Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-21
HOUSE OFDELEGATEs..
SENEX.


SENEX.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES..
On SATURDAY, the bill was taken up for
establishinga Public I.ibrary--A ccordina TO its
provisions, the fund for the purchase OF the
same, was To come out OF any monies not other
wise appropriated in the Public Treasury. MIR.
Banks proposetio amend il, By desi ynating the
Literary Fund instead of the Public Treasury.
Messrs. Tucker AMI ~ Greer OF J.. opposed the
mot'on--Nr. hlerccr calling for the reading
~ the law nstituting that Fund, which enters
ttS protest against any other appropriation of
the Find than for the purposes Of Education
some debate took place on this subject: when
Mr.; Mercer suggested, that IL might be better
70 draw the rioacy from the Fund which had
oeen set apart iorimprovng the Public Square
which lac understood. bad exceeded tie caIcuIo
lions originality formed OF its amount.-He
proposed, therefore, that the question should
De divided, so as TO strike from the bill the
words designating the Fund, and leavins it in
n'ahA. SO as to hc subsequently, flied APP. Mr..
Banks accede;. to the idea, and Il blank MAS ac-
laid on The table.
The Speaker then called up the Order os the
Day. when Mr.. Tucker gave notice that he
5aoniu call Gpthe CcRee.tion REPORT, On Mon
day ationgother reasons, to obviate an impress
SION which he understood existed that this
question was kept back 10 await the fate of an
other measure now before ,i.e Senate-Mr
,iercer Hoped, they might go into committee on
that question to-day, rs he WAS aware OF such
an idea being aloat, though there was no con-
nection al all between the t,vc ineasurcs. He
minated, that his mind was already made up,
as To the ConVention-and that he was prepar-
Ell 10 vote tor the Report ofthe Select Commit
tee.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole.w!icn the Usury Bill was called up.
Mr. Hay closed his most able and ingenious
argument in favor of the bill. attempting 10
prove tue ineficency OF all laws toprevent the
evils OF nsHry
lie WIS followed by Mr. Austin. (of Buckine-
nam WHO spoke n considerable length in op-
position to the iaT-Aiter which, the Commit
The Speaker submitted Communication
from tie Sovcrnor iuciosne The resignation O f
z<,rihFr Smus, Esq member of the Priv
to"icIi--' me election of has successor Will
YESTERDAY, various bills 81 reports were
received from Committees.
When the Order of the Day was called up.
the Eieuse wentinto Committee ofthe Whole
Dir. Estill in the Chair.
Two propositions were marle-one was To
take rp the question of the COEreafion the Ot!l-
er, the bill concerning Usurv-Messrs. Mercer.
Smyth, Craighen, Tucker, and Hay supported
the first notion-Messrs Blackburn and Taze
weli the last was contended by the last
that IT was best for the Committee TO close a
subject which had now been discussed for the
two preceding days.-On the otherhand, il was
urged, that the question OF Convention was
Tar more important, had been earlier taken up
and as some OF the members were anxious Ia
return 10 their homes, thai it was OF more con-
sequence 10 give the question of Convention.
than OF the USury bill, the benefit of a full
house--tcsidcS, that an impression did exist
,'lat Inc convention report Was kept back while
anotaer measure Was pending before the other
Rouse, %c.--The Committee decided not TO
take up the Report on the Convention, ayes IS,
noes 'o.-ihe discussion of the Usury Bill was
then resumed-Mr. Blackburn spoke consid-
cradle time in opposition TO the bill, and Dir.
GRIMES in favor oft.
Mr.. Mercer ayOwed, that he should vote for
lite bill, Il two amendments were introduced ::
the one was. hmitingits operation TO a period
rot exceeding FIVE years (thus enabling the
Legislature TO see the cons equences of the inno-
yation 0the otherwls, 10 postpone its opsration
Tor years at least, 70 avoid any interference
with existing CONFERENCE.-The. NJ. then entered
into the general merits of the bill
We snail endeavour To give very conious
sketch OF this whole debate-bu as a discus
sion OF this sort cannot suffer ny little delavas
the Dill IS now rejected, we shall reserve the
report o! the debate To more leisure moment ::
determining as the proposition is quite a new
one tomost oil our readers, to give no report
at all, II II cannot he copiOuS aud Interesting
one.
Mr.. Hay said he fully coneurred in the pro-
posed amendments of MIR. Mercer and had
prepared thenfor that purpose hur. not ex-
pectng the question would cone on to-day, he
iiad not brought his papers wti him. lfowev-
er, he recOllected the substance OF them, and
would now propose them. fie accordingly
moved slight amendment to the LIST section.
proposing 10 follow it up by others, which
would limit the time of the operation Of the
law.
sir. Grymes withdrew his motion to strike
opt the first section, made on Friday-when
the question was taken on Mr.. HIS amendment
and lost-ayes IS, noes -.
Some amendments were then proposed by
Mr.. Mercer which shared the same fate.
Finally, however, after AN unavailing attempt
on the part of Mr.. Smyth TO get the Committee
to rise to allow time for discussion, a motion
was made by Mr.. Matthews 10 strike out the
LIST section equivalent to Il rejection the bill
which prevaile1--ayes 100, noes IS.
The Committee then rose-wheu Mr.. Mercer
moved TO lay the bill on the table to give him
time to prepare amendmenis-Mr Matthews
moved to postpone it to the 3Ist March.
The question on laying il on the table was
lost-and tie motion for indefinite postpone
ment occurred. After few remarks from,
Nlcssrs. Mercer, Banks and Smyth, the
question was put, aud carried ayes 10, noes
$50 that the bill was really reJccted-After
which, the House adjourned
70 THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE.
Gentlemen,
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