
ers, rights, trusts aud duties-they are
charged with the improvement Of our
principal rivers. by rendering them navi-
gable, uniting by canals, and more init
Inatelv connecting, by public highways,
the different parts OF the commonwealth,
and also with other interesting subjects
of public improvement.
The fund appropriated to these pur-
poses now amounts to Sl,S56,479 sc. in
Guiding principal stock and he productive
profits thereof; which viii be yearly aug
mented By lucrative branch Of revenue
and future contingent resources Of the
commonwealth; this fund to be kept dis
tinct and apart from all other public mo-
ney, subject TO the order of the president
and directors of the board the public
faith being solemnly pledged to fulfil this
appropriation, which shall continue in
force for the term of forty-eight years to
come; they have the appointment and
employment Of principal engineer, Sc
sretary, and as many other officers, as
sistants and servants as they may deem
proper, who are to receive such compen.
sation as the board may allow, to be paid
out of the above fund without any sane
tion from the General Assembly; this
bedy polite can hold an annual meeting