Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-28
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RICHMOND. FEBRUARY 2s, 1917.
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.


than any which has ever met within the
walls of the Capitol and what have
they done to compensate thus waste of
time and of money ?-iet the truth be
told they liavespent IA great deal of fine
III doing very little good. They have
certainly done some; but they have also
done some harm, and they have atiemp-
ted to do many things which finally ended
infsmoke.
When the legislature of lsI5-l6 adj
Iourned, we all remember the enthusiasm
they inspired. Their session WAS aproud
era for the State. We felt our bosoms rise
at the name of Virginiau [: our sister
States hailed It's with applause, and poi:-
ted on. our course as an example worthy
OF their sons. We availed ourselves Of
the public spirit which tie war had crca-
ted; and we embodied t!iat.spi in solid
acts OF munificcnce. We appropriated
Fnndfor iMtcrndi Improvement We rave
more than a million to the Literary Fund:
$50, 900 for imprnving the Public Suuarc
suitable scite for Il Museum we autl,o-
rized a chart for each County and map
OF the State we should never have
done, IT we detailed all the higb-minded
acts OF that generous Assembly Inferior
IN talents TO the last Assembly, in measures
OF muniflcence they are superior = We
parted with the ole with feelings &c ihe
deepest admiration with the other. with
scarcely one Sigh Of regret
We shall sketch with rapi,i pen. the
principal acts Of the last session. under
the heads of g0od acts, infuolicions acts.
and o5oHioas. first and the last. i'm
matt rs of legislation, are sometimes the
same for it is a good thing 10 arrest the
passage of ii bad law.
The Legislature deserve credit:or those
numerous acts of local nature, which it
IS iisuai Tor State Legislature to perform
hey nave been liberal TO the poor sol
dier, who fought our battles and many
pensions have been granted. They have
established several towns: incorporatrd
D new companies, the most of them for
turnpike roads; and amended several
other Charters for similar purposcs-alI
these are on private funds.-Butthev have
also appropriated, out of the Fund for IN
terhat improvement, LIST. $50, 900 for i'm
proving The navigation ofthe Roanoke and
MS branches, TO the Albemarle Sound. i'm
aid OF The funds from private sources and
the State of North Carolina-2d the sum
OF S39. 800 for part of the stock of the
hdppahdnnock Company, or such farther
sum as may be necessary, not exceeding
two-flfths of the whole; and Sd. so manT
shares OF the new stock i'm the Dismal
ow''mp Canal Company, as will augmenttle
interest OF the State TO the sum ofS6i, 900.
NINE hundred dollars, too, are appropria-
tea out OF the arrears of taxes, 10 OPEN
ing public roadfrom Sistersville. Oh the
Dahks OF The OHIO, TO the towns of Clarks-
burg and Beverley.-Flese are all. or
nearly all the sums which are authorizes
TO be appropriated TO internal improve
mo l.
granted, if 3-5flls ofthe sums necessary
for other purposes, had been subscribed
by individuals.
"A resolution was also passed, 10 take
the necessary steps TO bring about a CO.
operation, IT possible, to effect an extern
sion OF the National Road, from the Ohio
to Fort Cumberland, and TO mite Inv
means OF a short Portage, the navigable
waters oftlle Great Kenawha with those
of the James River.
This valuable fund will beaugmented Nv
theprenllums TO be paid by the two new in
corporated banks Of the North West and
of the Valley.
The law for mapping the State, and
drawing chart ofeach County, is amen
ded IN some important particuIars-tl,e
whole expence is limited TO S5O, 900. stilto
be advanced by the Fund for Internal I'm
proyement; though it is much TO be fear
ed that this sum is too small TO effect the
object in view.
:. We notice an excellent law, Prescri
ibIng certain general regulations for tI,e
incorporation of turnpike companies'-
POINTING out the way in which the stock
Is to be subscribed, the road formed.
The breadth ofthe wheels, &c. &c. The
lois are so to be regulated by the Board
OF fuDilc Works, as never TO be less than
~, nor more than 10 per cent. No limit
Is set to the duration ofthe charter: but
TINS proviso is nadeGn case the Common
wealth should wish 10 extinsuisl il. and
10 throw the road open to the Public
tibat she should have tile option ofbuyiny
up the shares. No share is therefore IN
be sold until she has the refusal of it.
HE use of this Act will be felt in manv
ways. 1t guards the rights of the Public
by well-digested general regulations-and
IL VIII save time, trouble and money i'm
framing so many separate chartcrsEalI
tnal Is necessary TO be done now. is foam
ply to each separate turnpike the proyisi-
ons ot this general law.
lhe other great Fund the one SET anart
Tor education, is silently accunuJatipg I,v
lhterest, hines, Gc.--but no further sten
was taken to augment 1t, during fine late
session, unless the resolution to nress
the settlement OF the interest ON the dobi
due ny tie u. y. may be supposed to he
OF Tins description. Some propositions
were indeed made TO augment this Fund
ny means OF Literary Fund Banks, and